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AML, CFT and Sanctions Compliance

AML, CFT and Sanctions Compliance

AML/CFT compliance

 

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB), its branches in and outside Singapore and subsidiaries (UOB Group entities) are committed to the combating of financial crime and adhering with all applicable laws and regulations in Singapore and the jurisdictions in which the UOB Group entities operate.

UOB has put in place a robust AML/CFT and Sanctions Framework that aims to detect and prevent the risks associated with money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions. The framework includes programmes relating to risk assessment, employee training, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, as well as investigating and reporting of potential suspicious activity to relevant regulatory bodies. The Bank reviews our framework, policies, procedures, programmes and transaction monitoring systems to ensure their robustness and compliance with regulatory requirements.

We also have in place dedicated Group and Country Money Laundering Reporting Officers (or other similar roles as required by local regulators). All employees are required to comply with the Group AML/CFT and Sanctions Policy, as well as applicable laws. Any staff found to be in breach of the Group’s AML/CFT or Sanctions obligations may be subject to strict punitive action, including but not limited to, disciplinary action and dismissal.

We also continue to invest in our people, systems, processes and tools, adopting advanced data analytics to ensure that our risk surveillance capabilities can effectively detect, deter and prevent money laundering and other financial crime activities.

UOB also actively plays a role in protecting the integrity of the financial system at large by actively participating in Public-Private Partnerships such as the AML/CFT Industry Partnership (ACIP) in Singapore.

Learn more about our framework and efforts against financial crime in our Sustainability Report.

Sanctions compliance

 

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB), its branches in and outside Singapore and subsidiaries (UOB Group entities) are committed to complying with the sanctions laws and regulations (sanctions laws) passed by Singapore, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation of His Majesty's Treasury and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control as well as applicable sanctions laws in the jurisdictions in which UOB Group entities operate. Under the sanctions laws, individuals and entities are prohibited from entering into financial transactions or provide financial assistance or services in relation to sanctioned individuals, entities or activities, as non-compliance with relevant sanctions laws may result in civil or criminal liability leading to fines, imprisonment or both.

As such, UOB Group entities do not open accounts, continue customer relationships, provide products or services, execute or facilitate transactions (directly or indirectly) or engage in any activity involving sanctioned individuals, entities, countries or territories, subject to the extent permissible by sanctions laws. UOB Group entities may also, at its sole discretion, decide not to process or to facilitate transactions or to provide products and services even where permissible by sanctions laws, if these activities fall outside UOB's risk appetite. Currently, the sanctioned countries and regions are the Crimea region in Ukraine, Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine, Kherson People’s Republic in Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia People’s Republic in Ukraine, Luhansk People’s Republic in Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.

In addition, UOB Group entities will restrict certain products or services or business activities involving (directly or indirectly) countries, individuals or target industry sectors subject to selective or targeted sanctions laws. Currently, the countries where selective sanctions laws may apply are Belarus, Myanmar, Russia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

By applying for products and services and by continuing a banking relationship with us, you represent and warrant that at all times, you are not subject to any sanctions laws and shall not use UOB Group entities, its products or services (regardless of currency) for the benefit of sanctioned individuals, entities, countries or territories. UOB Group entities will not hesitate to take necessary action, including reporting, rejecting and/or blocking transactions, rejecting funds, closing accounts, terminating relationships that appear to violate sanctions laws. By upholding a strict stance on sanctions, UOB is protecting the interests of our customers and helping them to abide by sanctions laws.

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Anti-fraud

Anti-fraud

We proactively manage fraud risks across our branches, internet banking and mobile banking channels through our governance framework.

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption

We adopt a strong stance against bribery and corruption, with our Code of Conduct specifying zero tolerance to bribery and corruption in all forms.

Tax management

Tax management

We are committed to strong corporate governance values and practices and have a low tolerance approach towards tax risk. 

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