Regulatory Alerts2026-05-12
Combating Discrimination by Banks: From Insight to Action
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) issued this report in May 2026 to require banks to strengthen their anti-discrimination measures through a validated self-assessment framework. The regulator outlines five key expectations for financial institutions, mandating board-level vision, robust detection mechanisms, inclusive organizational culture, appropriate customer communication, and proactive signal collection. These requirements aim to ensure that risk management processes, particularly regarding anti-money laundering, do not inadvertently lead to indirect discrimination against vulnerable customer groups.
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