AML/CFT Screening – PEP, Sanctions and Warning List Checks
AML/CFT screening is the process of checking customers, beneficial owners and individuals connected to a company against sanctions, PEP status and other risk sources. At Dueveris AML, we do not stop at reviewing a tool result – we analyse alerts, verify matches, assess their relevance to risk, document decisions and support escalations in a model tailored to your organisation’s procedures, volumes and business profile.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT ABOUT AML/CFT SCREENINGDoes Your Screening Process Generate Alerts or Support Decisions?
Screening should help identify cases requiring review quickly, not burden the team with unresolved results.
The process may need strengthening when:
The Number of Potential Matches Is Too High
The team spends most of its time on cases that, after review, do not relate to the relevant individual or entity.
Alert Analysis Is Too Manual
Analysts repeatedly check the same data, sources and documents without clear criteria for resolving matches.
Screening Takes Place Only During Onboarding
Customers are checked at the start of the relationship, but not rescreened when lists, PEP status or customer information change.
There Are No Rules for Handling Results
The organisation has not defined how to assess sanctions alerts, PEP matches, warning lists or reputational information.
Decisions Are Inconsistent
Similar matches are closed or escalated differently by different analysts.
There Is No Clear Escalation Path
The team does not know which cases require further analysis, AML Officer approval or higher-level decision-making.
Customer Data Is Insufficient to Resolve an Alert
Key information may be missing, such as date of birth, nationality, country, role within a company or ownership-structure details.
It Is Difficult to Demonstrate Why an Alert Was Closed or Escalated
Documentation does not show which information was checked, what conclusions were reached or why a particular decision was made.
A Potential Match Does Not Mean Confirmed Risk
A screening result indicates that a customer’s or entity’s information is similar to information contained in a particular source. It is not yet an AML decision. It requires identity confirmation, contextual analysis and action in line with the procedure.
| Screening Result | What It Means | What Should Be Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Potential sanctions match | The system identified similar information | Whether the match relates to the relevant individual or entity, considering factors such as date of birth, country, aliases and role |
| PEP status | The customer may require additional due diligence measures | Relationship risk, source of funds or wealth, approval level and scope of ongoing monitoring |
| Warning list or reputational information | A signal requiring assessment has been identified | The reliability, currency and relevance of the information to the specific relationship |
| No match | No result was found in the source used | Documentation of the outcome in line with the adopted procedure |
PEP status does not automatically mean declining a relationship. A potential sanctions match does not automatically mean that a customer is subject to sanctions. Every result requires proper identification, risk assessment and a documented decision.
In the event of a confirmed sanctions match, we support the analysis, documentation, and escalation of the case in line with the client’s procedures and applicable regulations, including, where relevant, the potential freezing of funds or restriction of the relationship.
What Does AML/CFT Screening at Dueveris AML Cover?
We treat screening as an analytical process – from data verification and alert handling to a documented decision or escalation.
Sanctions Screening
Checking individuals and entities against agreed sanctions lists.
PEP Screening
Establishing whether a customer or connected individual may require enhanced due diligence measures.
Family Members and Close Associates of PEPs
Assessing relationships that should be considered in the risk assessment.
Watchlists and Other Risk Sources
Reviewing information from watchlists, databases and other agreed risk sources.
Adverse Media and Reputational Information
Assessing the reliability, recency and relevance of information to the customer relationship.
Alert Handling and False Positives
Determining whether a result relates to the relevant individual or entity and documenting the decision.
Escalation of Higher-Risk Cases
Preparing materials for enhanced review and decision-making in line with the organisation’s procedures.
Ongoing Customer Rescreening
Reviewing existing relationships when customer data, PEP status, sanctions lists or other risk sources change.
Who Does Screening Cover?
The scope of screening depends on the type of relationship, the role of the individual or entity and the adopted risk policy. It should not be limited to the person signing the agreement.
Individual Customer
A person with whom the organisation starts or maintains a relationship.
Company or Other Entity
A corporate customer, counterparty or entity involved in the relationship.
Authorised Representative
A person authorised to act on behalf of the customer.
Beneficial Owner
An individual who ultimately owns or controls the company.
Director, Officer or Shareholder
A person with significant influence over the entity’s business, structure or decisions.
Attorney-in-Fact or Authorised Person
A person acting on behalf of the customer in connection with a relationship or transaction.
Depending on the process and risk level, screening may also cover counterparties and transaction parties.
How Does Dueveris AML Handle Screening Alerts?
We assess every alert in the context of the customer, relationship and procedures in place within the organisation.
1. Collecting Identification Data
We verify the information needed to resolve the alert, such as date of birth, nationality, country, company role or registry details.
2. Confirming Whether the Match Relates to the Relevant Individual or Entity
We compare case information with the data available in the screening source.
3. Assessing Context and Risk Level
We assess the relevance of the result to the customer relationship, considering factors such as ownership structure, country, business profile and relationship history.
4. Closing the Alert or Escalating the Case
We make a well-founded decision: false positive, enhanced review or referral to the appropriate decision-making level.
5. Documenting the Outcome and Follow-Up Actions
We record findings, data sources, the decision rationale and any required next steps.
Screening at Onboarding Is Not Enough
Screening carried out before a relationship begins only reflects the situation at that point in time. PEP status, customer data, reputational information or entries in the sources used may change during the relationship.
For this reason, the process should also include rescreening of existing customers and connected persons, together with clear rules for responding to new alerts. This allows the organisation to assess changes in risk appropriately and take action in line with its procedures.
Technology Identifies the Alert – Dueveris AML Assesses the Risk
A screening tool searches data sources and identifies potential matches. It does not determine whether the result relates to the right person, what it means for the customer relationship or what action should be taken.
| Technology | Dueveris AML Specialist |
|---|---|
| Searches lists and data sources | Verifies whether the match is genuine |
| Detects similar data | Analyses factors such as date of birth, country, role and aliases |
| Generates an alert | Assesses its relevance to AML/CFT risk |
| Updates source data | Decides whether to close, investigate further or escalate |
| Supports high-volume processing | Documents the rationale and ensures consistent decisions |
Technology supports the scale of the process. Expert analysis turns an alert into a well-founded decision.
How Can Dueveris AML Support Your Screening Process?
Ongoing Alert Handling
Continuous analysis of PEP, sanctions, adverse media and warning-list alerts.
Backlog Support
Support with outstanding alerts, periodic reviews and sudden increases in volume.
Screening Within KYC and KYB Processes
Verification of individuals, companies, representatives and beneficial owners before a relationship begins.
Customer Rescreening
Analysis of new alerts concerning existing customers and connected persons after onboarding.
Decision Quality Assurance
Review of alert handling, team calibration and identification of the most common errors.
Screening Process Improvement
Design of prioritisation, documentation, escalation and result-handling rules within the tools used.
How Do We Measure Screening Quality?
We assess screening quality not only by the number of alerts handled, but also by decision accuracy, response times and documentation quality.
| Area | What We Measure |
|---|---|
| Volume | Number of alerts handled by type and priority |
| Timeliness | Analysis time, SLA performance and backlog size |
| Decision outcomes | Share of false positives, escalations and cases requiring reassessment |
| Decision quality | Consistency of outcomes and completeness of rationales |
| Documentation | Presence of sources, identifying data and decision rationale |
| Risk trends | Most common alert types and changes affecting the customer portfolio |
AML/CFT Screening and Other Dueveris AML Services
Screening is one element of an AML/CFT framework. It supports risk assessment, but does not replace a full review of an individual, business or transaction.
| Service | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|
| AML/CFT Screening | PEP, sanctions and watchlist screening, including alert handling |
| Individual KYC Verification | Assessment of an individual customer and relationship risk |
| Business KYB Verification | Analysis of a company, its representatives, ownership structure and beneficial owners |
| AML/CFT Transaction Monitoring | Analysis of customer activity and transaction alerts |
| AML/CFT Outsourcing | Operational delivery of agreed AML/CFT processes |
| External AML Officer | Oversight of risk, procedures, governance and expert decision-making |
Need a team that turns PEP and sanctions alerts into well-founded decisions?
Let’s discuss a screening model tailored to your customers, procedures, tools and risk profile.
Email Us
office@dueverisaml.pl
