Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) have announced the launch of a new system called Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool (FINEST), which is a bank-to-bank information sharing platform. The purpose of this platform is to help banks share information effectively to detect and disrupt fraud and mule account networks, providing greater public protection from financial crimes and enhancing the integrity of the banking system. The platform is developed by HKAB with guidance from HKMA and support from HKPF. The first phase of the platform will involve five domestic systemically important Authorized Institutions (D-SIBs) and will focus on sharing information related to corporates suspected of being involved in fraud-related money laundering activities. In the future, the platform will be expanded to include more participating banks and will cover personal accounts as well as other financial crime-related information. Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of HKMA, believes that combining bank-to-bank information sharing with data analytics can be a game changer in the fight against fraudulent activities.
Resource:
https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2023/06/20230620-5/