Learn

Guides and explainers on sanctions screening and compliance. Start with the articles below.

• OFAC Red Flags: 19 Signs of Potential Violations (2026)

  OFAC red flags are warning signs that may indicate potential violations of U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

• OFAC Sanctions List Service API: Files & Endpoints (2026)

  Direct download links for SDN and Consolidated list files, SLS API endpoints, and how the official service differs from a screening API.

• What is an OFAC API and How Does it Work? (2026)

  How businesses automate sanctions screening, what data gets checked, and whether to build or buy an OFAC screening API.

• True Cost of Non-Compliance Statistics (2026)

  Non-compliance costs 2.71x more than compliance and averages $14.82M. See the key cost of non-compliance statistics for 2026, from AML fines to breach costs.

• Operation Economic Fury: OFAC Screening Can't Keep Up (2026)

  Operation Economic Fury triggered 10 SDN List updates in under five weeks, making stale screening results a live Iran sanctions compliance risk for U.S. businesses.

• OFAC Sanctions List: Screening One List is Not Enough

  OFAC maintains seven separate sanctions lists with different legal obligations. Learn what each list is, SDN vs non-SDN, and how to screen against all of them.

• OFAC Compliance: What it is and Who Must Comply

  OFAC compliance requirements for businesses processing USD transactions: who must comply, screening, blocking, reporting, penalties up to $377,700 per violation, and how to automate.

• What is OFAC? The US Agency Behind Economic Sanctions

  OFAC is the US Treasury agency that administers economic sanctions, maintains official sanctions lists, and enforces compliance for businesses worldwide.

• OFAC Screening: Gaps That Compound Into Millions in Fines

  Fines up to $377,700 per violation. Learn how OFAC screening works, why manual checks fail, and how to automate screening with an OFAC API.

• OFAC SDN List: What it is and How to Handle a Match

  The SDN list is the primary OFAC blocking sanctions list. Learn what it is, who is on it, how to screen, and what to do when you get a hit.

• OFAC Consolidated Sanctions List: Non-SDN List Explained

  The OFAC Consolidated Sanctions List contains six non-SDN lists with targeted restrictions. Learn what each list is and what to do when you get a match.

• What is an OFAC Compliance Program? (Framework & Implementation)

  An OFAC compliance program is a structured, risk-based framework to prevent sanctions violations through policies, controls, and oversight.

• OFAC License Explained

  An OFAC license is an official authorization that permits transactions otherwise prohibited under U.S. sanctions laws when regulatory conditions are met.

• OFAC Penalties Explained

  OFAC penalties include civil fines, criminal enforcement, and related consequences for sanctions violations under U.S. law.

• OFAC 50 Percent Rule Explained

  The OFAC 50 Percent Rule states that entities owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons are treated as blocked even if not listed by name.

Tools

• FinCEN MSB registration renewal calculator

  Calculate FinCEN money services business (MSB) registration renewal deadlines.