ABA · CAFP
The ABA CAFP certifies financial professionals in anti-money laundering and fraud prevention within U.S. banking institutions. It validates expertise across assessment, investigation, reporting, and remediation of financial crimes.
Practice Questions
750
≈ 5 practice exams
Duration
180 minutes
Passing Score
500/800
Difficulty
ProfessionalLast Updated
Mar 2026
Use this CAFP practice exam to prepare for Certified AML and Fraud Professional (CAFP) with realistic questions, detailed explanations, and focused study modes. The practice bank includes 750 questions for ABA CAFP, so you can review the exam steadily instead of relying on one long cram session.
As you practice, pay extra attention to recurring topics such as BSA/AML Compliance, Fraud Detection and Prevention, Financial Crimes Assessment, Investigations, and Regulatory Reporting. Start with short sessions to identify weak areas, then move into timed quizzes once your accuracy is consistent.
The explanations are especially useful when you want to connect exam wording to the responsibilities and scenarios described in the official certification guidance. Use the free preview first, then unlock the full question bank when you are ready to build a complete study routine.
The ABA Certified AML and Fraud Professional (CAFP) is an advanced-level credential issued by the American Bankers Association (ABA) that validates a financial professional's expertise in anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud prevention within U.S. banking institutions. The certification tests competency across the full lifecycle of financial crimes response: assessing risk and identifying suspicious activity, conducting thorough investigations, fulfilling regulatory reporting obligations, and executing remediation strategies. It is grounded in U.S. laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the USA PATRIOT Act, and federal fraud statutes.
The CAFP was developed by an advisory board of financial crimes practitioners to reflect real-world job tasks performed by competent professionals in the field. It covers traditional AML and fraud disciplines as well as emerging threats such as cyber-enabled financial crimes. The credential signals to employers that a professional possesses both the theoretical knowledge and practical application skills required to protect banking institutions from money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, and related financial crimes.
The CAFP is designed for experienced financial crimes professionals employed within U.S. banking institutions. Suitable candidates include BSA/AML compliance officers, fraud investigators, financial crimes analysts, risk managers, internal auditors, compliance consultants, and state or federal bank examiners and law enforcement personnel working with financial institutions. The certification is also relevant for professionals in legal, operations, and cyber units who deal with financial crimes detection or response.
Candidates are expected to have hands-on, U.S.-based banking experience in BSA/AML compliance, fraud detection, or cyber-enabled financial crimes. Because the exam is grounded in U.S. laws and regulations, it is specifically suited to professionals operating within the U.S. banking regulatory environment, rather than general financial services or international practitioners.
ABA requires candidates to meet one of three eligibility pathways before sitting for the CAFP exam. The first pathway requires a minimum of two years of qualifying U.S. banking financial crimes experience plus completion of at least one approved BSA/AML or fraud training program. The second pathway requires a minimum of two years of qualifying experience plus current holding of at least one approved professional certification (such as CAMS, CFE, CRCM, CIA, or CBAP). The third pathway is available to candidates with five or more years of qualifying financial crimes experience, with no additional training or certification requirement.
All candidates must have direct experience in BSA/AML compliance, fraud detection, and/or cyber-enabled financial crimes within a U.S. banking context. Non-U.S. experience does not satisfy the eligibility criteria. Candidates must also agree to the ABA Professional Certifications Code of Ethics upon application. ABA reviews applications and notifies candidates of approval or denial within approximately two weeks of submission.
The CAFP exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 180 minutes (3 hours). The exam is scored on a scale with a passing score of 500 out of 800. Calculators are provided at testing sites. Exams are administered through Meazure Learning either at physical U.S. test sites or via live remote proctoring (LRP) through the ProctorU platform, which allows candidates to test from a private location with a live remote proctor, provided they meet the technical requirements.
The exam is offered during a defined testing window (for example, July 1–31 of a given year), and candidates must apply by the published application deadline. For most computer-based exams taken at test sites, candidates receive an instant Pass/Fail result upon completion. Official score reports are delivered via email within six weeks after the close of the exam window. The exam fee is $575 USD, and a non-refundable $100 application fee is retained if an application is denied.
Earning the CAFP positions professionals for advancement into senior financial crimes roles such as BSA Officer, AML Program Manager, Fraud Director, Chief Compliance Officer, or Financial Crimes Consultant. The designation demonstrates a validated, practitioner-level competency in a specialized and increasingly regulated domain, differentiating holders from peers who rely solely on general compliance or audit credentials. Employers in the U.S. banking sector — including commercial banks, credit unions, and federal regulatory agencies — actively seek professionals who can demonstrate this level of expertise as financial crimes compliance obligations intensify.
The credential is issued by the American Bankers Association, the principal trade association for U.S. banks, lending it strong industry recognition among domestic banking employers and regulators. Holding the CAFP alongside or in place of related credentials such as CAMS (ACAMS) or CFE (ACFE) can broaden a professional's appeal, as CAFP is uniquely focused on the intersection of both AML and fraud within the U.S. banking regulatory framework. Continuing education requirements for renewal ensure that certified professionals maintain current knowledge, reinforcing the credential's long-term value to employers.
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 750 questions, enough for 5 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. Contoso National Bank's compliance department is reviewing FinCEN's 8 National AML/CFT Priorities issued under the AMLA 2020. The bank needs to incorporate these priorities into its risk-based BSA program. Which three items are among FinCEN's National Priorities? (Select three!)
Multiple correct answersExplanation
FinCEN's 8 National AML/CFT Priorities, issued on June 30, 2021, under the AMLA 2020 mandate are: (1) Corruption, (2) Cybercrime, (3) Domestic and international terrorist financing, (4) Fraud, (5) Transnational criminal organization activity, (6) Drug trafficking organization activity, (7) Human trafficking and human smuggling, and (8) Proliferation financing. These priorities must be updated at least every four years and incorporated into financial institutions' risk-based programs. Tax evasion, while a serious financial crime, is not separately listed as one of the eight priorities. Insurance fraud is not included as a standalone priority, though fraud generally is covered. Environmental crimes are not among the designated priorities.
2. Tailspin Global Bank's compliance team is reviewing the FATF grey list and black list to update its geographic risk ratings. As of February 2026, which jurisdictions are on the FATF black list (High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action)? (Select one!)
Explanation
As of February 2026, the FATF black list includes three jurisdictions: North Korea (DPRK), Iran, and Myanmar. For North Korea and Iran, FATF calls for countermeasures due to WMD proliferation concerns and failure to ratify key conventions. For Myanmar, FATF calls for risk-proportionate enhanced due diligence rather than full countermeasures. Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela are not on the FATF black list — Syria and Venezuela are on the grey list (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring), while Cuba is subject to U.S. OFAC comprehensive sanctions but that is a separate framework from FATF listings. It is important not to conflate OFAC-sanctioned countries with FATF black-listed jurisdictions, as the two lists serve different purposes and are maintained by different bodies.
3. Litware Community Bank is evaluating its sanctions screening technology. The compliance officer wants to implement a name-matching algorithm that is most effective at identifying matches for names from diverse linguistic backgrounds, including Slavic, Celtic, French, Spanish, and Chinese names. Which algorithm should the bank prioritize? (Select one!)
Explanation
Double Metaphone is the most appropriate algorithm for multi-language name matching because it provides advanced phonetic encoding with explicit multi-language support, including handling of Slavic, Celtic, French, Spanish, and Chinese name patterns. Soundex encodes names by English pronunciation only and is limited in its handling of non-English phonetics. Exact character matching produces zero false positives but would miss names with different transliterations or spelling variations common across languages. Levenshtein distance measures string similarity by edit distance and catches typos and spelling differences but does not account for phonetic similarities across different language systems.
4. Litware Federal Savings Bank's fraud team is analyzing a series of wire transfers involving a commercial customer. The customer has been sending wire transfers of $4,500 each to multiple beneficiaries in a FATF grey-listed jurisdiction. Under the Travel Rule, what is the threshold that triggers recordkeeping and transmittal requirements for funds transfers? (Select one!)
Explanation
The Travel Rule under 31 CFR 1010.410(f) requires financial institutions to include and transmit specific originator and beneficiary information for funds transfers of $3,000 or more. This means each of the customer's $4,500 wire transfers exceeds the threshold and must include the transmittor's name, address, account number, amount, execution date, and the identity of the recipient's institution. The $2,000 threshold applies to SAR filing requirements for money services businesses, not the Travel Rule. The $5,000 threshold applies to SAR filing for banks when a suspect is identified. The $10,000 threshold applies to Currency Transaction Report filing requirements.
5. Contoso Heritage Bank is developing its 2026 BSA/AML risk assessment and needs to incorporate FinCEN's National AML/CFT Priorities into its program. Which three of the following are among FinCEN's eight National AML/CFT Priorities issued under the AMLA 2020? (Select three!)
Multiple correct answersExplanation
FinCEN issued eight National AML/CFT Priorities on June 30, 2021, as required by the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. The eight priorities are: (1) Corruption, (2) Cybercrime including campaigns against financial institutions, (3) Domestic and international terrorist financing, (4) Fraud, (5) Transnational criminal organization activity, (6) Drug trafficking organization activity, (7) Human trafficking and human smuggling, and (8) Proliferation financing. Financial institutions must incorporate these priorities into their risk-based BSA programs, and the priorities must be updated at least every four years. Tax evasion, while a serious concern, is not one of the eight designated national priorities. Insider trading falls under SEC jurisdiction rather than BSA/AML priorities. Consumer protection violations are addressed through other regulatory frameworks and are not among FinCEN's AML/CFT priorities.
Certified IRA Services Professional (CISP)
CISP · 700 questions
Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM)
CRCM · 700 questions
Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA)
CTFA · 699 questions
Certified Enterprise Risk Professional (CERP)
CERP · 749 questions
Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP)
CFMP · 750 questions
$17.99
One-time access to this exam