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AML

Also known as: Anti-Money Laundering, PLD, Prevención de Lavado de Dinero

Definition

AML (Anti-Money Laundering, known as PLD in Spanish-speaking markets) refers to the regulations that require financial institutions to detect and report suspicious activity related to money laundering or terrorism financing.

LATAM context

In Mexico, AML/PLD regulation applies to SOFOMs, SOFIPOs and regulated fintechs. Bank statements get reviewed for suspicious patterns: multiple deposits just under the reporting threshold, circular transfers, dormant accounts with sudden activity.

Concrete example

A SOFOM detects a customer receiving 9 deposits of $9,999 MXN each within a week (just under the $10,000 MXN automatic-reporting threshold). That triggers an AML alert to report to the financial intelligence unit.

How it shows up on your bank statement

The analysis runs on the transactions, not the header. What gets looked for are patterns rather than isolated operations: deposits split up just under reporting thresholds, near-identical inflows and outflows within a few days, and counterparties unrelated to the declared activity.

How does finO$ handle this?

finO$ delivers structured data your AML rules engine can analyze. It doesn't do AML detection itself; that stays inside your compliance system.

Related terms

KYC Underwriting

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Frequently asked questions about AML

What is structuring and why is it monitored?

It's splitting a large transaction into several smaller ones to stay under the reporting threshold. It's monitored because the pattern (many deposits just below the limit, on consecutive days) is hard to explain as normal activity.

Does an unusual-activity report mean I did something illegal?

No. It's an obligation the financial institution has whenever it detects a pattern that doesn't match the declared profile, and most reports have a legitimate explanation. What it does is open a review, not reach a conclusion.