On March 26, 2026, Asiakastieto sponsored the AML Arena in Helsinki.
The European AML regulatory landscape is currently undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. As the new EU-wide Anti-Money Laundering regulation (AMLR) moves toward full implementation in member countries, Finnish companies are facing more than just minor tweaks and updates. We are moving away from general guidelines and heading toward a single, strict rulebook that applies to everyone across the European Union. This shift means that more large and medium-sized companies need to stop seeing compliance as a chore and start seeing it as a vital part of how they manage risks and build a strong brand.
The biggest change is the creation of a new European agency called AMLA, which will be based in Frankfurt. While this agency will directly watch over the biggest banks, its influence will be felt by every company that has a legal duty to report suspicious activities. AMLA will make sure that the rules are followed the same way in every country. For obligated entities in Finland — ranging from real estate and accounting to high-value goods trading — this means that the expectations for transparency, data accuracy, and proactive monitoring are about to reach a new level of maturity.
How to manage the new compliance workload efficiently?
There is a lot of talk in Finland about the “administrative burden” these new rules might bring. The Finnish government and business experts have expressed concerns that the extra paperwork could slow down growth.
There is a real risk that companies will end up doing the same work twice or getting lost in complicated reporting requirements. For medium-sized companies that don’t have massive legal departments, this is a serious challenge. The pressure to know and verify exactly who owns a client’s company, referenced as the “ultimate beneficial owners” is increasing, and getting this wrong can be expensive.
To navigate these changes, compliance teams should prioritize understanding these four key areas:
- Tighter Checks. You must precisely identify and monitor the beneficial owners (UBOs) of your business partners. Sanction screening is now explicitly expressed to be part of CDD. Additionally, you must answer requests from authorities within five days.
- New Cash Limits. There is now a €10,000 cap on business cash payments. If a customer pays €3,000 or more in cash, you are required to verify their identity.
- More Sectors Included. The rules now apply to more businesses, including crypto-asset providers, crowdfunding platforms, professional football clubs, and traders of high-value goods like gemstones.
- Clear Ownership Rules. The definition of a “beneficial owner” is now set at anyone holding at least 25% of a company’s ownership or voting rights.
The secret to handling this extra work is not just hiring more people, but using smarter, high-quality data. No company should have to solve these puzzles alone. This is where the role of expert partners becomes so important. By using high-quality data and modern systems, companies can automate repetitive parts of checking a customer’s background. This allows your team to focus on making important decisions instead of just filling out forms. In a world where rules are getting tougher, having a smooth and reliable flow of information is what keeps a business moving fast.
Good compliance is good for your business
It is easy to look at these new EU rules as just another hurdle. However, there is a massive strategic advantage for companies that get this right. In today’s market, trust is a form of currency. When a Finnish company can prove it has a clean and transparent way of working, it becomes much more attractive to international investors and partners. A strong compliance system is like a health check for your business relationships. It protects you from the huge damage to your reputation that happens if you are accidentally linked to financial crime. In Finland, our society is built on trust, and being a leader in this area is a great way to stand out from the competition. When you see these rules as a way to build better and more transparent connections, compliance stops being a cost and starts being something that adds real value to your brand.
Take action today
The new EU AML rules are ultimately about making the European economy safer and more honest. For Finnish businesses, the goal is to make these new standards a natural part of how we work. By using clear data and focusing on the human side of risk, we can make sure our companies stay safe and successful. Experts agree that the companies that will do their best under these new EU rules are the ones that start preparing now. This starts with a simple “audit” or check-up: look at how you currently identify customers and where your data comes from. It is also important to talk about this across the whole company. The time to wait and see is over: now is the time to take action.
AUTHOR
Teemu Kettula, Nordic Compliance Manager, Asiakastieto
ASIAKASTIETO
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