New FATF Rules: A Bigger Push for Financial Inclusion — And Safer Payments
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has just announced two big changes that matter for any financial service working to balance inclusion with strong compliance. Here’s what’s changing — and what it means for emerging markets.
① Financial Inclusion Is Now a Core Compliance Expectation
In its updated Guidance on Financial Inclusion and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorist Financing Measures, FATF has reinforced a clear principle:
Risk assessments enable countries and financial institutions to provide appropriate financial services for those that pose low risks — and apply enhanced measures for higher risk scenarios.
Put simply: not everyone needs the same checks. If you’re serving low-income, rural, or underserved communities, rigid rules shouldn’t lock people out of the formal system.
The new guidance gives practical examples from around the world:
🇸🇪 Sweden: Banks and migration authorities collaborate so asylum seekers can open accounts safely.
🇸🇬 Singapore: Ex-offenders can access limited purpose accounts with extra safeguards — so they stay included, but risks are managed.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: Clear industry baselines guide banks on what to do for low, neutral, or high-risk customers.
More people inside the formal system means fewer hiding places for illicit finance — and fairer access for those who need it most.
② Stronger Travel Rule: Cross-Border Payments Get Safer
At its June 2025 Plenary, FATF also agreed big updates to Recommendation 16 — the so-called Travel Rule. These changes mean cleaner, clearer cross-border payments and crypto transfers.
What’s changing?
🟢 Standardised information: Every payment above USD/EUR 1,000 must carry the full sender and receiver details (name, address, date of birth).
🟢 Clear roles in the payment chain: Each party knows exactly what info they must keep — no more gaps, no more confusion.
🟢 Better fraud protection: Financial institutions must use tech to check recipient details and cut down on mistakes and fraud.
🟢 Scope clarity: Small card payments for goods and services stay exempt — but FATF has tightened definitions to close loopholes.
The goal: make payments faster, safer and more transparent — without slowing down honest customers.
Why This Matters for Africa & Asia
In many emerging markets, fintechs, MicroFinance, rural banks and remittance providers are the ones bridging communities to the global financial system.
FATF’s message is clear:
Financial inclusion and financial integrity go hand in hand.
Risk-based compliance must be practical and proportionate.
Data transparency in payments keeps criminals out — and trust in.
How ANQA Helps
At ANQA Compliance, we build tools for exactly this reality:
✅ Proportionate KYC & onboarding: Smart, risk-based checks that don’t shut out honest people just because they lack perfect documents.
✅ Sanctions and watchlist screening: Global coverage, clear results — no costly black box.
✅ Nature and Purpose Risk Assessment: Our advanced tool helps you understand why and how customers move their money — analysing behaviour and transaction history to catch unusual patterns before they become problems.
✅ Free training & practical guidance: No logins, no paywalls — just clear, actionable compliance knowledge for your whole team.
Looking for practical tips? We’ve broken down FATF’s guidance in more detail in our Financial Inclusion & AML/CFT resource.
We believe compliance shouldn’t push people out — it should pull communities in and protect them.
The new FATF standards raise the bar. Let’s help you meet it — without making it harder for the people you serve.