Frequently Asked Questions

253 … Sanctions List Search’s ID field uses exact character matching to provide users with a result. In order to receive the broadest number of results, users should conduct ID field searches both with and without any non-alphanumeric characters. … When conducting a search using the ID field, does… Read more

79 … Yes. OFAC's SDN list is available in XML, fixed-field and delimited formats that can be imported into a variety of software programs. … Does OFAC provide its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List in a format that can be easily imported into a …

80 … OFAC publishes the SDN data in a comma separated values format (CSV). This format is recognized by Excel and other spreadsheet programs and can be imported into spreadsheet format by simply opening the file in your default spreadsheet application. … Does OFAC provide its Specially Designated… Read more

422 … OFAC maintains other sanctions lists in addition to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list . The names on these lists may also appear on the SDN list when such targets have a blocking provision associated with them. However, when the treatment of sanctions targets is unique and stops… Read more

83 … All of OFAC's delimited files are described in OFAC's SDN data file specification guide and non-SDN data specification guide . In addition, OFAC published a tutorial on how to construct a basic relational database using OFAC’s delimited list files … How are OFAC's delimited files …

81 … The delimiter varies based upon the file type.  Files that end in .CSV have a comma delimiter. Files that end in .FF have a fixed width delimiter.  … What is the delimiter in OFAC's delimited files? …

88 … OFAC cannot give specific advice on how to design an automated system for downloading its sanctions list data. Many institutions solve this problem by setting up a scheduled download of the SDN List and other sanctions lists . These firms conduct their own risk assessments and decide how often… Read more

89 … The SDN list and OFAC's non-SDN Consolidated lists are comprehensive. Database administrators can overwrite any old data in their systems with the latest versions of the list's data files, thus ensuring that their database is current … I am a database administrator at a financial institution… Read more

90 … No. OFAC records changes to the SDN and other sanctions lists in human-readable form in the recent actions section of its website. An archive of changes files found on this page . Database administrators interested in refreshing their databases with new SDN and other sanctions list data should… Read more

22 … OFAC has long maintained such a list. The file is available on OFAC's SDN Page under the link "SDN List Sorted by Country."  It is important to understand that many SDN individuals and entities may operate in countries other than those in which they are based. The relevant regulations prohibit… Read more