AML Risk Scoring
AML risk scoring solution for customer risk assessment in KYC and KYB. Customize risk models to assign AML risk ratings and trigger CDD or EDD workflows.
AML Risk Scoring Overview
AML Risk Scoring generates a customer AML risk rating for KYC and KYB compliance.
It supports a consistent AML customer risk assessment across onboarding and ongoing monitoring. Use it to trigger Customer Due Diligence (CDD) or Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) based on risk.
AML Risk Scoring supports both ComplyCube’s native risk scores and custom risk models tailored to your AML risk framework.
It’s designed for both individuals and businesses.
Country risk scores are fully customizable in the Portal. Align them to your internal AML risk framework and policies.
To configure a fully flexible and comprehensive AML risk model that aligns with your AML and risk framework, contact your Account Manager.
Common use cases
Use AML Risk Scoring in any flow where you need a defensible customer risk rating:
KYC onboarding: Create a baseline AML risk profile at account opening.
KYB risk assessment: Score businesses using incorporation, ownership, and granular risk dimensions.
Workflow decisioning: Use AML risk to route customers through different workflows.
Dynamic questionnaires: Use Smart Form responses to refine risk scores.
Ongoing monitoring: Re-score customers after changes to key identity attributes.
Interactive demo
How AML risk scoring works
AML Risk Scoring generates an overall AML risk profile using two types of risk elements: System risks and Custom risk.
System risks
System risks are ComplyCube’s native AML risk indicators. These represent common compliance and fraud-related risk factors, including: Political exposure (PEP), Watchlist exposure, Occupation risk, and Country risk.
These risk scores are automatically calculated using customer details, verification results, and trusted external datasets.
Custom risk
Custom risk allows you to define your own risk elements and scoring logic, while ComplyCube performs the calculation and evaluation for you.
Custom risk can use:
Customer profile data.
Smart Form (i.e. dynamic questionnaire) responses.
Verification check results.
Other captured customer attributes.
This enables businesses to implement organization-specific risk frameworks and decisioning logic.
Risk levels and overall scoring
Each risk element returns one of the following levels: Very High, High, Medium, Low, or No Risk Set.
The overall AML risk profile can then be calculated using one of two models:
Highest risk: Uses the highest detected risk level as the overall result (default).
Weighted score: Combines multiple risk elements into a single weighted result.
Score explainability
AML Risk Scoring is designed to support explainable risk assessments and traceable AML decision-making.
Each AML risk score includes a detailed breakdown showing the contributing risk elements, scoring methodology, and supporting inputs used in the calculation.
The AML Risk view helps teams understand:
Why a customer received a particular risk level.
The factors driving the overall AML risk score.
Whether highest-risk or weighted scoring was used.
Which inputs (data, checks, or questionnaire responses) influenced the outcome.
In the Portal, this information is presented through visual score breakdowns and factor-level drill-downs, making results easier to review and investigate.
This level of transparency supports faster investigations, more consistent reviews, stronger audit trails, and easier justification of CDD and EDD decisions throughout the customer lifecycle.
Automatic recalculation
The AML Risk Profile is automatically refreshed throughout the client lifecycle, including:
After check completion: Once a verification is successfully completed and validated.
After workflow completion: When a workflow session finishes.
When customer details change: Updates to customer information trigger a recalculation.
When questionnaires or attestations are completed: New submissions can trigger a recalculation of the score.
AML risk scoring elements
Overall Risk
The final AML risk indicator for the customer. This can be calculated using either a weighted score model or a highest risk model. It defaults to the highest risk.
Political Exposure Risk
When a customer is confirmed as a Politically Exposed Person (PEP), this represents the calculated political exposure risk level.
Occupation Risk
Represents the calculated occupation risk level. Certain occupations are considered higher risk due to their potential influence and exposure to corruption.
Watchlist Risk
When a customer is confirmed to be on a sanctions list or watchlist, this represents the calculated watchlist risk level.
Country Risk
Evaluates the customer’s address, nationality, birth country, and incorporation country for businesses.
ComplyCube calculates the score using data from industry-recognized bodies, including:
Corruption Perceptions Index
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
FinCEN
Freedom House
Index of Economic Freedom
International IDEA Political Finance Database
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Transparency International
US Department of State
World Bank Group
World Economic Forum
This can also be customized to align with your own assessment criteria.
Custom Risk
Define your own risk elements and scoring logic, then let ComplyCube calculate the result on an ongoing basis, using customer data captured across ComplyCube.
Frequently asked questions
What is AML risk scoring?
AML Risk Scoring generates an overall customer AML risk rating for KYC and KYB.
It also generates granular risk scores across individual risk factors, which helps you classify customers into risk bands and support downstream due diligence decisions.
What is customer AML risk assessment in KYC and KYB?
Customer AML risk assessment is the process of evaluating how much money laundering, sanctions, or financial crime risk a customer or business presents.
AML Risk Scoring helps standardize that assessment across both individuals and businesses.
What factors are used in AML risk scoring?
AML Risk Scoring can use factors such as PEP exposure, watchlist exposure, occupation risk, country risk, and custom risk elements.
It can also use customer profile data, verification results, and Smart Form responses.
Can AML risk scoring trigger CDD or EDD?
Yes.
AML Risk Scoring helps you route customers into Customer Due Diligence (CDD) or Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) based on their overall risk profile.
Can I see why a customer received a specific AML risk score?
Yes.
AML Risk Scoring provides score explainability through a visual risk score breakdown and factor-level traceability.
This helps teams understand which inputs, checks, and risk elements contributed to the final score and supports audit-ready decisioning.
How is AML Risk Scoring different from AML Screening?
AML Screening Check identifies sanctions, PEP, watchlist, and adverse media exposure.
AML Risk Scoring turns risk factors, screening results, and customer data into an overall risk profile.
Can AML Risk Scoring support both KYC and KYB?
Yes.
AML Risk Scoring supports individuals and businesses, so it can be used in both KYC and KYB programs.
Can I build a custom AML risk model?
Yes.
You can use custom risk elements alongside ComplyCube’s native risk indicators to align scoring with your internal AML framework.
When does the AML risk profile recalculate?
The AML risk profile can refresh after check completion, workflow completion, customer data changes, and new questionnaire or attestation submissions.
Related checks
AML Risk Scoring is typically used alongside:
AML Screening Check for sanctions, watchlist, PEP, and adverse media screening.
Custom Lists to screen customers against your internal watchlists and risk lists.
Related topics
Use these to operationalize AML risk scoring inside an onboarding and decision flow:
Workflows to orchestrate screening and other checks in a single customer journey.
Smart Forms to capture questionnaire data and other customer inputs used in custom risk.
Compliance Policies to apply consistent CDD/EDD rules and feed policy outcomes into custom risk.