Commerzbank Optimizes AML with AI from Hawk

The Audit – Explainable AI in AFC

March 2026

Erica Brackman

Senior Product Marketing Manager

If you needed proof that banks are seeing significant results from AI for financial crime and compliance, then I have it: Commerzbank, one of Germany's leading banks, has chosen Hawk to optimize its AML measures.

The results have been impressive. As Viktor Kraus, Cluster Lead Global Financial Crime Prevention Platform at Commerzbank, put it: “Hawk's powerful software, combined with Commerzbank's high level of technical expertise, delivers very convincing results.”

Through the implementation, Commerzbank has:

Increased the accuracy of alerts and reduced false positives
Detected more novel cases of money laundering and fraud
Expanded software validation to include robust AI model governance

The Hawk solution supplements Commerzbank's existing rule-based compliance systems to significantly increase effectiveness in combating financial crime - no rip and replace of their AML system was needed. This means the bank can benefit from powerful AI models without time-consuming updates to their existing technology.

“Commerzbank is using its position as a pioneer to conduct its fight against money laundering in an even more targeted manner. The collaboration with Hawk is a vital step in this direction,” said Hans-Georg Beyer, Group Chief Compliance Officer at Commerzbank.

Learn more about augmenting your existing AML system with AI.

AML AI Overlay

How Can FIs Improve AML with AI without System Replacement?

In this short video, our VP of Product AML, Dr. Robert Schmuck, explains how Hawk can help financial institutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their AML operations.

Deliver more precision without replacing your existing AML system
Find more financial crime while triaging false positives more effectively
Keep your existing investigation processes and case manager intact

👉 Learn more here.

Awards & Recognition

Hawk Recognized in Forrester Financial Crime Management Solutions Landscape Report

Forrester has recognized Hawk in its newly released Financial Crime Management Solutions Landscape Report, Q1 2026.

The report covers the market dynamics that are driving financial institutions to seek out innovative approaches from their system providers. These requirements, which are increasingly being met through machine learning, generative AI and agentic AI, include:

✅ AML and Fraud Convergence - FIs are finding benefits in FRAML to better meet business goals with unified strategies and risk-scoring capabilities

✅ Regulatory Support - AML and, increasingly, fraud management regulations require well-governed “always-on” controls

✅ Cost Reduction – fraud losses, data science, and investigative labor costs are key metrics. Firms must find ways to minimize these costs

✅ Customer Experience Improvements - customers are sensitive to being subjected to needless friction during transactions. Tools must work invisibly at the highest degree of accuracy with the lowest false positive rates

"The Forrester Financial Crime Management Solutions Landscape aligns completely with the Hawk view,” said Tobias Schweiger, CEO and Co-Founder at Hawk.

“The challenge for many FIs now is scaling their use of AI in a way that is explainable, governable, and cost-effective. That's where Hawk has the deep AI expertise that financial institutions require."

👉 Read the full announcement here

In Other News

Fintech Meetup After Hours: Hockey Night with Hawk

Heading to Fintech Meetup? Join us rink-side on March 30, 2026, for an exclusive Fintech Meetup after-hours event. Watch the Vegas Knights take on the Vancouver Canucks in a private suite while networking with senior AML, fraud, and compliance leaders. Secure your spot here 👉

Is Model Governance Slowing AI Adoption for Anti-Financial Crime?

91% of financial institutions now encourage the use of AI for financial crime and compliance. But while that momentum is pushing more models into production, it's also exposing a gap most FCC teams weren't prepared for: governing those models. See the data on those model challenges and find out how FIs can overcome them here 👉

How Is AI Transforming Check Fraud Detection?

Fraudsters are leveraging GenAI, dark web marketplaces, and mobile deposit channels to stay ahead of check fraud defenses. For financial institutions, relying only on rules-based detection is no longer enough. From image forensics and consortium intelligence to cross-channel analysis and behavioral biometrics, AI is reshaping how institutions detect and prevent check fraud. Read how you can use AI to fight back here 👉

Find out what our AML and fraud prevention technology, powered by explainable AI, can do for you:

> Customer Screening & pKYC

> Payment Screening

> Transaction Fraud Prevention

> Transaction Monitoring

> AML AI Overlay

> Entity Risk Detection

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