Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office (AMLIO)
Laos's financial intelligence unit, established within the Bank of the Lao PDR. It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to law enforcement and competent authorities.
Southeast Asia · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Laos
Laos regulates AML/CTF through the AMLIO and the Bank of the Lao PDR. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Laos
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUAnti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office (AMLIO), Bank of the Lao PDR
FATF statusUnder increased monitoring (FATF grey list, since February 2025); APG member (FATF-style body)
Primary legislationLaw on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (2014)
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Laos.
Laos combats money laundering and terrorism financing through the Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office (AMLIO), established within the Bank of the Lao PDR as the country's financial intelligence unit, working alongside the central bank that supervises reporting entities.
Financial institutions and other reporting entities must run customer due diligence, keep records, monitor transactions, and report suspicious activity to AMLIO. Supervisors expect a documented compliance framework, a named responsible officer, and continual staff training. Laos is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, the FATF-style regional body for the region, and since February 2025 has been under FATF's increased monitoring ("grey list") pending completion of its action plan on identified AML/CTF deficiencies — a heightened-risk signal that firms with Laos exposure should factor into their risk-based approach.
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
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Bank of the Lao PDR
The central bank, responsible for supervising banks and other reporting entities and for enforcing AML/CTF requirements across the financial sector.
Law on AML/CFT (2014)
Laos's principal AML statute. It sets customer due diligence, record-keeping, and suspicious transaction reporting duties for reporting entities.
FATF increased monitoring
Laos was placed under FATF's increased monitoring ("grey list") in February 2025 and remains on the list, having committed to an action plan to address strategic deficiencies including risk-based supervision of casinos, banks, and reporting entities, and stronger financial intelligence analysis.
APG membership
As a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, Laos undergoes mutual evaluations against the FATF Recommendations; the APG's most recent evaluation underpins its current increased-monitoring status with the FATF.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Customer due diligence on customers and beneficial owners
- Appoint an officer responsible for AML compliance
- File suspicious transaction reports with AMLIO
- Maintain a documented internal compliance framework
- Ongoing monitoring of customer transactions
- Staff training and record keeping
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Laos?
The Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office (AMLIO), established within the Bank of the Lao PDR, is the country's financial intelligence unit. The central bank also supervises reporting entities.
What is the main AML law in Laos?
The Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (2014) is Laos's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, record-keeping, and reporting obligations.
Is Laos on the FATF grey list?
Yes. Laos was placed under FATF's increased monitoring ("grey list") in February 2025 and remains listed, working through an action plan on identified strategic deficiencies. It is also a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, the FATF-style regional body for the region.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Laos?
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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