Sanctions Screening Check (Business)

The Business Sanctions Screening check verifies whether a business appears on government sanctions lists, watchlists, or other regulatory enforcement databases. This is a critical compliance check for AML/CFT programs.

Overview

The check examines:

OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) lists
UN Security Council sanctions
EU sanctions lists
UK HM Treasury sanctions
Other international sanctions programs
Enforcement actions and debarment lists

Running the Check

API Endpoint

POST https://api.parcha.ai/api/v1/startKYBAgentJob

Request Parameters

Important: You must use your own agent key, not a default or public agent key. Your agent key can be found in the Parcha dashboard under your agent’s settings, or in the “Test API Integration” dialog.

agent_key

string

required

Your KYB agent key from the Parcha dashboard. This is unique to your organization and agent configuration.

check_id

string

required

Use "kyb.sanctions_screening_check_v2" for business sanctions screening.

payload

object

required

The business information for screening.

Show Payload Properties

string

required

A unique identifier for this check case.

self_attested_data

object

required

business_name

string

required

The legal name of the business to screen.

registered_business_name

string

Alternative or registered business name.

address_of_incorporation

object

country_code

string

Country code (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2).

city

string

City of incorporation.

address_of_operation

object

Operating address information.

incorporation_date

string

Date of incorporation (YYYY-MM-DD).

Example Request

curl -X POST 'https://api.parcha.ai/api/v1/startKYBAgentJob' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{
  "agent_key": "your-kyb-agent-key",
  "check_id": "kyb.sanctions_screening_check_v2",
  "payload": {
    "id": "sanctions-check-001",
    "self_attested_data": {
      "business_name": "Global Trading LLC",
      "registered_business_name": "GLOBAL TRADING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY",
      "address_of_incorporation": {
        "country_code": "US",
        "city": "New York"
      },
      "incorporation_date": "2019-03-15"
    }
  }
}'

import requests

api_key = 'YOUR_API_KEY'
url = 'https://api.parcha.ai/api/v1/startKYBAgentJob'

headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

data = {
    'agent_key': 'your-kyb-agent-key',  # Replace with your actual agent key
    'check_id': 'kyb.sanctions_screening_check_v2',
    'payload': {
        'id': 'sanctions-check-001',
        'self_attested_data': {
            'business_name': 'Global Trading LLC',
            'registered_business_name': 'GLOBAL TRADING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY',
            'address_of_incorporation': {
                'country_code': 'US',
                'city': 'New York'
            },
            'incorporation_date': '2019-03-15'
        }
    }
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
print(response.json())

import axios from 'axios';

const apiKey = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const url = 'https://api.parcha.ai/api/v1/startKYBAgentJob';

const data = {
  agent_key: 'your-kyb-agent-key',  // Replace with your actual agent key
  check_id: 'kyb.sanctions_screening_check_v2',
  payload: {
    id: 'sanctions-check-001',
    self_attested_data: {
      business_name: 'Global Trading LLC',
      registered_business_name: 'GLOBAL TRADING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY',
      address_of_incorporation: {
        country_code: 'US',
        city: 'New York'
      },
      incorporation_date: '2019-03-15'
    }
  }
};

axios.post(url, data, {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
})
.then(response => console.log(response.data))
.catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

Initial Response

{
  "id": "job-abc123",
  "status": "PENDING",
  "created_at": "2024-02-15T10:30:00Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-02-15T10:30:00Z",
  "agent_id": "your-agent-key",
  "input_payload": {
    // Original request payload
  }
}

Retrieving Check Results

Once the job is complete, retrieve the results using the job ID with the getJobByID endpoint. Make sure to include the include_check_results=true parameter to get the full check results.

GET https://api.parcha.ai/api/v1/getJobByID?job_id=job-abc123&include_check_results=true

Check Process

The sanctions screening check follows these steps:

Name Normalization
- Standardizes business name for matching
- Handles name variations and transliterations
- Processes aliases and trading names
Database Search
- Searches multiple sanctions databases
- Queries watchlists and enforcement lists
- Checks subsidiary and affiliated entities
Match Analysis
- Evaluates match quality (strong, partial, weak)
- Considers name similarity
- Analyzes location and entity type
- Reviews additional identifiers
Risk Assessment
- Categorizes sanctions list severity
- Evaluates geographic risk factors
- Determines action required (deny, review, approve)

Check Results

Response Structure

{
  type: "SanctionsScreeningCheckResult";
  passed: boolean;
  matches: Array<SanctionsMatch>;
  total_matches: number;
  screening_date: string;
  databases_searched: Array<string>;
}

type SanctionsMatch = {
  entity_name: string;
  match_rating: "strong_match" | "partial_match" | "weak_match" | "false_positive";
  match_score: number;
  list_type: string;
  list_name: string;
  country?: string;
  entity_type?: string;
  program?: string;
  listed_date?: string;
  addresses?: Array<string>;
  identifiers?: {
    registration_numbers?: Array<string>;
    other_names?: Array<string>;
  };
  source_url?: string;
}

Example Results

{
  "type": "SanctionsScreeningCheckResult",
  "passed": true,
  "matches": [],
  "total_matches": 0,
  "screening_date": "2024-02-15T10:30:00Z",
  "databases_searched": [
    "OFAC SDN",
    "UN Security Council",
    "EU Sanctions",
    "UK HM Treasury"
  ]
}

{
  "type": "SanctionsScreeningCheckResult",
  "passed": true,
  "matches": [
    {
      "entity_name": "GLOBAL TRADING COMPANY",
      "match_rating": "weak_match",
      "match_score": 65,
      "list_type": "sanctions",
      "list_name": "OFAC SDN List",
      "country": "Iran",
      "entity_type": "Entity",
      "program": "IRAN",
      "listed_date": "2018-11-05",
      "addresses": [
        "Tehran, Iran"
      ],
      "source_url": "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/"
    }
  ],
  "total_matches": 1,
  "screening_date": "2024-02-15T10:30:00Z",
  "databases_searched": [
    "OFAC SDN",
    "UN Security Council",
    "EU Sanctions",
    "UK HM Treasury"
  ]
}

{
  "type": "SanctionsScreeningCheckResult",
  "passed": false,
  "matches": [
    {
      "entity_name": "GLOBAL TRADING LLC",
      "match_rating": "strong_match",
      "match_score": 95,
      "list_type": "sanctions",
      "list_name": "OFAC SDN List",
      "country": "Russia",
      "entity_type": "Entity",
      "program": "UKRAINE-EO13662",
      "listed_date": "2022-02-24",
      "addresses": [
        "Moscow, Russia",
        "123 Tverskaya St, Moscow 125009"
      ],
      "identifiers": {
        "registration_numbers": ["1027700132195"],
        "other_names": ["Global Trading Limited"]
      },
      "source_url": "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/"
    }
  ],
  "total_matches": 1,
  "screening_date": "2024-02-15T10:30:00Z",
  "databases_searched": [
    "OFAC SDN",
    "UN Security Council",
    "EU Sanctions",
    "UK HM Treasury"
  ]
}

Sanctions Lists Covered

Primary Lists

OFAC SDN - Specially Designated Nationals
OFAC Non-SDN - Consolidated sanctions lists
UN Security Council - Consolidated list
EU Sanctions - EU consolidated list
UK HM Treasury - Financial sanctions targets

Additional Lists

FBI Most Wanted
Interpol Red Notices
World Bank Debarment
DFAT Australia Sanctions
Various country-specific lists

Match Ratings Explained

Strong Match: High confidence the entity is on sanctions list (DENY)
Partial Match: Some identifiers match, requires review
Weak Match: Name similarity only, likely false positive
False Positive: Confirmed not the sanctioned entity (APPROVE)

Risk Factors

The check may flag concerns if:

Business name strongly matches sanctioned entity
Located in sanctioned jurisdiction
Registration numbers match sanctioned entity
Recent addition to sanctions lists
Associated with sanctioned individuals or entities
Multiple weak matches across different lists

Compliance Requirements

Sanctions screening is typically required for:

Customer onboarding (KYB/KYC)
Ongoing monitoring and periodic rescreening
Transaction screening
Wire transfer compliance
Trade finance operations
Regulatory compliance (AML/BSA)

Best Practices

Screen at Onboarding: Always screen before establishing business relationship
Regular Rescreening: Screen periodically (monthly or quarterly)
Investigate Matches: Don’t auto-reject on weak matches
Document Decisions: Keep records of screening results and decisions
Update Lists: Use vendors with real-time list updates
Cross-Reference: Combine with web presence and adverse media checks

Configuration Options

vendor: Choose screening vendor (ComplyAdvantage, Dow Jones, etc.)
match_thresholds: Customize match rating thresholds
lists_to_search: Select specific sanctions lists
ongoing_monitoring: Enable continuous monitoring

Adverse Media Screening - Screen for negative news
High Risk Country Check - Assess geographic risk
Business Registration Check - Verify legal entity
Business Owners Check - Screen associated individuals

Get Started

Concepts

Use Cases

Know Your Business (KYB)

Know Your Customer (KYC)

Overview

Running the Check

API Endpoint

Request Parameters

Example Request

Initial Response

Retrieving Check Results

Check Process

Check Results

Response Structure

Example Results

Sanctions Lists Covered

Primary Lists

Additional Lists

Match Ratings Explained

Risk Factors

Compliance Requirements

Best Practices

Configuration Options

​Overview

​Running the Check

​API Endpoint

​Request Parameters

​Example Request

​Initial Response

​Retrieving Check Results

​Check Process

​Check Results

​Response Structure

​Example Results

​Sanctions Lists Covered

​Primary Lists

​Additional Lists

​Match Ratings Explained

​Risk Factors

​Compliance Requirements

​Best Practices

​Configuration Options

​Related Checks

Overview

Running the Check

API Endpoint

Request Parameters

Example Request

Initial Response

Retrieving Check Results

Check Process

Check Results

Response Structure

Example Results

Sanctions Lists Covered

Primary Lists

Additional Lists

Match Ratings Explained

Risk Factors

Compliance Requirements

Best Practices

Configuration Options

Related Checks