AML/CFT and financial inclusion : new opportunities emerge from recent FATF action

Increasing numbers of countries worldwide are putting in place regulatory regimes that allow more poor people to access and use basic formal financial services they need to improve their lives. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which sets international standards for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), has taken significant action over the past two years, making it easier for policy makers to pursue financial inclusion goals while combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. This Focus Note provides an overview of the relevant FATF standards and guidance, highlighting the topics that are most relevant for financial inclusion policymaking, including the specific standards and guidance that have changed, and suggesting implications for financial inclusion policymaking.