Sanctions Compliance

Definition

Compliance with international sanctions regimes.

Context

Sanctions compliance refers to adherence to national and international sanctions regimes, particularly concerning individuals, organisations, and states, and is closely linked to anti-money laundering (AML), know your customer (KYC), as well as transaction monitoring and screening processes. It is critical for financial institutions and globally operating companies with elevated regulatory exposure.

Meaning

Violations can lead to severe legal, financial, and reputational consequences and therefore represent a key compliance risk.

Example

Blocked payment to sanctioned entity.

Suggested citation

wirtschaftsforensik.ch Editorial Team: "Sanctions Compliance", in: Glossary, wirtschaftsforensik.ch, https://wirtschaftsforensik.ch/glossar/sanctions-compliance/, accessed April 18, 2026.