What is customer due diligence?
Customer due diligence (CDD) is the set of steps a firm takes to identify a customer, understand their risk, screen them against relevant lists, and keep that assessment updated for as long as the relationship lasts.
What CDD usually includes
Identify the customer, verify identity to your policy, screen for sanctions and PEPs, record the risk rating, and define when you will refresh the file. For companies, CDD often extends to beneficial owners—not only the legal entity name.
How screening fits CDD
Watchlist screening is one CDD control, not the whole program. Naiza returns structured match context and an identifier to store on the customer record so reviewers can reconstruct why an onboarding hold happened.
CDD vs enhanced due diligence
Standard CDD applies to expected-risk customers. Enhanced due diligence adds more evidence when geography, product, PEP status, or adverse-media watchlist entries raise the risk. Policy—not the API—decides which tier applies.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers written so search and answer engines can cite them.
What is CDD in AML?
CDD is customer due diligence: identify the customer, assess risk, screen relevant lists, and monitor the relationship over time.
Is screening enough to complete CDD?
No. Screening is necessary but not sufficient. You still need identity evidence, a risk rating, and an audit trail that matches your regulator’s expectations.
How does a CDD workflow use Naiza?
Call AML screening during onboarding, persist the screening id, send later product events for fraud decisions, and re-screen when your policy requires a refresh.