Recommended Match Threshold Starting Points

Before running a formal data test, these recommended starting thresholds give your configuration a sensible baseline. They are not prescriptive — every organisation's risk appetite is different — but they reflect common practice across ComplyAdvantage's client base.

Recommended starting thresholds

• Sanctions exposure: Match score ≥ 50

• Political exposure (PEP): Match score > 60

• Internal risk (custom lists uploaded to the account): Match score ≥ 50

• All other risks (adverse media, watchlists, etc.): Match score > 90

Important: Setting any threshold below 40 is inadvisable. A score below 40 means the model is more uncertain than certain that this is the same entity — screening at this level is likely to produce excessive noise that outweighs any compliance benefit.

How to refine from the starting point

Run a data test against a sample of your customer population. Review the hit rate and the proportion of true positives at your starting threshold. If hit volume is manageable and true positive rates are acceptable, hold the threshold. If you are seeing too much noise, raise the threshold incrementally. If you are concerned about missed matches, lower it — but do so with documented rationale for your governance record.

Contact your Customer Success Manager to arrange a dedicated data test and configuration session tailored to your entity types, jurisdictions, and risk profile.

Threshold configuration is a risk-based decision that belongs to your organisation. ComplyAdvantage provides tooling and guidance; the final setting must reflect your own risk assessment and be documented accordingly.