Resources & Insights

NatWest’s landmark money-laundering case has dealt a huge blow to consumer trust in online banking; an industry that more than three quarters (76%) of UK consumers already admit they don’t fully trust, according to research from anti-money laundering specialists, SmartSearch.

The ongoing lawsuit being faced by the high street bank has put others on high alert to the threats and scale of money laundering in the UK, but experts warn this case is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to financial crime in the UK.

So, what can businesses learn from NatWest to avoid the same costly pitfalls?

Illegal arms sales, smuggling, and organised crime such as drug trafficking, people trafficking and prostitution rings, can generate huge amounts of money, as can ‘white collar crimes’ including, insider trading, bribery and computer fraud schemes.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, numerous initiatives were introduced to increase national security and combat terrorist activities, the most significant being the introduction of the USA PATRIOT Act (commonly known as the Patriot Act), which was signed into law on October 26, 2001.

On January 1 2021, the United States Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (the NDAA) which includes the most significant reforms to US Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws in almost 20 years.

According to research by ACI Worldwide¹ in July 2020, eCommerce transactions around the globe rose 19% compared to the same period in 2019. Their research indicates that the value of fraudulent transactions also increased from 3.7% to 4.4%.

Leading UK anti-money laundering (AML) firm SmartSearch expanded its senior team with three new appointments in November. The recruitment reflects the continuing growth of the Ilkley-based business which has also broken into new international markets this year.

The roles of vice president of customer success, head of sales and enterprise development manager have been created in response to the increasing demand for the award-winning solution.

Leading UK anti-money-laundering (AML) firm SmartSearch recorded its best ever month in September, with record revenues, record profits and a record number of new clients.

SmartSearch, the UK’s leading anti-money laundering (AML) solution provider, has revealed 2020 was the most successful year in the company’s history, with double digit boosts in sales and profits.

SmartSearch, the UK’s leading anti-money laundering (AML) solution provider, has called on lenders, brokers and conveyancers to learn the lessons from the Government’s failure to prevent the loss of £billions in Covid-related fraud over the past 12 months.