Moody’s Talks: Risk Reframed

What if your anti-financial crime program could build investigation models using sensitive data you may not have direct access to – in a totally compliant way? In this episode, we learn from Privacy Enhancing Technology (PET) expert, Michael Hughes , Chief Business Offer at Duality Technologies , about the potential PETs have to change the game of KYC. Follow along as Michael and host, Alex Pillow...

It is safe to say technology has done wonders when it comes to AML professionals tackling financial crime, but, on the flip side, it is important to understand how technology is being used by those committing the crimes. From video game online marketplaces to virtual currency mixers, how can we follow the money when tech is used to cover its tracks? In this episode of KYC Decoded , we welcome back...

Change is essential to survive and thrive in any enterprise. As we narrow in on the world of AML and KYC, the adaptation of sophisticated criminals is evident, so the question arises: what disruptions are needed to outsmart these bad actors? In this episode of KYC Decoded, Head of Strategy & Content at Sardine , Simon Taylor , lends us his astute and perceptive expertise as we explore this questio...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 set off a series of global sanctions enforcement actions. The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has meted out sanctions to curb Russia’s defense procurement, energy weaponization, and international trade activity. To date, the EU has also imposed 12 sanctions packages on restrictive measures – with the 1...

The creation of the AMLA, the authority on money laundering in the European Union, is imminently upon us. And the critical question compliance professionals are wondering is: where will it live? Choosing an EU city to be the representative of 26 different cultures most certainly has needed careful thought and planning. The official location choice is set to be announced February 22, 2024, in the m...

Much has changed since we last visited the US Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in March of 2023 on KYC Decoded. Now that FinCEN has officially rolled out its beneficial ownership database, what is the lay of the land for risk and compliance professionals? In this episode, we welcome back Jim Richards , former BSA officer, author, speaker, and CEO of RegTech Consulting to share his thoughts on wher...

There are plenty of shell companies formed for legitimate reasons. However, as recently uncovered in a major case in Singapore where 3 billion SGD of assets were frozen, shell companies can also be used for more nefarious purposes. This risk is not always easy to spot, especially when relying on manual, time-invasive processes. In this episode KYC Decoded, host Alex Pillow welcomes Moody’s Analyti...

Every year, on January 11, the US recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Human trafficking – currently a $150 billion industry – continues to be a pervasive threat around the globe, with criminals profiting from the enslavement of other people. This brings us to the obvious question: what can anti-financial crime and risk professionals do to make this world a safer place and help put...

"Fighting financial crime" has long been a rallying cry within the AML profession, but could this way of thinking actually be doing us all a disservice? While an admirable goal for any compliance risk management program, it may actually be too limiting and overlook how the BSA Officer/MLRO role can also drive business strategy and growth. In this episode of KYC Decoded, host Alex Pillow welcomes V...

Our KYC origin series has traced the journeys of our diverse acquisitions, each of which has grown into a vital part of our KYC ecosystem. But how have these distinct entities been integrated to operate as one? In the grand finale of our KYC origin series, host Alex Pillow engages with Keith Berry , the KYC General Manager at Moody’s Analytics. They explore the expansion of the KYC unit, examining...

With information on more than 472+ million entities worldwide, Orbis has become the most powerful comparable data resource on private companies. But the question isn't what happened, it's HOW? In this episode of our KYC origin series, host Alex Pillow is joined by Bureau van Dijk and and Orbis veterans, Jon Hanmer and Ted Datta who discuss the evolution of this industry-defining database and how i...

In November 2022, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) sparked a seismic shift in the regulatory landscape with its ruling that the public should not have access to beneficial ownership registries. Join us as we delve into the ripple effects of this ruling with our guests, Maíra Martini , research and policy expert on corrupt money flows at Transparency International , and Andres Knobel , lawyer an...

We’ve all heard rumblings about the potential bias-related risks AI can bring when models aren't properly trained or governed with plentiful, high-quality data. But, how many of us have paused to consider flipping this paradigm? Could our own bias on the subject of AI cause us to overlook how consciously-infused AI technologies could remove dangerous biases from our KYC and AML processes? In this...

The rapid evolution and adoption of AI technologies raises questions about how it's perceived and used by professionals working in compliance and risk management. In this episode, we explore the findings from a fascinating original global study, conducted by Moody’s Analytics, that uncovers how compliance and risk management professionals see the role of AI in all its forms. Listen along as host,...

In a world of tight deadlines, diverse client needs, and ever-changing regulations across jurisdictions, law firms everywhere face countless challenges to stay compliant. That's why we are thrilled to be joined by Maire-Claire Le Houerou , Client Experience Director for Risk and Compliance at the software company Intapp , and Alex Young , Senior Principal Consultant at Intapp in this episode of KY...

Feeling stressed in the workplace is a shared experience for employees in many industries. And while it's normal for jobs to involve stress, concerns about employee burnout occur when stress is persistent and begins to affect the individual at a professional, personal, physical, and/or emotional level. In this episode of KYC Decoded, we focus on the factors that lead to burnout in the compliance p...

Every business has a unique story to share about its life-journey. In this third installment of our KYC Origin series, host Alex Pillow is joined by Henry Irish , co-founder of Passfort; and Alex Richter , Head of Passfort. Their discussion explores the SaaS RegTech solution that changed the way anti-financial crime and compliance processes were automated. Listen to find out about: The inception o...

Curious how the Moody’s Analytics KYC solution originated? Don't miss the incorporation of Kompany into the Moody’s family. The strategic acquisition of Kompany has proven a win-win opportunity. From a business concept sketched on a tennis ball (yes, a tennis ball) to real-time entity verification from government registers across the globe merged with powerful datasets. In this episode, host Alex...

The story of how Moody’s Analytics developed its KYC solution is one written by different authors. In our KYC Origins series, host Alex Pillow introduces different characters from strategic acquisitions to tell the tales of how their anti-financial crime and risk management businesses were founded, grew, and then joined the Moody's family.  Chapter one: Grid. Rupert de Ruig, senior director at Moo...

Perhaps it goes without saying that customers of financial institutions who are politically exposed persons (PEPs) come with varying degrees of risk. In addition to their elevated political status, which can make them attractive targets for bribery and corruption, there’s also the subsequent institutional risk of reputational damage and fines from getting your dealings with PEPs wrong. Sometimes y...

Reflecting on a time you were deceived, did you ever pause first to ask yourself the most rudimentary question: does this make sense? Overlooking this question can lead to bad outcomes for consumers, businesses, and society alike. The art of deception is nothing new, and neither are the subsequent feelings of humiliation and fear victims are left with. Fighting financial crime takes on different f...

As the desire to build an anti-financial crime network grows, the question arises: how can we get our hands on the most comprehensive and accurate data? When it comes to collaborative financial crime fighting and fraud prevention, the concept of data sharing may seem obvious on the surface. However, delicately balancing regulatory complexities and privacy concerns, can require shifting an entire c...

The recipe for a successful anti-money laundering program is seemingly simple on paper. But, in practice, getting the right ingredients is not so easy. Without efficiency, modern tools and technology, and a compliance-friendly culture, the final dish is likely to disappoint. In this episode, host Alex Pillow welcomes Carl Kemmerer , Senior Product Manager at NICE Actimize . Carl brings a wealth of...

The ACAMS Hollywood 2023 conference was another success bringing industry professionals and practitioners together to discuss AML regulatory trends, emerging technologies, and more. In this episode, host Alex Pillow provides on-the-ground coverage capturing engaging conversations with Kieran Beer , Director of Editorial Content, Chief Analyst at ACAMS; Lukayn Hunsicker , Moody's Analytics KYC Head...

The steadfast enforcement of anti-financial crime regulations in the US often leads to severe financial consequences for offenders. Jill DeWitt , Moody’s KYC Industry Practice Lead for Financial Crime and Due Diligence in the Americas, profiled some US companies that were fined in 2022. While fines ranged from thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars, a few key themes emerged across the board....