PEP Screening
Screen individuals against Politically Exposed Persons databases
PEP (Politically Exposed Person) screening checks whether an individual holds or has recently held a prominent public function. PEPs are considered higher risk for money laundering and corruption due to their position and influence.
What is a PEP?
A Politically Exposed Person is someone who holds or has held a high-profile public role, including:
- Heads of state and government — presidents, prime ministers, monarchs
- Senior politicians — ministers, members of parliament, senators
- Senior judicial figures — supreme court judges, constitutional court members
- Senior military officers — generals, admirals, and equivalent ranks
- Executives of state-owned enterprises — directors and board members
- Senior officials of international organisations — UN, EU, World Bank, IMF
PEP status also extends to close family members (spouses, children, parents) and close associates (business partners, advisors) of the exposed person.
PEP categories
Datakeen's screening distinguishes between:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| PEP Level 1 | Heads of state, government leaders, and equivalent — the highest level of exposure |
| PEP Level 2 | Senior government officials, ambassadors, and military leadership |
| PEP Level 3 | Regional political figures, mayors of major cities, senior judges |
| PEP Level 4 | Lower-level officials and associates |
| RCA (Relative or Close Associate) | Family members and known close associates of a PEP |
How to interpret results
In the Screening AML tab of a session:
- No matches (green) — No PEP records were found for this individual
- Matches found (flagged) — One or more PEP records match the identity data
When matches are found, review the details:
- Name — The matched person's full name
- Position — The public function they hold or held
- Country — The country associated with the role
- Relevance score — How closely the match corresponds to the screened individual
A match does not automatically mean the person is a risk — it means enhanced due diligence is required. Review the match details and decide whether to approve, reject, or escalate.
Regulatory context
PEP screening is required under:
- EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives (AMLD4, AMLD5, AMLD6)
- FATF Recommendations (Recommendation 12)
- French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier)
Financial institutions, insurance companies, and other obliged entities must apply enhanced due diligence measures when dealing with PEPs.
Updated 2 days ago