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 eight 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

Acting Director

Elčin Mamedov

Acting Director

Elčin Mamedov

E. Mamedov has years of experience in law enforcement, where he has developed particularly sharp strategic thinking skills. These help him objectively identify suspicious financial activities and actions while fighting high-profile crimes. E. Mamedov is a graduate of the International Association for Compliance (ICA).

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 Technology Development Group

Andrius Dargevičius

Coordinator of the Technology Development Group

Andrius Dargevičius

Andrius has spent most of his career in financial institutions in the data management field. During his years of experience, Andrius has developed analytical thinking that is particularly helpful in money laundering-related threats’ identification, development, and trends. A. Dargevičius is a certified specialist of the global organization of financial crime professionals ACAMS.

Head of Communications

Ieva Vaitkienė

Head of Communications

Ieva Vaitkienė

I. Vaitkienė's extensive international experience in the field of communication and acquired competences help to strategically assess effective publicity actions and to communicate effectively with both Lithuanian and international partners.

Expert

Jaunius Mindaugas Rastenis

Expert

Jaunius Mindaugas Rastenis

J. Rastenis has accumulated experience in money laundering prevention in different financial sectors. The acquired experience allows him to effectively deal with the challenges related to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. J. Rastenis is a certified International Compliance Association (ICA) specialist.

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.