Sanctions Screening Software: Buying Guide for UK Firms
Certivus AML team9 minUpdated 2026-06-27
In brief: Sanctions screening software should help firms find possible matches, review them accurately, and keep evidence for cleared, escalated, or true matches.
Key points
- List coverage matters, but evidence and review workflow matter more.
- False positives should be explainable and recorded.
- Ongoing monitoring helps firms respond when list or client risk changes.
What sanctions screening software should do
Sanctions screening software checks names and identifiers against sanctions data. For UK firms, it should also help with the practical review: is this the same person or entity, what source list created the hit, who reviewed it, and what decision followed?
What to compare
- UK/OFSI list coverage.
- International list coverage where relevant.
- Fuzzy name matching.
- Ownership and control support.
- False-positive review workflow.
- Ongoing monitoring.
- Evidence export.
- Pricing by client, check, or user.
Warning sign
Be cautious with tools that produce a green tick without showing why. AML evidence needs a trail another reviewer can understand.
Buying checklist
Use the same practical test for every product:
| Criterion | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Fit | Does it match the firm's clients, supervisors, and matter types? |
| Evidence | Can another reviewer understand what was checked and why? |
| Workflow | Does it cover onboarding, review, escalation, and renewal? |
| Screening | Are PEP, sanctions, and adverse media decisions recorded? |
| Records | Can the firm produce audit-ready evidence quickly? |
| Pricing | Is the cost clear at the firm's expected client and check volume? |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Software supports AML controls; it does not replace professional judgement.