A field guide to the financial back office
Practical guidance for bank operations, compliance, risk, fraud, and lending teams building governed AI into real workflows.
Operating guidance by function.
Filter by the bank function responsible for the workflow. Guides may appear in more than one function when the operating decision crosses teams.
All functions
Guidance spanning regulated workflows, governance decisions, and operating models across the financial back office.
Business email compromise: recovering funds and filing the SAR
When a fake email redirects a business customer’s wire, the first day decides how much money comes back. This guide covers how to recall the payment, involve the FBI and handle the SAR decision without slowing recovery.
Read guide
Clearing or escalating a sanctions alert: matches, ownership and reporting
When the sanctions filter flags a payment, OFAC won’t tell you whether it’s a real match. This guide covers how to clear or escalate the alert, test ownership under the 50 Percent Rule and keep a record that holds up.
Read guide
Documenting repayment capacity in a commercial credit file
Every commercial credit file has to show where repayment will come from and whether that cash can carry the debt. This guide covers how to calculate DSCR so a credit officer can follow every number, with a worked example.
Read guide
How to check HMDA data against loan files
When a loan file has two incomes or two appraisals, HMDA asks for the one the bank relied on. A field-by-field method for checking your LAR before you file.
Read guide
Ongoing third-party monitoring: checking vendor reports against your own records
Most vendor reviews just read the provider’s own report. This guide shows how to check it against what your bank actually saw, and what to do when they don’t match.
Read guide
When a business application doesn’t match the registry: resolving KYB discrepancies
What to do when a business applicant’s details don’t match the registry: what the CIP rule requires, what to ask for and how to record the resolution.
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Writing a SAR narrative: trace every line to a record before you file
A draft SAR narrative can read well and still rest on a double-counted total. How to trace every line back to a record before it goes to the approver.
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AML outsourcing vs. managed services: what to compare before you sign
Consultants, contractors, outsourcing and managed services can sound alike, and the labels mean different things in different contracts. This guide shows how to compare them on cost per accepted case, quality, start time and exit terms.
Read guide
Build vs. buy AI agents for banks: costs, controls and timelines
Building AI agents in-house doesn’t avoid third-party risk, and buying them doesn’t move responsibility to the vendor. This guide shows how to compare both on one workflow, using full cost per output and time to production.
Read guide
Enhanced due diligence at a bank: a step-by-step guide
When a customer is rated higher risk, the bank needs to know who owns it, where its money comes from and whether its activity makes sense. This guide covers what triggers EDD, what to collect and how to document the risk decision.
Read guide
Evaluate AI compliance software with a pilot on your own cases
A vendor demo only shows the cases the vendor picked. This guide covers how to test AI compliance software on your own closed cases, complete vendor due diligence and negotiate a contract that matches what the pilot showed.
Read guide
How to clear a business onboarding backlog at a bank
A business onboarding backlog looks like one long line, but files get stuck for different reasons. This guide shows how to sort them by what they’re waiting on, fix each cause and use FinCEN’s 2026 relief to cut repeat ownership requests.
Read guide
How to plan AML investigator capacity before the backlog hits
AML teams usually find out they’re short-staffed when the backlog is already there. This guide shows how to forecast investigator hours for the next two quarters and agree in advance on what happens when demand gets close to the limit.
Read guide
How to reduce AML alert review time without missing suspicious activity
Raising thresholds is the quickest way to cut alerts, and the easiest way to miss suspicious activity. This guide covers how to reduce review time without changing detection, and how to test a rule change before you make it.
Read guide
How to route AML and fraud cases without losing evidence or the SAR clock
When a case moves from fraud to AML to the SAR decision, evidence gets lost and teams argue about when the filing clock started. This guide covers how to set one detection date and one case record that every team adds to.
Read guide
What belongs in an AML case file, and how to build one faster
What should an AML case file include? A step-by-step guide for BSA/AML investigators, from logging every search to keeping the file under the right retention rule.
Read guide
What SR 26-2 means for AI tools at banks, and how to test them
SR 26-2 replaced SR 11-7 in April 2026, and it doesn’t cover generative or agentic AI. This guide explains how to classify each part of an AI tool and test it on your own closed cases.
Read guideCompliance
Scale AML and due-diligence work while preserving policy execution, evidence, review, and accountability.
Business email compromise: recovering funds and filing the SAR
When a fake email redirects a business customer’s wire, the first day decides how much money comes back. This guide covers how to recall the payment, involve the FBI and handle the SAR decision without slowing recovery.
Read guideClearing or escalating a sanctions alert: matches, ownership and reporting
When the sanctions filter flags a payment, OFAC won’t tell you whether it’s a real match. This guide covers how to clear or escalate the alert, test ownership under the 50 Percent Rule and keep a record that holds up.
Read guideHow to check HMDA data against loan files
When a loan file has two incomes or two appraisals, HMDA asks for the one the bank relied on. A field-by-field method for checking your LAR before you file.
Read guideWhen a business application doesn’t match the registry: resolving KYB discrepancies
What to do when a business applicant’s details don’t match the registry: what the CIP rule requires, what to ask for and how to record the resolution.
Read guideWriting a SAR narrative: trace every line to a record before you file
A draft SAR narrative can read well and still rest on a double-counted total. How to trace every line back to a record before it goes to the approver.
Read guideAML outsourcing vs. managed services: what to compare before you sign
Consultants, contractors, outsourcing and managed services can sound alike, and the labels mean different things in different contracts. This guide shows how to compare them on cost per accepted case, quality, start time and exit terms.
Read guideEnhanced due diligence at a bank: a step-by-step guide
When a customer is rated higher risk, the bank needs to know who owns it, where its money comes from and whether its activity makes sense. This guide covers what triggers EDD, what to collect and how to document the risk decision.
Read guideEvaluate AI compliance software with a pilot on your own cases
A vendor demo only shows the cases the vendor picked. This guide covers how to test AI compliance software on your own closed cases, complete vendor due diligence and negotiate a contract that matches what the pilot showed.
Read guideHow to clear a business onboarding backlog at a bank
A business onboarding backlog looks like one long line, but files get stuck for different reasons. This guide shows how to sort them by what they’re waiting on, fix each cause and use FinCEN’s 2026 relief to cut repeat ownership requests.
Read guideHow to plan AML investigator capacity before the backlog hits
AML teams usually find out they’re short-staffed when the backlog is already there. This guide shows how to forecast investigator hours for the next two quarters and agree in advance on what happens when demand gets close to the limit.
Read guideHow to reduce AML alert review time without missing suspicious activity
Raising thresholds is the quickest way to cut alerts, and the easiest way to miss suspicious activity. This guide covers how to reduce review time without changing detection, and how to test a rule change before you make it.
Read guideHow to route AML and fraud cases without losing evidence or the SAR clock
When a case moves from fraud to AML to the SAR decision, evidence gets lost and teams argue about when the filing clock started. This guide covers how to set one detection date and one case record that every team adds to.
Read guideWhat belongs in an AML case file, and how to build one faster
What should an AML case file include? A step-by-step guide for BSA/AML investigators, from logging every search to keeping the file under the right retention rule.
Read guideWhat SR 26-2 means for AI tools at banks, and how to test them
SR 26-2 replaced SR 11-7 in April 2026, and it doesn’t cover generative or agentic AI. This guide explains how to classify each part of an AI tool and test it on your own closed cases.
Read guideRisk
Evaluate model controls, deployment choices, and defensibility before AI enters regulated production workflows.
Clearing or escalating a sanctions alert: matches, ownership and reporting
When the sanctions filter flags a payment, OFAC won’t tell you whether it’s a real match. This guide covers how to clear or escalate the alert, test ownership under the 50 Percent Rule and keep a record that holds up.
Read guideDocumenting repayment capacity in a commercial credit file
Every commercial credit file has to show where repayment will come from and whether that cash can carry the debt. This guide covers how to calculate DSCR so a credit officer can follow every number, with a worked example.
Read guideOngoing third-party monitoring: checking vendor reports against your own records
Most vendor reviews just read the provider’s own report. This guide shows how to check it against what your bank actually saw, and what to do when they don’t match.
Read guideBuild vs. buy AI agents for banks: costs, controls and timelines
Building AI agents in-house doesn’t avoid third-party risk, and buying them doesn’t move responsibility to the vendor. This guide shows how to compare both on one workflow, using full cost per output and time to production.
Read guideEvaluate AI compliance software with a pilot on your own cases
A vendor demo only shows the cases the vendor picked. This guide covers how to test AI compliance software on your own closed cases, complete vendor due diligence and negotiate a contract that matches what the pilot showed.
Read guideWhat SR 26-2 means for AI tools at banks, and how to test them
SR 26-2 replaced SR 11-7 in April 2026, and it doesn’t cover generative or agentic AI. This guide explains how to classify each part of an AI tool and test it on your own closed cases.
Read guideFraud
Reduce investigation work around evidence gathering, case preparation, false positives, and exception handling.
Business email compromise: recovering funds and filing the SAR
When a fake email redirects a business customer’s wire, the first day decides how much money comes back. This guide covers how to recall the payment, involve the FBI and handle the SAR decision without slowing recovery.
Read guideHow to route AML and fraud cases without losing evidence or the SAR clock
When a case moves from fraud to AML to the SAR decision, evidence gets lost and teams argue about when the filing clock started. This guide covers how to set one detection date and one case record that every team adds to.
Read guideLending
Automate document gathering, financial spreading, policy checks, and credit-file preparation while underwriters retain judgment.
Documenting repayment capacity in a commercial credit file
Every commercial credit file has to show where repayment will come from and whether that cash can carry the debt. This guide covers how to calculate DSCR so a credit officer can follow every number, with a worked example.
Read guideHow to check HMDA data against loan files
When a loan file has two incomes or two appraisals, HMDA asks for the one the bank relied on. A field-by-field method for checking your LAR before you file.
Read guideOther operations
Plan capacity, service models, and cross-functional workflows that expand back-office throughput without another disconnected queue.
Business email compromise: recovering funds and filing the SAR
When a fake email redirects a business customer’s wire, the first day decides how much money comes back. This guide covers how to recall the payment, involve the FBI and handle the SAR decision without slowing recovery.
Read guideOngoing third-party monitoring: checking vendor reports against your own records
Most vendor reviews just read the provider’s own report. This guide shows how to check it against what your bank actually saw, and what to do when they don’t match.
Read guideWhen a business application doesn’t match the registry: resolving KYB discrepancies
What to do when a business applicant’s details don’t match the registry: what the CIP rule requires, what to ask for and how to record the resolution.
Read guideAML outsourcing vs. managed services: what to compare before you sign
Consultants, contractors, outsourcing and managed services can sound alike, and the labels mean different things in different contracts. This guide shows how to compare them on cost per accepted case, quality, start time and exit terms.
Read guideBuild vs. buy AI agents for banks: costs, controls and timelines
Building AI agents in-house doesn’t avoid third-party risk, and buying them doesn’t move responsibility to the vendor. This guide shows how to compare both on one workflow, using full cost per output and time to production.
Read guideEnhanced due diligence at a bank: a step-by-step guide
When a customer is rated higher risk, the bank needs to know who owns it, where its money comes from and whether its activity makes sense. This guide covers what triggers EDD, what to collect and how to document the risk decision.
Read guideEvaluate AI compliance software with a pilot on your own cases
A vendor demo only shows the cases the vendor picked. This guide covers how to test AI compliance software on your own closed cases, complete vendor due diligence and negotiate a contract that matches what the pilot showed.
Read guideHow to clear a business onboarding backlog at a bank
A business onboarding backlog looks like one long line, but files get stuck for different reasons. This guide shows how to sort them by what they’re waiting on, fix each cause and use FinCEN’s 2026 relief to cut repeat ownership requests.
Read guideHow to plan AML investigator capacity before the backlog hits
AML teams usually find out they’re short-staffed when the backlog is already there. This guide shows how to forecast investigator hours for the next two quarters and agree in advance on what happens when demand gets close to the limit.
Read guideHow to reduce AML alert review time without missing suspicious activity
Raising thresholds is the quickest way to cut alerts, and the easiest way to miss suspicious activity. This guide covers how to reduce review time without changing detection, and how to test a rule change before you make it.
Read guideHow to route AML and fraud cases without losing evidence or the SAR clock
When a case moves from fraud to AML to the SAR decision, evidence gets lost and teams argue about when the filing clock started. This guide covers how to set one detection date and one case record that every team adds to.
Read guideWhat belongs in an AML case file, and how to build one faster
What should an AML case file include? A step-by-step guide for BSA/AML investigators, from logging every search to keeping the file under the right retention rule.
Read guide