July 27, 2026, 1:46 p.m.
Bank Business Factory (hereinafter “BBF”), a group company of Seven Bank that provides outsourced banking services and business reform support, has been commissioned by Akita Bank to provide consulting services aimed at enhancing measures against financial crimes, including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT), and has begun providing these services.
The importance of AML/CFT compliance at financial institutions is increasing further against the backdrop of the FATF’s Fifth Round of Evaluations and the Financial Services Agency’s enhanced guidelines.In particular, there is a growing demand not only to establish systems but also to conduct “effectiveness assessments” to verify that they are actually functioning properly; consequently, there is a growing trend toward utilizing external expert knowledge to ensure the effectiveness and objectivity of these assessments.
Since its establishment, BBF has supported the Seven Bank Group by undertaking banking operations and helping to enhance business processes.In January 2024, BBF obtained a license from the Financial Services Agency to operate as a “foreign exchange transaction analysis business,” which analyzes and monitors financial institutions’ remittance transactions, and has since been providing outsourced services related to financial crime prevention and foreign exchange transaction monitoring.
Now, leveraging the practical expertise it has accumulated in the AML/CFT field, BBF is launching consulting services for Akita Bank. These services will include verifying risk assessment reports, identifying issues, reviewing effectiveness verification plans, and providing logistical support for verification implementation. In addition, BBF will offer support leading to more practical improvements by sharing information on regulatory trends and case studies from other banks.
Through this initiative, the company aims to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of Akita Bank’s financial crime prevention measures and establishing a sustainable risk management framework.
