AICB Calls for Faster, Intelligence-Led Action Against Financial Crime
The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers and its Compliance Officers’ Networking Group are urging greater intelligence-sharing, responsible use of technology and closer cooperation across the financial ecosystem as financial crime becomes more sophisticated and cross-border.
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) and its Compliance Officers’ Networking Group (CONG) are calling for faster, intelligence-led responses to financial crime as criminals increasingly exploit digital platforms, emerging technologies and cross-border networks.
The call was made at the opening of the 16th International Conference on Financial Crime and Counter Terrorism Financing (IFCTF 2026), held from Oct 5 to 7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The conference, themed “Intelligence-Led Financial Crime Prevention: The Power of Data, Insights and Collaboration,” brought together regulators, enforcement agencies, financial institutions and technology specialists to examine how shared intelligence can support earlier detection and intervention.
The urgency is underscored by publicly reported scam losses in Malaysia reaching RM2.8 billion in 2025, highlighting the growing scale and sophistication of financial crime.
Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Dato’ Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, delivering the conference’s special address, said the challenge was no longer the availability of information but the ability to convert data into actionable intelligence.
“In today’s digital economy, every transaction leaves a trail of data,” he said, adding that financial crime prevention needed to move from a reactive model towards predictive and ultimately preventive approaches.
AICB Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim said technology could strengthen financial crime detection, but skilled professionals remained essential in turning intelligence into sound decisions.
He said AICB was committed to developing the judgement and capabilities required by banking professionals to respond to evolving threats and strengthen the resilience of the financial system.
For the banking industry, one of the key challenges is connecting signals that may appear separately across bank accounts, telephone numbers, digital platforms and enforcement investigations.
Faradina Ghouse, FCB, Chairman of CONG and Group Chief Compliance Officer of AmBank Group, said financial institutions could not see the full picture on their own.
She called for greater connectivity between banks, telecommunications providers, digital platforms and enforcement agencies so that intelligence could be shared and acted upon more quickly.
For compliance professionals, she said, this meant moving beyond individual alerts to identify the networks and behaviours behind suspicious activity.
The conference examined intelligence-led and risk-based approaches to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, alongside the responsible use of artificial intelligence and analytics, fraud and corruption, digital assets, governance and organisational resilience.
Technology showcases also featured tools for fraud detection, investigations and risk management, including solutions from Platinum Sponsor SymphonyAI and Gold Sponsor LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
Now in its 16th edition, IFCTF is organised by AICB and CONG with the support of Bank Negara Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia and Labuan FSA.
The conference continues to provide a platform for financial industry and public-sector leaders to exchange practical approaches to combating financial crime and strengthening public trust.
