From 40% to ~98%.
FinSurv compliant. First time.
A South African ADLA failed its SARB FinSurv sanctions screening thematic test - detecting fewer than half of manipulated sanctioned names. After switching to RiskSecure, independently verified results came back at ~98% on average across every test category.
A regulatory test revealed
a screening system that failed.
The South African Reserve Bank's Financial Surveillance Department (FinSurv) conducts thematic tests of sanctions screening systems at regulated institutions. The tests are exacting by design: 100% detection required on control names, and 95–100% on manipulated names - those where spelling, reordering, or name token deletion has been applied.
When this ADLA was tested, the results made the remediation obligation clear. Customer screening caught fewer than 58% of control names. Manipulated name detection - the harder and more important category - came in at 40%. The institution's existing vendor, operating across multiple time zones, could not reconfigure the solution quickly enough to meet the urgent compliance timeline.
A SARB FinSurv thematic test exposed critical gaps in the existing customer screening solution
Control name detection below 60% - far short of the 100% FinSurv benchmark
Manipulated name detection as low as 40% against a minimum 95% requirement
Internationally-based vendor operating across time zones - reconfiguration took weeks, not days
Urgent remediation required to address terrorist financing exposure under POCDATARA
Continued regulatory credibility at risk with obligations under FICA and SARB exchange control
The Results
Before and after. The numbers speak.
| Test Category | FinSurv Target | Previous Vendor | RiskSecure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control Names - Customer Screening | 100% | 57.78% | 97.8% |
| Control Names - Transaction Screening | 100% | 60.00% | 98.3% |
| Manipulated Names - Customer Screening | 95–100% | 40.00% | 97.6% |
| Manipulated Names - Transaction Screening | 95–100% | 48.89% | 98.1% |
Results independently verified by a specialist compliance testing firm using the FinSurv thematic test methodology.
A rigorous test.
10,000 records. No shortcuts.
The independent thematic test was compiled from live records drawn across sanctions lists, PEP databases, and specialist watchlists - mirroring the exact approach FinSurv uses in its own regulatory reviews.
Each record was presented in multiple name formats: exact match, combination match (reordered or truncated tokens), spelling variations, and combinations of the above - testing the full range of real-world obfuscation techniques.
Why manipulated names matter most: Real-world sanctioned individuals rarely present themselves with exact-match names. Aliases, transliterations, and partial names are the norm - making fuzzy detection capability the true measure of screening quality.
Data Sources Screened
FIC / UNSCR Targeted Financial Sanctions
SanctionsUS OFAC Consolidated Sanctions (SDN)
SanctionsGreat Britain Consolidated Targets
SanctionsEuropean Commission Sanctions
SanctionsSECO, UN & Canadian Autonomous Sanctions
SanctionsFBI, DEA, Interpol, World Bank, SAPS Watchlists
WatchlistsWhy It Works
Four reasons RiskSecure consistently passes FinSurv.
Passing a FinSurv thematic test is not luck. It is the predictable outcome of building a screening solution specifically for the South African regulatory environment.
Full-Spectrum List Coverage
RiskSecure screens simultaneously against every major sanctions regime - UNSCR, OFAC, UK, EU, SECO, Canadian - plus PEPs and local watchlists including the SAPS Wanted List. No sanctioned person falls through a coverage gap.
Advanced Name Transformation Matching
Purpose-built fuzzy logic handles name reordering, token deletion, phonetic variation, and transliteration - the exact transformations FinSurv applies in its thematic tests. Simple string-matching tools consistently fail this category.
Independently Verified Results
The ~98% average score was not self-reported. It was independently verified by a specialist compliance testing firm using the exact FinSurv methodology, across 10,000 records drawn from live sanctions, PEP, and watchlist sources.
Local Solution, Immediate Support
As a South Africa-based product used across the local market, RiskSecure integrates into existing workflows without time-zone delays, complex configuration queues, or overseas support escalation paths.
Real Impact
What the institution actually achieved.
Both customer and transaction screening achieved an average of ~98% across all four test categories - exceeding the FinSurv benchmark across the board.
The previous solution detected 40% of manipulated names. RiskSecure's solution averaged ~98% - a ~58-percentage-point improvement on the hardest test category.
The institution can now demonstrate to FinSurv and the SARB that its screening systems adequately mitigate terrorist financing risk as required under the Act.
The decision was informed by peer consultation with other South African ADs and ADLAs - institutions already using RiskSecure with confirmed FinSurv test results above target.
A FinSurv thematic test is one of the most stressful weeks in compliance.
We've been through it. We'll be there with you.
A FinSurv thematic test is not just a software problem. It is a compliance deadline, a reputational risk, and often weeks of pressure on the people responsible for getting it right. The consequences of a failed result - remediation orders, enhanced supervision, public enforcement action - are not abstract.
Our clients do not just get a screening tool. They get a team that has navigated this process alongside many South African institutions, knows exactly what regulators look for, and is available when it matters most - not just during onboarding.
Pre-test dry runs
We help you screen internally against a representative test set before the regulator arrives - so you know where you stand, and there are no surprises on the day.
Configuration review
Our team reviews your screening setup against the exact FinSurv criteria and identifies any gaps before they become formal findings.
Same-day response
When FinSurv announces a review, call us. We answer. No tickets, no overseas time-zone queues, no waiting on an automated support system during a live regulatory process.
Documentation support
We help you compile the evidence package your regulator requires - test results, methodology notes, screening configuration, and the full audit trail in the format they expect.
Post-test remediation
If findings emerge, we work through them with you - not a support ticket, a human on your side who understands both the regulatory requirement and the technical fix.
Is this relevant to you?
Built for accountable institutions that need enterprise-grade screening without enterprise complexity.
If your institution holds a Category I, II, or III ADLA licence, operates as a money services business, or is subject to FICA as an accountable institution - and you need to demonstrate to FinSurv, the Prudential Authority, or the FIC that your screening systems meet regulatory targets - RiskSecure is designed specifically for your context.
You do not need a dedicated compliance technology team. You do not need a lengthy implementation project. You need a solution that screens the right data, at the right quality, and produces results you can put in front of a regulator with confidence.
“RiskSecure is used by many of our peers and competitors in the South African market. Based on their feedback, the FinSurv testing results exceeded the stated test result targets. That gave us the confidence to move quickly - and the results confirmed it.”
Failing a FinSurv thematic test is not the end. But continuing to operate on a solution that cannot pass one is a regulatory risk that compounds every day.
Ready to pass your next FinSurv screening test?
Join South African institutions already using RiskSecure to meet SARB screening requirements with independently verified, defensible results.