Free OFAC Sanctions Search
Instantly check any name against the OFAC SDN list. Powered by multi-algorithm fuzzy matching. 5 free searches per day.
5 free searches remaining today · Checks OFAC SDN list only · Sign up for all 8 lists
What is OFAC Sanctions Screening?
OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) is a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury that administers economic sanctions programs. The SDN list — Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List — contains over 18,700 individuals, companies, vessels, and aircraft that are subject to U.S. sanctions.
Every business that operates in or touches the U.S. financial system must screen customers, partners, and counterparties against the OFAC SDN list. This includes banks, fintech companies, crypto exchanges, payment processors, insurance companies, and money service businesses. Failing to screen can result in civil penalties of up to $330,000 per violation, and criminal penalties including imprisonment for willful violations.
Simple exact-name matching is not sufficient for OFAC compliance. Names can be transliterated differently (e.g., Hezbollah vs Hizballah), misspelled, abbreviated, or reordered (e.g., "Putin, Vladimir" vs "Vladimir Putin"). This is why OFAC itself recommends using fuzzy matching algorithms that account for spelling variations.
How This Tool Works
This free OFAC search tool uses the same matching engine as the Verifex sanctions screening API. When you enter a name, it goes through a 4-stage pipeline:
Exact Match
Normalized comparison with token reordering
Fuzzy Match
Jaro-Winkler, Monge-Elkan, Soft TF-IDF algorithms
Phonetic Match
Double Metaphone catches similar-sounding names
AI Verification
LLM-powered verification reduces false positives
Limitations of This Free Tool
This tool checks the OFAC SDN list only. For comprehensive sanctions compliance, you should also screen against the EU Consolidated List, UN Security Council, UK HMT, and other relevant lists. The full Verifex API covers 8 data sources including 850K+ PEP records.
Free searches are limited to 5 per day per IP address. For production use, bulk screening, or API integration, sign up for a free API key (100 screens/month, no credit card required).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OFAC SDN list?
The OFAC SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) list is maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department. It contains over 18,700 individuals, companies, and entities subject to U.S. sanctions. Businesses are legally required to screen against this list to avoid transacting with sanctioned parties.
Who needs to check the OFAC sanctions list?
Any business operating in or with the United States must screen against OFAC. This includes banks, fintechs, crypto exchanges, payment processors, insurance companies, and any entity that processes dollar-denominated transactions. Violations can result in fines up to $330,000 per transaction.
How accurate is this free search?
This tool uses the same 4-stage matching engine as the Verifex API: exact matching with token reordering, fuzzy matching (Jaro-Winkler + Soft TF-IDF), phonetic matching (Double Metaphone), and AI verification. It catches spelling variations, transliterations, and name reordering that simple string matching would miss.
What's the difference between this free tool and the Verifex API?
This free tool checks OFAC only, limited to 5 searches per day. The full Verifex API screens against 8 sources (OFAC, UN, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland + 850K PEP records), supports batch screening, provides confidence scores, and includes audit trail features. The free API tier includes 100 screens/month.
Is my search data stored?
No. Free searches are processed in real-time and are not logged or stored. We do not track which names you search. See our Privacy Policy for details.