How to screen an individual against AML datasets, choose between Standard and Enhanced, resolve a Refer result, and understand what each status means.

AML Checks in BrightChecks let you screen an individual — a director, shareholder, or client — against identity, address and mortality, and PEP and sanctions data. There are two tiers: AML Standard and AML Enhanced.

AML Standard vs AML Enhanced — which do I need?

	AML Standard	AML Enhanced
Coverage	UK only	UK & International
Price	4 credits	6 credits
Client interaction required?	No	Yes — biometric capture
What it screens	Address & mortality, PEPs & sanctions	Identity verification + address & mortality + PEPs & sanctions
PEP/sanctions result statuses	Passed, Refer, or Failed	Passed, Refer, or Failed
Pending status?	No	Yes — while client completes biometric step
Best for	Lower-risk clients	Higher-risk or international clients
Risk rating	Yes — logged against the check	Yes — logged against the check
Audit trail	Full audit trail, exportable	Full audit trail, expandable for Refer cases

Note: BrightChecks cannot advise on your compliance obligations or which tier your supervisory body requires. If you are unsure which tier applies to a particular client, refer to your own AML policy or your supervisory body's guidance.

How to run an AML Check

AML Standard

1. In BrightChecks, select AML Check, then AML Standard.

2. Enter the individual's details.

3. Confirm and run the check. 4 credits will be deducted from your BrightHub wallet.

4. The check runs automatically. No action is required from your client. You will receive an email notification when it completes.

Note: AML Standard is fully automated — there is no document upload or biometric step. If you are expecting a client-facing step and it does not appear, confirm that you selected Standard, not Enhanced.

AML Enhanced

1. In BrightChecks, select AML Check, then AML Enhanced.

2. Enter the individual's details.

3. Confirm and run the check. 6 credits will be deducted from your BrightHub wallet.

4. Your client will be prompted to complete a biometric step — document authentication, facial matching, and liveness testing. While you wait, the check shows as Pending. It will not produce a result until your client completes this step.

5. You will receive an email notification when the check completes.

Important: If your client does not complete the biometric step, or abandons it partway through, the check will remain as Pending and will not produce a result. This is not a system fault. Contact your client to ask them to complete the step, then check whether the result has come through.

Understanding the result statuses

Once a check completes, the PEPs and sanctions screening returns one of three statuses. For AML Enhanced, the check shows as Pending until the biometric step is complete — Pending is not a final result.

Status	Colour	Meaning
Passed	Green	No possible PEP or sanctions match found. No further action needed.
Refer	Amber	A possible PEP or sanctions match was found — an inconclusive result. A reviewer must confirm whether it is a genuine match or a false positive before the check can resolve.
Failed	Red	Either a confirmed automated match (for example a genuine sanctions or deceased-persons match), or a Refer case that a reviewer has confirmed as a genuine match.

For a full explanation of what each status means and what to do next, see the article: Understanding your AML Check results.

Resolving a Refer result

A Refer status means a possible PEP or sanctions match was found that needs a human decision before the check can resolve. It does not mean the check has failed or that something has gone wrong — it means the system cannot confirm or rule out the match on its own.

Note: A Refer case must always be resolved by a person. There is no automatic resolution — the check remains as Refer until a reviewer completes the steps below.

How to review a Refer case

1. Open the check in BrightChecks and select Review check.

2. Confirm a status: Pass (No Match) or Fail (Match). This single decision covers all PEP and sanctions profiles flagged on the check.

3. Enter a reason explaining your decision.

4. Tick to confirm your decision is correct.

5. Click Confirm. The check's status updates to Passed or Failed immediately, and this is recorded in your audit trail.

Important: Once submitted, a review decision cannot be edited. If you need to correct a decision, contact BrightChecks support — this requires a new, separately logged action, not an amendment to the original entry.

Why use AML Enhanced if I already have PEP and sanctions data?

Data-only screening (AML Standard) confirms information about a person. It does not confirm that the person in front of your practice is that person.

Supervisory bodies increasingly expect biometric verification — or retained documentary ID — as evidence of identity. AML Enhanced provides a biometric report that meets this requirement, so you do not need to separately collect and retain physical ID documents from the client.

Logging a risk rating

After any AML Check completes, you can log a risk rating and rationale to document your assessment of the individual's risk profile. This is recorded in your audit trail and can be exported for compliance and record-keeping purposes.

Does AML Check cover companies?

No. AML Checks screen individuals only. To run a due diligence check on a company, use Company Check. See the article: Running a Company Check.

Does AML Check connect to BrightManager?

No. BrightChecks' AML Checks are separate from BrightManager's existing AML functionality. Running a check in BrightChecks does not create, update, or share data with BrightManager.

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