The supreme audit institutions of the Netherlands, Cyprus, Germany and Spain have conducted parallel audits of the anti-money laundering approach in the banking sector. The Supreme Audit Office of Poland had previously conducted an audit. The findings have been brought together in the report ‘Parallel audit of anti-money laundering measures’.
Serious consequences, unknown benefits
The Netherlands Court of Audit's March 2026 audit of the Dutch anti-money laundering approach, Serious consequences, unknown benefits, found that anti-money laundering checks have significant consequences for citizens and businesses, that costs for banks are rising (€1.6 billion in 2024), but that it is unclear whether the checks actually help prevent and detect money laundering. We also found signs of discrimination. The parties involved lack insight in several areas. For example, neither the responsible ministers nor the supervisor, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), evaluate the results of the policy.
International findings
The reports by the other supreme audit institutions show that this problem extends beyond the Netherlands. In other countries, too, there is limited focus on the results of the anti-money laundering approach in the banking sector, while various supervisory authorities point to negative consequences for citizens and businesses.
Problems accessing information
The joint report also highlights problems that some supreme audit institutions have experienced in accessing information held by the national supervisory authority responsible for overseeing banks' anti-money laundering activities. This was not an issue in the Netherlands. In this context, the supreme audit institutions also point to the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), a new supervisory authority at European level. Previous audits have shown that such a change can lead to problems accessing information, for example if national supreme audit institutions are not granted access to AMLA guidelines for national supervisory authorities.