KYB Screening

What a know-your-business review collects from public records, and how to request one.

KYB Screening

KYB API

Quick answer. A KYB API returns data your integration asked for. If the vendor does not name the official source and the retrieval time, you cannot audit the answer. KYB screening is the repeatable check: confirm the entity in the state file, screen names against sanctions lists, and read adverse media as news. Each result keeps its own label. A clear state status does not clear a sanctions question.

Official office

Office of Foreign Assets Control

Open the official search

Steps

  1. Pull the current state status

    Do not reuse last year’s PDF without saying it is last year’s.

  2. Screen the legal name and owners

    OFAC tool, threshold written in the file, identifiers compared.

  3. Read adverse media separately

    Cite the article. Do not tag it “SDN.”

  4. Escalate ownership

    If your policy includes the 50 percent rule, gather ownership facts. The state search will not compute them.

An API is a pipe, not a filing office

Entity status should trace to a state office. Sanctions hits should trace to OFAC or another publisher. Ownership percentages should trace to a document, not to a guessed graph.

This site does not offer a public API. The request form is how you ask for a researched file.

Three results, three labels

AML screening for a business often means this stack plus whatever your policy adds for PEPs. The state file answers “does this LLC exist.” OFAC answers “is this name on a list today.” Adverse media answers “what have credible outlets reported.” Mixing those sentences produces false comfort.

Refresh matters. A screening dated last year does not describe today’s SDN file or today’s status. Write the date next to each source. If the legal name changed, screen both strings.

Common mistakes

  • One green badge for three questions.
  • Calling news a sanctions list.
  • Skipping owner names you already have.
  • No review date.

Questions

What is KYB screening?

A repeatable review of entity records, sanctions, and any media or PEP checks your policy names.

Does a good standing certificate clear sanctions?

No. Good standing is a state status. Sanctions are a Treasury question.

What is business verification in screening?

The entity-record half: legal name, number, status, date. Screening adds the lists and the write-up.

Sources reviewed