Finance in Latvia #1
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K O H C C B N A L I K O H C C B N A L I Looking into the future of tech on the crossroads of hype and hope 8 Finance in Latvia Issue § 1 , September 2018 The biannual magazine of the Finance Latvia Association As a result of the development of the finance industry and growing cooperation between participants in the sector, as well as the sustained creation of innovations in financial technology, the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks has expanded its activities and this summer became the Finance Latvia Association. The organisation’s development strategy states its aim of becoming a broad platform for cooperation between finance, technology and related industries, as well as for interest representation in Latvia, the Baltics and Europe. Established in 1992, it is one of the oldest and most experienced business organisations in Latvia. Doma laukums 8A-6, Riga, lv-1050, Latvia +371 6728 4528 [email protected] Edited by Copywriter (writer.lv) Designed by Alexey Murashko © Finance Latvia Association, 2018 THE MESSAGE Living up to the growing challenges “The Baltics punch above their weight”. This was the his is a time of rapid local and global de- conclusion of a Tech.eu study called An Exploration of velopment in many spheres, where the the Startup Ecosystems, published last December. And boundaries between the finance sector, financial and other services, and the regu- indeed, as European Commission Vice-President Valdis latory environment are being blurred. So Dombrovskis put it during one of this year’s major it’s not surprising that the Finance Latvia tech-related forums, ”the Baltics are among the EU’s Association is also going through a trans- FinTech leaders, thanks to the early adoption of digital formation of its own. As cooperation and openness are T the key factors in ensuring sustainable development in technology, a sense of entrepreneurship, and growing finance and its related industries, we are now welcom- cross-border cooperation, to name a few factors.” ing financial technology companies, financial service Being at the forefront fuels new ideas and further providers and companies from related industries to development. But it also places added responsibility on join the cause. Due to these changes, the need for plat- us to become ever more agile and innovative, and at the forms such as this magazine has been steadily growing same time more risk-conscious. over the last few years. Every member of society must be able to receive first-hand information about topical issues and challenges, and what to expect from them. Over the last year we have focused on the associa- tion’s three priorities as reflected in our vision state- ment: development, technology and compliance. While fostering development the challenge has been to find new sources of growth, e. g. to expand the provision of services for the local economy. This has in turn meant a greater need for digital service development, for com- pliance and for establishing a clear vision of excellence for the next three years. We must note that the industry According to the latest is still addressing issues stemming from the fact that research from Citadele until 2014 banks focused on clients from CIS coun- Bank, 81% of respondents tries, often taking on excessive risk. A real challenge surveyed in Latvia believe lies in accelerating this process. We have developed, that innovative digital approved and introduced Policy Guidance and Guide- services help save time. lines on AML, Countering Terrorism Financing and This high level of digital Enforcement of Sanctions, as well as GDPR compli- savviness in the local market, ance guidelines. We have been actively monitoring and as well as the fast pace ensuring implementation of these guidelines, stress- Guntis Beļavskis, of global technological ing that any related decisions be made in the interests Chairman of the development, has of the public and financial sector as a whole. Finance Latvia already given a boost to Boosting innovation in the region is the main focus Association Council entrepreneurial energy in of this first issue of Finance in Latvia. Last December, and Chairman of the the Baltics. Therefore, it is the Association approved the Open Digital Finance Management Board vital to establish a strong Framework, which promotes a vision of Latvia being at Citadele Bank platform for cooperation at the forefront of Open Digital Finance in the EU by among all parties involved. the end of 2022. According to a survey commissioned This includes regulatory by Master Card (Nordic Fintech Disruptors Report 2018), convergence — aligning the Nordic and Baltic markets already have an impres- legislation across the sive track record of creating FinTech companies that Baltics — so that companies succeed regionally and globally — indeed, over half of operating in all three Europe’s FinTech success stories originated in the Nor- countries can leverage the dic and Baltic region. And with the rapid regulatory strengths of these markets changes at local and EU level, we intend to strengthen as an effective springboard this leading position, bringing on board the right part- for working further afield. ners and facilitators needed to reach this goal. ● ON THE RADAR — 6 — A drive to transparency Compliance with sanctions, the with all our improving control systems and various strategies and business regulatory and legal requirements as well. models used by banks, risks in However, it is absolutely clear that the price of mistakes would be extremely high, so no dealing with shell companies — precaution is too great. these topics have been on the minds of those involved with Sanctions, sanctions, sanctions Latvia’s financial industry for a few Understanding sanctions is one of the months now. This eventful year areas that should be focused on. Not only Uldis Upenieks, because there are so many and the list tends Co-chair of the Finance has made everyone realise that an to grow while you’re looking at it, and thus Latvia Association acceleration of the transparency one should be vigilant to ensure that sanc- Compliance and Control measures whose implementation tions are not being violated today even if Committee, Chief was begun last year was a prudent everything seemed to be OK yesterday, but Compliance Officer step; however, even more effort also because there is no definite checklist and Member of the given on a customer’s or a deal’s evaluation. Management Board at is going to be needed in order to So every bank needs to assess the risk on Citadele Bank advance in that direction. Uldis its own and make the decision about each Upenieks and Juris Bogdanovs, transaction going through it. What does the the two co-chairs of the Finance business model look like? Who benefits Latvia Association’s Compliance from it? Where are the cargo deliveries go- ing? If they are going to countries close to or and Control Committee, have bordering countries under sanctions, what come together to give important is the risk of this deal being just the middle insights into the topic. part of a chain that ends in non-compli- ance? And questions of this kind just keep Ensuring the highest standards of compli- piling up. There are three types of sanc- ance throughout the financial sector, and tions: national, international and extrater- the sustainable development of the industry ritorial, and they can be measures against and the whole Latvian economy is only pos- certain persons or companies, or even sible through joint effort. Something that is against whole sectors of an economy. As Juris Bogdanovs, often not understood is that comprehending managing them is extremely complicated, Co-chair of the Finance and complying with sanctions and ensur- it is advisable for companies working with Latvia Association ing efficient KYC procedures is not only international clients to have a sanctions of- Compliance and the responsibility of banks — in the process ficer or at least to outsource this function Control Committee, of anti-laundering and countering terror- to competent parties. For companies the Head of GSI ism financing all parties must be involved, risk is enormous — for example, a shipped Investigations in Latvia including companies, clients and govern- order can never be paid, as such a transfer and member of the mental institutions. Yes, this asks for more would be blocked due to suspicion of non- Management Board resources from all these parties, and asks compliance. So, it is advisable for compa- at Swedbank Latvia these parties to once again reconsider the nies to talk to their bank before entering risk appetites, business focus and strategic into a deal, just to make sure the bank is stance of the industry participants. We are satisfied with the client’s understanding fully determined and committed to fighting and the logic behind the compliance. financial crime and protecting the integrity of the financial system while serving our To shell or not to shell? economy and customers in good standing. What are shell companies and why do they We are aware that this will require a con- get so much attention? Companies regis- stantly evolving level of legal and compli- tered across the world — even in so-called ance sophistication, since, sadly, all kinds offshore zones — can be created for abso- of “bad guys” — criminals, cartel members, lutely legitimate reasons. Companies that terrorists — are also striving to keep up have a real business facility and activity, FInAnCE In LatvIA § 1 — 7 — In October 2017 the Finance that produce or trade things, pay taxes and due diligence and such clients’ risk as- Latvia Association Council regularly submit the reports, have nothing sessment might take too much resources. approved a document on to worry about.