KYC Sampling
When acquiring platforms ask us to sample merchant files, the first expectation is usually missing identity documents. In practice, passport scans and business registration certificates are often present. What fails the audit is the connective tissue: who owns the entity, who approved an exception, and whether the MCC matched the stated business activity.
A useful sample design weights volume and risk, not just recency. High-ticket merchants and restricted MCCs deserve denser coverage. Without that stratification, a clean sample can hide the files that matter most to your risk committee.
Document the decision trail while the file is still warm. Case notes that say “approved per policy” without naming which clause was applied rarely survive a second-line review—or a partner bank’s question six months later.