The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) launched its Germany Chapter in late 2016. Since then, the chapter has hosted approximately 20 events across the country at its main hubs in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The networking events, which draw between 50 to 100 participants, have covered a wide range of topics including upcoming regulatory challenges, and specific challenges related to know your customer, transaction monitoring, sanctions risks, terrorist financing and human trafficking. Other interesting sessions have discussed the changing role of the anti-financial crime (AFC) function and that of the AFC professional within the context of digitization and emerging technology. Within this context, a number of events were held to discuss other emerging topics such as regtech, fintech, virtual currencies, cybercrime and trade-based money laundering.
Germany Chapter speakers have included experts from the following traditional financial institutions:
Allianz, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, figo, HSBC, KfW, UBS, UniCredit and Western
Union. Fintech company speakers have come from Bitwala, Circle, Coinfirm, figo, Fidor Bank,
N26 and solarisBank. In addition, there have been representatives from non-financial institutions
including AirPlus International, MAN Group and Scout24. From the public sector, representatives
involved in the legislative process and enforcement from the German Federal Ministry of Finance
and the Federal Police Inspectorate have also engaged in discussions. Consulting firm members
from Berlin Risk, Deloitte, EY, Huxley Associates, KPMG, Protiviti, PwC and solution providers from
Accuity, Alyne, Bureau van Dijk, Dow Jones, FinScan, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Oracle and SAS
have not only contributed their knowledge and shared best practice standards, but have also
sponsored and facilitated the networking events across the industry.
Besides generating a platform for networking and exchanging best practices, the ACAMS
Germany Chapter has launched two working groups: one in Berlin that looks at fintech topics
and another in Frankfurt that addresses AFC audit. The working groups provide a platform of
exchange on common challenges related to regulatory and operational topics.
For a more in-depth overview of events, membership details and information about upcoming
events, please visit the chapter page at http://www.acams.org/acams-chapters/germany. The
ACAMS Germany Chapter is keen to expand its membership in Germany and engage with interested
sponsors for future chapter events. If you are interested in joining the community, please
email germanychapter@acams.org.
