AML/CFT AML Software

Gulf Capital Bank reduces AML alerts while ensuring risk coverage with Abrigo BAM+

Bank asset size

$544 million

Product

BAM+

Results

Reduced alert volume 50%

About the financial institution

Gulf Capital Bank, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is redefining the value of a bank. The bank opened its doors in January 2020 and keeps personal relationships at the center of everything it does. With decades-deep local roots, the team offers the personal touch of a traditional community bank combined with state-of-the-art banking technology and commercial banking expertise led by a group of Houston’s business and civic leaders to help customers accomplish their business and personal financial objectives. For additional information, please visit http://www.gulfcapitalbank.com/.

Download the full case study

The solution: Transaction monitoring in Abrigo’s BAM+

About a year after her arrival, Gulf Capital Bank initiated an RFP process and selected Abrigo’s BAM+ AML solution to replace the outdated system. Ely was already familiar with BAM+ from using it at another institution and was excited to return to a platform known for its flexibility, innovation, and support. The transition included utilizing BAM’s transaction modeling and reporting and leveraging Abrigo’s comprehensive training programs to onboard her team effectively.

“With Abrigo, you can go in and set the parameters yourself and tweak them...You can make an impact and make a change immediately. We saw a 50%+ reduction in the number of alerts.”

Amy Ely, AML/CFT Officer, Gulf capital bank

The results: Immediate operational impact

The Gulf Capital Bank team saw instant results after implementing BAM+: an immediate decrease in alert volume without compromising risk coverage. Ely credits the alert volume reduction to her ability in BAM+ to customize parameters and use threshold testing to fine-tune the alert system for accuracy. “With Abrigo, you can go in and set the parameters yourself and tweak them,” she said. “Scenario Tuner is available so you can see what the results are going to be. You can make an impact and make a change immediately. Because we had our parameters tuned, we had fewer alerts... We saw a 50%+ reduction in the number of alerts.” The ability to fine-tune the system without developer support marked a stark contrast from their previous experience. Analysts could make changes directly and see their effects in real-time, increasing both efficiency and confidence.

Intuitive user experience

The user-friendly BAM+ interface also proved easy to learn for new users, reducing the training curve and minimizing operational disruptions. Ely’s AML/CFT Analyst, who was unfamiliar with Abrigo, quickly adapted. “Navigating inside Abrigo is intuitive,” Ely said. CTR filing, once a daunting task, became straightforward and fast as Abrigo’s solution simplified processes, reduced filing time, and eliminated the operational struggles related to the previous AML system. “It’s just been smooth sailing,” she said. In fact, her analyst’s initial nervousness was erased with the first filing, Ely said. “She just couldn’t believe how easy it was. It just made sense moving from one tab to the next.”

Internal reporting and workflow improvements

The addition of the internal reporting module also streamlined communication between the back office and the BSA team. Back-office staff can now more easily and efficiently flag questionable activity by clicking through customer records and submitting them directly, which eliminates the need for manual forms and shared drives. “The back-office team has really embraced it….It's an efficiency for me, too.”