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Situation
High false-positive rates
Sohar International Bank faced significant challenges with high false-positive rates in their SafeWatch Screening (SWS) Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system. These false positives led to inefficiencies in operations, delays, and increased manual reviews. The bank also needed to ensure compatibility with ISO-20022 messaging standards to meet SWIFT’s November 2025 deadline, adding urgency to the issue.
Task
Streamline the detection process
The primary task was to reduce the false positives generated by the SWS system while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. The objective was to streamline the detection process and improve operational efficiency, allowing the bank’s compliance team to focus on genuine suspicious activities.
Results
67.25% reduction
in false positives
The implemented modifications resulted in a 67.25% reduction in false positives, significantly improving the efficiency of the AML system. Key achievements include:
67%
Drop in false positives
312K - 102K
Reduction in alerts
Products used
SafeWatch Screening
Turki Aseri
Sohar International Bank
When we partnered with the Eastnets team to tackle this, the results were nothing short of transformative. They didn’t just tweak the system—they completely redefined how it worked for us. By optimizing the data files, fine-tuning the scanning parameters, and introducing a simple but effective whitelist for recurring false hits, we saw a dramatic 67% drop in false positives. The number of alerts went from over 312,000 to just about 102,000. This wasn’t just a number—it was about making our lives easier.
The compliance team can now focus on real risks insteadof wasting time on unnecessary alerts. The technical improvements also made the system faster and smoother to work with. What stood out most was the team’s attention to detail and their commitment to ensuring every change was backed by data. Their analysis and reports gave us confidence in the results, and the entire process was seamless.
Thanks to their efforts (specially for Mr. Mohammed Khair and his team), we’re in a much better place—not just for today but for the future. we’re grateful to have worked with such a talented and dedicated team.
