Is in-app messaging the missing piece in your AML strategy?

Banks and financial institutions use Atomic in-app messaging to send millions of targeted, personalised, and interactive messages to customers.

Alongside onboarding, sales, and education, we're seeing a growing emphasis on using in-app messaging to protect banking customers from scams, fraud, and ensure compliance with anti-money-laundering (AML) and obligations.

But despite the progress, we often hear questions from banks looking for specific use cases or seeking inspiration to leverage in-app messaging more effectively in their AML efforts.

To help kickstart these discussions, I’ve pulled together a checklist of practical AML in-app messaging use cases that can directly help your institution meet its regulatory obligations.

These ideas aren’t just hypotheticals—they’re based on real-world challenges faced by banks today and the solutions that in-app messaging can provide.

20 AML in-app messaging use cases checklist:

1. Missing CDD document alerts: Automatically remind customers to submit required documents for Customer Due Diligence (CDD) compliance.

2. Transaction confirmation requests: Notify customers of large or unusual transactions and request confirmation.

3. Suspicious activity inquiries: Prompt customers for further details when a transaction is flagged by AML systems.

4. PEP (Politically Exposed Person) notification: Alert customers identified as PEPs and request enhanced due diligence documentation.

5. Source of funds requests: Ask customers for origin-of-funds details for significant or irregular deposits.

6. Behavioral pattern discrepancy alerts: Notify customers when activity diverges from their usual transactional patterns.

7. High-risk activity alerts: Prompt customers engaging in high-risk activities (e.g., crypto transactions) for further verification.

8. Sanction list check notifications: Inform customers if flagged during sanctions screening, requesting clarification or supporting documents.

9. Enhanced due diligence requests: Request further documentation from high-risk customers flagged for enhanced due diligence.

10. International wire transfer confirmations: Trigger secure messaging for high-value or multiple wire transfers, asking for transaction purpose.

11. Fraud detection alerts: Instantly notify customers of suspected fraud and request verification.

12. Transaction history reviews: Send reminders to review recent transactions for potential unauthorized activity.

13. Geolocation mismatch notifications: Ask customers to verify transactions when they occur in regions outside their usual areas.

14. Real-time KYC updates: Notify customers when their KYC documentation needs to be updated due to expiration or new requirements.

15. AML risk education: Proactively send educational materials on AML risks such as scams or money mule activities.

16. Tax evasion queries: Reach out for clarification if transactional patterns suggest potential tax evasion.

17. Account lock notifications: Securely notify customers when accounts are locked due to AML investigations, outlining next steps.

18. Compliance confirmation for business clients: Ask high-risk business clients to confirm their compliance with AML regulations.

19. Customer awareness campaigns: Use in-app messages to inform customers of their role in maintaining AML compliance.

20. Suspicious business account activity alerts: Notify business customers when abnormal account activity triggers AML alerts, requesting further information.

Take action today!

Whether it's quickly reaching out to customers to confirm suspicious transactions or requesting critical CDD documents, secure in-app messaging gives your compliance team the tools they need to act quickly and efficiently.

These use cases aren’t just theoretical—they represent tangible ways banks can proactively meet their AML obligations using in-app messaging. Whether it's quickly reaching out to customers to confirm suspicious transactions or requesting critical CDD documents, secure in-app messaging gives your compliance team the tools they need to act quickly and efficiently.

Long-time Atomic customers (👋) may have noticed that some of the use cases involve asking customers to attach documents—great spotting! We're excited to confirm that Atomic action cards now support exactly that. You can securely reach out to customers via Atomic, and through interactive cards, have them take a photo or return a file directly within your app. This new feature will be rolling out over the coming weeks, so if you'd like to explore how it can unblock your AML use cases or if you’d like to chat about any of the ideas shared here, get in touch.

Now’s the time to elevate your use of in-app messaging for compliance. Share these ideas with your AML team, start a conversation, and let’s make sure your bank is using every tool at its disposal including Atomic in-app messaging to meet today’s regulatory challenges.