Belgian authorities are investigating money-transfer fintech Wise for its controls around suspicious transactions worth over $577 million across 30 European countries. The current investigation only concerns the fintech’s EU operations, but the company has a history of fines for weak financial controls in several regions, including the U.S. and the Middle East.
AML
Posted inFinancial Services
U.K. slashes FS rules, seeks closer EU regulation ties to boost growth
The U.K. government has announced a raft of legislation that will drastically cut compliance requirements in the financial services sector, as well as aim to bring the United Kingdom more in line with the EU to simplify customs regulations and boost trade.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
U.K. set to make ‘senior managers’ more accountable for corporate crime
The risk of criminal liability is set to increase for companies doing business in the United Kingdom after new legislation takes effect in June.
Posted inBanking
U.K. tightens debanking rules as compliance teams in banks walk a regulatory tightrope
Closing a U.K. bank account against the wishes of the customer has just got more complicated. From April 28, banks and payment service providers must comply with new rules governing when and how they close an existing customer’s account.
Posted inAML
Most FS firms expect to miss EU AML deadline amid data and due diligence challenges
Two-thirds of financial services firms will not be able to meet the requirements of the EU anti-money laundering package when it comes into force in July 2027.
Posted inArtificial Intelligence
U.K. joins global trend for AI-enabled regulatory supervision
The U.K. financial regulator is expanding its remit and planning to deploy AI to manage its increased workload. This is part of a global trend and has significant compliance implications.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
How to establish an anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance program
The U.K. unveiled a new Anti-Corruption Strategy in December 2025, just as the EU unveiled its first Anti-Corruption Directive. Both jurisdictions have signalled that they are keen to push back on rising risks of corruption. But many organizations have no formal anti-corruption measures. Where should compliance start?
Posted inEurope
Europe’s groundbreaking crypto rules put at risk by delays in implementation
Europe may have taken the lead in attempting to regulate cryptoasset firms before any other major jurisdiction, but a year after the ground-breaking rules came into force, it does not necessarily follow that they are robust or that the industry they are meant to hold accountable is embracing them.
Posted inTechnology
The next era of compliance: How banks will stay ahead of financial crime in 2026
Financial crime is becoming faster, smarter, and more difficult to trace. By 2026, banks and regulators will approach compliance with a new mindset. The shift is away from reaction and toward prevention, partnership, and people.
Posted inEurope
Luxury brands told to tighten AML compliance as Dutch regulator fines Louis Vuitton
Money laundering is no longer a concern just for financial services and real estate. It is everybody’s business. But are most businesses adequately prepared for tighter AML rules? What does compliance need to know?
