Policy Issues • Financial Sanctions

Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List

The SDN List is a primary list of parties associated with sanctions programs. It is commonly used for screening customers, counterparties, vendors, and transactions. Program rules determine what restrictions apply and what actions are required when a match occurs.

How the SDN List Is Typically Used

Screening: compare names and identifiers against entries.
Match validation: resolve false positives using context and identifiers.
Action: block or reject transactions when required by applicable rules.
Documentation: keep records of decisions and supporting evidence.

Best Practices for Screening

Common Checks

Identifiers: date of birth, addresses, passport numbers, and other fields.
Name variants: alternate spellings and transliterations.
Ownership: verify beneficial ownership and control structures.

Official Resource

Official SDN List resources: SDN List (OFAC).