About the Podcast#
RegTech Real Talk is Anqa Compliance’s podcast for compliance professionals working in emerging markets. Each episode takes an honest look at the realities of AML, sanctions, and financial crime compliance in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South East Asia — where regulatory pressure is rising, resources are often limited, and the stakes are high.
This is not a podcast about compliance theory. It is about the practical challenges that MLROs, compliance officers, and risk professionals face in the field — and the approaches, tools, and frameworks that actually make a difference.
Who It Is For#
RegTech Real Talk is made for:
- MLROs and compliance officers at banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, and fintechs in emerging markets
- Compliance consultants and advisors working across Africa and Asia
- Fintech founders building compliance-by-design into their products and operating models
- Regulators and supervisory staff looking for practitioner perspectives on emerging issues
- NGO and development sector professionals grappling with AML/CFT obligations
- Anyone building or managing a compliance function in an environment where the regulatory environment is evolving rapidly and the textbook answers do not always apply
Topics We Cover#
No episode is identical, but RegTech Real Talk regularly explores the following areas:
- Typologies and emerging financial crime threats relevant to Africa and Asia
- Regulatory developments in ESAAMLG, GIABA, GABAC, APG, and other FSRB member states
- Case studies from enforcement actions and mutual evaluation findings
- The practical application of the risk-based approach in under-resourced environments
- Technology and RegTech — what works, what does not, and how to evaluate compliance tools
- The human dimension of compliance: building a compliance culture, training staff, and managing the MLRO role
- Correspondent banking risk and de-risking in emerging markets
- Financial inclusion and AML — how to extend financial access without compromising compliance
- Crypto, virtual assets, and the compliance challenges facing VASPs in regulated and lightly regulated markets
Episode Themes#
The Grey List Problem#
What does it actually mean for a financial institution when its home jurisdiction is placed on the FATF grey list? This episode examines the practical consequences for correspondent banking relationships, the documentation demands that follow, and what compliance teams can do to maintain international partnerships while their government works through the action plan process.
Mobile Money and the Money Launderer#
Mobile money has transformed financial inclusion across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia — but the same features that make it accessible also make it attractive for financial crime. This episode looks at how mobile money platforms are exploited, the typologies that compliance teams should know, and the transaction monitoring approaches that are most effective in high-volume, low-value payment environments.
Building Compliance on a Budget#
Most compliance textbooks assume a well-funded team with enterprise-grade technology and a full legal department on call. Most compliance teams in emerging markets have none of those things. This episode is a practical conversation about prioritisation, proportionality, and the tools and techniques that small teams can use to build defensible, effective compliance programmes without unlimited resources.
The Correspondent Banking Crisis#
De-risking — the withdrawal of correspondent banking services from entire categories of customers and jurisdictions — is one of the most consequential and underreported stories in global finance. This episode examines what is driving de-risking, which institutions and communities are most affected, and what banks in emerging markets can do to maintain correspondent relationships in an environment of heightened scrutiny.
NGOs in the Crosshairs#
Development NGOs and faith-based organisations are specifically identified by FATF as presenting elevated terrorist financing risk. This episode explores what FATF Recommendation 8 means in practice for organisations operating programmes in high-risk areas, how to conduct meaningful donor and partner due diligence with limited resources, and how to navigate the compliance obligations that come with operating in fragile or conflict-affected environments.
The eKYC Opportunity#
Digital identity and electronic KYC are transforming customer onboarding across emerging markets — but the compliance implications are still poorly understood by many practitioners. This episode examines FATF’s guidance on digital identity, the conditions under which eKYC can satisfy CDD obligations, and how institutions can leverage national digital ID infrastructure to improve both access and compliance outcomes simultaneously.
When the Regulator Calls#
An enforcement action or regulatory examination is among the most stressful events a compliance team can face. This episode looks at how to prepare for regulatory scrutiny, what examiners are actually looking for, how to respond when deficiencies are identified, and how to rebuild trust with your supervisor after a difficult examination.
Crypto Compliance at the Frontier#
Virtual asset service providers operating in African and Asian markets face a rapidly evolving and often inconsistent regulatory landscape. This episode explores FATF’s Travel Rule and its implementation challenges in emerging markets, the compliance considerations for VASPs onboarding customers in high-risk jurisdictions, and the practical realities of building a crypto compliance programme where the rules are still being written.
Where to Listen#
New episodes of RegTech Real Talk are released monthly. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Search for “RegTech Real Talk” on your preferred platform.
Get in Touch#
We welcome episode suggestions, questions, and contributions from compliance professionals working in emerging markets. If there is a topic you would like us to cover, a regulatory development you think deserves more attention, or if you are interested in contributing to an episode, contact us at podcast@anqaaml.com.
New episodes are released on the first Monday of each month.