On 22 June 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) updated its non-binding Guidance Paper “Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Measures and Financial Inclusion”.

Background

The Guidance Paper does not provide a single model for promoting financial inclusion in the anti-money laundering / countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) context. Instead it shares country experiences from both developed and developing countries to highlight different ways to promote financial inclusion through a risk-based approach. The Guidance Paper was initially published in 2011 and was revised and enhanced in 2013 and 2017 respectively.

Updates

The Guidance Paper has now been further updated following revisions to FATF Recommendation 1 and Interpretative Notes to Recommendations 1, 10 and 15 to encourage countries to promote financial inclusion and take a proportionate risk in implementation. It focuses on facilitating access to and use of formal services by unserved and underserved persons — including individuals in low-income and rural groups, those in fragile contexts who may lack easy means to verify their identities, and those who are underserved by existing financial products and services. It also provides case studies and tools for regulators and providers. These include tiered customer due diligence, artificial intelligence risk monitoring, digital identity systems and financial inclusion strategies even in medium-risk contexts such as conflict zones.