OFAC Basics Video Series - Sanctions List Search

OFAC has released the first video in its “OFAC Basics” video series.  The OFAC Basics: Sanctions List Search video provides viewers with a brief tutorial on how to use OFAC’s Sanctions List Search Tool and recommended steps for assessing a potential match to one of OFAC’s published sanctions lists.  

The “OFAC Basics” series serves as a companion series to the “Introduction to OFAC” series, available here.

 OFAC Director Bradley Smith and former Director Andrea Gacki announced this education program last summer.

To help provide further clarity on U.S. sanctions requirements, OFAC is launching a series of short videos that provide background on our sanctions programs along with practical suggestions on how to comply effectively. 

 The first series, “Introduction to OFAC,” aims to provide viewers with a high-level introduction on the fundamentals of OFAC and sanctions implementation. The first episode, released in July 2023, introduces viewers to OFAC, including our history, mission, and critical partnership with the private sector.

Future videos in this series will cover topics such as the difference between general and specific licenses, best practices for sanctions compliance, and regulatory requirements for reporting on blocked property and rejected transactions. 

Our second video series, “OFAC Shorts,” will be short videos aimed at addressing specific questions that are frequently raised through our OFAC Hotline, such as how to most effectively use OFAC’s Sanctions List Search tool and steps to validate a potential sanctions match. Organizations are encouraged to share these videos with their staff, including through embedding them directly into internal training portals.