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Maximising Efficiency in AML Compliance for Philippine Digital Banks

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Tookitaki
6 min
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In recent years, digital banks have been growing in popularity in the Philippines as more and more consumers turn to online banking services. However, with this growth comes the challenge of ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

AML compliance has become a crucial element for the success of digital banks in the Philippines. The country’s central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), has recently implemented strict regulations to curb money laundering and terrorist financing activities. Digital banks, being more susceptible to financial crimes, must comply with these regulations to maintain their operations in the country.

While traditional banks have long-established systems and processes for AML compliance, digital banks face unique challenges due to the nature of their operations. These challenges include onboarding customers remotely, managing real-time transactions, and monitoring suspicious activity across multiple channels.

To address these challenges, digital banks need an AML compliance platform that is efficient, effective, and tailored to their specific needs. That's where Tookitaki's platform comes in. This blog will explore how digital banks in the Philippines can maximise efficiency and effectiveness in AML compliance with Tookitaki's platform.

The Rise of Digital Banks: Meeting Evolving Customer Needs with Technological Disruption

Digital banking is on the rise globally as the traditional banking sector struggles to keep up with technological advancements. Digital banks, also known as neobanks, offer more efficient services and are better aligned with evolving customer needs.

As per a report by Juniper Research, more than half of the world's population will access digital banking by 2026.

Digital banks offer similar services to traditional banks, such as savings accounts, money transfer services, and financial education solutions, among others, but in a more efficient way. Customers can almost carry out any financial activities from the comfort of their homes, making accessibility and security significant factors for preferring digital banks over traditional banks. 

Digital Banking in the Philippines

The Philippines is experiencing a digital banking boom with the rise of mobile-first and digital-only banks. With a staggering 71% of Filipino adults being unbanked, digital banking presents an opportunity for financial inclusion and growth in the country. The global digital banking market size is forecasted to reach $30.75 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% during 2021-2026.

Challenges in AML Compliance for Digital Banks in the Philippines

The BSP has been implementing strict AML regulations to combat these crimes. Digital banks in the Philippines must comply with these regulations to obtain and maintain their licenses. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines and revocation of licenses.

Digital banks in the Philippines face unique challenges related to AML compliance. While digital banks are revolutionising the financial industry, they must also comply with AML regulations to prevent illicit financial activities. The limitations of traditional approaches to AML compliance, such as rules-based approaches, do not effectively address the dynamic and complex nature of digital transactions.

 

To ensure effective AML compliance, digital banks need more efficient and effective solutions. With the lack of digital infrastructure and underdeveloped payment infrastructure in the Philippines, AML compliance can challenge digital banks. It is crucial to implement AML solutions that leverage technology and can detect and prevent emerging financial crime techniques, such as money laundering.

The Role of Technology in AML Compliance for Digital Banks in the Philippines

Technology has significantly changed the way AML compliance is achieved, and digital banks in the Philippines can greatly benefit from its implementation. The use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence can help in identifying suspicious activities and detecting financial crime in real time, leading to quicker investigations and better risk management. Additionally, using automated AML compliance processes can reduce the risk of human error, improve the efficiency of compliance processes, and ultimately reduce the cost of compliance for digital banks.

Moreover, technology can assist in maintaining records and transaction monitoring, which are essential in AML compliance. It can enable digital banks to identify and analyze customer behaviour, monitor transactions, and detect unusual activity patterns that may indicate money laundering or terrorist financing. Furthermore, technology can be used to share data and information between digital banks, regulators, and law enforcement agencies to improve cooperation in detecting and preventing financial crimes.

By leveraging technology, digital banks in the Philippines can achieve more effective and efficient AML compliance, reduce the risk of financial crimes, and ultimately build trust and credibility with their customers.

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Tookitaki's Platform for AML Compliance for Digital Banks in the Philippines

As a global leader in financial crime prevention software, Tookitaki revolutionises the fight against financial crime by breaking the siloed AML approach and connecting the community through our innovative Anti-Money Laundering Suite (AMLS) and Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) Ecosystem. Its unique community-based approach empowers financial institutions to effectively detect, prevent, and combat money laundering and related criminal activities, resulting in a sustainable AML program with holistic risk coverage, sharper detection, and fewer false alerts.

Tookitaki AMLS is an end-to-end operating system that modernises compliance processes for banks and fintechs. In parallel, our AFC Ecosystem serves as a community of experts dedicated to uncovering hidden money trails that traditional methods cannot detect. Powered by federated machine learning, the AMLS collaborates with the AFC Ecosystem to ensure that financial institutions stay ahead of the curve in their AML programs.

Tookitaki AFC Ecosystem and AMLS

The AMLS  includes several modules such as Transaction Monitoring, Smart Screening, Dynamic Risk Scoring, and Case Manager. These modules work together to provide a comprehensive compliance solution that covers all aspects of AML, including detection, investigation, and reporting. The platform helps digital banks in the Philippines to:

  • Conduct Customer Due Diligence: Tookitaki's Smart Screening module can screen prospects, customers and counterparties 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 ten different scripts to help digital banks conduct screening at the time of onboarding and on an ongoing basis.
  • Conduct Risk Assessments: Tookitaki’s Dynamic Risk Scoring module can analyse large amounts of customer data to identify high-risk customers. It can identify patterns and anomalies in customer behaviour and transactions. By identifying high-risk customers, digital banks can conduct enhanced due diligence to ensure that these customers are not involved in money laundering or terrorist financing activities.
  • Monitor Transactions: The Transaction Monitoring module is designed to detect suspicious patterns of financial transactions that may indicate money laundering or other financial crimes. It utilizes powerful simulation modes for automated threshold tuning, allowing AML teams to focus on the most relevant alerts and improve their efficiency.
  • Conduct Quality Investigations and File Regulatory Reports: The Case Manager provides compliance teams with the platform to collaborate on cases and work seamlessly across teams. It provides digital banks with a comprehensive view of customer data, enabling them to conduct thorough investigations. It has built-in regulatory reporting templates that can be customised for each country. 

Overall, Tookitaki's platform for AML compliance provides digital banks in the Philippines with a powerful tool to achieve regulatory compliance while minimising financial crime risk. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and advanced analytics, digital banks can stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving digital finance landscape.

Tookitaki’s platform automates several aspects of AML compliance, reducing the need for manual processes. By automating AML compliance processes, digital banks can improve their efficiency and reduce the risk of errors. Tookitaki’s platform's unique community-based approach helps identify high-risk customers and transactions and generate alerts for suspicious activities. By enhancing the effectiveness of their AML compliance program, digital banks can reduce the risk of financial crimes and comply with regulatory requirements.

Achieving AML Compliance with Ease: The Role of Tookitaki's Platform for Digital Banks

Traditional approaches to AML compliance fall short of addressing digital banks' challenges in achieving efficient and effective compliance. The rise of digital banks in the Philippines highlights the need for more advanced and innovative solutions for AML compliance.

Tookitaki's platform offers digital banks in the Philippines a comprehensive solution for AML compliance, incorporating the latest technology and a community-based approach to ensure the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. With Tookitaki's platform, digital banks in the Philippines can achieve AML compliance seamlessly and effectively, enhancing their overall security and reputation in the industry.

We encourage digital banks in the Philippines to learn more about Tookitaki's platform for AML compliance and take advantage of its features to enhance their AML compliance measures. Contact Tookitaki today to schedule a demo and discover how the platform can benefit your digital bank.

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Blogs
22 Aug 2025
4 min
read

Stopping Fraud in Its Tracks: Transaction Fraud Prevention in Taiwan’s Digital Age

Fraud moves fast and in Taiwan’s digital-first economy, transaction fraud prevention has become the frontline of trust.

With payment volumes soaring across e-wallets, online banking, and instant transfers, the fight against fraud is no longer about catching criminals after the fact. It’s about detecting and stopping them in real time. Advanced platforms such as Tookitaki’s FinCense are redefining how financial institutions in Taiwan and beyond approach this challenge — blending AI, collaboration, and regulatory alignment to build smarter defences.

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Taiwan’s Digital Finance Boom and the Fraud Challenge

Taiwan has become one of Asia’s leaders in digital payments, with e-wallet adoption rising sharply and cross-border transactions powering e-commerce. But speed and convenience come with vulnerabilities:

  • Account Takeover (ATO): Fraudsters gain access to accounts via phishing or malware.
  • Money Mules: Recruited individuals move illicit funds through small-value transactions.
  • Synthetic Identities: Fake profiles slip past onboarding checks to exploit payment rails.

Regulators such as the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) have ramped up requirements, urging banks and payment firms to adopt risk-based monitoring. But compliance alone isn’t enough — prevention requires smarter tools and adaptive intelligence, the kind being pioneered by Tookitaki’s AI-powered compliance platform.

What Is Transaction Fraud Prevention?

At its core, transaction fraud prevention means identifying, analysing, and blocking suspicious payments before they can be completed. Unlike post-event investigations, prevention focuses on:

  1. Real-Time Detection – Flagging anomalies instantly.
  2. Behavioural Analytics – Profiling normal user patterns to spot deviations.
  3. Risk Scoring – Assigning risk levels to every transaction.
  4. Adaptive Learning – Using AI to refine rules as fraud evolves.

For Taiwan, where instant payments via the Financial Information Service Co. (FISC) platform are mainstream, real-time fraud prevention is a necessity. Platforms like FinCense help banks achieve this by combining speed with precision.

Key Fraud Risks in Taiwan

1. Account Takeover via Phishing

Taiwanese banks report rising cases of SMS phishing (“smishing”), where fraudsters impersonate institutions. Once accounts are breached, rapid fund transfers are executed before victims react.

2. Online Investment Scams

Cross-border scam syndicates target Taiwanese consumers with fraudulent investment schemes, funnelling proceeds through mule networks.

3. Social Engineering

“Pig butchering” scams, romance fraud, and fake job offers have become prominent, with victims manipulated into initiating fraudulent transfers themselves.

4. Merchant Fraud

E-commerce sellers set up fake storefronts, collect payments, and disappear, leaving banks to handle disputes and reputational risks.

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Strategies for Effective Transaction Fraud Prevention

Real-Time Monitoring

Fraud can unfold in seconds. Systems must analyse every transaction as it occurs, applying machine learning to flag suspicious transfers instantly. Tookitaki’s FinCense does this by ingesting real-time data streams and applying dynamic thresholds that adapt as fraud tactics change.

AI-Driven Risk Modelling

Instead of static rules, AI models learn from both fraud attempts and genuine behaviour. For example, FinCense leverages federated learning from a global network of institutions, enabling it to detect anomalies like unusual device fingerprints or abnormal transaction velocity — even when fraudsters attempt never-before-seen tactics.

Cross-Institution Collaboration

Fraudsters rarely confine themselves to one bank. Taiwan’s industry can strengthen defences by sharing red flags across institutions. Through the AFC Ecosystem, Tookitaki empowers banks and fintechs to access shared typologies and indicators, helping the industry act collectively against emerging fraud schemes.

Regulatory Alignment

The FSC requires strict fraud monitoring standards. Tookitaki’s compliance solutions are designed with explainable AI and governance frameworks, aligning directly with regulatory expectations while maintaining operational efficiency.

Customer Awareness

Technology alone isn’t enough. Banks should run consumer education campaigns to help customers spot phishing attempts and suspicious investment offers. FinCense complements this by reducing false positives, ensuring customers are not unnecessarily disrupted while genuine fraud attempts are intercepted.

Transaction Fraud Prevention in Practice

Case Example:

A Taiwanese bank detected an unusual pattern where multiple accounts began transferring small sums to the same overseas merchant. Using behavioural analytics powered by AI, the system flagged it as mule activity. Within minutes, the institution froze accounts, reported to the FSC, and prevented further losses.

Solutions like FinCense allow this type of proactive monitoring at scale, reducing detection lag and limiting potential reputational damage.

How Technology Is Raising the Bar

Transaction fraud prevention is no longer just about blacklists or simple thresholds. Cutting-edge solutions now combine:

  • Machine Learning Models trained on fraud typologies
  • Federated Intelligence Sharing across institutions to learn from global red flags
  • Explainable AI (XAI) to ensure transparency in decisions
  • Automated Investigation Tools to reduce false positives and improve efficiency

Tookitaki’s FinCense unites these capabilities into a single compliance platform — enabling financial institutions in Taiwan to monitor transactions in real time, adapt to evolving risks, and demonstrate clear accountability to regulators.

Why Transaction Fraud Prevention Matters for Taiwan’s Reputation

Taiwan’s financial system is a trusted hub in Asia. Yet with global watchdogs like FATF scrutinising AML/CFT effectiveness, a weak approach to fraud prevention could tarnish the country’s standing.

Robust prevention not only protects banks and customers — it safeguards Taiwan’s role as a secure, innovation-driven financial market. Tookitaki’s role as the “Trust Layer to fight financial crime” helps institutions balance growth and security, ensuring trust remains central to Taiwan’s digital finance journey.

Conclusion: Building Smarter Defences for Tomorrow

Fraudsters are fast, but Taiwan’s financial industry can be faster. By investing in transaction fraud prevention powered by AI, data collaboration, and regulatory alignment, banks and payment firms can build a financial system rooted in trust.

With advanced platforms like Tookitaki’s FinCense, institutions can move beyond reactive defence and adopt proactive, intelligent, and collective prevention strategies. Taiwan now has the opportunity to set the benchmark for Asia — proving that convenience and security can go hand in hand.

Stopping Fraud in Its Tracks: Transaction Fraud Prevention in Taiwan’s Digital Age
Blogs
22 Aug 2025
5 min
read

Chasing Zero Fraud: Finding the Best Anti-Fraud Solution for Australia

Fraudsters are getting smarter — but the best anti-fraud solutions are evolving even faster.

Fraud in Australia is no longer just about stolen credit cards or phishing emails. Today, fraudsters use AI deepfakes, synthetic identities, and mule networks to move billions through legitimate institutions. Scamwatch reports that Australians lost over AUD 3 billion in 2024, and regulators are tightening expectations. In this climate, choosing the best anti-fraud solution isn’t just an IT decision — it’s a strategic imperative.

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Why Fraud Prevention Has Become Business-Critical in Australia

1. Instant Payment Risks

The New Payments Platform (NPP) has made payments faster, but it also allows criminals to launder money in seconds.

2. Social Engineering & Scam Surge

Romance scams, impersonation fraud, and investment scams are rising sharply. Many involve victims authorising payments themselves — a challenge for traditional detection systems.

3. Regulatory Pressure

AUSTRAC and ASIC expect financial institutions to adopt proactive fraud prevention. Weak controls can lead to fines, reputational loss, and customer churn.

4. Consumer Trust

Australians expect safe, frictionless digital experiences. A single fraud incident can erode customer loyalty.

What Defines the Best Anti-Fraud Solution?

1. Real-Time Fraud Detection

The solution must monitor and analyse transactions instantly, with no batch delays.

  • Velocity monitoring
  • Device and IP fingerprinting
  • Behavioural biometrics
  • Pattern recognition

2. AI and Machine Learning

The best anti-fraud systems use AI to adapt to new typologies:

  • Spot anomalies that rules miss
  • Reduce false positives
  • Continuously improve detection accuracy

3. Multi-Channel Protection

Covers fraud across:

  • Bank transfers
  • Card payments
  • E-wallets and digital wallets
  • Remittances and cross-border corridors
  • Crypto exchanges

4. End-to-End Case Management

Integrated workflows that allow fraud teams to investigate, resolve, and report within the same system.

5. Regulatory Alignment

Supports AUSTRAC compliance with audit trails, suspicious matter reporting, and explainability.

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Use Cases for Anti-Fraud Solutions in Australia

  • Account Takeover (ATO): Detects unusual login + transfer behaviour.
  • Payroll Fraud: Flags sudden beneficiary changes in salary disbursement files.
  • Romance & Investment Scams: Detects unusual transfer chains to new or overseas accounts.
  • Card-Not-Present Fraud: Blocks suspicious e-commerce transactions.
  • Crypto Laundering: Identifies fiat-to-crypto activity linked to high-risk wallets.

Red Flags the Best Anti-Fraud Solution Should Catch

  • Large transfers to newly added beneficiaries
  • Multiple small transactions in rapid succession (smurfing)
  • Login from a new device/IP followed by immediate transfers
  • Customers suddenly transacting with high-risk jurisdictions
  • Beneficiary accounts linked to mule networks

How to Choose the Best Anti-Fraud Solution in Australia

Key questions to ask:

  1. Can it handle real-time detection across all channels?
  2. Does it integrate seamlessly with your AML systems?
  3. Is it powered by adaptive AI that learns from evolving fraud tactics?
  4. How well does it reduce false positives?
  5. Does it meet AUSTRAC’s compliance requirements?
  6. Does it come with local expertise and support?

Spotlight: Tookitaki’s FinCense as the Best Anti-Fraud Solution

Among global offerings, FinCense is recognised as one of the best anti-fraud solutions for Australian institutions.

  • Agentic AI detection for real-time fraud monitoring across banking, payments, and remittances.
  • Federated learning from the AFC Ecosystem, bringing in global crime typologies and real-world scenarios.
  • FinMate AI copilot helps investigators close cases faster with summarised alerts and recommendations.
  • Cross-channel visibility covering transactions from cards to crypto.
  • Regulator-ready transparency with explainable AI and complete audit trails.

FinCense not only detects fraud — it prevents it by continuously learning and adapting to new scam typologies.

Conclusion: Prevention = Protection = Trust

In Australia’s high-speed financial landscape, the best anti-fraud solution is the one that balances real-time detection, adaptive intelligence, and seamless compliance. It’s not just about stopping fraud — it’s about building trust and future-proofing your institution.

Pro tip: Don’t just ask if a solution can detect today’s fraud. Ask if it can evolve with tomorrow’s scams.

Chasing Zero Fraud: Finding the Best Anti-Fraud Solution for Australia
Blogs
21 Aug 2025
5 min
read

Malaysia’s Compliance Edge: Why an Industry-Leading AML Solution Is Now Essential

Financial crime is moving faster than ever — and Malaysia needs an AML solution that can move faster still.

The Rising Stakes in Malaysia’s Fight Against Financial Crime

In Malaysia, the financial sector is at a crossroads. With rapid digitalisation, the boom in fintech adoption, and cross-border flows surging, financial crime has found new entry points. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has been firm in its stance: compliance is not optional, and institutions that fail to meet evolving standards face reputational and financial fallout.

At the same time, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. From money mule networks exploiting young workers and students to investment scams powered by social engineering and deepfakes, Malaysia is seeing threats that transcend borders.

Against this backdrop, the demand is clear: financial institutions need an industry-leading AML solution that not only meets regulatory expectations but also builds consumer trust in a fast-changing market.

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Why “Industry Leading” Is More Than a Buzzword

Every vendor claims to offer the “best” AML software, but in practice, very few solutions rise to the level of being industry leading. In the Malaysian context, where financial institutions must juggle FATF recommendations, BNM guidelines, and ASEAN cross-border risks, the definition of “industry leading” is clear.

An AML solution in Malaysia today must be:

  • AI-driven and adaptive — able to evolve with new money laundering and fraud typologies.
  • Regulator-aligned — transparent, explainable, and in line with AI governance principles.
  • Comprehensive — covering both AML and fraud in real-time, across multiple payment channels.
  • Scalable — capable of supporting banks and fintechs with diverse customer bases and transaction volumes.
  • Collaborative — leveraging intelligence beyond siloed data to detect emerging risks faster.

Anything less leaves financial institutions vulnerable.

The Challenge with Legacy AML Systems

Many Malaysian banks and fintechs still rely on legacy transaction monitoring systems. While these systems may tick the compliance box, they struggle with modern threats. The common pain points include:

  • High false positives — compliance teams are overwhelmed with noise instead of meaningful alerts.
  • Static rule sets — traditional systems cannot keep pace with the speed of criminal innovation.
  • Limited explainability — leaving compliance officers unable to justify decisions to regulators.
  • Fragmentation — siloed systems across AML and fraud prevention create blind spots in detection.

The result? Compliance teams are overstretched, risks are missed, and customer trust is eroded.

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Tookitaki’s FinCense: Malaysia’s Industry-Leading AML Solution

This is where Tookitaki’s FinCense stands apart — not just as another AML system, but as the Trust Layer to fight financial crime.

FinCense is purpose-built to help financial institutions in Malaysia and beyond move from reactive compliance to proactive prevention. Here’s why it leads the industry:

1. Agentic AI Workflows

FinCense harnesses Agentic AI, a next-generation compliance framework where AI agents don’t just analyse data but take proactive actions across the investigation lifecycle. This enables:

  • Automated alert triage
  • Smarter case management
  • Real-time recommendations for compliance officers

The outcome: compliance teams spend less time firefighting and more time making strategic decisions.

2. Federated Learning: Collective Intelligence at Scale

Unlike siloed systems, FinCense taps into a federated learning model through the AFC Ecosystem — a community-driven network of financial institutions, regulators, and compliance experts. This allows Malaysian banks to detect threats that may have first emerged in other ASEAN markets, giving them a head start against syndicates.

3. Explainable, Regulator-Aligned AI

Trust in compliance technology hinges on explainability. FinCense is designed to be fully explainable and auditable, aligned with frameworks like Singapore’s AI Verify. For Malaysian banks, this ensures regulators can clearly understand the basis for alerts, reducing friction and enhancing oversight.

4. End-to-End Coverage: AML + Fraud

FinCense goes beyond AML, offering integrated coverage across:

  • Transaction monitoring
  • Name screening
  • Fraud detection
  • Smart disposition and narration tools for investigations

This eliminates the need for multiple systems and ensures compliance teams have a single view of risk.

5. ASEAN Market Fit

FinCense is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Its scenarios and typologies are tailored to the realities of ASEAN markets, including Malaysia’s unique mix of cross-border remittances, e-wallet adoption, and high cash usage. This localisation ensures higher detection accuracy and relevance.

What This Means for Malaysian Banks and Fintechs

Adopting an industry-leading AML solution like FinCense translates to tangible benefits:

  • Reduced Compliance Costs — through automation and lower false positives.
  • Faster, More Accurate Detection — stopping illicit funds before they can be layered or withdrawn.
  • Regulatory Confidence — meeting BNM and FATF expectations with explainable, auditable AI.
  • Stronger Customer Trust — safeguarding against scams and building confidence in digital finance.

With Malaysia pushing to strengthen its financial system and attract international investment, trust is the new currency. A compliance framework that prevents financial crime effectively is no longer optional — it is foundational.

The Road Ahead: Building Malaysia’s Trust Layer

Financial crime is only going to get smarter. With the rise of instant payments, deepfake-driven scams, and cross-border mule networks, Malaysia’s financial sector needs a solution that evolves just as quickly.

Tookitaki’s FinCense is more than software — it is the Trust Layer that empowers banks and fintechs to detect risks early, protect customers, and stay a step ahead of regulators and criminals alike.

For Malaysian financial institutions, the choice is clear: staying competitive in the region means adopting an industry-leading AML solution that can deliver speed, precision, and transparency at scale.

Malaysia’s Compliance Edge: Why an Industry-Leading AML Solution Is Now Essential