Top stories this week:
HMRC Fines Real Estate Agents over £800k for AML Gaps | AMLA Sets out Strategic Priorities
Welcome to this week's edition of the KYC Roundup, your gateway to the most impactful developments in the world of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and financial crime. In the AML arena, HMRC fines real estate agents over £800k for AML gaps, and AMLA sets out its strategic priorities.
In the fast-paced world of sanctions, the UK applies new sanctions against Sudanese paramilitary leaders.
In the corruption space, Donald Trump faces questions over a UAE crypto deal.
We round off this week’s roundup with our latest report analysing the key AML failures at Nationwide that led to a £44m FCA fine and the lessons for all financial institutions.
KYC & AML
HMRC fines real estate agents over £800k for AML gaps
UK tax authority HMRC has published a list of businesses penalised for breaches of the UK Money Laundering Regulations, covering penalties issued between 1 April and 30 September 2025. 170 real estate agency businesses were fined a total amount of £835,842.
AMLA sets out strategic priorities
Europe’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has published its multi-year plan for 2026–2028, laying out how it intends to move from build-out to delivery. AMLA expects to be fully operational in 2028, with direct supervision of 40 high risk financial institutions in the EU.
Italy police conduct search of Triestina Calcio football club
Italian third-tier football club Triestina Calcio, under ownership of US crypto firm House of Doge, had its headquarters searched by police as part of a money laundering investigation. The homes of 15 suspects were also searched.
MONEYVAL highlights progress in Serbia’s AML framework but flags gaps
MONEYVAL’s latest mutual evaluation states Serbia has improved its understanding of risk through regular national risk assessments and has made progress in prosecution. But it says more is needed on tackling laundering linked to high-level corruption and serious organised crime.
Sanctions
UK applies new sanctions against Sudanese paramilitary leaders
The UK has imposed sanctions on six individuals it says are suspected of committing atrocities in Sudan’s war or fuelling the conflict through the supply of mercenaries and military equipment.
Corruption
Donald Trump faces questions over UAE crypto deal
A potential conflict of interest has been raised over a $500 million investment by a firm linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an Abu Dhabi royal, in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family. The investment secured a 49% stake and was finalised just days before the U.S. president’s inauguration. A White House official has said the president is not involved in the management of his businesses.
KYC360 News
Nationwide AML Failures: What Went Wrong?
Nationwide was fined £44M by the FCA in December 2025 for failings in its AML controls. One case involved £27.36m in fraudulent Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme payments, including £26.01m over 8 days, with £820,687 unrecovered. Our report breaks down what went wrong across ongoing CDD, customer risk assessment, and transaction monitoring.
Your latest weekly update from the worlds of money laundering, legislation and regulation, sustainability, gaming and gambling, crypto and sanctions.
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