The Laundry

Internal auditors could be the ultimate ‘insider outsider’ in financial services. They are on average 1% of a bank’s staff, and yet they are there to keep the other 99% in check – while balancing new regulations and ongoing threats in rooting out shady operators and financial crime. No pressure then! Our expert host, Marit Rødevand , is joined by Eleanor Streatfield , Head of Internal Audit a...

President Trump called tariffs “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” On a self-declared ‘Liberation Day,’ the US unleashed a wave of new blanket tariffs on nations across the globe. Stock markets plunged worldwide, the administration hit the brakes, and announced a 90-day pause on their new global trade plan. But the 90-day countdown is almost over and there's no sign of a new favourite wor...

Think about the road you took to work, the flight you booked for your next holiday, or even the property you’re looking to buy. What if they were all made possible by shadowy deals between powerful corporations and oligarchs? But surely this couldn't be happening in Scandinavia, where trust and transparency are so important…could it? Our expert hosts, Fredrik Riiser and Robin Lycka, team up to rev...

The Laundry was recently the closing act at Finland’s biggest event for the AML industry – after a day of talks from expert speakers across banking, fintech, payments, consultancy, law enforcement, and academia.  After soaking up all the valuable information like sponges – our panel are bringing some of the biggest, best, and brightest takes to you! Our expert host, Marit Rødevand, is jo...

Hot coral cards, instant money transfers, sleek onboarding, and mega funding rounds. Take yourself back to the 2010s and the fintech hype train was in full effect! Now the industry has grown up and handles more of our money than ever before – the pendulum is shifting on these ‘disruptors’ who now face much of the same pressures as the big boys of banking. So, does fintech continue to exist if...

It’s been a wild ride for Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al Sharaa. Recently, he was photographed alongside Donald Trump in Riyadh, marking a historic moment: the announcement of the end of U.S. sanctions on Syria. It’s quite the turnaround for a man who once had a $10 million bounty on his head. There’s a growing sense of optimism about Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system, af...

We’re touching The Laundry down in a single country – to understand how it looks at financial crime and the lessons we can take from it. This episode: a nation where a scam involving tulip sellers can make international news! Our expert host, Marit Rødevand, is joined by Erik Reissenweber, Anti-Money Laundering Specialist at AMLC , to reveal: everything you need to know about financial crime in th...

'Compliance’ and ‘Innovation’ have never traditionally been the best of friends. They can be seen as opposite ends of a spectrum. But in this modern competitive market for financial services – that has to change!  Recorded at Avanza Bank in Stockholm – our expert host, Marit Rødevand, is joined by Karoline Tyan , Specially Appointed Executive in AML/CFT, and Martin Sturesson Christiansen...

This week, our expert hosts – Marit Rødevand, Fredrik Riiser, and Robin Lycka – have the tables turned on them as they respond to questions, comments, and hot takes from Heads of Compliance, MLROs, sanctions experts, and other listeners of the podcast. The panel discuss: when it's right to separate the roles of Head of Compliance and MLRO; the cash-heavy businesses now replacing laundromats; and t...

Turn on the TV or scroll your phone – the headlines are full of war and global conflict. But according to the author of a new book, modern warfare isn’t being fought on battlefields anymore – but through payment systems, supply chains, strategic waterways, insurance markets, and more. And no one does this better than the USA Our expert host, Robin Lycka , is joined by Edward Fishman , Au...

Everyone has the right to a fair trial. That also includes: alleged shady oligarchs, bribers, money launderers, sanction evaders, and dodgy dealers. So: who represents them? You might imagine a Better Call Saul style situation – but your perception may be wrong.  Our expert host, Marit Rødevand , is joined by Paul Felberg , Head of White Collar Defense at Brown Rudnick , to reveal: What...

For the Easter break – we are diving into The Laundry archives and bringing you one of our favourite episodes of the podcast to date! In this episode: our expert host, Marit Rødevand , is joined by Geoff White , investigative journalist, to reveal: The dark secrets of North Korea's cyber army . The pair discuss explore the inner workings of the elite North Korean hackers – known as Lazar...

Data is the new currency. But many banks and financial institutions grabbed so much of this new currency, they don't know what to do with it! Our expert host, Fredrik Riiser, is joined by Robert Bing , Global Head of Client Lifecycle Management at Davies to talk about: what you're getting wrong about data. The pair discuss: how data collection became bloated, the impact this has on business decisi...

We’re touching The Laundry down in a single country – to understand how it looks at financial crime and the lessons we can take from it. To start us off: we’re going to the EU’s second largest economy and the inventor of more than 1,000 types of cheese. Our expert host, Marit Rødevand, is joined by Gabriel Vedrenne , Senior Reporter at ACAMS , to discuss: everything you need to know about financia...

Many institutions are running at one hundred miles an hour to keep up with compliance, new regulations, and sanctions. But sometimes, it’s crucial to slow down and ensure everything is running smoothly before you’re forced to slam on the brakes. Remediation projects act as a critical tune-up, helping financial institutions stay ahead of fines, money laundering risks, and threats to customer funds....

AI agents can now perform many of the same tasks as compliance professionals. Software programs powered by AI can handle everything from KYC/KYB checks to pulling documents, searching company registries, and scanning for adverse media. To misquote Jurassic Park : Are we so preoccupied with whether we could use these tools for compliance that we forget to ask whether we should ? Our expert hosts, M...

The Trump presidency throws out a new dramatic storyline every day. But it's time assess three big decisions that are important to those working in the AML, compliance, and financial crime sectors: The Department of Justice has halted the enforcement of a US anti-corruption law that bars Americans from bribing foreign government officials to win business Attorney General Pam Bondi closed down a un...

The tackling and reporting of money laundering can lead to long nights for those on the frontline. It’s not just your company’s reputation, as well as the safety of customers, in your hands – you’re responsible for blocking those passages where criminals, terrorists, and rogue states clean their money. But, fear not! This podcast is like group therapy looking for some solutions to those sleep...

You know those action movies where the two biggest movie stars team up to turn their firepower on the bad guys? This is the approach that some organisations are taking with FRAML – combining fraud and anti-money laundering teams to look at the financial crime picture in a holistic fashion. But, some worry this super-powered team-up is more of a buzzword than an actual blockbuster. Our ex...

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, sanctions have become more than just a topic for compliance professionals, law enforcement, and regulators. They’re now a buzzword on the lips of politicians, activists, terror organisations, and the general public! On this very special community podcast – recorded on 4th February in front of a live virtual audience – we are asking: Will sanctions hit their...

Who knew a pizza order could blow up the internet? In January, Jesse Pollak tagged an AI agent in a social media post saying, "I want some pizza." That simple message triggered an AI-driven transaction—one automated agent placed the order while another coordinated payment. The rise of AI agents has sparked discussions across industries and especially in compliance, AML, and financial crime. Our ex...

Did you really think rich Russian oligarchs were going to just * give up * being rich? Despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and yet more sanctions packages looking to crush the war effort – the owners of plush properties, energy companies, and super-yachts are still making money. Our expert host, Robin Lycka , is joined by Miles Johnson , Investigative Reporter at the Financial Times to as...

As we kick off a new year, the industry is turning its focus to 2025, considering everything from evolving regulations and global sanctions to emerging financial crime threats. To launch our new season, we’re taking you on a whirlwind journey through 150 years of financial crime—spanning from the Wild West to the modern age of faceless, digital threats. They say, if you don't know where you've com...

To celebrate the new season of the podcast connecting AML, compliance, and financial crime to the real world – we are bringing you this very special offer from our affiliates at Shady Shark Superstore. Terms and conditions: Shady Shark Superstore is not a real entity and does not condone, facilitate, or participate in money laundering, fraud, or financial crime.  Front companies are for...

We are diving into The Laundry archives and bringing you some of our favourite episodes of the podcast to date. This week: our expert host, Marit Rødevand , is joined by, John Davidson , Director, Ernst & Young LLP (known as EY) to discuss: How ChatGPT is supercharging financial crime The pair discuss: the rise of generative AI impacting the compliance industry, the supercharged threats that C...