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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.

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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

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Running the Check

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API Endpoint

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

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Request Parameters

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agent_key
string
required
Use "public-bdd" for business due diligence checks.
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check_id
string
required
Use "kyb.sanctions_screening_check_v2" for business sanctions screening.
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payload
object
required
The business information for screening.

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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": "public-bdd",
  "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"
    }
  }
}'

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Initial Response

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

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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

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Check Process

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

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Check Results

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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;
}

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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"
  ]
}

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Sanctions Lists Covered

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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

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Additional Lists

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

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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)

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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

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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)

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Best Practices

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

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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