What should an AML/KYC solution include?

At a minimum: sanctions screening, PEP screening, configurable matching, an audit trail, and exportable evidence. Many teams also require KYC verification, transaction monitoring, and webhooks for alerts.

What is the biggest hidden cost in screening vendors?

False positives and manual review time. Evaluate not just list count, but match quality, tuning controls, and reviewer workflows that speed up dispositions.

How do I evaluate list coverage?

Ask which lists are included, how frequently they update, how updates are audited, and whether sources cover the jurisdictions relevant to your customers and counterparties.

How to Choose an AML/KYC Solution (Checklist)

Selection checklist

Coverage and data sources

Which sanctions and watchlists are included?
Is PEP coverage documented (scope, update cadence)?
How are list updates tracked and audited?
Can you export source evidence for audits?

Match quality (false positives)

Can you tune thresholds and matching logic?
Do results include identifiers and match evidence?
Can you test with real names from your pipeline?

Developer experience

Latency and throughput under load
Batch APIs and webhooks for alerts
Clear versioning and stable response shapes
Sandbox + documentation that matches production behavior

Compliance operations

Reviewer UI or structured payloads for triage
Disposition workflow support (clear / hit / needs info)
Audit logs, retention controls, and export
Ongoing monitoring hooks: re-screening and transaction monitoring

Pricing and predictability

Transparent unit pricing and scaling expectations
Overage behavior and rate limits
Clear definition of “screening” vs “match” pricing

How to choose an AML/KYC solution