UNICORN PRIVATE Which countries are on the FATF black and grey lists, and what does it mean for your clients?
In short
The FATF, the international anti money laundering body, publishes two lists of countries with weak controls.
The black list asks for countermeasures; the grey list names countries under increased monitoring.
You check where your clients and suppliers are based and apply more care to those countries.
What the list contains
The black list (high risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action) and the grey list (jurisdictions under increased monitoring) are updated after each FATF plenary, three times a year.
Unicorn Intelligence also flags countries under embargo. This is a signal about the country, not a match on the name.
Who must check it
It matters for:
- Banks, payment providers and every company subject to anti money laundering rules.
- Companies that onboard customers or suppliers from many countries.
- Finance teams that decide how much due diligence each counterparty needs.
Fines and penalties
We do not show an amount for this list because we have not verified one. The penalties are set by the national law that applies to your company: read the official source and ask your legal advisor.
Live data from our copy of the list
Live data is not available right now. See the status page
Official source
How Unicorn Intelligence checks it
Every name you upload or connect is compared with FATF high risk and monitored countries together with all the other lists, every day. You see the source, the date and how similar the name is, so you can decide quickly.
- Upload a list, connect your CRM or type a name.
- We compare each name with the list, also with spelling variants and transliterations.
- Possible matches show the list, the source, the date and the similarity, and you decide.
Check your clients for free
Upload your contacts and see in a few minutes how many names need a closer look. When you sign up you get a gift of $50 in credit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a client in a grey list country a problem?
Not by itself. It means you should look more carefully, for example with enhanced due diligence.
How often do the FATF lists change?
After each FATF plenary meeting, usually in February, June and October.
Are there fines linked to the FATF lists?
The FATF does not impose fines. Penalties come from national anti money laundering laws: read the official source and your local rules.
The program can make mistakes. The final responsibility for compliance stays with your company. Unicorn Intelligence is an information tool. Decisions and legal obligations, including sanctions compliance, due diligence and tender participation, remain with the customer.