World-Check /Dow Jones
Screening databases
International databases for screening clients: sanctions, PEP, negative media, wanted persons. Banks and governments use them to check an applicant during Due Diligence and account opening.
- What it is
- International databases for screening clients: sanctions, PEPs, adverse media, wanted lists
- Where it applies
- Due diligence, opening accounts, compliance
- Who uses them
- Banks, states, screening firms
- What they show
- Whether there are risk records and connections about you
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check yourself in advance and close contentious records
In plain words
World-Check (as well as Dow Jones and similar services) is an international database for screening clients. It gathers sanctions and wanted lists, politically exposed persons (PEPs) and their associates, negative media mentions, links with crime and other risks. A bank or a state runs you through it during a check.
How it works: in due diligence or when an account is opened, the reviewer enters your details and looks for matches. Appearing in the database does not always mean guilt — there are errors, namesakes, out-of-date or contentious records. But any match is a reason for questions and additional documents.
That is why it makes sense to check yourself first — using the same logic compliance uses — and prepare explanations of any contentious records in advance. Then a match in the database will not be a surprise that stalls an application or an account opening.
Where the databases are used
What the databases contain
- Sanctions lists
- Wanted lists
- PEPs and associates
- Adverse media
- Links with crime
- Contentious records
- World-Check
- Dow Jones
- Similar services
- A match is a reason for questions
- Not always guilt
- Explanations are needed
How the screening works
- 01Entering your details
- 02Searching for matches
- 03Assessing the risk of the record
- 04Requesting explanations
- 05Decision
What you need to know
- The databases gather sanctions, PEPs, adverse media and wanted lists
- Banks and states screen applicants against them
- A match does not always mean guilt
- There are errors, namesakes and out-of-date records
- Any match is a reason for questions
Common mistakes
- Not checking yourself in advance
- Ignoring a contentious or erroneous record
- Not preparing an explanation of a match
- Concealing an episode that is in the database
- Learning of a match only from a refusal
What this means for a BRIDGES client
BRIDGES GLOBAL checks you in advance against the same databases and logic compliance uses, finds possible matches and prepares explanations. That way screening against World-Check and similar services goes through without surprises.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What is World-Check?
An international database for screening clients: sanctions, wanted lists, PEPs, adverse media and connections. Banks and states screen applicants against it in due diligence.
02 /Does a match in the database mean refusal?
No. A match is a reason for questions and documents. There are errors, namesakes and out-of-date records; they need to be explained, not feared.
03 /Can you check yourself in advance?
Yes, and it makes sense. We run you through the same logic compliance uses, so as to find matches in advance and prepare explanations.
04 /How can an erroneous record be removed?
Errors and out-of-date data are challenged through the database operator, but it takes time. It is quicker to prepare documents that settle the question during the check.
05 /Who runs such databases?
Private providers — World-Check (Refinitiv), Dow Jones and their equivalents. They are used by banks, funds, screening firms and states.
06 /Is it connected with adverse media?
Yes, negative media mentions are part of such databases. World-Check aggregates sanctions, PEPs and adverse media in one place.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Check yourself before the bank does?
We will run you through the same databases compliance uses, find possible matches and prepare explanations in advance.