Decision debt is the practice of leaving key compliance decisions unresolved, and it is a crisis few compliance leaders are willing to name. Some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and Citibank, have learned this lesson the hard way.
Best Practices
Study: Compliance managers must set rules in race to adopt AI agents and copilots
More than half of all compliance teams are “actively using” or “piloting” AI applications, according to a Moody’s report. While most are focusing on streamlining routine tasks, some are developing AI agents and asking vital questions about AI decision-making.
AI adoption without trust: A call for compliance professionals
Employees are adopting AI faster than companies can build policies, governance, and training. That gap creates compliance exposure in areas from data privacy to shadow IT to workplace equity.
Digital wallets should speed up compliance, but companies must focus on trust and security
The EU has one, the U.K. is getting one, many U.S. states are working with Google and Apple to provide one, and now industry sectors are developing their own digital wallet.
A friend for the compliance officer: Co-thinking with AI
At their core, compliance officers are problem-solvers. They wrestle with thorny questions every day: How do we implement a global gifts-and-entertainment policy across jurisdictions with vastly different cultural norms? How do we balance business pressures with anti-corruption obligations? How do we address new risks like AI itself?
Cross-border compliance: Lessons from the UAE for a globalized financial system
Financial ecosystems are no longer confined within national boundaries. Money, technology, and risks flow seamlessly across jurisdictions, creating unprecedented challenges for compliance officers. From sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) obligations to the rise of virtual assets, the compliance function must now navigate a complex, cross-border landscape where regulators, institutions, and technologies often move at different speeds.
Why audit won’t save your anti-money laundering (AML) program
In financial institutions across the United States, there’s a reflex that’s become almost ritual.
When a regulator walks in, or a board member asks whether the AML program is working, the answer is the same: “We just passed audit.” It’s delivered with confidence, sometimes even pride, as if the risk has been neutralized. But passing audit doesn’t mean your program is safe.
It doesn’t mean it’s effective. And in today’s threat landscape, it doesn’t mean much of anything at all.
Five best practices for conducting effective investigations
Companies face rising pressure to detect misconduct early. Strong internal investigations identify compliance issues, uphold regulations, and protect credibility.
Navigating 2025 Compliance Challenges: Laurie Waddy on Governance, Anticorruption Trends, Vendor Risk, and AI Compliance
Former Head of Compliance/Chief Compliance Officer Laurie Waddy believes compliance professionals are well-positioned to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in their organizations. Drawing on 25 years’ experience in legal and compliance roles across multiple industries, Waddy shares insights into top compliance trends confronting the profession, including the emerging compliance risks related to AI implementation.
Five best practices for running an effective internal investigations program
In today’s complex and rapidly evolving regulatory compliance environment, organizations should have a thorough and effective internal investigations program in place to address any allegations of misconduct.


