Top 7 Sanctions Screening Software
Sanctions screening software are specialized software that helps protect businesses from legal issues and fraud that comes from dealing with other entities involved in illegal activities.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the best sanctions screening software in the market that can help you stay compliant across global lines.
Basic Criteria For A Sanction Screening Software
Before we get into the sanction screening software list, we need to take a look at the three basics that every sanction list tool must have:
Coverage
A sanction software should provide comprehensive coverage. It should cover all major sanction lists including OFAC SDN, UN, EU, UK, and others. The software or platform must have fast refreshes or real-time updates since they are frequently updated. Also, keep in mind that many programs now require submission through the OFAC Reporting System (ORS) for rejected/blocked events and to file reports like the Annual Report of Blocked Property (ARBP).
Continuity
Since lists are updated or changed continuously, screening should not just be a one-time activity. With continuous sanctions re-screening, businesses can detect risks even after the onboarding screening. The most effective sanction screening usually has screening implemented directly into onboarding and transactional workflows.
Evidence
Most regulators require proof that screening happened and that’s why keeping an audit log is important. These logs keep track of who was screened, when it took place, and which lists were used. And is especially helpful for internal audits and regulatory reporting.
1. Compliancely
Standout Features
- Unified checks: Provides real-time global sanction screening (OFAC, UN, EU, UK, and other lists from 44+ countries) as well as identity verification plus TIN verification in one single platform.
- Easy integration: Makes onboarding and sanctions checks easy by integrating APIs and plug-and-play widgets into existing workflows.
- Speed & reliability: Provides quick results by checking “direct source verification” with near-zero latency. Continuous sanctions re-screening help catch newly sanctioned entities without any delay.
Best for: Teams that want sanctions screenings within their larger compliance and verification workflow.
2. ComplyAdvantage
Standout Features
- Sanctions & watchlists screening: Get real-time updates from OFAC SDN screening tools and others plus coverage of 60+ jurisdictions. The matching is also enhanced by AI/ML plus manual validation for better results.
- Developer focus: Offers developers well-documented APIs that let them integrate sanctions screening directly into signup and payment flows workflows without manual intervention.
- False positive reduction: Reduces false positives using priority alerts, whitelisting, and adjustable sensitivity settings caused by incorrect flagging.
Best for: Fintechs and platforms that need developer-friendly APIs, frequent data refreshes, and alerts.
3. LSEG World-Check One
Curated Global Data + Mature Workflows
Standout Features
- Global check data: Offers access to a wide range of sanctions, watchlists, and related risk intelligence from over 240 countries and territories curated by LSEG experts.
- Screening Flexibility: Supports both real-time and batch screening as well as customizable screening settings tailored to specific business needs.
Best for: Enterprises that require broad and curated coverage with a familiar workflow.
4. Dow Jones Risk & Compliance
Comprehensive Coverage & Always-On Monitoring
Standout Features
- Sanctions Control & Ownership (SCO) dataset: Identify companies owned or controlled by sanctioned parties, even if the company itself isn’t directly listed.
- Due Diligence Reports: Gives access to detailed reports including sanctions, PEPs, adverse media, and ownership information for audits.
- Vessels & Financial Instruments Sanction List: Catch indirect exposure to sanctioned parties by screening against vessels and financial instruments like equities, bonds, ETFs, and derivatives.
Best for: This sanctions screening software is best for teams that are focused on ownership or control risk.
5. LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Screening & Real-Time Filtering
Standout Features
- Watchlist screening & checks: Screens against PEPs & sanctions lists from different jurisdictions and international bodies as well as watchlists, and negative news/adverse media.
- Transaction screening: Real-time transaction screening (on-prem or cloud) with scalable and customizable rules and algorithm.
Best for: This OFAC SDN screening tool is for teams that need customer screening and real-time transaction filtering.
6. Sanction Scanner
Cloud-Native With Straightforward APIs
Standout Features
- Comprehensive coverage: Screen against 3,000 sanctions, PEP, and watchlists from 220+ countries as well as adverse media/negative news.
- Automated alerts & case management: Get alerts and notification for any potential sanctions or PEP match. Investigate and track the resolution with case management for rejected/blocked events.
Best for: This watchlist & PEP screening platform is for teams that need a lightweight tool with quick setup and wide sanction lists.
7. NameScan
Pay-As-You-Go With An Enterprise Plan
Standout Features
- NameScan: Gives access to sanctions/PEP screening through a web interface or sanctions monitoring API without the need for a complicated setup.
- MemberCheck (enterprise): Scaled-up version for enterprises includes all the core features plusadditional large batch screening, advanced filtering, and ongoing monitoring.
Best for: Smaller teams or distributed units that need pay-as-you-go with an upgradable path.
Comparing Sanctions Screening Software
| Platform | Sanctions Screening Features | Why use it? | API | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compliancely | Global sanctions & watchlist scanning Real-time & frequent updates API integration Alerts / monitoring |
Streamlines onboarding workflow for verifying identities and screen against sanctions before payments | Yes | Yes |
| ComplyAdvantage | Sanctions & watchlist screening PEPs & RCAs Adverse media Ongoing monitoring Transaction & payment screening APIs & false positive reduction tools |
Fast integration and continuous refreshing of sanction list | Yes | Yes |
| LSEG World-Check | Deep global sanctions / PEP / adverse media database Screening + ongoing monitoring Legacy platform with multi-region programs and consistent data curation |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dow Jones R&C | Sanctions / watchlist screening; PEPs Adverse media Vendor / third-party risk Real-time + batch options Alerts on profile changes |
Do KYB checks or supplier reviews to help businesses make informed decisions | Feeds/UI | Yes |
| LexisNexis | Sanctions / PEP / watchlist screening Transaction screening Ownership/control awareness Case management Audit / reporting |
Enterprise payments or treasury flows that need message-level checks plus onboarding screening in one stack | Yes | Yes |
| Sanction Scanner | Wide coverage of sanctions / PEPs / watchlists Real-time & batch screening Fuzzy matching Alerts & monitoring API Risk scoring |
Quickly set up sanctions and PEP screening for re-checks without needing complicated IT systems | Yes | Yes |
| NameScan | Sanctions & PEP checks via web + REST API Batch screening in enterprise version Ongoing monitoring; filtering |
Low-to-moderate scanning with ability to scale | Yes | Optional |
Examples of When to Use Sanction Screening
Flag mismatches during signup
If a near match is flagged during onboarding, you must review the information to identify why there is a mismatch. The review process uses sanctions monitoring API for onboarding to quickly assess and log the review.
Monitoring alert for previously cleared vendor
If a vendor who was previously cleared appears on a new sanctions list, continuous sanctions re-screening sends an automatic alert so you can pause activity until it’s reviewed.
A sanction party has majority ownership
If a company is owned by a sanctioned party, use sanctions screening software and OFAC SDN screening tools to spot this and prevent onboarding.
The payment is put on hold
If a payment matches a flagged entity, it can be stopped. You can then review it using, fix it, and rely on continuous sanctions re-screening to prevent the scenario from happening again.
Rejected transactions
If a transaction is rejected, file the report within 10 business days, keep proof of the process, and use sanctions checks to help make this process faster.
FAQs
1. Which lists should be covered by a sanction screening software?
Sanction screening software should always cover OFAC SDN plus UN, EU, and UK lists. Some may also include other watchlists and PEP data to cover individuals, entities, countries, and sectors who committed illegal activities.
2. Why is continuous monitoring important?
Continuous monitoring is needed since sanction lists are frequently updated with new additions or removals. Always keep a close eye on existing records and re-screen after every update.
3. How are reports submitted?
Most sanctions programs require electronic submission through the OFAC Reporting System (ORS).
4. When are reports due?
Rejected transactions must be reported within 10 business days. Blocked properties require an initial report, followed by the Annual Report of Blocked Property (ARBP), filed for all blocked property held as of June 30 and due by September 30.
5. Do teams need both API and batch?
Teams may require both API and batch. API-based screening is used during onboarding, signups, and transaction checks. While batch screening is for periodic checking for large customers with high volume sanction screening
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