About the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering

About us

Launched on May 17, 2021, The Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering is the first public-private sector partnership in Europe, operating as a separate institution. By pooling the experience, knowledge, and competencies of law enforcement, supervisory, and other public authorities and private sector representatives, we are creating a safer financial system in Lithuania.

The Center’s team currently consists of nine specialists who supervise four groups organising and coordinating public-private sector cooperation. We represent the interests of both the private and public sectors. By uniting various organisations, we anticipate that all our work is measurable, valid, and adds value to financial crime prevention for the society, state, market players, and professional experts.

Strategic directions

Partnership

We actively cooperate with state and law enforcement institutions.

Strategic cooperation

We aim for more active cooperation between the public and private sectors.

International cooperation

We actively exchange information with experts from other countries and international institutions and organisations.

Education/Awareness

  • We develop the competencies of public and private institutions’ staff in PP/TF prevention.
  • We educate the public about the prevailing trends in financial crime.
  • We develop the competencies and knowledge of private sector specialists responsible for PP/TF prevention.

Innovations

  • We administer a platform for public and private sector cooperation and information sharing in AML/CFT prevention.
  • We develop technological tools to improve the fight against financial crimes.

Progress

  • We improve the national PP/TF prevention system.
  • We strengthen public and private sector awareness of the threats posed by financial crime.

Team

Director

Eglė Lukošienė

Director

Eglė Lukošienė

E. Lukošienė has extensive experience in legislation, accumulated in private and public institutions. For the past 10 years she worked in the field of financial market supervision at the central bank of Lithuania. Throughout this time, she also led the team of successful lawyers and contributed to their professional development. Eglė strengthened and deepened her skills of leadership at BMI Executive Institute and graduated International Executive MBA Programme. Because of the diverse professional practice, Eglė has comprehensive knowledge of operational principles of financial service industry, and understands well of the importance of public and private partnership.

Expert

Greta Barkauskienė

Expert

Greta Barkauskienė

Greta Barkauskienė is a highly qualified specialist in financial crimes and a member of the Certified Financial Crime Specialists Association (CFCS). She gained extensive experience and knowledge in the field of money laundering prevention while working at the Financial Crime Investigation Service of Lithuania (FNTT). Deepening her expertise, she participated in various training and certification programs, conducted complex analyses of reports on suspicious operations and transactions. Greta has acquired legal and economic education, enhancing her competence in the field of cryptocurrency investigations and compliance. Therefore, she is capable of providing a comprehensive approach to money laundering prevention and addressing the need for collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Head of Communications

Julija Balsė

Head of Communications

Julija Balsė

Since the beginning of her professional journey, J.Balse worked in the field of communications and gathered extensive experience in this field. Throughout the 15 years working in different private and public organizations, Julija gained vast knowledge of public and media relations, reputation management, strategic and tactical planning, international communications. She also developed excellent copywriting skills.

General Affairs Specialist

Indrė Skiauterytė

General Affairs Specialist

Indrė Skiauterytė

From the beginning of her career, I. Skiauterytė specialized in the field of public procurement, and gained master degree in public procurement law. For the past 5 years, Indrė worked in both private and public sectors. Due to the variety of professional acitivities and tasks, Indre gained comprehensive experience in administrating the public procurement processes. Also, Indrė developed competencies of administration and accounting supervision.

Coordinator of the Legislative Initiatives and Methodology Group

Greta Genelienė

Coordinator of the Legislative Initiatives and Methodology Group

Greta Genelienė

G. Genelienė has worked as a lawyer in different institutions throughout her career and has accumulated extensive experience in legislation. This experience allowed her to understand legislative processes and develop the ability to think creatively and critically and assess the legal and economic consequences of possible changes. G. Genelienė has accumulated interdisciplinary knowledge in law and economic sciences and has been awarded a Honorary Doctorate in economics.

Coordinator of the Accreditation, Training and Events Team

Rima Narkevičienė

Coordinator of the Accreditation, Training and Events Team

Rima Narkevičienė

R. Narkevičienė has a long-term experience in the field of organizing training for the law enforcement officers. She developed her skills and competencies by having a first-hand experience of preparation of training programmes in collaboration with the representatives of public and private sectors. R. Narkevičienė also organized the training for Lithuanian law enforcement officers and in the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

The Coordinator of Fraud Prevention Group

Živilė Kielienė

The Coordinator of Fraud Prevention Group

Živilė Kielienė

Živilė Kielienė is an experienced, highly qualified financial crime investigation specialist with over 15 years of experience in law enforcement agencies. She gained her knowledge in financial crime investigation and money laundering prevention while working in the pre-trial investigation division, in the Criminal Intelligence, and in the Analysis and Supervision departments of the Money Laundering Prevention Division at Financial Crime Investigation Services.

Enhancing her competence, she continuously upgraded her qualifications through training, deepened her knowledge in international projects, and working groups. Throughout her career, Živilė has conducted large-scale inspections, data analyses, and has experience in conducting complex investigations. Živilė’s knowledge and experience enable her to effectively combat money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes, ensuring the integrity and security of the legal system.

Constantly improving in the field of money laundering prevention, Živilė is able to provide a comprehensive approach to fraud and money laundering prevention, understanding and appreciating the need for cooperation between the private and public sectors.

Press

We enhance the society’s financial security by being a trusted voice in the public sphere.

August 4, 2022

As Lithuania considers total ban on business with Russia, firms fear unintended consequences

A proposal to ban Lithuanians from doing any business with Russia may bring unintended secondary effects, warn industry reps. Few firms trade with Russia, they say, but many need to transit the country to bring their goods to Asia.

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May 13, 2022

Freely available sanctions screening tool for international businesses was launched

ArcaPay, an international company providing currency conversion and international payment services to businesses, has this week made it possible for its clients and other businesses to check their business partners for international financial sanctions for free. To this end, the company has transformed its internal tool, which until now has been used in its day-to-day operations for customer screening and transaction monitoring processes. The tool is the first such freely available public information database in Lithuania and one of the very first in the Baltics.

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March 23, 2022

For Managing Risks in the Crypto-Asset Sector and Increasing Transparency — Amendments to the Law

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) together with the Bank of Lithuania (BoL), Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) and the Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering have prepared the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing aimed at strengthening the management of money laundering risks in the cryptocurrency sector, increasing its transparency and more stringent regulation of the operating conditions of service providers.

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August 27, 2021

Lithuania aims for excellence in AML

A new anti-money laundering centre housed in the Baltic state’s central bank is growing and hiring fast. It aims to turn Lithuania into an AML hub – and to address and reverse the region’s questionable reputation.

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July 14, 2021

The story behind Lithuania's Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering

Jekaterina Govina, Director of the Financial Market Supervision Service of the Bank of Lithuania, has told the story of creating the Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering and how its five initial tasks evolved and improved over time

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June 3, 2021

Lithuania opens public-private anti-money laundering centre

Lithuania has opened a Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) as it looks to boost co-ordination between state authorities and the private sector in tackling illegal financial activity.

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May 17, 2021

Anti-money laundering in Lithuania taken to a qualitatively new level

Today, the Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering starts its activities in Lithuania. Bringing together representatives of both the public and private sectors, it aims to lift anti-money laundering practices implemented in the country to a whole new level. The Centre will be led by Eimantas Vytuvis, a highly experienced lawyer and certified anti-money laundering specialist.

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Lithuania: The Center of Excellence in AML

As of October 2020, Lithuania’s Government gave the green light by approving the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering. A unique public-private cooperation project initiated and successfully progressed Lithuania’s Bank to strengthen money laundering and fight against terrorist financing.

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May 17, 2021

The Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering starts its activities in Lithuania

This is a unique public-private partnership example of mobilizing their efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

The center will share information on money laundering and terrorist financing typologies by setting up an information exchange platform. The Centre’s specialists will carry out research, assessments and analyzes and use them to develop generalized guidelines, recommendations and methodologies for market participants and to assist them in carrying out internal risk assessments for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.

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October 29, 2020

Lithuania announces AML ‘centre of excellence’ for information sharing and assisting private entities

‘CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE’ in anti-money laundering has been given the seal of approval by the Lithuanian government.

Described as a “unique public-private partnership,” by the Bank of Lithuania, the initiative aims to act as a platform for the exchange of information on money laundering and terrorism financing typologies.

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2 trillion EUR

It is estimated that around EUR 2 trillion is laundered by financial fraudsters worldwide every year.