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Key Takeaways: Name Screening Software for CSPs in Singapore

  • Corporate service providers (CSPs) in Singapore must conduct name screening as a mandatory compliance activity as part of their AML/CFT/CPF obligations.
  • CSPs must screen corporate clients against relevant sanctions, PEP and negative news data. The screening covers directors, shareholders, UBOs, nominees, and nominee principals.
  • Citadel365 name screening software screens corporate entities and all related individuals, provides time-stamped, inspection-ready reports and conducts daily rescreening for Singapore CSPs.

What Is Name Screening Software for Corporate Service Providers in Singapore?

Name screening software for corporate service providers (CSPs) in Singapore is a digital platform that automatically checks clients, directors, shareholders, beneficial owners, and nominee principals against the designated persons or companies sanctioned under the United Nations Act and Regulations. The screening software also checks against the UN Consolidated List, PEP databases, and adverse media sources.

 

For corporate service providers (CSPs) supervised by the ACRA under Singapore’s CSP Act 2024, name screening is mandatory as a core component of AML/CFT/CPF obligations. CSPs may work with a corporate client who has several layers of ownership and control, requiring them to screen directors, UBOs, and nominee principals. The screening software helps check all relevant parties, identify potential matches, and meet AML/CFT/CPF compliance obligations.

Who Must Be Screened in a Singapore CSP Corporate Structure?

Corporate service providers in Singapore must screen companies, directors & shareholders, UBOs and nominee principals.

Key Parties Covered by CSP Name Screening

Corporate Entity Customer

Screen the company itself using its registered name, trading name and any aliases. Screening should focus on corporate names along with relevant individuals.

Directors and Shareholders

Screen all directors and shareholders individually, including nominees. When a company is a shareholder, the screening should check each individual behind that company.

UBOs at Every Level

Identify and screen the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). For multi-layered or complex corporate structures, screening involves mapping through each level to identify individuals who ultimately own or control the company.

Nominee Principals

When the UBO appoints a nominee person, both the nominee and the principal (nominator) should be screened.

Simplify Name Screening for Your CSP Business

Screen corporate entities and related individuals in one central platform

How Name Screening Software Helps Singapore CSPs

Name screening software helps Singapore CSPs screen relevant parties and record every screening activity with timestamps.

Screening Requirement 

Sector Challenge 

Name Screening Feature 

Evidence Generated 

Entity screening 

Screening the corporate entity name and aliases 

Entity-level screening with registered name, trading name, alias matching 

Entity screening record, match results, timestamps 

Director and shareholder screening 

Screening all directors and shareholders individually 

Individual screening on all directors and shareholders at onboarding and ongoing 

Director and shareholder records, match results, review history 

Multi-tier UBO screening 

Screening UBOs through unlimited ownership tiers 

UBO screening linked to multi-tier ownership map 

UBO records per tier, match results, timestamps 

Nominee principal screening 

Screening principals behind nominee arrangements 

Nominee principal capture and screening workflow 

Principal screening record, nominee linkage documentation 

PEP screening 

Identifying PEPs across all parties in the structure 

PEP database screening on all individuals and entities 

PEP match results, EDD trigger, review history 

Daily rescreening 

Catching new listings on any party in the structure 

Automated daily rescreening of all structure parties 

Rescreening logs, new hit alerts, timestamps 

CSP Screening Red Flags Name Screening Software Can Help Detect

Name screening software helps CSPs identify the following red flags:

  • A nominee director’s principal who’s a politically exposed person (PEP).
  • A second-level director of a corporate shareholder appears on the UN Consolidated List.
  • A third-level UBO who is linked to a corporate entity customer appears as a designated sanctioned company named under the United Nations Act and Regulations.
  • A corporate shareholder’s registered name partially matches a sanctioned entity.
  • A customer matches the designated individual on a sanctions list when conducting rescreening.
  • Adverse media screening shows a UBO involved in financial crime, whose name was not identified at the company level.

Essential Features of Name Screening Software for Singapore CSPs

Key features of effective name screening software for Singapore CSPs include screening corporate customers, relevant shareholders, nominees & UBOs, conducting rescreening, generating alerts, and documenting inspection-ready records.

Must-Have Features of Name Screening Software for Singapore CSPs

Entity-Level Screening with Alias Matching

Screen the corporate entity customer using its registered name, previous names, trading name, and known aliases.

Multi-Tier Screening

Identify and screen all parties relating to the corporate entity customer, including its shareholders, UBOs, and nominee directors.

Nominee Principal Screening

Screen both the nominee and the person they represent in a dedicated structured workflow where both appear together in the screening record.

Daily Rescreening

Automatic rescreening of all parties on a daily basis to identify new sanctions, PEP, and adverse media matches to updated lists.

Alerts for New Matches

Name screening software should generate alerts when an existing customer or related party appears on a new sanctions or other relevant list.

Complete Screening Records

Record each screening activity in a time-stamped format, including the screening results, alerts, and decisions for individual and corporate clients.

ACRA Inspection-Ready Evidence

The name screening platform should facilitate downloadable records that can be easily retrieved and shared during ACRA compliance inspections.

Be Ready for Your Next ACRA Inspection

Citadel365 helps keep organised, timestamped screening records for every client and related party.

Citadel365 Name Screening Software for Corporate Service Providers in Singapore

Citadel365 helps corporate service providers (CSPs) in Singapore screen both individuals and corporate clients through a documented workflow. The name screening software checks companies, directors, shareholders, UBOs, and relevant parties for corporate clients. It screens them against the relevant sanctions, PEP and adverse media data through its integrated screening engine.

Citadel365 name screening software allows configurable matching rules & thresholds and uses fuzzy logic and transliterations to reduce false positives. The screening software supports rescreening with customisation of the frequency of periodical screening. It allows CSPs in Singapore to export reports in Excel or directly with timestamps and screening outcomes.

Citadel365 helps corporate service providers, company secretarial firms, registered filing agents, and registered agents in Singapore to meet their screening obligations as part of AML/CFT/CPF compliance.

CSP Name Screening Software Buyer Checklist

Checklist to select the right and effective name screening software for corporate service providers includes the following:

  • Entity-level screening using registered name, trading name and alias matching.
  • Screening of directors, shareholders, nominees, and relevant parties.
  • Identifying and screening the ultimate beneficial owners hidden in multiple ownership layers.
  • Capturing details and screening both the nominee and nominee principal.
  • Screen against all relevant sanctions watchlists, PEP databases and adverse media sources.
  • Daily rescreening against the updated lists to detect new matches.
  • Provide time-stamped, exportable reports for ACRA inspections.

One Platform for Complete Name Screening

Citadel365 helps CSPs check clients and related parties against sanctions, PEP and adverse media data in one place.

Conclusion: Screen Every Party in Every Structure, Not Just the Named Client

Name screening software for corporate service providers in Singapore includes checking the corporate client, its director, shareholder, UBO at every level, and nominee principal. CSPs must screen them against sanctions watchlists, PEP databases and adverse media sources. Maintaining time-stamped records also ensures compliance during ACRA inspections. Citadel365 helps Singapore CSPs move from manual processes to automated screening that ensures periodic screening and inspection-ready evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Picture of Sridhar Rajam
Sridhar Rajam

Sridhar is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Investigator (CAMI) with over 30 years of experience in compliance, risk, and audit, including more than 20 years in AML and financial crime prevention. He has contributed to the development of UAE regulatory standards through the FERG sub-committee and has maintained active engagement with the Central Bank of the UAE on supervisory and compliance matters.