Martin Woods
Martin Woods is a former detective turned compliance officer who has experience with major compliance cases and settlements from a number of perspectives. He now applies his experience to the analysis and subsequent commentary of current compliance investigations and settlements. Previously, he advised bankers, regulators, the United Nations, central bankers, and law enforcement groups from around the world.
ArticleWells Fargo must do more than pay to redeem fake account scandal
Wells Fargo is now operating under a different regime, but what have the billions of dollars the bank has spent in attending to the compliance failures that arose out of its fake account scandal delivered? Not enough, posits Martin Woods.
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Having difficult conversations is key to modern compliance
Now more than ever, difficult conversations are necessary and increasingly expected of compliance professionals. Financial crime expert Martin Woods has some ideas on how to make them less painful.
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Common sense KYC: Customers should supply the knowledge
No one knows a customer better than the customer. As such, financial crime expert Martin Woods believes the onus should be on the customer to provide the required data to keep KYC logs up to date.
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Firms must apply contact tracing rules to bank relationships
In order to prevent debacles like the one Deutsche Bank is embroiled in, there is a need to combine the processes of “know your employee” and “know your customer,” writes Martin Woods.
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While compliance is in vogue, let masks be a symbol of safety in all situations
Now is the time to market compliance practices to customers who wear masks within our premises but drop the masks—and their guards—when answering calls and emails from the privacy of their own homes, writes Martin Woods.
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SARs overload slowing efforts to combat financial crime
For the global AML community, there is a need to recognize too much valuable time is spent filing too many low-value suspicious activity reports that will never become the subject of any law enforcement action, writes Martin Woods.
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U.K.’s Russia report underscores need to question big money
The U.K.’s long-awaited report on Russian interference in the country stresses the importance for big money to be subject to enhanced levels of due diligence, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Using data to fight fraud fire with fire
When it comes to ferreting out and thwarting fraud, one must think like the fraudster, advises financial crime expert Martin Woods, who offers tips on using data to make your firm a hostile environment for bad actors.
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Want an image of corruption? Look to the victims
Harrowing images of coronavirus-related suffering exacerbated by bad actors plaguing healthcare systems offer a glimpse at the true devastation of corrupt activity, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Nothing more important than knowing your risk exposure
In performing due diligence on your supply chain partners, do not be intimidated into accepting no for an answer. Being blind to potential risks is bound to get you into trouble, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Analysis: When clean money is used for dirty purposes
There are times when it is a necessary to consider where clean money is going to as much as where dirty money may have come from, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Analysis: Following the telephone trail to detect fraudsters
One way to thwart money launderers is to take a page from the government’s playbook and examine smartphone applications when the contamination of fraud or money laundering is discovered.
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In time of crisis, Wirecard has turned to its would-be CCO to lead
Reeling from a $2 billion accounting scandal, Wirecard has turned to its would-be chief compliance officer as its interim CEO. It’s the first smart move the company has made in a while, writes Martin Woods.
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What are expectations of compliance at a negligent company like PG&E?
Financial crime expert Martin Woods wonders about the compliance priorities of a company found to be as reckless as Pacific Gas and Electric.
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Lessons from Wirecard: Ignore unchallenged allegations at your peril
When a company does not rebut serious allegations of wrongdoing with litigation, the only response is to demand answers from the firm or take your business elsewhere, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Analysis: Learning to learn from our mistakes with AML
Scientists and doctors cannot succeed or make medical breakthroughs without being prepared to fail. The same approach should be taken to combating anti-money laundering, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Analysis: Path to effective AML is doing less with more
The answer to being more effective at stopping money launderers is to challenge the value of processes that are clearly failing. Financial crime expert Martin Woods explains.
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Analysis: Let Westpac’s missteps be a cautionary tale
By balking at original allegations, Westpac opened itself to infinitely more harm, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Analysis: Don’t ignore financial misconduct in ‘plane’ view
Compliance officers must let go of the fear that often accompanies respect for big money (or luxurious aircrafts) and hold the difficult conversations when ferreting out bad actors, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
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Compliance has a role in eliminating corporate bullies
Anti-bullying should be at the top of your compliance agenda and should be supported by increased gender balance, writes financial crime expert Martin Woods.
