Americas · Country coverage

AML/CTF Compliance in Guatemala

Guatemala regulates AML/CTF through the Intendencia de Verificación Especial under the Ley Contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.

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Screening coverage for Guatemala
  • Sanctions & PEP screening
  • Adverse media checks
  • Customer identity verification
  • Jurisdiction risk checks
  • Ongoing monitoring

Key facts

AML supervisor / FIUIntendencia de Verificación Especial (IVE), Superintendencia de Bancos (supervisor and FIU)
FATF statusGAFILAT member
Primary legislationLey Contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos (Decreto 67-2001), superseded by Decreto 15-2026 from September 2026
Overview

AML/CTF compliance in Guatemala.

Guatemala regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Ley Contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos (Decreto 67-2001), enforced by the Intendencia de Verificación Especial, which acts as both the AML supervisor of obligated persons and the national financial intelligence unit. Congress approved a consolidated replacement law, Decreto 15-2026, in June 2026; it repeals Decreto 67-2001 and enters into force in September 2026.

Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the IVE, which can also inspect them and impose administrative fines. Licensed banks are additionally supervised by the Superintendencia de Bancos. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, sound internal controls, and staff training.

MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.

Regulation

Key laws and regulators.

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Intendencia de Verificación Especial (IVE)

Guatemala's AML supervisor and financial intelligence unit in one body, operating within the Superintendencia de Bancos. It registers obligated persons, verifies their compliance, imposes administrative fines, and receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.

Ley Contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos

Guatemala's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other obligated entities. Congress approved a replacement, Decreto 15-2026, in June 2026, which consolidates the AML and counter-terrorist-financing regimes and enters into force in September 2026.

Superintendencia de Bancos

The SIB supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance, working alongside the IVE.

GAFILAT membership

Guatemala is a member of GAFILAT, the FATF-style regional body for Latin America, and aligns its regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.

Obligations

What regulated businesses must do.

  • Apply customer due diligence and identity verification
  • Identify beneficial owners of corporate customers
  • Report suspicious transactions to the IVE
  • Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
  • Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
  • Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
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Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ

Common questions.

Who supervises AML/CTF in Guatemala?

The Intendencia de Verificación Especial (IVE), inside the Superintendencia de Bancos, is both the AML supervisor and the financial intelligence unit. The law charges it with enforcing the AML regime, verifying compliance by obligated persons and imposing administrative fines, as well as receiving and analysing suspicious transaction reports. The Superintendencia de Bancos separately supervises licensed banks and other financial institutions.

What is the main AML law in Guatemala?

The Ley Contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos (Decreto 67-2001) currently sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for regulated entities in Guatemala. Congress approved its replacement, Decreto 15-2026, in June 2026; it consolidates the AML and counter-terrorist-financing laws and takes effect in September 2026.

Is Guatemala a member of FATF?

Guatemala is a member of GAFILAT, the FATF-style regional body for Latin America, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.

How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Guatemala?

MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.

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