Frequently Asked Questions

… If you are calling about a wire transfer or other "live" transaction: Step 1. Is the "hit" or "match" against OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, one of its other sanctions lists, or targeted … sanctions lists or… Read more

… If you have checked a name manually or by using software and find a match, you should do a little more research. Is it an exact name match, or very close? Is your customer located in the same general area as the SDN or … What do… Read more

… Sanctions List Search will first look for potential matches based on the first letter of  input search terms and by checking for matches at least 50% … into the string that it is being compared to on the list). Sanctions List Search then uses two matching… Read more

… Credit bureaus and agencies in particular have adopted new measures to ensure compliance with OFAC regulations. Before issuing a credit report, they use screening software to determine if a … Designated Nationals (SDN) list or one of OFAC's other sanctions… Read more

… The score field indicates the similarity between the name entered and resulting matches on one of OFAC's sanctions lists. It is calculated using two matching logic algorithms: one based upon … The score field indicates the… Read more

… — its wholly-owned or -controlled foreign subsidiaries, cannot open an account for a person named on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) or a person who is … subject to blocking.  In many cases, an institution may identify… Read more

… When your interdiction software or account holder checking service shows a potential match, OFAC recommends that you do an initial analysis prior to contacting OFAC. If you have a reasonably close match to a name… Read more

… a relatively broad or generic alias that may generate a large volume of false hits when such names are run through a computer-based screening system.  OFAC includes these AKAs because, based on information available to it, the sanctions targets … may be useful… Read more

… Yes. If you, your organization, or your property have been listed by OFAC on one of OFAC's sanctions lists, and OFAC denied your delisting petition, you may reapply … sanctioned. If you have been mistaken for a sanctioned person, for example… Read more

… OFAC has published a list on its website containing the names of entities that are subject to the prohibitions of E.O. 13959, as amended, as the Non-SDN … Non-SDN Communist Chinese Military Companies List (NS-CCMC List), which has been deleted from OFAC… Read more