Sanctions screening blog

Straight answers about OFAC checks, the SDN list and how to screen customers, vendors and payments without drowning in false matches.

Auditor comparing a printed evidence record with a laptop

OFAC Recordkeeping Requirements for Screening Evidence

OFAC recordkeeping requirements mean keeping a full and accurate record of every transaction subject to sanctions rules, now for 10 years instead of 5. This guide covers what 31 CF...

Oct 11, 2026

Engineer wiring a sanctions screening API into an onboarding flow

Sanctions Screening API for Onboarding and Payouts

A sanctions screening API checks people and companies at the moments that matter: signup, business onboarding, payouts and outgoing payments. This guide covers where to call it in...

Oct 10, 2026

Treasury operator reviewing a queue of outgoing wire transfers

Payment Sanctions Screening for Wires and Transfers

Payment sanctions screening checks every party and field in a payment before it is released. This guide covers what to screen (originator, beneficiary, banks and BIC codes, free te...

Oct 9, 2026

Operations desk at night with monitors showing live alerts

OFAC SDN List Updates and Why Onboarding Checks Fall Behind

OFAC SDN list updates follow no fixed schedule. OFAC adds, removes and edits entries whenever an action is ready and publishes each one as a Recent Action. This guide explains the...

Oct 8, 2026

Two compliance analysts reviewing a possible match together on dual monitors

Sanctions Screening Software Buyer Guide for Compliance Teams

Most sanctions screening tools make the same promises. The real differences are in how quickly lists update, how many false alerts your team has to clear and whether you can show w...

Oct 7, 2026

Compliance officer comparing a customer file with screening results at her desk

What Is an OFAC Check and Who Needs to Run One

An OFAC check is a search of a person or company against the sanctions lists published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. This guide explains which lists the check covers, wh...

Oct 6, 2026

Two analysts tracing a printed company ownership chart on a meeting table

OFAC 50 Percent Rule Explained for Compliance Teams

Under the OFAC 50 percent rule, a company owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by one or more blocked persons is blocked even if its name is on no list. This guide wal...

Oct 5, 2026

Analyst comparing a customer ID with a possible list match on his screen

SDN List Search Without the False Positives

A good SDN list search checks every alias, allows for different spellings of the same name and uses dates of birth, nationality and ID numbers to separate real matches from strange...

Oct 4, 2026