As UK regulators tighten anti-money-laundering (AML) oversight, firms are rapidly shifting from manual document reviews to automated Source of Wealth (APIs). In 2024 alone, UK financial institutions increased their investment in compliance technology by 38%, with wealth verification ranking among the top three digital priorities across law, property, and financial-advisory sectors.
Traditional verification processes — chasing PDFs, reviewing bank statements, or requesting proof of income can take days and still expose firms to compliance gaps. APIs, by contrast, enable secure, real-time access to verified banking data through Open Banking connections, offering instant clarity on how clients have accumulated their wealth.
This shift isn’t just about speed; it’s about accountability. With the FCA and HMRC demanding clearer audit trails, API-based systems give compliance teams structured data, consent logs, and automated reports that stand up to regulatory scrutiny. Below, we compare the top 7 Source of Wealth APIs in the UK that are redefining digital due diligence for 2025.
Provider | Best For | FCA Authorised | UK Bank Coverage | Deployment Speed | Pricing Model |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finexer | Real-time Open Banking wealth verification | ✅ Yes | 99% of UK banks | 2–3× faster than market | Usage-based, no setup fee |
First AML | Combined wealth and funds checks | ✅ Yes | UK & EU banks | Moderate | Tiered enterprise plans |
ComplyAdvantage | Risk & sanctions screening integration | ✅ Yes | Partner bank data sources | Fast | Subscription |
NorthRow | Client due diligence & audit readiness | ✅ Yes | UK banks & registries | Moderate | Custom |
PassFort (Moody’s) | Automated AML verification | ✅ Yes | Global & UK institutions | Fast | Enterprise |
Encompass | Corporate wealth mapping | ✅ Yes | UK registries & banks | Moderate | Custom |
Acuris Risk Intelligence | Enhanced due diligence & profiling | ✅ Yes | UK & global bank data | Fast | Subscription |
What Makes a Good Source of Wealth API
Selecting the right Source of Wealth API is about more than data access — it’s about compliance, reliability, and integration. A well-built API ensures your firm can verify client wealth accurately while meeting UK regulatory standards.
1. FCA Authorisation and Data Security
Always start with an FCA-authorised API provider. Regulation guarantees that the platform follows Open Banking standards, handles data securely, and operates under UK compliance laws such as the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR 2017) and GDPR.
2. Full UK Bank Coverage
The best APIs connect to Major UK banks, covering both personal and business accounts. Broader access reduces client friction and ensures every verification request can be completed instantly.
3. Real-Time Data and Historical Depth
A reliable Source of Wealth API retrieves both real-time transactions and 12–24 months of history. This combination helps firms trace how wealth was built from salary deposits to property sales or dividend income.
4. Categorisation and Enrichment
Leading providers use data enrichment to convert raw bank feeds into clear income, asset, and investment categories. This gives compliance officers a ready-made “story of wealth” without manual interpretation.
5. Flexible Integration and Scalability
Look for APIs offering sandbox access, RESTful endpoints, and white-label flexibility. Firms should be able to embed wealth verification directly into existing client-onboarding or AML systems without disruption.
6. Transparent and Scalable Pricing
The ideal Source of Wealth API uses a usage-based model — so you only pay for the checks you perform. This keeps costs predictable for firms managing variable onboarding volumes.
Top 7 Source of Wealth APIs in the UK
1. Finexer
Best For: Real-time Open Banking wealth verification.
Finexer is an FCA-authorised API provider built specifically for UK compliance. Its Source of Wealth API connects to 99% of UK banks, offering instant, consented access to verified financial data. Firms can analyse recurring income, inheritance deposits, and asset-sale proceeds in seconds.
With usage-based pricing and 3–5 weeks of onboarding support, Finexer helps law, accounting, and fintech firms deploy Open Banking wealth verification 2–3x faster than competitors without setup fees or long-term contracts.
2. First AML
Best For: End-to-end AML and client onboarding in the UK.
Operating across the UK and Europe, First AML integrates both Source of Wealth and Source of Funds verification. It blends Open Banking data, document uploads, and client questionnaires to produce clear, regulator-ready reports.
Its workflow automation tools make it ideal for firms handling high-value or high-risk clients, where both data intelligence and supporting documents are required for compliance reviews.
3. ComplyAdvantage
Best For: AML teams needing deeper risk and sanction checks.
ComplyAdvantage, a London-based provider, enhances wealth verification by adding real-time sanctions and PEP screening. It integrates with partner Source of Wealth APIs to detect inconsistencies or red flags during onboarding.
For firms already using Open Banking data, it strengthens AML defences by correlating verified wealth information with global watchlists and politically exposed person databases.
4. NorthRow
Best For: Law, property, and accountancy firms under UK AML regulations.
NorthRow provides a comprehensive Source of Wealth API that validates client income and assets through Open Banking connections. Its visual dashboards and automated audit reports simplify compliance reviews and reduce documentation errors.
The platform’s strength lies in flexibility — firms can integrate its API into existing AML tools to maintain a unified client-verification process across departments.
5. PassFort (Moody’s)
Best For: Banks and financial institutions with high-volume onboarding.
PassFort, part of Moody’s, offers a Source of Wealth API that integrates seamlessly with automated AML workflows. It lets UK firms set rule-based verification steps, trigger EDD reviews, and approve clients instantly.
Its strong automation layer makes it well-suited for large compliance teams that need to verify thousands of clients while maintaining audit consistency.
6. Encompass Corporation
Best For: Wealth managers and firms tracing corporate ownership.
With its UK base in Glasgow, Encompass aggregates registry and banking data to map corporate ownership and track wealth movement. Its Source of Wealth API helps uncover indirect ownership and multi-layered asset structures — ideal for complex business networks.
Used by major UK law firms and banks, Encompass is a reliable choice for identifying beneficial owners and tracing how wealth was built across entities.
7. Acuris Risk Intelligence
Best For: Financial institutions needing advanced wealth profiling.
Acuris, headquartered in London, offers a data-driven Source of Wealth API integrated with its AML and EDD tools. It analyses verified banking data alongside public records to generate detailed wealth profiles for high-risk clients.
Its combination of structured financial data and investigative intelligence makes Acuris a strong choice for firms handling complex or high-value transactions under UK AML oversight.
Conclusion
Automating wealth verification has become a necessity for UK firms facing tighter AML oversight. A reliable Source of Wealth API helps reduce manual reviews, maintain audit trails, and meet FCA and HMRC requirements through real-time, data-driven insights.
- Finexer – FCA-authorised, UK-focused API offering real-time Open Banking data.
- First AML – Combines digital and document-based checks for full AML workflows.
- ComplyAdvantage – Adds PEP, sanctions, and risk screening to wealth data analysis.
- NorthRow – Built for law and property firms needing clear audit documentation.
- PassFort (Moody’s) – Scales automated AML and onboarding across large institutions.
- Encompass – Maps corporate ownership and tracks complex wealth structures.
- Acuris – Delivers enhanced due-diligence profiles using verified data and intelligence.
Together, these solutions highlight how the Source of Wealth API is transforming UK compliance making wealth verification faster, more transparent, and regulator-ready.
Are all Source of Wealth APIs FCA-authorised in the UK?
Not all. Always choose an FCA-authorised provider like Finexer to ensure regulatory compliance and secure Open Banking connectivity.
Which Source of Wealth API is best for UK firms?
Finexer is the top choice for UK-regulated businesses, offering 99% bank coverage, usage-based pricing, and fast API deployment.
Why do UK firms need a Source of Wealth API?
It helps financial, legal, and property firms meet FCA and HMRC AML requirements faster, reducing manual reviews and compliance risk.
Connect to 99% of UK banks and verify client wealth instantly with Finexer’s Source of Wealth API.