KYC/AML for smaller digital banks?
Been looking into setting up a new corporate account for a small venture, nothing complex. A few of these newer digital-first banks, particularly those based in less regulated jurisdictions, seem to have surprisingly quick onboarding and less stringent KYC/AML checks than the tier-1 institutions. Is this just an illusion, or is there genuinely a different threshold applied for smaller accounts/entities that makes them a viable, quicker option without running into compliance issues down the line?
It's an illusion. Lower initial friction doesn't mean less scrutiny later; they often just front-load less and do deeper dives once transaction volumes pick up. The regulations still apply, even if they appear to shortcut the initial process.