Sanctions Update: Russia, Ukraine, and Global Uncertainty

Sanctions Update: Russia, Ukraine, and Global Uncertainty

Sanctions Update: Russia, Ukraine, and Global Uncertainty

The Update: What Happened?

Uncertain relations between Ukraine and Russia continue to affect many countries engaging in trade including Canada, the United States, the European Union, China, Iran, and Russia. Effective DATE, sanctions have been imposed and will continue by the largest countries doing trade with Russia; most significantly, the United States. 

 

The Background: SWIFT Access Sanction – Russia’s Main Banking System

On February 26th, a call to action was imposed by the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US to remove specific banks from the SWIFT (system that facilitates financial transactions and money transfers for banks located around the world) messaging platform. The agreement was imposed to break down Russia’s financial system, a method to further hamper the invasion in Ukraine. Additionally, any other banks will be affected as a German government source reported.

 

The Solution: How iComply Can Help

iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a global compliance software provider that helps compliance teams reduce the cost and complexity of KYC and AML operations while providing a seamless user experience to their KYC subjects. Compliance teams can configure and monitor KYC portals to securely gather, validate, and encrypt client data and documentation before it leaves their device

Our iComplyKYC solution enables access to the most up-to-date client data available and gain a more comprehensive view of risk related to each entity. It also uses AI and deep data analysis to identify new risks and sanctions within 17 minutes, enables management to visualize the volumes and bottlenecks in KYC and AML operations, and it reduces the operational cost of AML risk screening, record keeping, and reporting.

 

How can iComplyKYC screening help you enhance your sanctions compliance? 

Our solution’s capabilities onboard natural persons, beneficial ownership,  and legal entities data, saving your organization time and valuable resources. By using iComply’s platform, you can easily scan sanctioned banks listed by regulatory authorities.

 

Why is this important to my business/organization?

iComply is working with its clients to ensure they have their bases covered from an AML/KYC compliance perspective.

  • Improve screening accuracy while minimizing false positives
  • Stay on top of ever-evolving financial crime activity
  • Ensures GDPR compliance so your organization does not risk being imposed with hefty financial penalties from regulators
  • Do all your compliance checks and due diligence for you rather than using your own human resources or having to contract with multiple vendors 
MIT Exec and Trusted Computing Expert Thomas Hardjono Joins iComply

MIT Exec and Trusted Computing Expert Thomas Hardjono Joins iComply

MIT Exec and Trusted Computing Expert Thomas Hardjono Joins iComply

Hardjono serves as Technical Director of the MIT Trust::Data Consortium and as CTO of MIT Connection Science

Vancouver, B.C. – September 22, 2020 – iComply Investor Services (“iComply”), a global compliance software provider, is announcing that Thomas Hardjono has been appointed to iComply’s advisory board. He is internationally recognized as a leader and innovator in trusted computing, identity, data privacy, applied cryptography, and cybersecurity.

Hardjono is currently the CTO of Connection Science at MIT and technical director of the MIT Trust::Data Consortium. He previously served as executive director of the MIT Kerberos Consortium, where he was instrumental in driving widespread adoption of the Kerberos protocol, which is now the most ubiquitously deployed authentication protocol used for identity management in the world. Over the past two decades, he has held various technical leadership roles including as a distinguished engineer at Bay Networks, and principal scientist at VeriSign PKI.

“Advancement in trusted computing has historically been driven by hardware innovation, but iComply has focused on delivering those same capabilities through software innovation, which can bring unprecedented flexibility to operations requiring secure authentication,” said Matthew Unger, CEO of iComply. “The highest levels of identity assurance used to be limited to specialty hardware, we can now deliver this same confidence, security, and privacy to any mobile or web application.”

iCompyKYC uses edge computing for identity verification, which protects biometric data by allowing the verification to take place on the user’s device, maintaining an unprecedented level of privacy for personal data.

“iComply’s degree of implementation is quite extensive, and the dashboard that they have built is terrific. iComply has a strong and very clear vision. This is one of these linchpin technologies that the industry desperately needs,” said Thomas Hardjono. “The traditional banks, private organizations, and governments need to step up their game and move in this direction. On the horizon, we have central bank digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and decentralized finance (DeFi) that need to manage all of the things that iComply can manage.”

iComply combines edge-computing KYC onboarding portals with enterprise-level controls for AML risk screening and data management to provide a complete solution that processes users’ data securely on their devices. The solution spans know your customer, anti-money laundering, digital identity, and access management.

 

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About iComply Investor Services Inc.
iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a global compliance software provider that helps compliance teams reduce the cost and complexity of KYC and AML operations while providing a seamless user experience to their KYC subjects. Compliance teams can configure and monitor KYC portals to securely gather, validate, and encrypt client data and documentation before it leaves their device. Learn more: www.icomplyis.com

iComply Attracts Top Canadian RegTech Executive Paul Childerhose

iComply Attracts Top Canadian RegTech Executive Paul Childerhose

iComply Attracts Top Canadian RegTech Executive Paul Childerhose

Canadian regtech expert Paul Childerhose will serve as a member of iComply Investor Services’ advisory board

Vancouver, B.C. – September 15, 2020 – iComply Investor Services (“iComply”), a global compliance software provider, is announcing that Paul Childerhose, a recognized leader in the Canadian RegTech industry, has been appointed to iComply’s advisory board.

Childerhose has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian financial services sector and serves on the board of the Canadian Regulatory Technology Association (CRTA). He has deep expertise in back-office operations, new product development, client and account management, and regulatory compliance. Previously, he also held senior roles at Royal Bank of Canada, Star Data Systems, CGI Inc., and Scotiabank.

“The iComplyKYC solution is far superior to what I have observed in the current enterprise-wide anti-money laundering programs of large global banks,” said Childerhose. “The core features and controls that have been incorporated into the platform can enhance the current client onboarding and KYC experiences for many institutions.”

iCompyKYC uses edge computing for identity verification, which protects the users’ biometric data by allowing the verification to take place on the user’s device. This means that personal data is authenticated, and encrypted before any of that data leaves the user’s device.

“Edge computing offers a unique approach that drastically improves data privacy and security, and significantly reduces the total cost of KYC and AML operations,” said Matthew Unger, CEO of iComply, “Making user privacy and consent core to client onboarding has been an incredibly complex challenge for the industry. It was important to us to focus on solving this problem, and in doing so we have unlocked new levels of data protection and privacy for our clients.”

The iComplyKYC platform is currently being used by Canadian law enforcement, credit unions, legal, M&A, and accounting firms, and fintech businesses globally. It combines secure KYC onboarding portals with enterprise-level controls for AML risk screening and data management to provide a complete, all-in-one solution spanning know your customer, anti-money laundering, digital identity, and access management.

 

 

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About iComply Investor Services Inc.
iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a global compliance software provider that helps compliance teams reduce the cost and complexity of KYC and AML operations while providing a seamless user experience to their KYC subjects. Compliance teams can configure and monitor KYC portals to securely gather, validate, and encrypt client data and documentation before it leaves their device. Learn more: www.icomplyis.com

The Economist + iComply: Banking on Blockchain

The Economist + iComply: Banking on Blockchain

The Economist + iComply: Banking on Blockchain

As Seen In: The Economist and iComply – Banking on Blockchain

This September, iComply Investor Services partnered with The Economist on their Future Banking and Payments series to publish our “Banking on Blockchain” article covering the latest industry data regarding tokenization and blockchain technologies, and dispelling the broad misconceptions that people hold about this emerging digital market.

As the world of finance becomes increasingly automated, institutions will be required to maintain stricter regulations on how their digital systems handle customer data, financial models, and compliance reporting.

Using a blockchain, companies can open the door to comprehensive, intuitive business practices–spending 80-95% less on administration to automatically manage clearing, transfers, settlements, and compliance, at 1/160th of the time it typically takes in the public markets.

Addressing some of the key falsehoods about tokenization, iComply dives deep into proven industry insights regarding how tokenization is helping businesses save time, effort, and money on their compliance. 

To read the full article at The Economist, click here.

iComply Investor Services (iComply) is an industry leading and award winning Regtech (regulatory technology) company specializing in compliance automation for digital finance. Our suite of enterprise solutions helps companies overcome the cost and complexity of multi-jurisdictional compliance to effectively access new markets and opportunities.

iComply “Most Forward-Thinking Work Being Done” Related to Blockchain Settlement

iComply “Most Forward-Thinking Work Being Done” Related to Blockchain Settlement

Chicago, Il. — FIA announced that iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is one of 15 companies chosen to exhibit in the Innovators Pavilion at the 34th Annual FIA Expo in Chicago October 16 – 18. Innovators Pavilion showcases startup companies providing forward-thinking solutions for the futures, options and cleared swaps industry.

iComply was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants to showcase its offerings to more than 4,500 attendees at the largest gathering of derivatives industry professionals in the world. The Innovators Pavilion provides each FIA Innovator with a Tech Pod on the Expo show floor that can be used to display its services. iComply will also be featured in the official conference guide, the FIA’s service provider directory, and the event app. In addition, five FIA Innovators will be chosen to take part in a Meet the Innovators competition in which each company will have five minutes to pitch its services to Expo attendees. Following the competition, a panel of judges will select one company as the FIA Innovator of the Year and award that firm a prize of cash and other resources valued at more than $20,000.   

This year’s Innovators Pavilion is sponsored by Amazon Web Services and supported by several fintech organizations and angel investor groups, including Fintech Sandbox, FinTEx, Hyde Park AngelsRise New York and Seismic Foundry.

“I’m proud to announce that iComply was chosen to be featured in the 2018 class of FIA Innovators,” said Matt Haraburda of XR Trading, chairman of the Innovators Pavilion selection committee and executive committee member of the FIA Principal Traders Group (FIA PTG). “iComply…represents some of the most progressive and forward-thinking work being done in fintech related to cleared derivatives. I’m looking forward to seeing their work showcased at Expo.”

With more than 4,500 people attending each year, the FIA Expo is the largest gathering of derivatives industry professionals in the world. Attendees include senior executives from brokerage firms, exchanges, trading firms, and service providers, and the exhibit hall typically attracts more than a hundred firms as exhibitors.

iComply and other Innovators were selected on the basis of applications that were submitted and reviewed by a committee of industry experts assembled by FIA.  

View the full list of FIA Innovators here.  

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About FIA
FIA is the leading global trade organization for the futures, options and centrally cleared derivatives markets, with offices in London, Singapore and Washington, D.C. FIA’s membership includes clearing firms, exchanges, clearinghouses, trading firms and commodities specialists from more than 48 countries as well as technology vendors, lawyers and other professionals serving the industry. FIA’s mission is to support open, transparent and competitive markets, protect and enhance the integrity of the financial system, and promote high standards of professional conduct. As the principal members of derivatives clearinghouses worldwide, FIA’s member firms play a critical role in the reduction of systemic risk in global financial markets.

About iComply Investor Services Inc.
iComply Investor Services Inc. (iComply) is an award-winning software company focused on reducing regulatory friction in the capital markets. With powerful data, verification, tokenization solutions, iComply helps companies overcome the cost and complexity of multi-jurisdictional compliance to effectively access new markets. Learn more: iComplyIS.com

Understanding the Distinction of CDD vs. EDD in AML Compliance
Understanding the Distinction of CDD vs. EDD in AML Compliance

Understanding the Distinction of CDD vs. EDD in AML Compliance As cybercrime continues to aggressively expand and pose new challenges to regulators and law enforcement agencies across the globe, anti-money laundering (AML) efforts have become vital to protecting the...

iComply Wins Top Enterprise Blockchain Solution

iComply Wins Top Enterprise Blockchain Solution

iComply Wins Top Enterprise Blockchain Solution

May 29, 2018

Vienna, Austria iComply Investor Services (iComply), a Canadian RegTech company offering powerful data, verification, and tokenization solutions for multi-jurisdictional digital finance, is announcing that the company was named the top blockchain solution at GovTech.Pioneers.

GovTech.Pioneers is Europe’s leading event for politicians, public CIOs and other leaders of the $400 billion GovTech market. Of the over 350 startups from 65 countries and four continents that entered the competition, iComply was named the top blockchain solution.

“We are excited to receive this recognition from GovTech.Pioneers, it has helped us engage leading European states to demonstrate how decentralization can enable a more efficient market with higher standards of investor protection – even compared to traditional capital markets. The cryptocurrency, security token, and traditional global capital markets have become rife with scams and misinformation, our solutions are built to help regulators and investors separate the good from the rest.” said Matthew Unger, CEO of iComply Investor Services.

iComply’s first product, Prefacto™ enables companies to apply real-time compliance and governance to the secondary trading of tokens on open public ledgers such as Ethereum.

“With Prefacto™, non-compliant trades can be denied or escalated to the issuer’s compliance team for manual review. This helps issuers make sound decisions based on quantified AML, risk, compliance, and governance standards. Once a trade is approved or rejected the issuer can be completely transparent with their regulator using the Compliance Ledger™,” added Unger.

The company offers a broad enterprise suite of compliance solutions for digital finance and is focused on bridging the gap between traditional finance and cryptocurrency markets by improving record keeping, transparency, and reporting capabilities. The term “KYC” is not standardized among service providers and with some of the top fintech platforms on the market using solutions that can’t meet the requirements set by financial oversight agencies such as Fintrac, Fincen, European Commission or OFSE. 

Currently, iComply is the only compliance provider in the cryptocurrency market that offers both sanction limitations to token trading and comprehensive risk reporting on cryptocurrency wallets and source of funds.

iComply identified this gap as an opportunity to use blockchain technology to enhance the best practices of traditional sanction screening, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing for the decentralized financial markets.

Since the company’s first product release was announced by Bloomberg Law in February, iComply was joined by senior compliance and regulatory officials to the team including Jeff Bandman and Manny Alicandro

Looking for financial grade KYC and AML in an enterprise ready API?

iComply offers global screening for humans, corporations, and blockchain transactions in a single REST API.

Book a demo with one of our specialists to learn more.

About iComply Investor Services Inc.
iComply Investor Services Inc. (iComply) is an award-winning software company focused on reducing regulatory friction in the capital markets. With powerful data, verification, tokenization solutions, iComply helps companies overcome the cost and complexity of multi-jurisdictional compliance to effectively access new markets. Learn more: iComplyIS.com