Transaction Monitoring Skill - v1.0.0
AML transaction monitoring for ongoing customer relationships. Identifies suspicious patterns, assesses structuring and layering, and prepares Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
Overview
Transaction monitoring is a continuous obligation under AML regulations. This skill analyzes transaction data to detect patterns that may indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, or other financial crime.
Detection Patterns
1. Structuring (Smurfing)
- •Multiple transactions just below reporting thresholds
- •Multiple deposits across different branches/channels on same day
- •Pattern of round-number transactions
- •Threshold (US): $10,000 CTR threshold; $5,000 aggregated suspicious activity
2. Layering
- •Complex routing through multiple accounts or entities
- •Rapid movement between accounts with no clear business purpose
- •International transfers through multiple jurisdictions
- •Use of shell companies or nominee accounts
3. Circular Flows
- •Money leaving and returning to same account via intermediaries
- •Round-trip transactions with no economic substance
- •Funds flowing through subsidiaries back to parent
4. Velocity Anomalies
- •Sudden increase in transaction frequency
- •Dramatic change in average transaction value
- •Activity inconsistent with customer profile or declared business
- •Dormant account reactivation with high-value activity
5. Geographic Risk Patterns
- •Transactions to/from FATF grey-list or black-list jurisdictions
- •Unexplained payments to/from high-risk countries
- •Wire transfers to known shell company jurisdictions
Monitoring Process
Step 1: Data Analysis
- •Import transaction data (CSV, Excel, or database extract)
- •Calculate baseline metrics (average value, frequency, counterparties)
- •Identify deviations from customer profile
Step 2: Pattern Detection
- •Apply detection rules for each pattern type
- •Flag transactions meeting alert criteria
- •Score alerts by severity (LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH/CRITICAL)
Step 3: Investigation [HITL Checkpoint]
- •Analyst reviews flagged transactions
- •Assesses whether activity has legitimate explanation
- •Researches counterparties and destinations
- •Documents investigation findings
Step 4: Decision
- •CLEAR: Document rationale, close alert
- •SUSPICIOUS: Draft SAR narrative, escalate to MLRO
- •CRITICAL: Immediate MLRO notification, consider account freeze
Step 5: SAR Preparation (if applicable)
Claude drafts SAR narrative including:
- •Subject information
- •Suspicious activity description
- •Transaction details
- •Why activity is suspicious
- •Supporting evidence
CRITICAL HITL: SAR filing is always a human decision. Claude drafts; MLRO reviews and files.
Output
- •Transaction analysis report (Excel with flagged items)
- •Alert summary with severity scoring
- •SAR draft (if suspicious activity identified)
- •Escalation brief for MLRO
- •Updated customer risk assessment
Regulatory Basis
- •US: BSA/AML, FinCEN SAR requirements ($5,000 threshold)
- •UK/EU: AMLD5 ongoing monitoring, POCA 2002 SAR obligations
- •MENA: CBUAE, SAMA transaction monitoring requirements
Version: 1.0.0 Author: Vyayasan