20 AML Interview Questions & Answers (2025) — Examples + SAR Scenarios

Preparing for an AML analyst interview in 2025? This video gives you 20 AML interview questions and answers plus 3 SAR scenarios you can adapt for your own responses.

Whether you’re targeting an entry-level AML role, BSA analyst, sanctions investigator, or compliance position, this is your practical AML job interview prep guide.

In this video, we’ll walk through:
✅ What anti-money laundering (AML) is and why it matters
✅ The 3 stages of money laundering: placement, layering, integration
✅ FATF 40 Recommendations, OFAC sanctions, and the 50 Percent Rule
✅ FinCEN SAR filing timelines and what makes a strong SAR narrative
✅ Key differences between CDD vs. EDD and how to apply a risk-based approach
✅ Structuring vs layering, trade-based money laundering, and money mules
✅ Crypto and VASP risk, cross-border exposure, and PEPs
✅ The Three Lines of Defense in AML and how they work together

You’ll also get 3 fully built SAR scenarios you can reuse in interviews:
💼 Cash structuring pattern at a small business
🌍 OFAC ownership risk via the 50 Percent Rule
🪙 Crypto/VASP flows inconsistent with the customer profile
Use this video like a mock interview: pause after each question, build your own answer, and then refine it using the examples I provide.

Who This Video Is For:
AML / BSA analysts preparing for interviews
Sanctions, KYC, and transaction-monitoring candidates
Compliance professionals pivoting into financial crime roles
Students and career changers breaking into AML in 2025

Next Steps & Related Videos:
📌 Check out my BSA & AML training videos on SARs, KYC, and transaction monitoring for deeper understanding.

📌 Coming soon:
20 Bank Teller Interview Questions & Answers
20 Personal Banker / Relationship Banker Interview Questions & Answers

These will help you get hired and stay ready for real-world banking compliance.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Q1 - What is anti-money laundering (AML)?
01:24 - Q2 - Why is AML critical for financial institutions?
01:57 - Q3 - What are the stages of money laundering?
02:32 - Q4 - How do you stay current on evolving AML risks?
03:05 - Q5 - What common money-laundering techniques do you watch for?
03:35 - Q6 - What’s the difference between money laundering and terrorist financing?
04:07 - Q7 - Scenario — Crypto and VASP risk (how would you respond)
04:47 - Q8 - Structuring vs. Layering—what’s the difference?
05:14 - Q9 - SAR basics—when do you file and what matters most in the narrative?
06:04 - Q10 - Who are the key standard-setters and regulators you align to?
06:31 - Q11 - How do you manage cross-border and sanctions risk?
07:02 - Q12 - Give examples of AML red flags you monitor.
07:33 - Q13 - CDD vs. EDD—explain the difference and when EDD is required.
08:19 - Q14 - OFAC and the 50 Percent Rule—what should analysts know?
08:58 - Q15 - What are PEPs and how are they handled?
09:25 - Q16 - How do you prepare for regulatory exams or internal audits?
09:55 - Q17 - How do you reconcile a mismatch between a customer’s stated income and their activity?
10:24 - Q18 - Transaction-monitoring systems—what matters to you?
10:58 - Q19 - A sanctions list hit appears during screening—what’s your workflow?
11:32 - Q20 - Explain the Three Lines of Defense in AML.
11:57 - SAR Scenario 1
12:40 - SAR Scenario 2
13:11 - SAR Scenario 3
13:53 - Rapid Fire add-ons Interviewers Ask
14:32 - Outro


If this video helped you feel more prepared for your AML interview, hit like, subscribe to Jay Get It, and comment “CHEAT SHEET” below. I’ll share a one-page summary of all 20 answers and the SAR scenarios you can bring to your interview.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or compliance advice. Regulations and expectations vary by jurisdiction and institution. Always follow your organization’s policies, your local laws, and current regulatory guidance.


#AMLInterview #BSAAML #AntiMoneyLaundering #ComplianceJobs #FinCEN #OFAC #FATF #BankingCareers #JayGetIt #compliancetraining
#JobInterviewAML #JGI