Politically Exposed Persons

Global screening data

With hundreds of researchers and analysts across the world, we are dedicated to expanding and enhancing our data with the accuracy you need. New PEPs are added daily and 100,000 records updated every month.

Stay ahead of regulatory changes

WorldCompliance™ Data will assist businesses to comply with their legal and regulatory obligations as set out in, amongst others, the USA Patriot Act, the 5th EU Money Laundering Directive and the FATF recommendations.

Detailed PEP profiles

Profiles include a portrait photo and full summary of intelligence, as well as diagrams showing connections to relevant family members and business partners.

Over 2.5 million risk entities

Real-time monitoring of all major sanction lists

A PEP List of over 1.4 million politically exposed persons

Ongoing screening of over 35,000 news sources in 57 languages

What is a PEP list?

A PEP list is a database of politically exposed persons and entities built from rigorous investigative and research processes. The list could include personally identifiable information such as date of birth, gender, aliases or nicknames, titles, roles, and nationality. They also examine relationships and close associates to the PEP, which can include business partners, family members and related companies. PEP lists are constantly evolving which means many organisations need to carry out daily PEP check screening.

How do I identify a PEP? How do I check if any of my customers, prospects or associates are PEPs?

To identify whether a customer, prospect or associate is a PEP, the individual can be screened against our WorldCompliance PEP list. Screening can be achieved through a number of methods ranging from individual PEP checks using a web-based interface, PEP screening entire databases en masse or integrating a database with monitoring and screening software. The status of a politically exposed person can change overnight, therefore it is vital to carry out PEP checks on an ongoing basis to mitigate risk.

What regulations mandate controls relating to PEPs, within financial crime compliance?

There are a variety of laws that define PEPs within the scope of AML compliance. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is an inter-governmental body tasked with developing and promoting policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, produces the guidelines for compliance that organisations must follow. The Wolfsberg Group, a non-governmental association of 11 global banks, aims to set the standards for implementation of the FATF’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter terrorism financing guidelines. Organisations must also comply with the individual interests and risk appetites of each country in which they operate, and consider the legal framework for each.

Can an existing customer become a PEP? If so, should they be screened on an on-going basis as part of a robust AML strategy?

Yes, an existing customer can become a PEP. For example, a customer of a bank can become involved in politics at a later date by becoming an MP or running for a local election. This only applies to those running in high status, senior political roles. As any customer has the potential to become a PEP, the need for on-going screening and regular PEP checks by the organisation to flag any changes in the customer’s political exposure, is pivotal in strengthening internal AML controls.