What is a watchlist?
In the context of AML compliance, a watchlist is a consolidated list of sanctioned individuals, entities, and organisations compiled from multiple regulatory sources for screening purposes. While often used interchangeably with "sanctions list", a watchlist may also include PEP databases, adverse media lists, and other risk-relevant data sources.
Watchlist sources
FirmScreen aggregates data from:
- OFAC SDN and other OFAC lists
- EU Consolidated List
- UN Security Council Consolidated List
- UK OFSI Consolidated List
- PEP databases
Update frequency
Major watchlists are updated multiple times per week. Effective compliance requires screening against the most current data, which is why automated platforms with daily data synchronisation are recommended over manual processes. For guidance on ongoing monitoring, see our article on batch vs real-time screening.
Related terms
- Sanctions List - the government-maintained lists within a watchlist
- SDN List - OFAC's primary watchlist component
- Fuzzy Matching - the screening technique used against watchlists