Despite massive investments in mitigation capabilities, financial crime remains a trillion-dollar global issue with impacts that extend well beyond the financial services industry. Worldwide, there are between $800 billion and $2 trillion laundered annually with the United States making up at least $300 billion of that figure. Although it is not possible to measure money laundering in the same way as legitimate economic activity, the scale of the problem is considered enormous. The cybersecurity landscape is always shifting, with threats becoming more sophisticated all the time. Managing risks in the banking and financial sectors requires a thorough understanding of the evolving risks as well as the tools and practical techniques available to address them. Cybercrime is a global problem, which requires a coordinated international response. This book outlines the regulatory requirements that come out of cyber laws and showcases the comparison in dealing with AML/CFT and cybersecurity among the G-20, which will be of interest to scholars, students and policymakers within these fields.

This paper discusses the impact of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the financial sector. It highlights the benefits these technologies bring in terms of financial deepening and efficiency, while raising concerns about its potential in widening the digital divide between advanced and developing economies. The paper advances the discussion on the impact of this technology by distilling and categorizing the unique risks that it could pose to the integrity and stability of the financial system, policy challenges, and potential regulatory approaches. The evolving nature of this technology and its application in finance means that the full extent of its strengths and weaknesses is yet to be fully understood. Given the risk of unexpected pitfalls, countries will need to strengthen prudential oversight.

The success of counterterrorism finance strategies in reducing terrorist access to official currencies has raised concerns that terrorist organizations might increase their use of such digital cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin to support their activities. RAND researchers thus consider the needs of terrorist groups and the advantages and disadvantages of the cryptocurrency technologies available to them.

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Anti-Money Laundering Regulation and Compliance: Key Problems and Practice Areas is a comprehensive treatment of the Anti-Money Laundering/Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance programs, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and the best practices under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and sanctions regulatory regimes. AML/CFT and sanctions provisions are highly interrelated. Onboarding and customer due diligence requirements generate the data entered into transaction monitoring and screening systems.

Technology is changing the landscape of the financial sector, increasing access to financial services in profound ways. These changes have been in motion for several years, affecting nearly all countries in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has created new opportunities for digital financial services to accelerate and enhance financial inclusion, amid social distancing and containment measures. At the same time, the risks emerging prior to COVID-19, as digital financial services developed, are becoming even more relevant.