AML Compliance Best Practices: Staying Ahead in 2025

October 2025 - This AML Voices webinar brought together industry experts to discuss evolving best practices in anti-money laundering compliance amid a shifting regulatory landscape. The panelists - Corey Wells from First Federal Bank, Jonathan Fox from Citizens Bank, and Terry Pesce from Terry Pesce and Co. - explored how recent regulatory guidance from FinCEN and other agencies is moving away from checkbox compliance toward more tailored, risk-based approaches. Key topics included the new SAR filing FAQs, the increased reliance on internal audit reports during examinations, and the appropriate use of AI and technology to enhance efficiency without replacing human judgment. The experts emphasized that while regulatory expectations may be lightening in some areas, institutions should maintain strong practices around documentation, customer risk rating, and insider threat detection. Throughout the discussion, panelists stressed that best practices require continuous adaptation, strong board relationships, and a mindset of constant improvement rather than viewing compliance as a static goal.

00:00 – Start
00:55 – Meet the Expert Panel
01:52 – Agenda Overview
02:30 – Best Practices as a Mindset
04:11 – Regulatory Shifts & Changing Expectations
10:52 – How Banks Are Responding to Regulatory Changes
13:41 – SAR FAQs: Practical Impact
17:13 – Internal Audit’s Expanding Role
20:01 – What Recent Exams Look Like
21:49 – Avoiding Complacency During Deregulation
26:31 – Resource & Technology Challenges
28:03 – Fraud Trends & Investigation Challenges
31:00 – Using Technology for Program Efficiency
34:46 – Can AI Reduce Headcount?
40:15 – Enhancing Customer Risk Rating
46:34 – Preventing Insider Threats
53:04 – Working With Boards & Executives
56:12 – Talking to Boards About AI
59:42 – Closing Remarks

You can find all of our previous AML Voices webinars here: https://webinars.amlrightsource.com/