OFAC Sanctions Screening Best Practices [2026]

Sanctions screening best practices have evolved significantly since 2020, driven by the growth of crypto payments and AI agents. This guide covers the current state of the art for real-time, programmatic screening.

Best practice #1: Screen every transaction, not a sample

Sampling is for market research, not sanctions compliance. Every transaction must be screened. The cost of screening is sub-100ms and fractions of a cent per check — there is no economic justification for sampling.

Best practice #2: Multi-parameter screening

Screen wallet + name + country together when available. A wallet-only screen catches SDN-listed wallets but misses counterparty-name matches. A name-only screen catches SDN individuals but generates more false positives. Together they provide the highest accuracy.

Best practice #3: Real-time, not batch

Batch screening (running checks at end-of-day) creates a window where violations can accumulate undetected. Real-time screening catches violations the moment they occur.

Best practice #4: Audit trail retention (5+ years)

OFAC investigations can look back years. Retain screening logs for a minimum of 5 years. SanctionsAI's paid tier handles this automatically.