In the UK, Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds are among seven banks to share customer data with the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the largest project of its kind worldwide to tackle criminal gangs, money laundering and “dirty money” flowing through the country.
Reuters revealed one year ago that more than six UK banks, including NatWest and Lloyds, were part of trials with law enforcement and government agencies that involved sharing intelligence on client accounts which raised concerns about economic crime that posed a threat to Britain.
The NCA, a top investigator, says the project went live in May, included voluntary data sharing deals with Santander, TSB, Metro Bank and Starling Bank, and had already identified eight new crime networks that might be exploiting the financial system.
UK has ramped up efforts to tackle economic crime, which lawmakers say costs the economy up to around 350 billion pounds ($452 billion) each year, after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine shone a spotlight on how kleptocrats and criminals used the country as a haven to launder, hide and spend “dirty money”.
Adrian Searle, director of the NCA’s National Economic Crime Centre, told Reuters that three crime networks had been passed to the NCA’s intelligence division for further investigation. The project has also uncovered new intelligence linked to 10 of the agency’s biggest investigations. He did not divulge details.
“The fundamental purpose is to bring together the collective efforts of law enforcement, government, regulators and the private sector to combat economic crime,” Searle said.
Singapore launched a digital customer data sharing platform known as COSMIC (Collaborative Sharing of Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing Information and Cases) with six banks in April. But this does not include law enforcement, Searle said.
Data Protection
Under the programme that is due to run until October, bank
staff are seconded to the NCA to form a team of between 15 to 20 intelligence officers, data scientists and analysts to probe movement of money suggestive of criminal behaviour – and ensure legitimate customers are left alone.
Banks have long been wary of sharing customer data for fear of falling foul of European data protection and privacy laws, which could trigger litigation by customers whose accounts have been locked pending investigations.
But the NCA and the banks insist they only share account data with “multiple clear indicators of economic crime” on customers, people or businesses that meet a set of markers about potential criminal behaviour. Banks’ lawyers have also ensured all data sharing meets an acceptable risk.
With Reuters inputs
