Behaviourist approach as the need to use methods based on recognising customer behaviour in support of the AML/CFT system

Behavioural science, as a method based on the observation of behaviour, can be widely used to profile and identify clients of obligated institutions as potential perpetrators/suspects in money laundering or terrorist financing. This applies to both the assessment of the client’s physical behaviour in the relationship with the institution and their online behaviour, e.g. within the scope of the online banking offer. In the first area, an approach based on psychology, sociotechnics and rhetoric also becomes useful. In the second case, the latest technological solutions based on artificial intelligence and traces left on mobile devices are used. The behavioural approach to the assessment of the client’s behaviour, and thus the assessment of the risk associated with it, can be an element of a broader risk assessment. It is part of the client’s relationship with the obligated institution as part of the legally required obligations to identify, verify and monitor its activity. The aim of this article is to confirm the thesis that, given the need to analyse risks and select financial security measures in a state of specific ML/FT threat, the obligated institution is required to take action to identify and recognise customer behaviour, taking into account behavioural factors.