AFB Financial Crime Compliance (AML) Diploma 2026

The AFB Financial Crime Compliance (AML) Diploma is a comprehensive learning programme tailored for AFB member firms. It is designed to provide senior risk professionals with legal and policy guidance, practical knowledge to enhance understanding, and to develop new skills and awareness around a topic which continues to be critical to all banks.

The course syllabus is revised regularly to include the very latest updates in Financial Crime Compliance.  Each module focuses on helping participants understand how to apply their learning back at their workplace, ensuring that content remains relevant to their business models, regulatory environments, and customer bases.

This AFB Diploma course will be delivered in partnership with Great Chatwell Academy of Learning, who have delivered the previous AFB Diploma courses.

Course participants can expect to benefit from:

• Ten instructor-led learning modules that have been designed exclusively for AFB members with up-to-date content focusing on issues that are important and current.
• Delivery via two full day face to face sessions and eight fully interactive online sessions with guest speakers sharing their specific expertise.
• Modules that include pre-reading, structured learning, practical-based exercises, and case-study analysis.
• The opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with other risk and compliance professionals.
• End of module assessments that are designed to confirm understanding.
• CPD credits for all sessions attended, awarded by the CPD Certification Service.
• On successful completion of all assessments, participants will receive the AFB Financial Crime Diploma awarded in association with the University of Gloucestershire, and will be able to exclusively use the designation ‘AFB-Dip AML’.

Who should attend?

• Risk and compliance professionals who have any responsibility for the financial crime risk supervision and management, including experienced professionals who wish to revise and update their awareness of current requirements and industry best practices.
• Financial crime professionals with responsibility for designing or advising on financial crime policies and procedures.
• Financial crime professionals with responsibility for financial crime risk management, including MLROs, DMLROs, Nominated Officers, and persons preparing for appointment to these roles.
• Line two and line three risk management officers including Internal Auditors and those with quality assurance oversight responsibilities.
• Board members with financial crime compliance responsibilities, including Chair of risk committees.

Learning outcomes

The AFB Financial Crime Diploma is designed to offer learning at an advanced level to meet the needs of members who are managing financial crime compliance risks. A key aim of the course is to promote confidence in managing financial crime risks that are applicable to regulated services.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Outline the role of the MLRO and Nominated Officer and the skills that are required to be successful.
• Manage the unique challenges of international financial crime risks that must be assessed and managed by your firm.
• Complete a financial crime risk assessment in line with FCA expectations and industry good practice.
• Define and develop the systems and controls framework that is required to ensure that a regulated firm is not used by criminals or the financiers of terrorism.
• Explain the UK and international financial crime laws, regulations and sources of best practices that are applicable to a foreign bank operating in the UK.
• Provide an assessment of future trends and emerging risks for 2026 and beyond, including the use of new technology and products, including crypto assets.

For further information please contact secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk