Axra (a product of GoFree Global Inc)
Effective Date: February 2026 Version: 1.0 Last Reviewed: February 16, 2026
1. Policy Statement & Commitment
GoFree Global Inc and its affiliates (collectively, "Axra," "we," "us," or "our") are committed to maintaining the highest standards of compliance with all applicable anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) laws and regulations. We recognize our responsibility to prevent our agentic banking and payments infrastructure from being exploited for money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or other illicit activities.
This Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism Policy (the "Policy") establishes the framework for our AML/CFT compliance program and applies to all Axra operations, services, employees, agents, contractors, and business relationships.
Our Commitment
Axra is committed to:
- Compliance: Full adherence to all applicable AML/CFT laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance in jurisdictions where we operate
- Prevention: Implementing robust controls to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing
- Detection: Maintaining systems and processes to detect suspicious activities and patterns
- Reporting: Timely and accurate reporting of suspicious activities to relevant authorities
- Transparency: Cooperating fully with law enforcement and regulatory investigations
- Culture: Fostering a culture of compliance throughout our organization
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and enhancing our AML/CFT program
2. Regulatory Framework
Axra's AML/CFT program is designed to comply with applicable laws and regulations in all jurisdictions where we operate, including but not limited to:
United States
- Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and implementing regulations (31 CFR Chapter X)
- USA PATRIOT Act and related AML provisions
- FinCEN Regulations for Money Services Businesses (MSBs)
- Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions regulations
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidance and advisories
Registration Details:
- FinCEN MSB Registration Number: 20222296774
- FinCEN License Number: 31000281485025
Canada
- Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and regulations
- FINTRAC Regulations for Money Services Businesses
- Canadian Criminal Code provisions on money laundering and terrorist financing
- Bank of Canada Retail Payments Activities Act (RPAA) requirements (registration in progress)
Registration Details:
- FINTRAC Registration Number: 1001010436
- FINTRAC License Number: C100000512
Other Jurisdictions
- Nigeria: Applicable AML/CFT regulations and Central Bank of Nigeria directives
- Rwanda: National Bank of Rwanda AML/CFT requirements
- International Standards: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations
Corporate Structure
- Parent Entity: GoFree Global Inc (Delaware, USA)
- Canadian Operations: GoFree Global Technology Limited (Canada)
- Additional Entities: GoFree Global operations in Nigeria and Rwanda
3. Compliance Officer & Governance
AML/CFT Compliance Officer
Axra has designated a qualified AML/CFT Compliance Officer (the "Compliance Officer") who is responsible for:
- Overseeing and managing the AML/CFT compliance program
- Ensuring compliance with all applicable AML/CFT laws and regulations
- Developing, implementing, and updating AML/CFT policies and procedures
- Monitoring transactions and investigating suspicious activities
- Filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs/STRs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs)
- Coordinating with law enforcement and regulatory authorities
- Managing sanctions screening programs
- Overseeing employee training and awareness programs
- Reporting to senior management and the Board on AML/CFT matters
- Maintaining records and documentation
- Coordinating independent audits and testing
Governance Structure
The Compliance Officer reports directly to senior management and has direct access to the Board of Directors. The Compliance Officer has sufficient authority, independence, and resources to perform their duties effectively.
Escalation Process:
- Compliance Officer reviews all alerts and suspicious activities
- Material matters escalated to Chief Legal Officer and Chief Executive Officer
- Significant matters reported to the Board of Directors
- Regulatory reporting to FinCEN, FINTRAC, and other authorities as required
Contact Information
AML/CFT Compliance Officer Email: compliance@useaxra.com Address: [Corporate Address] Phone: [Compliance Hotline]
4. Risk Assessment Methodology
Axra conducts comprehensive risk assessments to identify, assess, and understand the money laundering and terrorist financing risks associated with our business activities, products, services, customers, and geographic locations.
Risk Assessment Framework
Our enterprise-wide AML/CFT risk assessment considers:
Customer Risk Factors
- Identity Verification Level: NONE, BASIC, STANDARD, or ENHANCED
- Customer Type: Individual, business, or platform
- Customer Profile: Source of funds, occupation, business activities
- Transaction Patterns: Volume, frequency, amounts, counterparties
- Geographic Risk: Customer location and jurisdictions involved in transactions
Product and Service Risk Factors
- Multi-Currency Wallets: Currency types, balances, transaction patterns
- International Transfers: Cross-border payment risks, correspondent banking
- Virtual Accounts: Account usage patterns, beneficiary relationships
- Payment Processing: Merchant services, payment flows
Geographic Risk Factors
- Prohibited Jurisdictions: Countries subject to comprehensive sanctions
- Controlled Jurisdictions: High-risk countries with enhanced monitoring
- Restricted Jurisdictions: Medium-risk countries with additional controls
- Not High Risk: Lower-risk jurisdictions with standard monitoring
Channel Risk Factors
- Digital-Only Operations: All transactions conducted electronically
- No Cash Handling: Eliminates cash-related ML/TF risks
- Third-Party Partners: Bridge.xyz and other service provider risks
Transaction Risk Factors
- Transaction Size: Large or unusual transaction amounts
- Transaction Velocity: Frequency and speed of transactions
- Transaction Patterns: Structuring, rapid movement of funds, round amounts
- Beneficiary Risk: Sanctions screening, high-risk jurisdictions
Risk Classification
Based on the risk assessment, we classify customers and transactions into risk categories:
- Low Risk: Standard monitoring and controls
- Medium Risk: Enhanced monitoring and periodic reviews
- High Risk: Enhanced due diligence, continuous monitoring, senior management approval
- Prohibited: Transaction blocked, account restricted, regulatory reporting
Risk Assessment Updates
Axra conducts:
- Comprehensive Risk Assessments: Annually, or more frequently as needed
- Targeted Assessments: Upon introduction of new products, services, or markets
- Ad Hoc Assessments: In response to regulatory changes, emerging risks, or incidents
5. Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
Axra implements risk-based Customer Due Diligence (CDD) procedures to verify customer identities, understand the nature and purpose of customer relationships, and assess money laundering and terrorist financing risks.
KYC Tier System
Axra employs a tiered KYC approach with transaction limits based on verification level:
Tier 1: NONE (Email Only)
Verification Requirements:
- Valid email address only
Transaction Limits:
- $0 daily transfer limit (no outbound transfers permitted)
- $0 monthly transfer limit
- Receive-only account functionality
Use Case:
- Initial account creation
- Transitional state before identity verification
Risk Controls:
- No outbound transfer capability
- Funds held until identity verification completed
- Mandatory upgrade required for any transaction activity
Tier 2: BASIC (Email + Phone)
Verification Requirements:
- Valid email address
- Valid phone number with SMS verification
Transaction Limits:
- $1,000 USD equivalent per day
- $5,000 USD equivalent per month
Use Case:
- Low-value personal transactions
- Entry-level users
Risk Controls:
- Transaction velocity monitoring
- Cumulative volume tracking
- Automatic suspension if limits exceeded
Tier 3: STANDARD (Government ID + Selfie)
Verification Requirements:
- Valid email address
- Valid phone number
- Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, national ID)
- Live selfie verification (liveness detection)
- Identity verification via Bridge.xyz and/or Persona
Transaction Limits:
- $10,000 USD equivalent per day
- $50,000 USD equivalent per month
Information Collected:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Nationality and country of residence
- Government ID number and issuing authority
Use Case:
- Standard personal and business transactions
- Most retail customers
Risk Controls:
- ID document verification (authenticity, validity, tampering detection)
- Biometric matching (selfie to ID photo)
- Sanctions screening against 75+ global lists
- Transaction monitoring and pattern analysis
Tier 4: ENHANCED (Enhanced Due Diligence)
Verification Requirements:
- All STANDARD tier requirements, plus:
- Source of funds documentation
- Source of wealth documentation (for high-net-worth individuals)
- Business verification documents (for business accounts)
- Beneficial ownership information (for entities)
- Enhanced background checks
Transaction Limits:
- $50,000 USD equivalent per day
- $250,000 USD equivalent per month
Use Case:
- High-value transactions
- Business and platform accounts
- PEPs and high-risk customers (if approved)
Risk Controls:
- Continuous transaction monitoring
- Periodic account reviews (at least annually)
- Senior management approval required
- Enhanced sanctions screening (including adverse media)
- Real-time transaction alerts
Beneficial Ownership Requirements
For business and entity accounts, Axra collects and verifies:
- Beneficial Owners: Individuals who own 25% or more of the entity
- Control Persons: Individuals with significant management control
- Information Required: Name, date of birth, residential address, identification documents
Customer Information Updates
Axra maintains current customer information through:
- Periodic Reviews: Risk-based review frequency (annually for high-risk, every 2-3 years for lower-risk)
- Event-Driven Updates: Changes in customer circumstances, transaction patterns, or risk profile
- Customer Notifications: Proactive outreach requesting information updates
- Transaction Monitoring: Identification of information inconsistencies during monitoring
Simplified Due Diligence
Axra does not apply simplified due diligence procedures given the digital nature of our services and the risk profile of our customer base.
6. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
Axra applies Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) procedures to customers and transactions that present higher money laundering or terrorist financing risks.
EDD Triggers
Enhanced due diligence is required for:
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)
Definition:
- Individuals who hold or have held prominent public positions
- Immediate family members of PEPs
- Close associates of PEPs
PEP Categories:
- Foreign PEPs (senior foreign political figures)
- Domestic PEPs (senior domestic political figures)
- International organization PEPs (senior officials of international organizations)
EDD Requirements for PEPs:
- Senior management approval for account opening
- Enhanced identity verification and background screening
- Source of wealth and source of funds documentation
- Ongoing monitoring of transactions and account activity
- Periodic reviews (at least annually)
- Enhanced sanctions and adverse media screening
High-Risk Jurisdictions
Customers or transactions involving:
- Prohibited Jurisdictions: Account opening declined
- Controlled Jurisdictions: Enhanced verification and monitoring required
- Restricted Jurisdictions: Additional documentation and approval required
- FATF High-Risk Countries: Countries identified by FATF as having strategic AML/CFT deficiencies
EDD Requirements for High-Risk Jurisdictions:
- Enhanced identity verification
- Source of funds documentation
- Purpose of transaction documentation
- Compliance Officer review and approval
- Continuous transaction monitoring
Large Transactions
Transactions meeting or exceeding:
- $10,000 USD equivalent in a single transaction
- $25,000 USD equivalent in aggregated transactions within 24 hours
- $50,000 USD equivalent in cumulative monthly transactions (for STANDARD tier)
EDD Requirements for Large Transactions:
- Source of funds verification
- Purpose of transaction documentation
- Beneficiary due diligence
- Compliance Officer review (for amounts over $25,000)
- Enhanced transaction monitoring
High-Risk Business Activities
Customers engaged in:
- Money services businesses
- Cryptocurrency exchanges or trading platforms
- Casinos and gaming operations
- Arms dealing or defense contracting
- Precious metals or gemstone dealers
- Non-profit organizations (particularly those operating in high-risk jurisdictions)
- Cash-intensive businesses
EDD Requirements for High-Risk Businesses:
- Business licensing and registration verification
- Regulatory compliance documentation
- Enhanced beneficial ownership verification
- Business premises verification
- Transaction monitoring with lower alert thresholds
Complex Ownership Structures
Entities with:
- Multiple layers of ownership
- Offshore structures or shell companies
- Bearer shares or nominee arrangements
- Trusts or other opaque structures
EDD Requirements for Complex Structures:
- Full beneficial ownership chain documentation
- Purpose and legitimacy of structure documentation
- Source of funds for all beneficial owners
- Legal opinion or professional verification
- Senior management approval
Unusual Transaction Patterns
Customers exhibiting:
- Transactions inconsistent with customer profile
- Sudden changes in transaction patterns
- Structuring or layering patterns
- Unexplained source of funds
- Complex transaction routing
EDD Requirements for Unusual Patterns:
- Enhanced transaction monitoring
- Customer interview and documentation
- Re-verification of customer information
- Investigation by Compliance Officer
- Consideration of suspicious activity reporting
EDD Documentation
For all EDD cases, Axra collects and maintains:
- Source of Funds: Documentation demonstrating the origin of funds (bank statements, employment contracts, sale agreements, etc.)
- Source of Wealth: Documentation explaining the customer's overall wealth accumulation (business ownership, inheritance, investments, etc.)
- Purpose of Relationship: Detailed explanation of why the customer needs Axra's services
- Expected Transaction Activity: Anticipated transaction volumes, amounts, frequencies, and counterparties
- Supporting Documentation: Business licenses, financial statements, contracts, tax returns, etc.
EDD Approval Process
- Initial Review: Compliance Officer reviews all EDD triggers
- Documentation Collection: Request and collect all required EDD documentation
- Risk Assessment: Comprehensive risk assessment of customer and relationship
- Senior Management Approval: Approval required from Chief Legal Officer or CEO
- Ongoing Monitoring: Enhanced monitoring with lower alert thresholds
- Periodic Review: At least annual review of EDD customers
EDD Rejection Criteria
Axra will decline to establish or continue business relationships when:
- Customer refuses to provide required EDD information
- Information provided is insufficient, inconsistent, or suspicious
- Customer is located in or transacting with Prohibited Jurisdictions
- Risk assessment determines relationship presents unacceptable ML/TF risk
- Adverse information identified during screening (sanctions, criminal activity, etc.)
7. Ongoing Monitoring
Axra maintains continuous monitoring of customer accounts and transactions to detect unusual or suspicious activities that may indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, or other illicit conduct.
Transaction Monitoring Program
Our automated transaction monitoring system analyzes all transactions in real-time and on a batch basis to identify:
Velocity Checks
Daily Transfer Velocity:
- Monitoring of transaction frequency within 24-hour periods
- Alerts for rapid-fire transfers (multiple transactions in short timeframes)
- Comparison against customer historical patterns
- Tier-based velocity thresholds
Thresholds:
- BASIC: >5 transactions per day or >$1,000 aggregate
- STANDARD: >10 transactions per day or >$10,000 aggregate
- ENHANCED: >20 transactions per day or >$50,000 aggregate
Cumulative Volume Monitoring
Monthly Volume Tracking:
- Aggregation of all inbound and outbound transfers
- Comparison against tier limits and historical averages
- Automatic suspension when tier limits exceeded
- Trend analysis for unusual increases
Monitoring Parameters:
- 30-day rolling cumulative totals
- Month-over-month growth rates
- Comparison to customer profile and stated activity
- Deviation alerts (>200% increase from baseline)
Suspicious Pattern Detection
Structuring Detection:
- Multiple transactions just below reporting thresholds
- Pattern of consistent amounts designed to avoid detection
- Timing patterns suggesting coordinated activity
- Split transactions to the same beneficiary
Rapid Movement of Funds:
- Funds received and immediately transferred out
- Minimal time between deposit and withdrawal
- Pass-through account behavior
- Lack of legitimate business purpose
High-Risk Jurisdiction Transfers:
- Transactions involving Prohibited, Controlled, or Restricted countries
- Unusual routing through multiple jurisdictions
- Transactions with no apparent economic purpose involving high-risk countries
- Patterns of transfers to/from sanctioned or high-risk regions
Round Amount Transactions:
- Unusually round transaction amounts (e.g., exactly $10,000)
- Pattern of round amounts across multiple transactions
- Inconsistent with customer profile or business type
Unusual Transaction Types:
- Transactions inconsistent with customer profile or business
- Sudden changes in transaction patterns
- Transactions with inadequate explanation or documentation
- Transactions involving known high-risk activities
Beneficiary Concentration:
- High percentage of transactions to single beneficiary
- Sudden addition of multiple new beneficiaries
- Beneficiaries in high-risk jurisdictions
- Beneficiaries with sanctions screening concerns
Alert Management
Alert Generation:
- Automated rules-based alert generation
- Risk scoring for prioritization
- Alert queuing for Compliance Officer review
- Escalation procedures for high-priority alerts
Alert Investigation:
- Initial Review: Compliance Officer reviews alert and transaction details
- Customer Profile Analysis: Review customer information, history, and risk rating
- Transaction Analysis: Analyze transaction purpose, counterparties, and patterns
- Additional Information: Request customer explanation if needed
- Risk Determination: Assess whether activity is suspicious or consistent with legitimate business
- Disposition: Close alert, escalate for investigation, or prepare SAR/STR
Alert Resolution Timeframes:
- Low-priority alerts: Within 5 business days
- Medium-priority alerts: Within 3 business days
- High-priority alerts: Within 24 hours
- Critical alerts (sanctions, terrorism): Immediate review
Account Activity Reviews
Risk-Based Review Frequency:
- Low Risk: Every 3 years or as needed
- Medium Risk: Every 2 years
- High Risk: Annually or more frequently
- Enhanced Due Diligence Customers: At least annually
Review Components:
- Customer information accuracy and currency
- Transaction activity consistency with customer profile
- Changes in risk profile or circumstances
- Sanctions screening update
- Assessment of ongoing relationship appropriateness
Transaction Audit Trail
All transactions are logged with comprehensive audit trails including:
- Transaction ID and timestamp
- Customer ID and KYC tier
- Transaction amount and currency
- Source and destination details
- Beneficiary information
- Purpose of transaction
- IP address and device information
- User agent and session details
- Sanctions screening results
- AML monitoring flags and alerts
- Approval/rejection status and authorizing party
Retention Period: 7 years from transaction date
Monitoring System Capabilities
Axra's transaction monitoring system provides:
- Real-Time Screening: Immediate sanctions and AML checks at transaction initiation
- Batch Processing: Daily comprehensive analysis of all account activity
- Pattern Recognition: Machine learning and statistical models for anomaly detection
- Risk Scoring: Dynamic risk scoring of customers and transactions
- Case Management: Workflow system for alert investigation and documentation
- Reporting: Management dashboards and regulatory reporting capabilities
- Audit Trail: Complete documentation of all monitoring activities and decisions
8. Sanctions Screening Program
Axra maintains a comprehensive sanctions screening program to ensure compliance with economic sanctions and to prevent transactions involving sanctioned individuals, entities, or jurisdictions.
Sanctions Lists Screened
Axra screens against 75+ sanctions and enforcement lists via the Dilisense API, including:
United States
- OFAC Sanctions Lists:
- Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List
- Consolidated Sanctions List
- Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List
- Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) List
- Non-SDN entities subject to blocking orders
- Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) List
United Nations
- UN Security Council Sanctions Lists:
- UN Consolidated List
- UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List
- UN ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida Sanctions List
- Country-specific UN sanctions lists
European Union
- EU Sanctions Lists:
- EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List
- EU Terrorism List
- Country and entity-specific sanctions
United Kingdom
- HM Treasury Sanctions Lists:
- UK Financial Sanctions List
- UK Consolidated List
- Country and entity-specific UK sanctions
Other Global Lists
- World Bank Ineligible Firms and Individuals List
- Interpol Most Wanted Lists
- Canadian Sanctions Lists (Global Affairs Canada)
- Australian Sanctions Lists (DFAT)
- Additional jurisdictional sanctions lists (Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, etc.)
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)
- Global PEP databases
- Domestic and foreign PEPs
- PEP family members and close associates
Adverse Media and Enforcement
- Financial crime enforcement actions
- Money laundering and terrorist financing cases
- Adverse media screening for reputational risk
Screening Triggers
Sanctions screening is performed:
At Registration
- Customer Onboarding: Automatic screening of all new customers during account creation
- Information Collected: Name, date of birth, address, nationality, identification documents
- Pre-Funding Check: Screening must clear before account is activated for transactions
At Beneficiary Creation
- New Beneficiary Addition: Automatic screening when customer adds new transfer beneficiary
- Information Screened: Beneficiary name, account details, bank information, jurisdiction
- Pre-Transaction Check: Beneficiary must clear screening before first transaction is permitted
At Transaction Initiation
- Real-Time Screening: Immediate screening of customer and beneficiary at transaction attempt
- Transaction Details: Amount, destination, purpose, routing information
- Dynamic Lists: Screening against most current sanctions lists (updated daily)
Periodic Re-Screening
- Customer Re-Screening: Quarterly re-screening of all active customers
- Beneficiary Re-Screening: Quarterly re-screening of all saved beneficiaries
- Watchlist Updates: Re-screening triggered when sanctions lists are updated
- Event-Driven: Re-screening upon changes to customer information or risk profile
Screening Methodology
Fuzzy Matching:
- Name variation algorithms to account for spelling differences, transliterations, aliases
- Date of birth matching with allowance for data quality issues
- Address and nationality matching
- Configurable match score thresholds
False Positive Reduction:
- Weighted scoring based on data quality and match strength
- Contextual analysis (e.g., age consistency, jurisdiction relevance)
- Whitelisting of confirmed false positives (with periodic review)
- Manual review of all potential matches
Match Scoring:
- 100% match: Exact match on all critical fields → BLOCK
- 95-99% match: Very high confidence → HOLD for review
- 85-94% match: High confidence → Manual review required
- 75-84% match: Moderate confidence → Enhanced review
- <75% match: Low confidence → Clear with documentation
Match Handling Procedures
Confirmed Sanctions Match (True Positive)
-
Immediate Action:
- Transaction blocked immediately
- Account frozen/restricted
- Customer notification (if legally permissible)
- Asset freezing in compliance with sanctions regulations
-
Compliance Review:
- Comprehensive investigation by Compliance Officer
- Documentation of all findings
- Determination of sanctions violation scope
- Assessment of potential licensing opportunities (if applicable)
-
Regulatory Reporting:
- Filing with OFAC (for U.S. sanctions): Within 10 business days
- Filing with Global Affairs Canada (for Canadian sanctions): Immediately
- Filing with other applicable authorities as required
- SAR/STR filing for suspicious activity
- Terrorist Property Report (if terrorism-related)
-
Ongoing Obligations:
- Asset maintenance (no disbursement without authorization)
- Periodic reporting to OFAC/regulators
- Legal and licensing consultation
- Complete documentation and record retention
Potential Match Requiring Review
- Transaction Hold: Transaction placed on hold pending investigation
- Investigation: Compliance Officer conducts detailed investigation within 24 hours
- Enhanced Screening: Additional database checks, adverse media, public records
- Documentation: Collection of additional customer information if needed
- Determination: Clear determination of true positive vs. false positive
- Resolution:
- False Positive: Whitelist entry, transaction approval, customer notification
- True Positive: Follow confirmed match procedures above
False Positive Determination
- Documentation: Detailed documentation of why match is false positive
- Whitelisting: Addition to false positive whitelist to prevent future alerts
- Transaction Approval: Immediate processing of held transaction
- Customer Communication: Explanation of brief delay (if customer inquired)
- Periodic Review: Quarterly review of whitelisted items
Compliance Alerts
All sanctions screening hits generate compliance alerts that are:
- Logged in the compliance case management system
- Assigned to Compliance Officer for immediate review
- Tracked through resolution with complete audit trail
- Reported to senior management (for confirmed matches)
- Retained for 7 years
OFAC 50% Rule
Axra applies OFAC's 50% Rule, which provides that:
- Entities owned 50% or more by one or more sanctioned persons are themselves blocked
- Entities owned 50% or more in the aggregate by multiple sanctioned persons are blocked
- Ownership determinations include direct and indirect ownership interests
Application:
- Beneficial ownership screening during onboarding and EDD
- Entity ownership structure analysis
- Blocked party aggregation analysis
- Legal entity screening in addition to individual screening
Prohibited Transactions
Axra prohibits:
- Transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities
- Transactions involving blocked property or interests
- Transactions that would violate comprehensive country sanctions
- Facilitation of transactions for or on behalf of sanctioned parties
- Evasion or circumvention of sanctions requirements
Sanctions Licensing
In limited circumstances, Axra may apply for specific licenses from OFAC or other sanctions authorities to:
- Reject blocked property
- Process humanitarian transactions
- Wind down existing relationships
- Other legally permissible activities
Licensing Process:
- Legal counsel consultation
- Detailed license application preparation
- Submission to appropriate authority
- No transactions pending approval (unless authorized)
- Strict compliance with license terms and conditions
9. Suspicious Activity Reporting (SARs/STRs)
Axra files Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with FinCEN (United States) and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with FINTRAC (Canada) when we detect transactions or patterns of activity that may involve money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or other financial crimes.
Reporting Obligations
FinCEN SAR Filing (United States)
Mandatory Reporting: SARs must be filed when:
- Transaction or pattern of transactions involves or aggregates to $5,000 or more
- AND Axra knows, suspects, or has reason to suspect that the transaction:
- Involves funds derived from illegal activity
- Is designed to evade Bank Secrecy Act requirements
- Has no business or lawful purpose
- Involves use of Axra to facilitate criminal activity
Timing:
- File within 30 calendar days after initial detection
- If no suspect identified on Day 30, additional 30 days to identify suspect (60 days total)
- Critical cases (terrorism, ongoing criminal activity): File immediately
Form: FinCEN SAR (BSA E-Filing System)
FINTRAC STR Filing (Canada)
Mandatory Reporting: STRs must be filed when:
- There are reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction or attempted transaction is related to:
- Money laundering offense
- Terrorist activity financing offense
Timing:
- File within 30 days of detecting facts giving rise to reasonable grounds to suspect
Form: FINTRAC STR (FINTRAC Web Reporting System)
Red Flags and Suspicious Activity Indicators
Axra investigates and considers filing SARs/STRs for the following indicators:
Structuring and Smurfing
- Multiple transactions just below reporting thresholds ($10,000 CTR threshold)
- Patterns suggesting deliberate avoidance of reporting requirements
- Use of multiple accounts or identities to structure transactions
- Transactions split across multiple days or beneficiaries
Unusual Transaction Patterns
- Transactions inconsistent with customer's business or profile
- Sudden unexplained increases in transaction volume or amounts
- Transactions with no apparent economic or lawful purpose
- Complex transaction routing without business justification
Identity Concerns
- Suspicious or potentially false identification documents
- Reluctance to provide information or documentation
- Multiple customers using the same identification or address
- Customers using third-party identities or acting as nominees
High-Risk Jurisdictions
- Transactions involving sanctioned countries or high-risk jurisdictions
- Transfers to/from jurisdictions known for terrorism, drug trafficking, or financial crime
- Transactions routed through multiple high-risk jurisdictions
- No apparent business reason for transactions with high-risk countries
Rapid Movement of Funds
- Funds deposited and immediately transferred out
- Pass-through account behavior with minimal retention
- Circular transactions (funds return to origin after multiple transfers)
- No legitimate business reason for rapid fund movement
Terrorism Financing Indicators
- Transactions to/from countries or entities associated with terrorism
- Transfers to charitable organizations with terrorism concerns
- Small transactions to multiple high-risk locations
- Customers with connections to known terrorist organizations
- Transactions following terrorism events or alerts
Fraud Indicators
- Customer claims fraud or unauthorized transaction after completion
- Beneficiary information changes immediately before large transaction
- Transaction based on misrepresentation or false pretenses
- Romance scams, business email compromise, or other fraud patterns
Sanctions Evasion
- Attempts to transact with sanctioned parties
- Use of intermediaries to obscure beneficial owner
- Transactions structured to evade sanctions screening
- False beneficiary information to disguise sanctioned party
Customer Behavior
- Reluctance to provide information about transaction purpose
- Customer exhibits unusual knowledge of AML requirements
- Customer attempts to avoid contact with financial institution
- Customer nervous or evasive when questioned
- Customer makes statements suggesting money laundering or illegal activity
SAR/STR Investigation Process
-
Initial Alert or Detection:
- Transaction monitoring alert
- Employee observation or report
- Customer due diligence concern
- Law enforcement inquiry
- Third-party notification
-
Preliminary Review:
- Compliance Officer reviews initial information
- Determination whether investigation warranted
- Assignment of investigation priority
-
Investigation:
- Review of customer profile and account history
- Analysis of transaction patterns and activities
- Review of all available customer information and documentation
- Enhanced screening (sanctions, adverse media, public records)
- Consultation with relevant employees or departments
- Collection of supporting documentation
-
Determination:
- Assessment whether activity is suspicious
- Evaluation of whether SAR/STR filing threshold met
- Documentation of analysis and conclusion
- Senior management consultation for complex cases
-
SAR/STR Preparation:
- Completion of SAR/STR form with all required information
- Narrative describing suspicious activity in detail
- Attachment of supporting documentation
- Review by Compliance Officer
- Approval by senior management (for significant cases)
-
Filing:
- Electronic filing via FinCEN BSA E-Filing System (U.S.)
- Electronic filing via FINTRAC Web Reporting System (Canada)
- Secure retention of filed report and supporting documentation
- Log in SAR/STR tracking system
-
Post-Filing:
- Ongoing monitoring of customer and related accounts
- Enhanced monitoring for continuing suspicious activity
- Consideration of customer relationship continuation
- Response to any law enforcement follow-up inquiries
SAR/STR Content Requirements
SARs/STRs include:
- Subject Information: Name, address, date of birth, identification numbers, account numbers
- Suspicious Activity Dates: When activity occurred or was detected
- Transaction Details: Amounts, dates, types, instruments, account numbers
- Narrative Description: Detailed explanation of why activity is suspicious, who is involved, what occurred, when, where, and how
- Supporting Documentation: Account statements, transaction records, identification documents, correspondence
Confidentiality
SAR/STR filing is strictly confidential:
- No Customer Notification: Customer is NOT notified that SAR/STR has been filed
- No Disclosure: SAR/STR filing is NOT disclosed to customer or third parties
- Limited Internal Access: Access restricted to compliance personnel, senior management, and legal counsel on need-to-know basis
- Document Security: SARs/STRs maintained in secure, segregated filing system
- Prohibition on Tipping Off: Federal crime to disclose SAR/STR filing or investigation to subject
Exception: Disclosure permitted to law enforcement, regulators, and certain other financial institutions for AML purposes.
Continuing Activity SARs
For continuing suspicious activity previously reported:
- File continuing activity SAR every 90 days (U.S.) or as activity continues (Canada)
- Reference prior SAR/STR filings
- Update narrative with new information or developments
- Maintain ongoing monitoring and documentation
Account Closure
SAR/STR filing does not automatically require account closure. Axra evaluates:
- Severity and nature of suspicious activity
- Risk of continuing relationship
- Regulatory guidance and expectations
- Law enforcement interest in maintaining account open
- Risk to Axra's reputation and compliance program
Decision Process:
- Compliance Officer recommendation
- Senior management approval
- Legal counsel consultation (for complex cases)
- Gradual relationship wind-down (if appropriate)
- Documentation of decision rationale
10. Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs)
Axra files Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) with FinCEN for currency transactions exceeding $10,000 USD in accordance with Bank Secrecy Act requirements.
CTR Reporting Thresholds
Mandatory Filing: CTR must be filed for:
- Currency transactions exceeding $10,000 USD
- Multiple currency transactions aggregating to more than $10,000 USD conducted by or on behalf of the same person in one business day
Form: FinCEN Currency Transaction Report (CTR) - FinCEN Form 112
Timing: Within 15 calendar days after the transaction date
Applicability to Axra's Operations
Given Axra's digital-only operations:
No Cash Transactions: Axra does not handle physical currency (cash, coins) in any form. All transactions are conducted electronically through:
- Bank transfers (ACH, wire, SWIFT)
- Card payments
- Blockchain-based transfers
- Digital payment rails
CTR Filing Obligation: As Axra does not conduct currency transactions, CTR filings are generally not applicable to our business operations.
Monitoring for Equivalent Reporting: While CTRs are not filed, Axra maintains awareness of:
- Large transaction monitoring (for amounts exceeding $10,000 USD)
- Structuring patterns that would be reportable if involving currency
- Potential SAR filing obligations for suspicious activity involving large transactions
Large Transaction Monitoring
Although CTRs are not filed, Axra implements controls for large transactions:
Monitoring Thresholds:
- Transactions ≥ $10,000 USD: Enhanced monitoring flag
- Transactions ≥ $25,000 USD: Compliance Officer review
- Transactions ≥ $50,000 USD: Enhanced due diligence verification
Review Process:
- Automatic system alert for large transaction
- Review of customer profile and transaction history
- Verification of source of funds (if not previously documented)
- Assessment of transaction consistency with customer profile
- Consideration of SAR filing if activity is suspicious
- Documentation of review and decision
Structuring Detection
Axra's transaction monitoring system detects potential structuring patterns that would be reportable if involving currency:
- Multiple transactions just below $10,000 USD
- Pattern suggesting deliberate avoidance of reporting threshold
- Aggregation of transactions to same beneficiary
- Timing patterns consistent with structuring
Response to Structuring Detection:
- Investigation by Compliance Officer
- Review of customer intent and explanation
- Consideration of SAR filing for suspicious structuring patterns
- Enhanced monitoring of customer account
Record Keeping
Axra maintains records of all transactions exceeding $10,000 USD, including:
- Transaction amount and currency
- Date and time of transaction
- Customer information and account details
- Source and destination information
- Purpose and nature of transaction
- Supporting documentation
Retention Period: 7 years from transaction date
Future Applicability
If Axra's business model changes to include currency transactions (cash handling, currency exchange, etc.):
- CTR filing procedures will be implemented immediately
- Staff will be trained on CTR requirements and procedures
- Systems will be updated to capture required CTR information
- This policy will be updated to reflect CTR filing obligations
11. Record Keeping
Axra maintains comprehensive records of customer information, transactions, and compliance activities in accordance with Bank Secrecy Act, PCMLTFA, and other applicable record-keeping requirements.
Retention Period
Standard Retention: 7 years from the date of the record or transaction, or longer if required by applicable law or regulation.
Ongoing Matters: Records relating to ongoing investigations, litigation, or regulatory matters are retained until the matter is fully resolved and the standard retention period has elapsed.
Customer Records
Axra maintains the following customer records:
Identity Verification Records
- Government-issued identification documents (passport, driver's license, national ID)
- Selfie photographs and liveness detection results
- Identity verification reports from Bridge.xyz and Persona
- Address verification documents
- Date of birth and nationality information
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Records
- Customer application and account opening information
- Risk assessment and risk rating documentation
- Customer profile information (occupation, source of funds, expected activity)
- Beneficial ownership information (for entities)
- Enhanced due diligence documentation (for high-risk customers)
Ongoing Monitoring Records
- Periodic review documentation
- Customer information updates
- Risk rating changes and rationale
- Account activity reviews
- Customer correspondence related to AML/CFT matters
Sanctions Screening Records
- Initial screening results at onboarding
- Periodic re-screening results
- Match investigation documentation
- False positive determinations and whitelisting
- Enhanced screening results (adverse media, PEP status)
Transaction Records
Axra maintains comprehensive transaction records including:
Transaction Details
- Transaction ID and timestamp (date and time)
- Transaction amount and currency
- Exchange rates applied
- Source account and customer information
- Destination account and beneficiary information
- Bank details and payment routing information
- Transaction type and payment method
- Purpose of transaction
- Transaction status (completed, pending, rejected, cancelled)
Transaction Audit Trail
- IP address and geolocation
- Device information and user agent
- Session ID and authentication details
- AML monitoring results and flags
- Sanctions screening results
- Approval/rejection decisions and authorizing parties
- System logs and timestamps
Supporting Documentation
- Customer instructions or authorization
- Source of funds documentation (for large or high-risk transactions)
- Invoices, contracts, or other business documentation
- Correspondence related to transaction
- Third-party verification or confirmation
AML/CFT Compliance Records
Axra maintains records of all AML/CFT compliance activities:
Policy and Procedures
- AML/CFT policy and all amendments
- Risk assessment methodology and results
- AML/CFT procedures and training materials
- Independent audit reports and findings
- Regulatory examination reports and responses
Monitoring and Investigations
- Transaction monitoring alerts and investigations
- Alert disposition documentation (closed, escalated, SAR filed)
- Suspicious activity investigations and analysis
- SAR/STR filings and supporting documentation (maintained separately with strict access controls)
- Enhanced due diligence investigations
Regulatory Reporting
- Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) - if applicable
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and supporting documentation
- Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to FINTRAC
- Sanctions blocking reports to OFAC and other authorities
- Large Cash Transaction Reports (LCTRs) - if applicable
- Electronic Funds Transfer Reports (EFTRs) to FINTRAC
Training and Compliance
- Employee training records (dates, topics, attendance, test results)
- Compliance Officer appointment and qualifications
- Management and Board reporting
- Regulatory correspondence and submissions
- Third-party due diligence (service providers, partners)
Business Correspondence
Axra maintains records of:
- Customer inquiries and complaints related to AML/CFT matters
- Requests for documentation or information
- Account closure correspondence
- Subpoenas, law enforcement requests, and regulatory inquiries
- Responses to government or regulatory requests
Record Format and Storage
Electronic Records:
- Primary storage in secure, encrypted databases and document management systems
- Access controls and authentication requirements
- Regular backups with offsite storage
- Version control and audit trail of changes
- System logs of record access and modifications
Physical Records:
- Secure storage in locked, access-controlled facilities (if applicable)
- Document tracking and inventory system
- Climate-controlled environment to prevent deterioration
Record Availability
Records must be:
- Accessible: Retrievable promptly upon request by authorized personnel or regulators
- Complete: Containing all required information elements
- Legible: Readable and understandable
- Organized: Systematically filed and indexed for efficient retrieval
- Secure: Protected against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction
Record Destruction
Records are destroyed only:
- After the required retention period has elapsed
- After any legal holds or regulatory holds are lifted
- In accordance with documented record destruction procedures
- With appropriate security measures (secure deletion, shredding)
- With documentation of destruction date and method
Regulatory Access
Axra provides records to regulators and law enforcement:
- Promptly: Within timeframes specified by regulator (typically 5-10 business days, or shorter for urgent matters)
- Completely: All records responsive to the request
- Organized: In a format that facilitates review
- Securely: Via secure transmission methods or secure access portal
Third-Party Recordkeeping
When Axra relies on third parties (Bridge.xyz, Persona, etc.) for certain AML/CFT functions:
- Written agreements require third parties to maintain records for required retention period
- Axra maintains right to access third-party records
- Axra retains ultimate responsibility for recordkeeping compliance
- Periodic verification that third parties maintain required records
12. Prohibited Jurisdictions
Axra does not provide services to customers located in, or facilitate transactions involving, jurisdictions that present unacceptable money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions, or other compliance risks.
Prohibited Countries (Comprehensive Restrictions)
Axra prohibits account opening and all transactions involving the following jurisdictions:
Sanctioned Jurisdictions
Comprehensive U.S. Sanctions Programs (OFAC):
- Afghanistan (Taliban-controlled areas)
- Belarus
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Cuba
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Eritrea
- Iran
- Lebanon (certain sanctioned entities)
- Libya
- Mali
- Myanmar (Burma) - certain entities and sectors
- Nicaragua
- Russia (comprehensive sanctions)
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan (Darfur region)
- Syria
- Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions)
- Venezuela (Maduro regime)
- Yemen (certain entities)
- Zimbabwe (certain entities and individuals)
High-Risk and Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions
FATF High-Risk Jurisdictions (Call for Action):
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Iran
- Myanmar
FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (Grey List): (As of February 2026 - subject to updates)
- Albania
- Barbados
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cayman Islands
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gibraltar
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Panama
- Philippines
- Senegal
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates (enhanced monitoring)
- Vietnam
- Yemen
State Sponsors of Terrorism
U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism:
- Cuba
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Iran
- Syria
Other Prohibited Jurisdictions
- Somalia (weak governance, terrorism risks)
- Iraq (certain regions - ongoing conflict zones)
Controlled Jurisdictions (Enhanced Due Diligence Required)
Transactions involving the following jurisdictions are permitted only with Enhanced Due Diligence, Compliance Officer approval, and continuous monitoring:
Enhanced Monitoring Jurisdictions
- China (People's Republic) - capital controls, monitoring concerns
- Hong Kong - increased controls following national security law
- Pakistan - terrorism financing risks, weak AML enforcement
- Egypt - political instability, weak institutions
- Lebanon - economic crisis, Hezbollah concerns
- Morocco - human trafficking, corruption risks
- Tunisia - political instability, terrorism concerns
- Bangladesh - weak AML controls, corruption
- Indonesia - terrorism financing risks
- Malaysia - money laundering concerns
- Thailand - human trafficking, weak enforcement
- Argentina - capital controls, economic instability
- Brazil - corruption, organized crime
- Bolivia - drug trafficking, weak institutions
- Colombia - drug trafficking, despite improvements
- Ecuador - money laundering hub, weak controls
- Peru - drug trafficking, corruption
- Paraguay - smuggling, weak institutions
- Ukraine (government-controlled areas) - conflict zone, corruption
EDD Requirements for Controlled Jurisdictions:
- Enhanced identity verification
- Source of funds documentation
- Purpose of transaction documentation
- Beneficial ownership verification
- Compliance Officer approval for transactions >$5,000 USD
- Continuous transaction monitoring
Restricted Jurisdictions (Additional Controls)
Transactions involving the following jurisdictions require additional documentation and monitoring:
Medium-Risk Jurisdictions
- Nigeria - fraud risks, weak AML enforcement, but significant legitimate economy
- Kenya - money laundering concerns, terrorism financing risks
- Ghana - emerging AML framework, fraud risks
- Ethiopia - weak institutions, conflict concerns
- Tanzania - grey list jurisdiction, weak controls
- Uganda - corruption, weak enforcement
- Mozambique - terrorism, weak institutions
- Cameroon - corruption, weak controls
Additional Controls for Restricted Jurisdictions:
- Purpose of transaction required
- Beneficiary verification
- Transaction pattern monitoring
- Periodic account reviews
Not High Risk (Standard Controls)
The following jurisdictions are subject to standard AML/CFT controls with no enhanced restrictions:
Low-Risk Jurisdictions
North America:
- United States
- Canada
Western Europe:
- European Union member states (excluding grey list countries)
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Iceland
Asia-Pacific:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- South Korea
- Singapore
Other:
- Israel
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Uruguay
Standard Controls for Low-Risk Jurisdictions:
- Standard KYC/CDD procedures
- Regular transaction monitoring
- Routine sanctions screening
- Risk-based account reviews
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Axra continuously monitors global developments affecting jurisdiction risk:
- FATF Updates: Quarterly review of FATF high-risk and grey list changes
- Sanctions Developments: Real-time monitoring of new sanctions designations
- Regulatory Guidance: Review of FinCEN, FINTRAC, and other regulatory advisories
- Geopolitical Events: Assessment of conflicts, regime changes, and instability
- Emerging Threats: Monitoring of terrorism, trafficking, and transnational crime trends
Jurisdiction Classification Updates
This jurisdiction classification is reviewed and updated:
- Quarterly: Scheduled review of all jurisdiction risk ratings
- Ad Hoc: Upon FATF list updates, new sanctions, or significant events
- Annual: Comprehensive review as part of enterprise risk assessment
Communication of Updates:
- Policy updates distributed to all staff
- Transaction monitoring rules updated
- Customer communication (if services are discontinued in jurisdiction)
Customer Impact
Customers in Prohibited Jurisdictions:
- Cannot open new accounts
- Existing accounts (if any) will be closed in orderly manner
- Funds returned in compliance with sanctions regulations (if applicable)
Customers Transacting with Prohibited Jurisdictions:
- Transactions blocked automatically
- Customer notified of restrictions
- Compliance alert generated for review
Customers in Controlled/Restricted Jurisdictions:
- Enhanced due diligence required for onboarding or transactions
- Transaction limits may be imposed
- More frequent account reviews
Sanctions Compliance
All jurisdiction restrictions are implemented in coordination with sanctions screening to ensure:
- Compliance with OFAC, UN, EU, HMT, and other sanctions programs
- Blocking of prohibited transactions
- Asset freezing when required
- Timely regulatory reporting
13. Employee Training
Axra provides comprehensive AML/CFT training to all employees, agents, contractors, and authorized representatives to ensure awareness of money laundering and terrorist financing risks, regulatory requirements, and internal policies and procedures.
Training Requirements
Initial Training
New Hire Training:
- Provided to all employees within 30 days of hire
- Covers fundamental AML/CFT concepts and Axra's program
- Role-specific training based on responsibilities
- Assessment to verify understanding
- Documentation of completion
Content:
- Overview of money laundering and terrorist financing
- Regulatory framework (BSA, PCMLTFA, FinCEN, FINTRAC)
- Axra's AML/CFT policy and procedures
- Customer due diligence and identity verification
- Transaction monitoring and suspicious activity detection
- Red flags and warning signs
- Reporting obligations and procedures
- Sanctions screening requirements
- Record keeping requirements
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations
Annual Refresher Training
All Employees:
- Comprehensive refresher training provided annually
- Updates on regulatory changes and emerging risks
- Review of recent case studies and typologies
- Assessment to verify continued understanding
- Documentation of completion
Content Updates:
- New regulations, guidance, or enforcement actions
- Changes to Axra's policies and procedures
- Emerging money laundering and terrorist financing trends
- Recent Axra incidents or lessons learned (anonymized)
- Industry best practices and regulatory expectations
Role-Specific Training
Compliance Team:
- Advanced AML/CFT training covering complex topics
- Transaction monitoring and alert investigation techniques
- SAR/STR preparation and filing procedures
- Enhanced due diligence methodologies
- Sanctions compliance and OFAC regulations
- Regulatory examination preparation
- Industry conferences and professional development
Customer Service and Operations:
- Customer onboarding and KYC procedures
- Identity verification requirements
- Escalation procedures for suspicious activity
- Handling of customer inquiries related to AML/CFT
- Transaction processing controls
Engineering and Product Teams:
- AML/CFT technology requirements and system controls
- Data security and privacy considerations
- Transaction monitoring rule configuration
- Sanctions screening API integration
- Audit trail and logging requirements
Senior Management:
- Enterprise risk management perspectives
- Regulatory expectations for Board and senior management
- Compliance program effectiveness assessment
- Strategic AML/CFT initiatives
- Regulatory examination and enforcement trends
Specialized Training
Topics Covered as Needed:
- Fraud detection and prevention
- Cryptocurrency and blockchain AML considerations
- Trade-based money laundering
- Human trafficking and smuggling indicators
- Politically exposed persons (PEPs) identification
- Beneficial ownership verification techniques
- Complex corporate structures analysis
- Sanctions evasion techniques
- Terrorism financing typologies
Training Methodology
Delivery Methods:
- Online learning management system (LMS) modules
- Live instructor-led sessions (virtual or in-person)
- Workshops and case study exercises
- Webinars on emerging topics
- Self-study materials and reference guides
Assessment and Certification:
- Knowledge assessment quizzes or exams
- Minimum passing score required (typically 80%)
- Remedial training for employees not meeting standard
- Certificate of completion upon successful assessment
- Annual recertification requirement
Training Content Development
Training materials are:
- Current: Updated regularly to reflect regulatory changes and emerging risks
- Relevant: Tailored to Axra's business model and risk profile
- Practical: Include real-world examples and case studies
- Engaging: Use multimedia, interactive elements, and scenarios
- Accessible: Available to all employees through learning management system
Training Record Keeping
Axra maintains comprehensive training records including:
- Employee name and position
- Date of training completion
- Training topic and materials provided
- Assessment scores and certification
- Training provider (internal or external)
- Acknowledgment of understanding
Retention Period: 7 years after employment termination
Accountability
- Employee Responsibility: All employees are required to complete training on time
- Manager Responsibility: Managers ensure team members complete required training
- Compliance Oversight: Compliance Officer monitors training completion rates
- Consequences: Failure to complete training may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination
New Product or Service Training
When Axra introduces new products, services, or markets:
- Training materials updated to address new risks and controls
- Supplemental training provided to affected employees
- Assessment of training effectiveness before product launch
- Ongoing training as product evolves
Training Effectiveness Assessment
Axra assesses training effectiveness through:
- Knowledge Assessments: Test scores and pass rates
- Feedback Surveys: Employee feedback on training quality and relevance
- Performance Metrics: Quality of alert investigations, SAR narratives, CDD documentation
- Audit Findings: Independent testing of employee knowledge and compliance
- Regulatory Feedback: Examiner comments on training program adequacy
Continuous Improvement
Based on effectiveness assessments, Axra:
- Updates training content and delivery methods
- Addresses knowledge gaps identified through testing or audits
- Incorporates regulatory feedback and industry best practices
- Enhances training for areas with higher error rates or compliance issues
Third-Party Training
Axra employees may attend external training programs including:
- ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) certification courses
- FinCEN and FINTRAC webinars and guidance
- Industry conferences and seminars
- Legal and regulatory updates from law firms or consultants
- Professional development courses
Training Budget
Axra allocates sufficient budget for:
- Learning management system and training platform
- Content development and updates
- External training programs and certifications
- Industry conferences and events
- Subject matter expert instructors
14. Independent Audit & Testing
Axra conducts regular independent testing and auditing of its AML/CFT compliance program to assess effectiveness, identify deficiencies, and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.
Independent Testing Requirement
Regulatory Requirement:
- FinCEN regulations (31 CFR 1022.210) require MSBs to provide for independent testing of AML compliance
- FINTRAC expects MSBs to have mechanisms to test compliance program effectiveness
- Testing must be conducted by independent personnel or external auditors
Axra's Commitment:
- Annual independent testing of AML/CFT program at minimum
- More frequent testing for high-risk areas or following significant changes
- Testing conducted by qualified internal audit function or external audit firm
- Independence from AML compliance function
Scope of Independent Testing
Independent testing covers all elements of Axra's AML/CFT program:
Policy and Procedures Review
- Assessment of AML/CFT policy comprehensiveness and currency
- Review of procedures for clarity, completeness, and consistency with policy
- Evaluation of procedures against regulatory requirements and industry standards
- Identification of gaps or deficiencies
Risk Assessment
- Review of enterprise AML/CFT risk assessment methodology
- Assessment of risk assessment comprehensiveness (customer, product, geographic, channel risks)
- Evaluation of risk rating accuracy and appropriateness
- Testing of risk-based approach application
Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
- Sample testing of customer onboarding and identity verification
- Assessment of KYC documentation completeness and quality
- Testing of tier classification accuracy
- Review of enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers
- Evaluation of beneficial ownership verification (for entities)
- Testing of customer information currency and update procedures
Sanctions Screening
- Testing of sanctions screening at onboarding, beneficiary creation, and transaction
- Assessment of screening list comprehensiveness (75+ lists)
- Evaluation of match scoring methodology and thresholds
- Testing of alert investigation and disposition procedures
- Review of false positive determinations
- Assessment of OFAC 50% Rule application
Transaction Monitoring
- Testing of transaction monitoring rules and scenarios
- Assessment of alert generation appropriateness and completeness
- Evaluation of alert investigation quality and documentation
- Testing of alert disposition decisions (close, escalate, SAR)
- Review of monitoring system tuning and false positive rates
- Assessment of lookback adequacy when rules are adjusted
Suspicious Activity Reporting
- Review of SAR/STR decision-making process
- Assessment of SAR narrative quality and completeness
- Testing of filing timeliness (30-day requirement)
- Evaluation of SAR supporting documentation
- Testing of continuing activity SAR procedures
- Review of SAR confidentiality controls
Record Keeping
- Testing of record retention compliance (7-year requirement)
- Assessment of record completeness and accessibility
- Review of document management system controls
- Testing of record destruction procedures
- Evaluation of regulatory request response capabilities
Training
- Review of training program comprehensiveness and currency
- Assessment of training completion rates and timeliness
- Testing of employee knowledge through interviews or assessments
- Evaluation of training effectiveness measures
- Review of role-specific training adequacy
Information Systems
- Assessment of AML/CFT system functionality and performance
- Testing of system controls and security
- Review of system change management procedures
- Evaluation of data integrity and audit trail completeness
- Testing of system disaster recovery and business continuity
Governance and Management Oversight
- Review of Compliance Officer authority and independence
- Assessment of management and Board reporting
- Evaluation of compliance program resources and staffing
- Review of senior management engagement and accountability
Testing Methodology
Independent testing employs various methodologies:
- Sample Testing: Statistical sampling of customers, transactions, and alerts
- File Reviews: Detailed review of CDD files, investigations, and SARs
- System Testing: Review of system configurations, rules, and thresholds
- Interviews: Discussions with compliance, operations, and management personnel
- Benchmarking: Comparison to industry standards and regulatory expectations
- Process Walkthroughs: Step-by-step review of key processes
- Data Analytics: Analysis of transaction data, alert data, and program metrics
Testing Frequency
Annual Comprehensive Testing:
- Full scope testing of all AML/CFT program elements
- Conducted by independent internal audit or external auditor
- Report issued to senior management and Board
Periodic Focused Testing:
- Quarterly or semi-annual testing of high-risk areas
- Targeted testing following significant changes (new products, system implementations)
- Follow-up testing of prior audit findings
Continuous Monitoring:
- Ongoing quality assurance reviews by Compliance Officer
- Real-time system monitoring and performance metrics
- Management information reporting and dashboard reviews
Independence Requirements
To ensure independence and objectivity:
Internal Audit:
- Reports to Board Audit Committee or CEO (not Compliance Officer)
- No operational responsibilities for AML/CFT compliance function
- Free from conflicts of interest
External Auditor:
- Independent audit firm with AML/CFT expertise
- No consulting or advisory relationship with Axra that would impair independence
- Rotation of engagement partners as appropriate
Audit Findings and Remediation
Finding Classification:
- Critical: Significant deficiency presenting substantial compliance risk (immediate action required)
- High: Material deficiency requiring prompt remediation
- Medium: Moderate deficiency to be addressed within reasonable timeframe
- Low: Minor observation or best practice recommendation
Remediation Process:
- Management Response: Written response to each finding with remediation plan and timeline
- Responsibility Assignment: Designation of responsible party for each remediation action
- Tracking: Monitoring of remediation action status by Compliance Officer
- Validation: Testing of remediation effectiveness by auditor
- Escalation: Critical and High findings reported to senior management and Board
- Follow-Up: Follow-up audit or testing to verify remediation completion
Remediation Timeframes:
- Critical findings: Immediate action (within 30 days)
- High findings: 60 days
- Medium findings: 90 days
- Low findings: Next audit cycle or 180 days
Reporting
Audit Report Content:
- Executive summary of scope, approach, and key findings
- Detailed findings with risk ratings and recommendations
- Assessment of overall program effectiveness
- Comparison to prior audit and status of previous findings
- Management responses and remediation plans
Distribution:
- Compliance Officer
- Chief Legal Officer
- Chief Executive Officer
- Board of Directors (or Audit Committee)
- Regulatory authorities (upon request)
Board Reporting:
- Annual presentation of audit results to Board
- Discussion of significant findings and remediation actions
- Assessment of compliance program adequacy and effectiveness
- Discussion of resources, staffing, and strategic initiatives
Regulatory Expectations
Axra's independent testing program is designed to meet regulatory expectations including:
- FinCEN Guidance: Compliance with FinCEN expectations for MSB independent testing
- FINTRAC Guidance: Alignment with FINTRAC compliance program requirements
- FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual: Consideration of examination procedures and expectations
- Industry Standards: Adherence to industry best practices and standards (e.g., Wolfsberg Group, FATF)
Program Improvements
Audit findings drive continuous improvement:
- Policy Updates: Revisions to AML/CFT policy and procedures based on findings
- System Enhancements: Technology improvements to address deficiencies
- Training Enhancements: Additional or revised training to address knowledge gaps
- Process Improvements: Streamlining or strengthening of compliance processes
- Resource Allocation: Staffing or budget adjustments to address capacity issues
15. Regulatory Cooperation
Axra is committed to full cooperation with law enforcement agencies, financial regulators, and other authorities in their efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.
Regulatory Authorities
Axra cooperates with:
United States
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) - Primary AML regulator
- Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - Sanctions enforcement
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Criminal investigations
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Terrorism and border security
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax crimes and money laundering
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Drug trafficking investigations
- U.S. Secret Service - Financial crimes investigations
- State regulators - State money transmitter licensing authorities
Canada
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) - AML/CFT regulator
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - Federal policing and investigations
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) - Border enforcement
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) - National security
- Bank of Canada - Retail payments oversight (RPAA)
- Provincial regulators - Provincial money services licensing authorities
Other Jurisdictions
- Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) - Nigerian AML/CFT
- Central Bank of Nigeria - Financial regulation
- National Bank of Rwanda - Rwandan financial regulation
- Financial Investigation Unit Rwanda - Rwandan FIU
- International organizations - Interpol, Egmont Group, FATF
Forms of Cooperation
Information Requests
Subpoenas and Legal Process:
- Prompt response to subpoenas, court orders, and legal process
- Verification of legal process authenticity
- Production of records within specified timeframes
- Legal counsel review for privilege or legal issues
- Documentation of response and records provided
Regulatory Inquiries:
- Timely response to FinCEN, FINTRAC, and other regulator requests
- Provision of customer records, transaction data, and compliance documentation
- Cooperation with regulatory examinations and investigations
- Transparent communication regarding compliance issues
Law Enforcement Requests:
- 24/7 emergency contact procedures for urgent requests
- Prompt response to law enforcement inquiries
- Provision of transactional data, account information, and evidence
- Coordination with legal counsel on sensitive matters
- Secure transmission of information
Regulatory Examinations
FinCEN and FINTRAC Examinations:
- Advance preparation and document gathering
- Onsite or virtual examination support
- Access to personnel, systems, and records
- Transparent discussion of compliance program
- Prompt response to examination findings and recommendations
Examination Cooperation:
- Designated contact person for examiners
- Conference room and technology access (for onsite exams)
- Timely response to document requests and questions
- Exit interview participation
- Remediation action plans for identified deficiencies
Suspicious Activity Reporting
SAR/STR Filing:
- Timely filing of Suspicious Activity Reports with FinCEN (U.S.)
- Timely filing of Suspicious Transaction Reports with FINTRAC (Canada)
- Complete and detailed narrative descriptions
- Supporting documentation and evidence
- Follow-up information if requested by authorities
Law Enforcement Follow-Up:
- Response to law enforcement inquiries regarding filed SARs
- Provision of additional information or evidence as requested
- Testimony or witness cooperation if needed
- Ongoing monitoring and supplemental reporting
Sanctions Compliance
OFAC Reporting:
- Immediate blocking of transactions involving sanctioned parties
- Filing of blocked property reports with OFAC within 10 business days
- Annual reports of blocked property (if applicable)
- Voluntary self-disclosure of sanctions violations
- Cooperation with OFAC investigations and licensing requests
Asset Freezing:
- Immediate account freezing upon sanctions match
- No disbursement without OFAC authorization
- Maintenance of blocked assets in interest-bearing accounts
- Periodic reporting and account statements to OFAC
Investigations Support
Evidence Preservation:
- Preservation of records and data for ongoing investigations
- Legal holds to prevent record destruction
- Forensic data collection and analysis support
- Chain of custody documentation
Witness Cooperation:
- Employee interviews and testimony
- Deposition and trial testimony
- Expert witness assistance from Compliance Officer
- Document authentication and foundation testimony
Information Sharing
314(a) Information Requests (U.S.):
- Response to FinCEN 314(a) information requests within 14 days
- Search of customer and transaction databases for named subjects
- Reporting of positive matches to FinCEN
- Confidentiality of 314(a) requests and responses
314(b) Information Sharing (U.S.):
- Voluntary information sharing with other financial institutions
- Sharing of information regarding suspected money laundering or terrorism
- Executed 314(b) agreements with information sharing partners
- Appropriate use and confidentiality of shared information
Cross-Border Cooperation:
- Response to foreign law enforcement requests (via proper legal channels)
- Mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) cooperation
- International organization cooperation (Interpol, Egmont Group)
Confidentiality and Legal Protections
Legal Protections for Reporting:
- Safe harbor protections for SAR/STR filing (31 U.S.C. § 5318(g)(3))
- Immunity from liability for disclosure to authorities
- Prohibition on customer notification of SAR filing
- Confidentiality of SAR information
Information Security:
- Secure transmission methods for sensitive information
- Encryption and access controls
- Verification of recipient identity before information release
- Audit trail of information disclosures
Legal Review:
- Legal counsel consultation for complex or sensitive requests
- Review for privilege, privacy, or legal compliance issues
- Coordination with law enforcement on legal concerns
- Documentation of legal analysis and decisions
Non-Compliance and Enforcement
Axra takes regulatory enforcement seriously and will:
- Voluntary Self-Disclosure: Proactively disclose material compliance violations to regulators
- Cooperation: Fully cooperate with regulatory investigations and enforcement actions
- Remediation: Promptly remediate identified deficiencies and implement corrective actions
- Accountability: Hold responsible personnel accountable for compliance failures
- Transparency: Provide complete and accurate information to regulators
Regulatory Reporting
Routine Reporting:
- MSB registration renewals with FinCEN (every 2 years) and FINTRAC (as required)
- Bank of Canada RPAA reporting (when registration complete)
- State and provincial licensing reporting requirements
- CTR/SAR/STR statistical reporting
Material Change Reporting:
- Changes to business model, products, or services
- Changes to ownership or control
- Changes to AML Compliance Officer
- Material compliance incidents or breaches
Incident Reporting:
- Cybersecurity incidents affecting customer information
- Data breaches involving AML/CFT data
- Significant fraud or financial crime incidents
- Suspicious activity involving employees
Point of Contact
Primary Regulatory Contact: AML/CFT Compliance Officer Email: compliance@useaxra.com Phone: [Compliance Hotline] Address: [Corporate Address]
Legal Contact: Chief Legal Officer Email: legal@useaxra.com Phone: [Legal Department Phone]
24/7 Emergency Contact: [Emergency Contact Information for Urgent Law Enforcement Matters]
16. Technology & Systems
Axra leverages advanced technology and systems to support and enhance its AML/CFT compliance program, enabling effective monitoring, screening, and risk management at scale.
AML/CFT Technology Stack
Customer Onboarding and KYC
Identity Verification Partners:
- Bridge.xyz: Primary KYC/identity verification provider for STANDARD and ENHANCED tiers
- Persona: Alternative identity verification provider
- Capabilities:
- Government ID verification (authenticity, validity, tampering detection)
- Biometric matching (selfie to ID photo)
- Liveness detection (anti-spoofing)
- Identity document data extraction
- Database verification (government records, credit bureaus)
Customer Data Management:
- Secure customer database with encrypted storage
- AES-256-GCM field encryption via CryptoService for sensitive data (enc: prefix)
- Customer tiering system (NONE, BASIC, STANDARD, ENHANCED)
- Beneficial ownership tracking for entity accounts
- Customer risk rating system
Sanctions Screening
Dilisense API Integration:
- Real-time sanctions screening via Dilisense API
- Comprehensive coverage: 75+ global sanctions and enforcement lists
- Lists Screened:
- OFAC (SDN, Consolidated, SSI, FSE, PLC)
- UN Security Council (Consolidated, Al-Qaida, ISIL/Da'esh)
- EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions
- HM Treasury (UK) Financial Sanctions
- World Bank Ineligible Firms
- Interpol Most Wanted
- PEP databases
- Adverse media and enforcement lists
Screening Points:
- Customer registration (onboarding)
- Beneficiary creation (new transfer recipients)
- Transaction initiation (real-time)
- Periodic re-screening (quarterly batch)
- Watchlist update triggers
Screening Methodology:
- Fuzzy matching algorithms for name variations
- Weighted scoring based on match confidence
- Configurable match thresholds by risk level
- False positive whitelisting
- Manual review workflow for potential matches
Transaction Monitoring
Monitoring Capabilities:
- Real-time transaction analysis at initiation
- Batch daily monitoring of all account activity
- Pattern detection and anomaly identification
- Risk scoring and alert prioritization
Monitoring Rules and Scenarios:
-
Velocity Monitoring:
- Daily transaction count thresholds
- Daily aggregate amount thresholds
- Rapid-fire transaction detection (<5 minutes between transactions)
- Comparison to customer baseline patterns
-
Cumulative Volume Monitoring:
- 30-day rolling transaction totals
- Comparison to tier limits and historical averages
- Month-over-month growth rate alerts
- Deviation from expected activity (>200% increase)
-
Structuring Detection:
- Multiple transactions just below $10,000 USD (CTR threshold)
- Pattern of consistent amounts to avoid reporting
- Aggregation to same beneficiary across multiple transactions
- Timing patterns suggesting coordination
-
Rapid Fund Movement:
- Time between deposit and withdrawal (<24 hours)
- Pass-through account behavior (funds in/out with minimal retention)
- Circular transaction patterns
- Funds received and immediately transferred
-
High-Risk Jurisdiction Monitoring:
- Transactions to/from Prohibited countries (blocked)
- Transactions to/from Controlled countries (enhanced review)
- Transactions to/from Restricted countries (documentation required)
- Unusual routing through multiple high-risk jurisdictions
-
Round Amount Alerts:
- Transactions in exact round amounts (e.g., $10,000.00)
- Patterns of round amounts across multiple transactions
- Inconsistency with customer type or business
-
Customer Profile Deviation:
- Transactions inconsistent with stated purpose or business
- Sudden changes in transaction patterns
- Transaction types inconsistent with customer profile
- Source/destination inconsistent with customer
-
Large Transaction Alerts:
- Transactions ≥ $10,000 USD
- Transactions ≥ $25,000 USD (Compliance Officer review)
- Transactions ≥ $50,000 USD (enhanced due diligence)
Alert Management:
- Alert queue and case management system
- Risk-based prioritization
- Investigation workflow and documentation
- Disposition tracking (closed, escalated, SAR)
- Audit trail of all investigations and decisions
Audit Trail and Logging
Comprehensive Logging via RequestContextInterceptor:
- IP address and geolocation capture
- User agent and device information
- Session ID and authentication context
- Transaction details and amounts
- Sanctions screening results
- AML monitoring flags and alerts
- System access and modifications
- Timestamp and user identification
Storage and Retention:
- Secure log storage with access controls
- Immutable audit trail (no modification after creation)
- 7-year retention period
- Efficient search and retrieval capabilities
- Integration with compliance case management
Data Security and Encryption
CryptoService (AES-256-GCM):
- Field-level encryption for sensitive customer data
- Encrypted fields marked with "enc:" prefix
- Secure key management and rotation
- Encryption at rest and in transit
Additional Security Controls:
- Role-based access controls (RBAC)
- Multi-factor authentication for system access
- Network segmentation and firewalls
- Intrusion detection and prevention systems
- Regular security assessments and penetration testing
Redis and Session Management
RedisService with Circuit Breaker:
- Global Redis module for distributed caching
- Circuit breaker pattern for resilience
- Session management and authentication
- Token storage with reverse-lookup pattern (key:{token} → userId)
- Distributed locking for transaction safety
Use Cases:
- Transfer confirmation codes (15-minute TTL)
- Rate limiting and velocity controls
- Real-time alert queuing
- Performance optimization
Reporting and Analytics
Management Information Dashboards:
- Customer onboarding metrics (by tier, by country)
- Transaction volume and value trends
- Alert generation and disposition statistics
- SAR/STR filing counts and trends
- False positive rates and system performance
- Customer risk distribution
- High-risk jurisdiction activity
Regulatory Reporting:
- SAR/STR preparation and filing
- CTR preparation (if applicable in future)
- FinCEN and FINTRAC electronic filing
- Sanctions blocking reports
- Automated report generation and submission
Data Analytics:
- Trend analysis and anomaly detection
- Customer segmentation and risk profiling
- Transaction pattern analysis
- Effectiveness metrics (detection rates, false positives)
- Benchmarking against industry standards
System Performance and Reliability
Availability:
- 99.9% uptime target for AML/CFT systems
- Redundancy and failover capabilities
- Disaster recovery and business continuity plans
- Regular backup and restoration testing
Performance:
- Real-time screening (<2 seconds per transaction)
- Daily batch monitoring completion within processing window
- Alert investigation tools with fast query response
- Scalability to handle transaction volume growth
Monitoring:
- System health monitoring and alerting
- Performance metrics and dashboards
- Error logging and exception handling
- Capacity planning and optimization
System Change Management
Change Control:
- Formal change request and approval process
- Testing in development and staging environments
- User acceptance testing (UAT) for major changes
- Documentation of changes and rationale
- Rollback procedures for failed deployments
AML Impact Assessment:
- Evaluation of AML/CFT impact for system changes
- Compliance Officer review of monitoring rule changes
- Lookback analysis when rules are modified
- Training for staff on system changes
Third-Party Technology Vendors
Vendor Management:
- Due diligence on AML/CFT technology vendors
- Contractual requirements for security, availability, and compliance
- Service level agreements (SLAs) and performance monitoring
- Regular vendor reviews and assessments
- Business continuity and disaster recovery requirements
Key Vendors:
- Bridge.xyz (KYC/identity verification)
- Persona (identity verification)
- Dilisense (sanctions screening)
- [Database provider]
- [Cloud infrastructure provider]
Technology Roadmap
Continuous Improvement:
- Regular assessment of AML/CFT technology needs
- Evaluation of emerging technologies (AI/ML for monitoring)
- System enhancements based on audit findings and regulatory feedback
- Investment in automation and efficiency
- Adoption of industry best practices and standards
Future Enhancements:
- Machine learning for improved transaction monitoring
- Network analysis for complex relationship detection
- Natural language processing for SAR narrative quality
- Enhanced data visualization and analytics
- API integrations with additional data sources
17. Policy Review & Updates
This Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism Policy is a living document that is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure continued effectiveness and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements, emerging risks, and industry best practices.
Review Frequency
Annual Comprehensive Review
Timing: At least annually, or more frequently as needed
Scope:
- Complete review of all policy sections and procedures
- Assessment of policy effectiveness and relevance
- Evaluation against current regulatory requirements and guidance
- Comparison to industry best practices and standards
- Incorporation of audit findings and regulatory feedback
- Review of significant compliance incidents or issues
Responsibility: AML/CFT Compliance Officer, with input from Legal, Operations, and senior management
Approval: Senior management and Board of Directors
Event-Driven Reviews
Policy review is triggered by:
- Regulatory Changes: New laws, regulations, or regulatory guidance affecting AML/CFT requirements
- Business Changes: New products, services, markets, or customer segments
- Risk Assessment Updates: Changes in enterprise risk assessment or risk profile
- Audit Findings: Significant independent audit findings requiring policy changes
- Regulatory Feedback: Examination findings or regulatory recommendations
- Significant Incidents: Material compliance failures, breaches, or enforcement actions
- Technology Changes: Implementation of new AML/CFT systems or capabilities
- Industry Developments: Emerging money laundering or terrorist financing typologies and trends
Continuous Monitoring
Ongoing Activities:
- Monitoring of regulatory developments (FinCEN, FINTRAC, FATF, etc.)
- Review of regulatory advisories, guidance, and enforcement actions
- Participation in industry forums and working groups
- Tracking of emerging risks and typologies
- Assessment of policy effectiveness through metrics and KPIs
Update Process
-
Identification of Need for Update:
- Compliance Officer identifies need based on review or triggering event
- Scope of required changes determined
- Priority and timeline established
-
Drafting of Updates:
- Compliance Officer drafts policy revisions
- Legal counsel review for legal and regulatory compliance
- Consultation with affected departments (Operations, Product, Engineering)
- Consideration of implementation requirements and impacts
-
Internal Review and Comment:
- Distribution of draft to senior management for review
- Comment period for feedback and suggestions
- Revision based on feedback
-
Approval:
- Senior management review and approval
- Board of Directors approval (for material changes)
- Documentation of approval date and approvers
-
Implementation:
- Communication of policy changes to all employees
- Training on updated policy and procedures
- System and process updates to reflect policy changes
- Documentation updates (procedures, training materials, forms)
-
Effectiveness Monitoring:
- Monitoring of policy implementation and compliance
- Assessment of policy effectiveness
- Collection of feedback from staff and stakeholders
- Adjustments as needed
Version Control
Policy Versioning:
- Each policy update receives a new version number
- Version history maintained with summary of changes
- Effective date clearly indicated
- Superseded versions retained for record-keeping purposes
Current Version:
- Version: 1.0
- Effective Date: February 2026
- Last Reviewed: February 16, 2026
- Next Scheduled Review: February 2027 (or sooner if needed)
Communication of Updates
Policy updates are communicated through:
- All-Staff Email: Notification of policy update with summary of key changes
- Training: Supplemental training on material policy changes
- Policy Portal: Updated policy posted on internal compliance portal
- Management Briefing: Presentation to senior management on significant changes
- Board Reporting: Reporting to Board on material policy updates
Regulatory Notification
Material Changes Requiring Regulatory Notification:
- Changes to MSB registration information (ownership, control, AML Compliance Officer)
- Significant changes to business model or services
- Material changes to AML/CFT program structure or approach
Notification Process:
- Update of FinCEN MSB registration (as applicable)
- Notification to FINTRAC (as required)
- Notification to state and provincial regulators (as required)
- Documentation of regulatory notifications
Availability
This AML/CFT Policy is:
- Accessible: Available to all employees via internal compliance portal
- Searchable: Organized with clear headings and table of contents
- Downloadable: Available in PDF format for offline reference
- Secure: Access controls to prevent unauthorized modification
External Availability:
- Policy overview available to regulators upon request
- Policy elements communicated to customers as appropriate (e.g., prohibited jurisdictions)
- Compliance commitments included in customer terms of service
Related Policies and Procedures
This AML/CFT Policy is supported by detailed procedures and related policies:
- Customer Due Diligence Procedures
- Sanctions Screening Procedures
- Transaction Monitoring Procedures
- Suspicious Activity Investigation and SAR/STR Filing Procedures
- Enhanced Due Diligence Procedures
- Record Retention Policy
- Information Security and Privacy Policy
- Incident Response and Breach Notification Policy
- Third-Party Vendor Management Policy
Document Hierarchy:
- AML/CFT Policy (this document) - Overarching framework and requirements
- Detailed Procedures - Step-by-step implementation guidance
- Work Instructions - Specific task instructions and system guides
- Forms and Templates - Standardized documentation and reporting tools
Feedback and Questions
Employees with questions, feedback, or suggestions regarding this policy should contact:
AML/CFT Compliance Officer Email: compliance@useaxra.com Phone: [Compliance Hotline]
18. Contact Information
AML/CFT Compliance Officer
Primary Contact for All AML/CFT Matters:
AML/CFT Compliance Officer GoFree Global Inc (Axra) [Corporate Address] Email: compliance@useaxra.com Phone: [Compliance Hotline]
Responsibilities:
- Oversight of AML/CFT compliance program
- Customer due diligence and sanctions screening
- Transaction monitoring and suspicious activity investigations
- SAR/STR filing and regulatory reporting
- Training and awareness programs
- Regulatory examinations and inquiries
- Policy and procedure development and updates
Legal Department
Legal and Regulatory Matters:
Chief Legal Officer GoFree Global Inc (Axra) [Corporate Address] Email: legal@useaxra.com Phone: [Legal Department Phone]
Responsibilities:
- Legal interpretation of AML/CFT laws and regulations
- Regulatory engagement and correspondence
- Subpoenas and legal process response
- Enforcement action defense
- Policy legal review
Senior Management
Executive Oversight:
Chief Executive Officer GoFree Global Inc (Axra) [Corporate Address] Email: [CEO Email] Phone: [CEO Phone]
Responsibilities:
- Executive accountability for AML/CFT program
- Strategic direction and resource allocation
- Regulatory relationship management
- Board reporting
Regulatory Authorities
United States
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) U.S. Department of the Treasury P.O. Box 39 Vienna, VA 22183 Website: www.fincen.gov BSA E-Filing System: bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov
Axra Registration:
- MSB Registration Number: 20222296774
- License Number: 31000281485025
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) U.S. Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20220 Hotline: 1-800-540-6322 Website: www.treasury.gov/ofac
Canada
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) 234 Laurier Avenue West, 24th Floor Ottawa, ON K1P 1H7 Reporting: fintrac-canafe.gc.ca Phone: 1-866-346-8722
Axra Registration:
- FINTRAC Registration Number: 1001010436
- License Number: C100000512
Bank of Canada 234 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0G9 Website: www.bankofcanada.ca (RPAA registration in progress)
Corporate Entities
GoFree Global Inc (Parent Entity) Delaware, USA [Corporate Address] [Phone] Website: www.useaxra.com
GoFree Global Technology Limited Canada [Canadian Address] [Phone]
GoFree Global - Nigeria Nigeria [Nigeria Address] [Phone]
GoFree Global - Rwanda Rwanda [Rwanda Address] [Phone]
Customer Support
General Customer Inquiries:
Customer Support Team Email: support@useaxra.com Phone: [Customer Support Hotline] Hours: [Support Hours]
Note: For AML/CFT compliance matters, customer service will escalate to the Compliance Officer.
Whistleblower and Confidential Reporting
Confidential Compliance Concerns:
Compliance Hotline: [Confidential Hotline] Email: compliance@useaxra.com Anonymous Reporting Portal: [URL if available]
Protection:
- Confidential and anonymous reporting available
- No retaliation for good faith reports
- Investigation of all reported concerns
Emergency Contact
24/7 Emergency Contact for Law Enforcement:
[Emergency Contact Name and Title] Mobile: [24/7 Mobile Number] Email: [Emergency Email]
For Urgent Matters Only:
- Active investigations requiring immediate action
- Terrorism or national security threats
- Time-sensitive law enforcement requests
- Sanctions blocking requiring immediate guidance
Conclusion
Axra is committed to maintaining a robust, effective, and comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism compliance program. This policy establishes the framework for our AML/CFT efforts and reflects our dedication to preventing financial crime, protecting our customers and platform, and fulfilling our regulatory obligations.
All employees, agents, contractors, and authorized representatives are required to understand and comply with this policy. Questions, concerns, or suspected violations should be reported immediately to the AML/CFT Compliance Officer.
This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to ensure continued effectiveness and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
Approved by:
[Chief Executive Officer Name] Chief Executive Officer GoFree Global Inc
Date: February 16, 2026
Attested by:
[AML/CFT Compliance Officer Name] AML/CFT Compliance Officer GoFree Global Inc
Date: February 16, 2026
Board Approval:
[Board Chair Name] Chair, Board of Directors GoFree Global Inc
Date: February 16, 2026
This document contains confidential and proprietary information of GoFree Global Inc (Axra). It is intended solely for internal use and regulatory review. Unauthorized distribution, reproduction, or disclosure is prohibited.
END OF POLICY