What does CBN require for AML compliance by 2026?

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued Baseline Standards for Automated AML Solutions in March 2026, giving all banks and financial institutions 18 months to deploy AI-powered transaction monitoring, automated STR/CTR filing via goAML, real-time KYC verification, and risk-based customer due diligence systems. AI Shield Nexus delivers all of these requirements out of the box.

How long does STR filing take to automate with AI Shield Nexus?

AI Shield Nexus automates Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) filing to the NFIU/goAML portal within minutes of a risk trigger. The AI detects suspicious activity, generates a draft narrative, and routes it for compliance officer review — reducing manual filing time from hours to under 10 minutes per report.

What is AI Shield Nexus?

AI Shield Nexus is Nigeria's leading AI-powered CBN compliance and fraud intelligence platform for banks, microfinance institutions, and VASPs. It combines real-time AML transaction monitoring, automated KYC/CDD, STR/CTR filing, fraud detection, and SIEM-grade security event intelligence in a single platform built for Nigerian regulatory requirements.

How does AML transaction monitoring work for Nigerian banks?

AML transaction monitoring analyses every transaction against configurable rule sets aligned to CBN AML/CFT standards. AI Shield Nexus screens for velocity anomalies, structuring, layering, sanctions exposure, and PEP connections in real time across NIP, NIBSS, USSD, mobile, internet banking, and ATM channels, generating risk scores and automated alerts for compliance review.

Does AI Shield Nexus support FATF Travel Rule compliance for VASPs?

Yes. AI Shield Nexus includes a dedicated FATF Travel Rule Operations module for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) operating in Nigeria under SEC and CBN oversight. It captures originator and beneficiary information for transfers above the USD 1,000 threshold, screens counterparty VASPs, flags unhosted wallets, and maintains a full audit trail of all Travel Rule transmissions.

What KYC requirements must Nigerian banks meet in 2026?

Nigerian banks must conduct BVN verification, NIN validation, liveness checks, and risk-based CDD on all customers per CBN KYC directives. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) is required for PEPs, high-risk businesses, and customers from high-risk jurisdictions. AI Shield Nexus automates BVN/NIN lookup, CDD scoring, EDD triggers, and KYC refresh cycles with full documentation for CBN audits.

How does AI Shield Nexus help with CBN audit preparation?

AI Shield Nexus maintains a complete, tamper-proof audit trail of every compliance action — transaction screenings, KYC decisions, STR filings, system accesses, and policy changes. Compliance officers can generate CBN-ready audit reports in minutes, export regulatory returns in the required formats, and demonstrate end-to-end compliance coverage to examiners.

What is the pricing for AI Shield Nexus?

AI Shield Nexus offers three tiers: Essentials (core AML/KYC compliance for smaller institutions), Professional (full-stack compliance with fraud intelligence and SIEM), and Enterprise (custom deployment with on-premise options). Pricing is tailored to institution size, transaction volume, and deployment model. Contact us at enquiries@mtcglobalservices.com for a custom quote.

Can AI Shield Nexus be deployed on-premise for Nigerian banks?

Yes. AI Shield Nexus supports cloud, hybrid, and full on-premise deployment options to meet the CBN's data residency and localisation requirements. The on-premise build includes a phased implementation approach with dedicated support for integration with core banking systems (Finacle, Flexcube, Temenos), NIBSS, and the CBN regulatory reporting infrastructure.

How does fraud detection work in AI Shield Nexus for Nigerian banks?

AI Shield Nexus uses a multi-layer fraud detection engine combining rule-based detection, machine learning behavioural models, and real-time graph analysis. It identifies account takeover, identity fraud, SIM swap, NIP fraud, settlement manipulation, and insider collusion across all banking channels. Fraud cases are automatically triaged, enriched with AI analysis, and routed to analysts with recommended actions.

What is AI Shield Nexus?

AI Shield Nexus manages 5 data types including security events. Helps you organize, track, and share your work in 1 place for teams and solo users.

AI & RegTechMarch 17, 2026

What is RegTech? A Guide for Nigerian Financial Institutions

RegTech (Regulatory Technology) refers to the use of technology to help financial institutions manage compliance obligations more efficiently, accurately, and at scale.

For Nigerian banks, RegTech addresses the growing complexity of CBN, NFIU, and FATF requirements that manual processes can no longer handle effectively.

The right RegTech solution allows institutions to automate compliance workflows, improve detection quality, and maintain complete audit trails without proportionally increasing headcount.

What is RegTech in Nigeria?

RegTech refers to technology solutions that help Nigerian financial institutions manage compliance obligations, including AML monitoring, KYC verification, fraud detection, reporting, and risk scoring, more efficiently and at scale.

What RegTech covers

AML and transaction monitoring automation
KYC and identity verification platforms
Regulatory reporting tools
Risk scoring and fraud detection systems
Policy management and audit trail software

See the full CBN compliance guide for the regulatory context these tools need to address.

Why RegTech matters for Nigerian banks

The volume and complexity of regulatory requirements from the CBN, NFIU, FATF, and OFAC make manual compliance increasingly unsustainable. RegTech enables institutions to scale operations without proportionally scaling headcount.

Key RegTech use cases

Automated transaction screening and alert generation
Real-time sanctions and PEP screening
Digital KYC onboarding and ongoing review
AI-powered alert triage and case management
Automated STR/CTR generation and NFIU submission support

The role of AI in RegTech

AI enables pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and predictive risk scoring that would be impossible with static rules. AI-powered RegTech helps compliance teams focus on genuine risk rather than alert noise.

Learn more: AI in banking compliance in Nigeria

AI Shield Nexus: RegTech built for Nigerian banks

Our platform combines AI-powered compliance automation with full CBN regulatory alignment, helping banks manage AML, KYC, fraud, and reporting in one integrated system.

See the platform

Frequently asked questions

What is RegTech in Nigeria?

RegTech refers to technology that helps financial institutions manage compliance obligations, including AML, KYC, reporting, and risk scoring, more efficiently and at scale.

Why does RegTech matter for Nigerian banks?

The volume of CBN, NFIU, and FATF requirements makes manual compliance unsustainable. RegTech enables institutions to scale compliance without proportionally increasing headcount.