AML/CFT Advisory Services AML Software BSA Rules and Regulation

Southwest Heritage Bank partners with Abrigo Advisory for reduced false positives and long-term AML/CFT strength

Bank asset size

$935 billion

Product

Suspicious Activity Monitoring Services (SAMS)

Results

False positive reduction of up to 30%

About the financial institution

Southwest Heritage Bank is a full-service community bank formed through the merger of Bank 34 and Commerce Bank of Arizona. With nearly a century of combined service, Southwest Heritage Bank proudly carries forward a legacy of reliability, personal attention, and innovation. Rooted in the rich heritage of the Southwest and dedicated to its promising future, the bank provides individuals, businesses, and communities with trusted financial solutions and exceptional customer service.

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Summary:

Following a major merger that significantly increased data volume and monitoring complexity, Southwest Heritage Bank partnered with Abrigo to strengthen its AML/CFT program and improve operational efficiency. Vice President and BSA Officer Ruth Kruse worked with a dedicated CAMS-certified consultant to refine alert scenarios, enhance data integrity, and reduce false positives. The collaboration delivered measurable results—including up to a 30% reduction in false positives, an improved alert-to-SAR ratio, and greater scenario accuracy while ensuring long-term consistency and smoother onboarding for new staff.

“If you’re facing increased workload, system growth, or just want to tighten your program, Abrigo’s Advisory team is the partner you want. They brought insight, organization, and a genuine commitment to our success.”

Ruth Kruse, VP and BSA Officer, Southwest Heritage Bank

The results: Long-term impact and quantitative gains

As a result of the engagement, Southwest Heritage Bank saw measurable enhancements across key program metrics:

False positive reduction of up to 30%
Improved alert-to-SAR ratio by a full percentage point
Better scenario efficacy through keyword list maintenance
Alignment between consultant recommendations and the internal team

Following the end of the advisory engagement, Kruse trained two new team members and noted how much smoother the onboarding process was due to the optimized setup.