The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has just announced two big changes that matter for any financial service working to balance inclusion with strong compliance. Here’s what’s changing — and what it means for emerging markets.
① Financial Inclusion Is Now a Core Compliance Expectation#
In its updated Guidance on Financial Inclusion and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorist Financing Measures, FATF has reinforced a clear principle:
Risk assessments enable countries and financial institutions to provide appropriate financial services for those that pose low risks — and apply enhanced measures for higher risk scenarios.
Put simply: not everyone needs the same checks. If you’re serving low-income, rural, or underserved communities, rigid rules shouldn’t lock people out of the formal system.
The new guidance gives practical examples from around the world:
- 🇸🇪 Sweden: Banks and migration authorities collaborate so asylum seekers can open accounts safely.
- 🇸🇬 Singapore: Ex-offenders can access limited purpose accounts with extra safeguards — so they stay included, but risks are managed.
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Clear industry baselines guide banks on what to do for low, neutral, or high-risk customers.
More people inside the formal system means fewer hiding places for illicit finance — and fairer access for those who need it most.
② Stronger Travel Rule: Cross-Border Payments Get Safer#
At its June 2025 Plenary, FATF also agreed big updates to Recommendation 16 — the so-called Travel Rule. These changes mean cleaner, clearer cross-border payments and crypto transfers.
What’s changing?
🟢 Standardised information: Every payment above USD/EUR 1,000 must carry the full sender and receiver details (name, address, date of birth).
🟢 Clear roles in the payment chain: Each party knows exactly what info they must keep — no more gaps, no more confusion.
🟢 Better fraud protection: Financial institutions must use tech to check recipient details and cut down on mistakes and fraud.
🟢 Scope clarity: Small card payments for goods and services stay exempt — but FATF has tightened definitions to close loopholes.
The goal: make payments faster, safer and more transparent — without slowing down honest customers.
Why This Matters for Africa & Asia#
In many emerging markets, fintechs, MicroFinance, rural banks and remittance providers are the ones bridging communities to the global financial system.
FATF’s message is clear:
- Financial inclusion and financial integrity go hand in hand.
- Risk-based compliance must be practical and proportionate.
- Data transparency in payments keeps criminals out — and trust in.
How ANQA Helps#
At ANQA Compliance, we build tools for exactly this reality:
✅ Proportionate KYC & onboarding: Smart, risk-based checks that don’t shut out honest people just because they lack perfect documents.
✅ Sanctions and watchlist screening: Global coverage, clear results — no costly black box.
✅ Nature and Purpose Risk Assessment: Our advanced tool helps you understand why and how customers move their money — analysing behaviour and transaction history to catch unusual patterns before they become problems.
✅ Free training & practical guidance: No logins, no paywalls — just clear, actionable compliance knowledge for your whole team.
Looking for practical tips? We’ve broken down FATF’s guidance in more detail in our Financial Inclusion & AML/CFT resource.
We believe compliance shouldn’t push people out — it should pull communities in and protect them.
The new FATF standards raise the bar. Let’s help you meet it — without making it harder for the people you serve.