Revised Guidance on AML/CFT and Financial Inclusion

Paris, 25 February 2013 -   FATF is convinced that the promotion of well regulated financial systems and services is central to any effective and comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) regime. However, applying an overly cautious approach to AML/CFT safeguards can have the unintended consequence of excluding legitimate businesses and consumers from the financial system.

In June 2011, FATF published a Guidance paper which provided support to countries and their financial institutions in designing AML/CFT measures that meet the national goal of financial inclusion, without compromising the measures that exist for the purpose of combating crime. Following the revision of its Recommendations in February 2012, FATF adopted an updated version of its Guidance on financial inclusion in February 2013. This project was conducted in partnership with the World Bank and the , and in consultation with the financial industry.

The Guidance paper focuses on ensuring that AML/CFT controls do not inhibit access to well regulated financial services for financially excluded and underserved groups, including low income, rural sector and undocumented groups. The document provides clarity and guidance on the FATF Recommendations that are relevant when promoting financial inclusion and shows how the Recommendations can be read and interpreted to support financial access.

The revised Guidance seeks to reflect the changes brought to the FATF Recommendations in 2012. It focuses in particular on the reinforcement of the risk-based approach (RBA), as a general and underlying principle of all AML/CFT systems. FATF believes that the development of risk-sensitive AML/CFT frameworks will be a key step for countries that wish to build a more inclusive formal financial system, and give access to appropriate financial services to a larger proportion of the population, including the most vulnerable and unserved groups.