Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA)
Malawi's financial intelligence unit. It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to law enforcement and competent authorities.
Africa · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Malawi
Malawi regulates AML/CTF through the Financial Intelligence Authority under the Financial Crimes Act 2017. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Malawi
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUFinancial Intelligence Authority (FIA) Malawi
FATF statusESAAMLG member
Primary legislationFinancial Crimes Act 2017
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Malawi.
Malawi regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Financial Crimes Act 2017, supported by the Financial Intelligence Authority, which receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the FIA, alongside supervision from the Reserve Bank of Malawi. 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
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Financial Crimes Act 2017
Malawi's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other reporting entities.
Reserve Bank of Malawi
The central bank supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance, working alongside the FIA.
ESAAMLG membership
Malawi is a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, a FATF-style regional body, 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 FIA
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
- Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
- Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Malawi?
The Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports, while the Reserve Bank of Malawi supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance.
What is the main AML law in Malawi?
The Financial Crimes Act 2017 sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for regulated entities in Malawi.
Is Malawi a member of FATF?
Malawi is a member of ESAAMLG, the FATF-style regional body for Eastern and Southern Africa, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Malawi?
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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