Sanctions screening compliance excuses, debunked

Sanctions. You know they exist, but if you’re like a lot of businesses, you probably think they’re someone else’s problem. After all, you’re not a massive corporation or dealing with government contracts — why should they apply to you? You might even have a few go-to excuses for why your company is flying under the radar. “We don’t deal with sanctioned countries,” or “The bank will catch anything wrong,” or even “We’re too small to matter.”

Here’s the thing: these excuses aren’t just flawed. They’re dangerous. The truth is, no one is exempt. Sanctions are everywhere. They're not a far-off issue for someone else to worry about; they’re a reality that can catch up with you, whether you see it coming or not. The world is changing fast: wars, trade restrictions, international tensions — all of it filters down into the regulations you have to follow, whether you're ready for it or not.

The danger? People are waiting for the disaster. They think if they don’t see the storm coming, they don’t need to prepare for it. But regulations are the storm warning — they’re meant to prevent the problem before it gets to the crisis point. And ignoring them now? That’s a shortcut that will only come back to bite you. The truth is, your business is no safer by sitting on the sidelines.

Meet the Expert: Aleksi Pursiainen

Aleksi Pursiainen (Solid Plan Consulting) is a seasoned compliance expert with years of experience guiding businesses through the complexities of sanctions regulations. With a deep understanding of the evolving legal landscape, he helps companies navigate risks, ensure compliance, and implement effective strategies to avoid penalties and operational disruptions in an increasingly regulated environment.

The sanctions screening excuses that put you at risk

Let’s face it: far too many companies prefer to believe they’re immune to sanctions risk. It’s easier to bury your head in the sand and assume that the regulations don’t apply to you. That is, until, of course, they do. These myths are the blind spots that keep businesses vulnerable, and they’re more common than you think.

"It’s not my problem."

Imagine this: You’re a mid-sized company with steady operations. The sanctions landscape seems far away, maybe even irrelevant. Your business runs smoothly, and your accounts are untouched. The payment system never flags anything, and the bank’s got its own compliance department, right? For many businesses, this thinking is a trap. An easy one to fall into, especially when the pressure of day-to-day operations clouds the bigger picture.

"The idea that ‘it’s the bank’s job’ or ‘we’ve never had an issue before’ is exactly what I see small companies fall back on when they haven’t done the homework. The bank might catch it — but what happens when they don’t? You’re still the one in the hot seat."

This kind of deflection is not only dangerous but shortsighted. The core issue? Responsibility. It's easy to pass the buck and assume the bank will catch any problems or that as long as you're not doing business with certain countries, you're in the clear. But this logic is a false sense of security.

Your company is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance. Even if the bank stops a transaction, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. The moment you initiate a payment that violates sanctions — whether intentionally or by negligence — you’re already breaking the law. The bank may freeze the payment, but that doesn’t erase the risk of investigation, fines, or reputational damage.

The reality is that a lack of issues in the past doesn't mean you're safe. Things change fast. And by the time a problem surfaces, the consequences may be severe, including penalties that can cripple smaller companies. The key takeaway? If you're not proactively screening and safeguarding your transactions, you're leaving yourself vulnerable to major legal and financial risks.

“It’s just red tape."

The day-to-day grind of business can make compliance feel like a tedious, unnecessary obstacle. You’ve got deadlines, sales to close, and the last thing you want to deal with is a paper trail of regulations. Some might think, “It’s just bureaucratic nonsense — we’re not criminals,” or “If a payment gets frozen, we’ll just fix it.” These thoughts are easy to lean on when you're just trying to move fast and keep business flowing.

"Sanctions aren’t about compliance for compliance’s sake. They’re about real-world consequences. Think about the damage to your reputation, the lost opportunities, and the legal risks that come from downplaying it. Red tape can quickly become a wrecking ball."

This mindset is riddled with flaws. The problem with downplaying sanctions compliance as just a hassle is that it completely ignores the real-world consequences. Sure, you may not feel like a criminal, but that's not the point. Sanctions are a global security tool, and violating them can lead to fines, investigations, and a seriously damaged reputation. Think it’s no big deal? Think again.

Payments freezing isn’t a simple inconvenience. It’s an investigation waiting to happen, often with far-reaching consequences. And the idea that being “low-risk” somehow means you’re off the hook is misleading. Risk isn’t defined by industry; it's about exposure, intent, and how well you’ve set up your processes. A small misstep could turn into a full-blown crisis, putting your business at the mercy of regulatory authorities.

So, while it’s easy to brush off sanctions compliance as "red tape," ignoring it can quickly lead to far worse — costly, time-consuming issues that could have been avoided with the right approach.

"We're too small to matter."

It’s easy to think that being a small player means you’re flying under the radar. “Sanctions are about where the money’s going, and we don’t deal with the bad actors,” some might think. Or, “We do basic checks; that’s good enough, right?” Then there’s the classic, “We’re small. Regulators go after the big players, not us.” This mindset feels safe, like a comfortable blanket. After all, who’s really going to focus on a small business when there are larger targets out there?

"The problem with thinking you're too small to matter is that it leaves you unprepared when the risks come knocking. Small companies often think they’re invisible, but regulators know exactly where to look for gaps. That gap could cost you."

This misconception is dangerous. Small companies are often the very targets of sanctions violations precisely because they're underprepared and less likely to have the compliance resources to catch subtle red flags. Look past company size and think exposure and vulnerability.

That one-off check you did last year? It’s no longer enough. A lot can change in a year, and sanctions lists are always evolving. The world is shifting, and so is the regulatory focus. Small companies are seen as low-hanging fruit for bad actors trying to circumvent sanctions. If you’re not checking your business relationships regularly and thoroughly, you could be unknowingly opening the door to legal and financial trouble.

So, while you might think "We're too small to matter," the truth is, that's exactly why you need to matter more in your compliance efforts. It's the small companies that regulators often look at next.

What businesses should actually be doing

"Thinking you can get away with ‘no risk’ is the biggest mistake a company can make. Risk is always there. Everything depends on how prepared you are to handle it."

So, what’s the right approach? It starts with accepting the truth: no risk is a myth. The key isn’t to avoid risk altogether — that’s impossible — but to manage and mitigate it strategically. Every business, no matter how small, must be proactive in addressing the risk of sanctions violations. And that means shifting your mindset to a continuous, risk-based approach.

First, sanctions screening isn’t a one-time thing. It’s ongoing. You can’t just check customers at onboarding and forget about it. Situations change, lists get updated, and businesses evolve. The same customers you onboard today might be linked to someone on a sanctions list tomorrow. If you're not monitoring, you're leaving the door open for potential issues.

Second, don’t overcomplicate it. The basics matter. Know your customers inside and out, and always be on the lookout for red flags. Make sure your processes are up-to-date and that your team is trained to spot warning signs.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of process. Having the right systems in place to handle sanctions screening, regular checks, and swift responses to issues is what separates compliant companies from the ones left scrambling when things go wrong. Stay sharp, stay vigilant. No one expects perfection. Just be prepared.

Conclusion: Don’t wait. Act.

The chances are you don’t need a massive compliance overhaul, but you do need to act. The stakes are too high to leave it all to chance, and doing nothing is no longer an option. The world has changed, and so have the risks. It's easy to dismiss sanctions compliance as something that doesn’t apply to you or your business, but that kind of thinking could cost you. Whether you're a small player or a big one, the rules are the same: know who you’re doing business with, stay alert, and keep your processes up-to-date. Compliance doesn't have to be a massive burden, but ignoring it? That’s a risk you can’t afford.