The FinTech sector prides itself on innovation, agility and putting customers first - but how do the companies providing them access to banking services see them? Are FinTechs inherently higher-risk due to their lack of maturity and the layered nature of the banking relationships, or are their financial crime profiles largely the same as traditional banks? Our panelists will discuss how banks manage their FinTech customer bases, best practices for ensuring oversight, the growth of embedded finance, and the impacts of de-risking.

Juggling issues of financial inclusion and regulatory compliance, financial institutions can face complex decisions when dealing with high-risk countries. Geographic risk is multi-faceted and affects different businesses in different ways, yet it is often based on simplistic assessments and used as a blunt tool.

This panel will challenge conventional wisdom around how to understand and manage country risk, considering new approaches and delivering actionable recommendations for managing and assessing geographic risks. Our speakers will discuss smarter ways to measure country risk, making balanced risk assessments, and how to take on geographic risk safely without increasing your vulnerability to financial crime.

Whilst combating terrorist financing is supported by a strong regulatory framework, dealing with extremist movements and the financing activities of their participants is uncharted territory that creates significant challenges for financial institutions.

This panel will focus on navigating the complexities of respecting customers’ right to freedom of expression and managing firms’ individual risk appetites whilst faced with a lack of regulatory guidance and ongoing public scrutiny around extremist movements.

While traditionally seen as high-risk, the inherent transparency underpinning the crypto sector offers unique opportunities for better risk understanding and enhanced compliance. As more financial institutions engage with crypto—whether through direct offerings or client activities—effective compliance strategies are no longer optional; they’re essential. This session will explore how to risk-rate crypto activities and implement a dynamic, risk-based compliance strategy.

The fundamental rule of combat? Understand your enemy. In today's digital world, fraud comes in many forms - manipulative and innovative phishing scams to identity theft. And the threat is often unknown - or may even exist within. Your first line of defense is awareness and understanding of your risks.

In March 2022, the UK government sanctioned Roman Abramovich and issued a license giving his football club, Chelsea, a budget of just £20,000 for transport for away games. Since then, many more individuals, their family members and associates resident in the UK have become subject to sanctions.

This fireside chat will unpack what it means to be sanctioned: can you go to the supermarket, and if so, do you get an allowance? Does the government issue licenses for reasonable expenses? What should financial institutions do when presented with a license? And finally, can you get off a sanctions list once you’re on it?

Dr. Anna Bradshaw, Partner at Peters & Peters, will speak from her experience representing designated individuals in the UK, including representing a UK-sanctioned individual in a ministerial review resulting in the individual being removed from the UK sanctions list.

This discussion brings together a diverse panel to explore and demystify the unique opportunities, risks, and challenges associated with providing financial services to the adult entertainment industry. The sector has a legacy perception of increased risk which has resulted in stigmatisation and financial exclusion - what are the true risk levels and how can they be addressed? Hear from representatives of content creators, regulators and the financial industry, and understand from those with first-hand experience how financial services can safely engage with the sector.