Our summary
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), part of the U.S. Treasury, publishes its sanctions lists through the Sanctions List Service. The main list is the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). It names individuals, companies and groups designated by OFAC, as well as blocked vessels and aircraft. All other OFAC lists are combined in the Non-SDN Consolidated Sanctions List.
The service lets users download the lists in several data formats, build a custom dataset by list or sanctions program, and access an archive of change (“delta”) files. It also includes OFAC’s free Sanctions List Search tool, which uses fuzzy matching on names. The page links to FAQs, guidance on weak aliases, the archive of SDN changes, and e-mail alerts for updates. On the search tool itself, OFAC warns that using it does not replace proper due diligence.
How auditors use it: Check that screening systems load OFAC list updates quickly and completely, including the consolidated lists. Run sample names through the official search tool and compare the results with the organization’s screening system to test fuzzy-matching settings. Use the delta files to confirm that recent designations were picked up.