How to improve your AML software and compliance program in 2025

A strong anti-money laundering (AML) software and compliance program is paramount for 2025 as global financial crime increases 

According to the 2024 Global Financial Crime Report, more than $3.1 trillion flowed through the financial system in 2023. Money laundering was used to funnel more than $780 billion in drug trafficking activity, almost $350 billion in human trafficking, and resulted in more than $485 billion in fraud losses. As 2025 approaches, a strong AML software and compliance program is more important than ever before.  

As regulatory expectations and changes occur, and financial crime risks and threats evolve, it isn’t enough to rely on legacy AML software and systems that weren’t designed for the global financial landscape. Here are eight ways for financial institutions to improve AML compliance in 2025.  

Use advanced AML software that includes AI 

Advanced technology such as AI machine learning can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of AML compliance programs. Using AI-led financial crime prevention tools (such as SymphonyAI’s Sensa Investigation Hub), organizations can access advanced predictive analytics and generative AI, which improve the quality and speed of financial crime investigations. 

Financial institutions may wish to improve the software they use for areas like AML transaction monitoring to benefit from enhancements, such as faster identification of suspicious transaction patterns, or more accurately rating customer risk. However, these organizations may be discouraged by the perceived difficulties in upgrading legacy software. Thankfully, it isn’t a case of ripping and replacing current systems; AI overlays can interact with and upgrade the current technology in use so that financial institutions can immediately begin using AI without the need for costly wholesale upgrades. Even better, these AI applications are often available via SaaS, which among other benefits, means that the initial outlay isn’t cost prohibitive. 

Real-time updates to regulatory changes and sanctions lists 

Ensuring regulatory compliance has never been more complex, with constant changes to regulations in different countries and jurisdictions. For a financial institution operating in many countries, it can be a lot. And that’s before quickly having to respond to sanction list updates as well.  

Bearing this in mind, it’s important to have an AML compliance program that can monitor and update to these changes in real-time with financial crime prevention tools that respond to the latest developments (ideally automatically as can be done with sanctions screening software). Other solutions include regularly updating compliance procedures to ensure they encompass the risks to which your institution is exposed. 

A unified AML compliance approach 

Because there are so many different laws and regulations to abide by, larger firms can more easily ensure AML compliance by focusing on a unified approach to their AML program. Banks often put in place and manage regional requirements but with banking systems interconnected around the world, organizations should standardize the approach they offer across borders to make it easier to more efficiently police their compliance strategy. 

By focusing on examples like the US Corporate Transparency Act to tackle opaque corporate structures (which can be used for fraud) or the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, which aims to standardize AML regulations among its members, financial institutions can simplify operations and unify behind international standards for 2025.  

Assess financial crime compliance regulatory overlaps 

‘Financial crime compliance’ is a catch-all term for a multitude of different areas from AML software to payment fraud solutions. The truth is that with so many global regulations, there is a lot of overlap between different financial crimes and the laws that govern them. As banks look at how to get the most from their data and resources by combining fraud prevention with AML (FRAML), consider setting up your financial institution in the same way. Having complete oversight over all areas of financial crime compliance can lead to significant productivity gains and cost benefits. 

One approach might be to combine data stores within different areas of the institution, thereby breaking down knowledge silos and enhancing collaboration within your organization. Another may be to consider a centralized case management system, offering a holistic view of risk and leading to higher quality, faster financial crime investigations. Another upside to this approach is that any AML compliance and risk gaps are more easily noticeable, ensuring that they don’t stay gaps for long. 

Invest in comprehensive staff training and awareness 

Not every investment in an AML compliance program for 2025 needs to be tech focused. An organization is nothing without its staff, so it is prudent to regularly update and conduct comprehensive training programs to ensure that employees are aware of the latest AML regulations, potential risks, and new trends in money laundering tactics. 

Alongside this, constant training and checking in allows staff to develop skills in the areas that are most needed, such as working with AI, and in the areas that interest them most, creating a passionate workforce that will improve overall productivity and enhance an institution’s culture. 

Develop a risk-based approach with enhanced screening  

Continuously enhance the risk-based approach to AML by integrating the latest risk assessment tools and methodologies. This involves identifying, assessing, and managing the risks specific to the institution and adjusting the AML compliance program accordingly. 

By mitigating these risks with perpetual KYC (pKYC) or enhanced due diligence screening methods that more effectively highlight where funds have come from and how they are being used (using software like SensaAI for Sanctions), an organization can better protect itself against cases of money laundering and reduce false positives, freeing up time for workers to investigate genuine cases of financial crime. They will also avoid regulatory fines that can be issued for non-compliance. 

Enhance data analytics and visual reporting 

Investigating financial crime doesn’t just have to involve looking at numbers on a screen or reading negative news about a subject. In fact, 65% of people are visual learners. As such, it makes sense to present complicated data in a clearer manner than is usual. Organizations can do this by using sophisticated AML software that uses data analytics and visualization tools to help investigators better understand and interpret large datasets. This can help compliance teams to identify trends, detect anomalies, and respond to potential threats more swiftly. 

One example used in AML software is entity resolution, which provides a clear picture of how transactions between separate entities are linked. By constructing an interactive ‘web’ for an investigator to explore, complex customer relationships instantly become clearer, leading to an enhanced understanding of concealed criminal networks. 

Enact automated reporting within AML software 

Using generative AI within AML software, institutions can implement automated solutions for regulatory reporting such as drafting a suspicious activity report (SAR) to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness in submitting required information to regulatory authorities. Reporting in this manner also offers cost savings benefits, allowing investigators to spend their valuable time on critical investigation and analysis. 

With organizations increasingly relying on AI to streamline processes, it’s important that an institution doesn’t get left behind. Even so, to ensure strong AML compliance, it is vital to use AI responsibly and ensure that the AI decision-making is transparent, unbiased, and explainable to authorities, while also making sure that such use cases don’t negatively impact customers. 

SymphonyAI can improve AML compliance for you in 2025 

Upgrading AML software and upgrading your compliance program in 2025 requires a dynamic and forward-thinking approach, integrating the latest technologies and best practices to stay ahead of evolving financial crime threats. By implementing these strategies and using AI effectively, a company can significantly strengthen its AML compliance program, minimizing risk and enhancing its ability to prevent illicit activities. 

For companies seeking to elevate their AML efforts further, exploring innovative solutions like SymphonyAI’s AML transaction monitoring solution or the SensaAI for AML AI overlay offers a promising pathway. SymphonyAI provides the latest, most advanced technology that enables organizations to analyze transactions with greater precision and agility, ensuring compliance with ever-more stringent regulations.