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How can Financial Firms Stay Compliant with Thai AML Regulations?

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Tookitaki
5 min
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Money laundering is a serious issue that affects economies all over the world. According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the estimated amount of money laundered globally in one year is between 2-5% of global GDP, or approximately $800 billion - $2 trillion US dollars. To tackle this issue, many countries have established regulatory frameworks to combat money laundering, including Thailand.

Thailand has been strengthening its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime. In 2020, Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) released a new regulation that requires financial institutions (FIs) to adopt a risk-based approach to AML compliance. This means that FIs must assess their risks and vulnerabilities to money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) and implement appropriate AML/CFT measures to manage those risks. This article will discuss how FIs can stay compliant with Thailand's AML regulations and how Tookitaki’s AML solutions can help.

Understanding Thailand's AML Regulations

FIs in Thailand must comply with a number of AML regulations. Here are some of the key regulations:

  • Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999) and its amendments
  • Anti-Money Laundering Office Regulations
  • The Counter-Terrorism Financing Act B.E. 2559 (2016)
  • The Counter-Terrorism Financing Office Regulations B.E. 2560 (2017)

Thailand's AML regulations are governed by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) under the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999). The regulations are designed to ensure that FIs identify, assess, and mitigate the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. The key requirements for FIs under these regulations include:

Challenges FIs Face in Staying Compliant

Staying compliant with AML regulations can be challenging for FIs. The following are some of the common challenges faced by FIs in Thailand:

  • Complex regulatory environment: The AML regulations in Thailand are complex and can be challenging to interpret.
  • Limited resources: Some FIs may have limited resources to dedicate to AML compliance.
  • Lack of expertise: FIs may not have sufficient in-house expertise to implement and maintain an effective AML programme.

FIs that fail to comply with AML regulations in Thailand can face severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and reputational damage. In 2020, the AMLO fined 22 FIs a total of THB 896 million (USD 28.7 million) for non-compliance with AML regulations.

Stay compliant with Thailand AML regulations

How Can FIs Stay Compliant?

A robust AML program is essential for FIs to comply with AML regulations in Thailand. The following are some best practices for FIs to maintain compliance:

Implement a Risk-Based Approach

To comply with Thai AML regulations, FIs must adopt a risk-based approach. This means that FIs must assess their own risks and vulnerabilities to ML/TF and implement appropriate AML/CFT measures to manage those risks.

To implement a risk-based approach, FIs should:

  • Conduct a risk assessment to identify their ML/TF risks
  • Develop policies and procedures to manage those risks
  • Implement ongoing monitoring and reporting mechanisms

FIs should also ensure that they have adequate internal controls and systems in place to detect and prevent ML/TF.

Train Employees on AML/CFT

It’s important for FIs to train their employees on AML/CFT regulations and best practices. This includes training on how to identify suspicious activity, how to report suspicious activity, and how to comply with AML/CFT policies and procedures.

To ensure that employees are aware of their AML/CFT responsibilities, FIs should provide regular training and updates on AML/CFT regulations and best practices.

Monitor Transactions and Conduct Enhanced Due Diligence

FIs must monitor transactions to detect and prevent ML/TF. This includes monitoring for suspicious activity, such as unusual patterns of transactions, and conducting enhanced due diligence on high-risk customers.

To comply with Thai AML regulations, FIs should:

  • Establish appropriate transaction monitoring systems
  • Conduct enhanced due diligence on high-risk customers
  • Screen customers against sanctions lists and politically exposed persons (PEP) lists

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How Tookitaki’s AML Solutions can Help

Technology can play a critical role in ensuring compliance with AML regulations in Thailand. A regtech company based in Singapore, Tookitaki is a pioneer in the fight against financial crime, leveraging a unique and innovative approach that transcends traditional solutions. The company's Anti-Money Laundering Suite (AMLS) and Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) Ecosystem work in tandem to address the limitations of siloed systems in combating money laundering.

The AFC Ecosystem is a community-based platform that facilitates sharing of information and best practices in the battle against financial crime. Powering this ecosystem is the Typology Repository, a living database of money laundering techniques and schemes. This repository is enriched by the collective experiences and knowledge of financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and risk consultants worldwide, encompassing a broad range of typologies from traditional methods to emerging trends.

The AMLS, a software solution deployed at financial institutions, collaborates with the AFC Ecosystem through federated machine learning. This integration allows the AMLS to extract new typologies from the AFC Ecosystem, executing them at the clients' end to ensure that their AML programs remain cutting-edge. Here are some of the key features of Tookitaki’s AML solutions:

Smart Screening: The tool is designed to detect potential matches against sanctions lists, PEPs, and other watchlists. It includes 50+ name-matching techniques and supports multiple attributes such as name, address, gender, date of birth, and date of incorporation. It covers 20+ languages and 10 different scripts and includes a built-in transliteration engine for effective cross-lingual matching.

Transaction Monitoring: The Transaction Monitoring tool is designed to detect suspicious patterns of financial transactions that may indicate money laundering or other financial crimes. It utilises powerful simulation modes for automated threshold tuning, allowing AML teams to focus on the most relevant alerts and improve their efficiency.

Dynamic Risk Scoring: The Dynamic Risk Scoring tool is a flexible and scalable customer risk ranking programme that adapts to changing customer behaviour and compliance requirements. It creates a dynamic, 360-degree risk profile for customers.

Case Management: The solution offers a centralised case management system that enables organisations to track and manage suspicious activity alerts, ensuring that all cases are reviewed and resolved on time. The tool can also generate reports and audit trails, making it easier for organisations to demonstrate their AML compliance efforts.

Final Thoughts

With financial crime on the rise, it is critical for FIs in Thailand to take the necessary steps to ensure AML compliance. This requires a comprehensive approach that includes regular risk assessments, robust internal controls, and advanced technology solutions like those offered by Tookitaki. FIs should consider booking a demo with Tookitaki's AML solutions to see how they ensure compliance with Thailand's AML regulations.

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Blogs
18 Aug 2025
4 min
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Top AML Software Vendors in Australia: What to Look For in 2025

With AUSTRAC raising the bar, choosing the right AML software vendor has never been more critical for Australian institutions.

As money laundering risks intensify and AUSTRAC tightens its enforcement grip, financial institutions across Australia are rethinking their compliance technology. But with so many AML software vendors in the market, how do you know which one truly delivers on detection, efficiency, and regulatory alignment? Choosing wisely isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it’s about building trust, cutting compliance costs, and staying one step ahead of criminals.

Talk to an Expert

Why Vendor Choice Matters More Than Ever in Australia

1. AUSTRAC’s No-Nonsense Approach

Record-breaking penalties against banks and casinos highlight the risks of weak AML controls. Regulators now expect proactive monitoring and transparent reporting.

2. Instant Payment Risks

With the New Payments Platform (NPP), funds move in seconds — and so can launderers. Vendors must support real-time transaction monitoring.

3. The Cost of Compliance

AML compliance spending in Australia is rising rapidly. Vendors must provide tools that reduce false positives and investigative workload.

4. Complex Laundering Typologies

From trade-based money laundering to digital mule networks, criminals are exploiting new channels. Vendors must offer adaptive, AI-powered solutions.

What to Look for in Top AML Software Vendors

1. Proven AUSTRAC Compliance

The vendor should align with Australian AML/CTF Act obligations, including support for:

  • Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs)
  • Threshold Transaction Reports (TTRs)
  • Complete audit trails

2. Real-Time Transaction Monitoring

Vendors must provide millisecond-level detection for:

  • Instant payments (NPP)
  • Cross-border corridors
  • Crypto-to-fiat transfers

3. AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

The best vendors go beyond rules, offering:

  • Adaptive anomaly detection
  • False positive reduction
  • Continuous model learning

4. Flexibility and Scalability

Solutions should fit both Tier-1 banks and scaling fintechs. Cloud-ready platforms with modular features are a must.

5. Explainability and Transparency

Glass-box AI ensures regulators and internal teams understand why an alert was generated.

6. Strong Vendor Support

Top vendors provide implementation guidance, typology updates, and local compliance expertise — not just software.

Common Pitfalls When Choosing an AML Vendor

  • Focusing on cost alone: Cheaper vendors often lack the sophistication to detect modern threats.
  • Ignoring integration needs: Some platforms don’t work seamlessly with existing case management systems.
  • Overlooking updates: Vendors that don’t regularly refresh typologies leave institutions vulnerable.
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Trends Among Top AML Vendors in 2025

Federated Intelligence

Leading vendors now share anonymised typologies across institutions to detect emerging risks faster.

Agentic AI

Adaptive agents that handle specific compliance tasks, from risk scoring to case narration.

Simulation Engines

The ability to test new detection scenarios before live deployment.

Cross-Channel Visibility

Unified monitoring across core banking, remittance, wallets, cards, and crypto.

Spotlight: Tookitaki’s FinCense

Among the top AML software vendors, Tookitaki is recognised for reimagining compliance through FinCense, its end-to-end AML and fraud prevention platform.

  • Agentic AI: Detects evolving threats in real time with minimal false positives.
  • Federated Learning: Accesses insights from the AFC Ecosystem — a global compliance network.
  • FinMate AI Copilot: Helps investigators summarise cases, suggest next steps, and generate regulator-ready reports.
  • Full AUSTRAC Compliance: Covers SMRs, TTRs, and explainable audit trails.
  • Real-World Typologies: Continuously updated from actual laundering and fraud scenarios worldwide.

FinCense helps Australian banks, fintechs, and remittance providers meet AUSTRAC’s standards while operating more efficiently and transparently.

Conclusion: Vendor Choice = Competitive Advantage

In Australia, AML software is no longer just about compliance — it’s about resilience, trust, and future-readiness. Choosing from the top AML software vendors means prioritising real-time detection, AI adaptability, and regulatory transparency.

Pro tip: Don’t just buy software. Invest in a vendor that evolves with you — and with the criminals you’re fighting.

Top AML Software Vendors in Australia: What to Look For in 2025
Blogs
18 Aug 2025
3 min
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AML Compliance for Banks in Hong Kong: Challenges & How Tookitaki Can Help

AML compliance in Hong Kong has become a top priority as financial institutions face growing regulatory pressure and increasingly complex financial crime threats.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in alignment with FATF standards, continues to tighten anti-money laundering (AML) expectations—pushing banks to adopt stronger, more adaptive compliance frameworks. Yet, many institutions still grapple with key challenges: high volumes of false positives, outdated monitoring systems, and the rapid evolution of money laundering techniques.

This blog explores the most pressing AML compliance challenges facing banks in Hong Kong today and how Tookitaki’s AI-powered AML solutions offer a smarter path forward—reducing operational costs, boosting detection accuracy, and future-proofing compliance.

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AML Compliance for Banks in Hong Kong

AML Compliance Challenges for Banks in Hong Kong

1️⃣ Increasing Regulatory Pressure & Evolving Compliance Standards
The HKMA and FATF continue to tighten AML compliance requirements, with banks expected to enhance due diligence, adopt a risk-based approach, and report suspicious activities with greater accuracy. Failure to comply results in severe penalties and reputational damage.

2️⃣ High False Positives & Compliance Costs
Traditional rules-based AML systems generate excessive false positives, leading to inefficient case handling and higher compliance costs. Banks must shift toward AI-powered AML compliance solutions to reduce manual workload and improve detection accuracy.

3️⃣ Cross-Border Transaction Risks & Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML)
Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub makes it a prime target for cross-border money laundering networks. Banks must enhance real-time transaction monitoring to detect complex trade-based money laundering (TBML) schemes and prevent illicit financial flows.

4️⃣ Adapting to Digital Banking & Virtual Assets
With the rise of virtual banks, fintechs, and cryptocurrency transactions, banks need scalable AML compliance frameworks that integrate seamlessly with digital banking systems and virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

5️⃣ Emerging Financial Crime Scenarios
Money launderers continuously evolve their tactics, using shell companies, multi-layered transactions, and AI-driven fraud techniques. Banks must deploy AML solutions that can adapt in real-time to emerging threats.

How Tookitaki Helps Banks Strengthen AML Compliance

Tookitaki’s AI-powered AML compliance solutions provide Hong Kong banks with a future-ready approach to financial crime prevention.

Comprehensive AML Transaction Monitoring
✔️ Real-time monitoring of billions of transactions to detect money laundering risks.
✔️ AI-driven anomaly detection to reduce false positives by up to 90%.
✔️ Automated sandbox testing to fine-tune detection models for better regulatory alignment.

Smart Screening for Sanctions & PEP Compliance
✔️ Identify high-risk entities with real-time screening against global sanctions & PEP lists.
✔️ Reduce false alerts using 50+ advanced AI name-matching techniques across 25+ languages.

AI-Driven Customer Risk Scoring
✔️ Generate 360-degree customer risk profiles based on transactions, counterparty data, and behaviour analytics.
✔️ Detect hidden financial crime networks with graph-based risk visualization.

Smart Alert Management & Case Handling
✔️ Reduce false positives by up to 70% using self-learning AI models.
✔️ Automate Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) generation for faster compliance reporting.

AFC Ecosystem: A Collaborative AML Compliance Solution
Tookitaki’s AFC (Anti-Financial Crime) Ecosystem enables banks to:
✔️ Access 100% risk coverage with community-driven AML scenarios.
✔️ Utilize a global scenario repository, constantly updated with real-world financial crime scenarios.

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Why Banks in Hong Kong Choose Tookitaki for AML Compliance

With Tookitaki’s AI-powered AML compliance platform FinCense, banks in Hong Kong can:
✅ Meet HKMA and FATF compliance requirements effortlessly.
✅ Reduce compliance costs by 50% through automated risk detection.
✅ Enhance fraud detection with 90%+ accuracy in identifying suspicious activities.

AML Compliance for Banks in Hong Kong: Challenges & How Tookitaki Can Help
Blogs
14 Aug 2025
5 min
read

Smarter Investigations: The Rise of AML Investigation Tools in Australia

In the battle against financial crime, the right AML investigation tools turn data overload into actionable intelligence.

Australian compliance teams face a constant challenge — growing transaction volumes, increasingly sophisticated money laundering techniques, and tighter AUSTRAC scrutiny. In this environment, AML investigation tools aren’t just nice-to-have — they’re essential for turning endless alerts into fast, confident decisions.

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Why AML Investigations Are Getting Harder in Australia

1. Explosion of Transaction Data

With the New Payments Platform (NPP) and cross-border corridors, institutions must monitor millions of transactions daily.

2. More Complex Typologies

From mule networks to shell companies, layering techniques are harder to detect with static rules alone.

3. Regulatory Expectations

AUSTRAC demands timely and accurate Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs). Delays or incomplete investigations can lead to penalties and reputational damage.

4. Resource Constraints

Skilled AML investigators are in short supply. Teams must do more with fewer people — making efficiency critical.

What Are AML Investigation Tools?

AML investigation tools are specialised software platforms that help compliance teams analyse suspicious activity, prioritise cases, and document findings for regulators.

They typically include features such as:

  • Alert triage and prioritisation
  • Transaction visualisation
  • Entity and relationship mapping
  • Case management workflows
  • Automated reporting capabilities

Key Features of Effective AML Investigation Tools

1. Integrated Case Management

Centralise all alerts, documents, and investigator notes in one platform.

2. Entity Resolution & Network Analysis

Link accounts, devices, and counterparties to uncover hidden connections in laundering networks.

3. Transaction Visualisation

Graph-based displays make it easier to trace fund flows and identify suspicious patterns.

4. AI-Powered Insights

Machine learning models suggest likely outcomes, surface overlooked anomalies, and flag high-risk entities faster.

5. Workflow Automation

Automate repetitive steps like KYC refresh requests, sanctions re-checks, and document retrieval.

6. Regulator-Ready Reporting

Generate Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs) and audit logs that meet AUSTRAC’s requirements.

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Why These Tools Matter in Australia’s Compliance Landscape

  • Speed: Fraud and laundering through NPP happen in seconds — investigations need to move just as fast.
  • Accuracy: AI-driven tools reduce false positives, ensuring analysts focus on real threats.
  • Compliance Assurance: Detailed audit trails prove that due diligence was carried out thoroughly.

Use Cases in Australia

Case 1: Cross-Border Layering Detection

An Australian bank flagged multiple small transfers to different ASEAN countries. The AML investigation tool mapped the network, revealing links to a known mule syndicate.

Case 2: Crypto Exchange Investigations

AML tools traced a high-value Bitcoin-to-fiat conversion back to an account flagged in a sanctions database, enabling rapid SMR submission.

Advanced Capabilities to Look For

Federated Intelligence

Access anonymised typologies and red flags from a network of institutions to spot emerging threats faster.

Embedded AI Copilot

Assist investigators in summarising cases, recommending next steps, and even drafting SMRs.

Scenario Simulation

Test detection scenarios against historical data before deploying them live.

Spotlight: Tookitaki’s FinCense and FinMate

FinCense integrates investigation workflows directly into its AML platform, while FinMate, Tookitaki’s AI investigation copilot, supercharges analyst productivity.

  • Automated Summaries: Generates natural language case narratives for internal and regulatory reporting.
  • Risk Prioritisation: Highlights the highest-risk cases first.
  • Real-Time Intelligence: Pulls in global typology updates from the AFC Ecosystem.
  • Full Transparency: Glass-box AI explains every decision, satisfying AUSTRAC’s audit requirements.

With FinCense and FinMate, Australian institutions can cut investigation times by up to 50% — without compromising quality.

Conclusion: From Data to Decisions — Faster

The volume and complexity of alerts in modern AML programmes make manual investigation unsustainable. The right AML investigation tools transform scattered data into actionable insights, helping compliance teams stay ahead of both criminals and regulators.

Pro tip: Choose tools that not only investigate faster, but also learn from every case — making your compliance programme smarter over time.

Smarter Investigations: The Rise of AML Investigation Tools in Australia