Professional add-on — from USD $1,500/mo

OFAC Sanctions Screening API

A name screen against the SDN list, with the match confidence and list version logged, not just a yes or no

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What it does

Screens a name against the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list and returns a confidence scored match result, with the list version and screen timestamp recorded on every response, including a clean check, so a screen can be proven to have happened even when nothing matched.

Quick example — screen a name

import requests

resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.techcompass.com.au/v1/us/sanctions/ofac/screen",
    headers={"Authorization": "ApiKey tc_live_<your_key>"},
    json={"name": "Evgeny Prigozhin", "entity_type": "individual"}
)

result = resp.json()["data"]
print(result["match_status"])            # "MATCH" | "NO_MATCH"
print(result["confidence"])              # "exact" | "high" | "medium" | "low"
print(result["sdn_list_date"])           # "2026-09-18"
print(resp.json()["meta"]["screen_id"])  # immutable audit ID

Every screen — matched or not — returns a screen_id and sdn_list_date. Store both alongside your transaction record as audit evidence the check ran against a current list.

Which plan you need

Pro add on, either metered pay per screen or a USD $1,500/mo high-volume bundle, or included in Professional+. USD only, not currently available as an AUD add on.

Use cases

Data sources

US Treasury OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list, individuals, entities, vessels, and aircraft. The list grows continuously, no fixed record count is quoted here since any number would be out of date within days.

What you get back

Name screening against the full SDN list, entity type filtering across individual, entity, vessel, and aircraft, match results carrying alias, address, programme, and identifier detail from the SDN record, and a no match response that still carries the list version and screen timestamp, evidence a clean check actually ran.

Further reading

Frequently asked questions

How do I screen a customer name against the OFAC SDN list via API?
A single call returns a confidence scored match result against the full current SDN list, with the list version and timestamp recorded regardless of outcome.
What is the OFAC SDN list and how often does it update?
It's the US Treasury's list of individuals and entities subject to sanctions. It updates frequently, sometimes multiple times a week, which is why every screen response carries the list version rather than assuming a fixed state.
How do I build OFAC screening into a customer onboarding form?
A name screen call at the point of submission, before the account or transaction is approved, with the result and list version logged as part of the onboarding record.
What happens if I miss an OFAC hit and onboard a sanctioned entity?
That's a serious compliance and legal exposure, civil penalties can be significant. This API can't advise on a specific situation, but a documented, logged screening process is the standard defence against a claim that due diligence wasn't performed.
Per screen pricing versus the bulk bundle, which is right for me?
Per screen metering suits low or unpredictable volume. The bundle suits consistent volume above the bundle's threshold, where the flat rate works out cheaper than metered pricing.
How do I handle OFAC false positives in an automated screening workflow?
Match results are confidence scored rather than binary, so a workflow can route lower confidence matches to manual review rather than auto declining every partial name match.
What fields does an OFAC SDN record contain?
Aliases, addresses, sanctions programme, and identifiers such as passport or national ID numbers where available on the underlying record.
Can I get an audit trail proving an OFAC screen was run on a specific date?
Yes, every screen, matched or not, is logged with a timestamp and the list version current at the time.
How do fintechs comply with OFAC regulations without a dedicated compliance team?
Automated screening with a logged audit trail covers the mechanical part of the obligation. It doesn't replace the need for a documented compliance programme, but it removes the manual burden of running and recording each check.
What is the penalty for OFAC non compliance and how do I demonstrate due diligence?
Penalties vary by case and can be substantial. Demonstrating due diligence generally means showing a documented, consistently applied screening process, which is what the logged audit trail here is built to support.
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