KYC/AML for Frontier Markets in Southeast Asia
Been looking at expanding some services into frontier markets in Southeast Asia recently, particularly the likes of Vietnam and the Philippines. The regulatory landscape around KYC/AML seems to be shifting quite rapidly in these jurisdictions, especially with the push towards digital onboarding. Anyone here have recent firsthand experience navigating the specific requirements for institutional clients versus retail? I'm particularly interested in the practicalities of verifying beneficial ownership structures in less transparent environments and what kind of timelines we should realistically expect for regulatory approvals or interpretations when setting up new entities or expanding service offerings. It feels like what's on paper isn't always what's implemented on the ground, and understanding the nuances is key to avoiding compliance headaches down the line. Any insights on common red flags local regulators are focusing on would be helpful too, as we're trying to build out our risk framework proactively.