# GwV-FINMA Art. 18 — Entering higher-risk business relationships - **Rubric (DE):** Aufnahme von Geschäftsbeziehungen mit erhöhten Risiken - **Rubric (EN):** Entering higher-risk business relationships - **Scope:** All FINMA-supervised FIs - **Status:** In force ## Description Requires approval by a superior person, unit or the management before a higher-risk relationship is entered into. ## Serves AMLR - [[AMLR Art. 34 - Scope of enhanced due diligence|AMLR Art. 34]] — Scope of enhanced due diligence ## Further AMLR connections - [[AMLR Art. 36 - EDD correspondent relationships|AMLR Art. 36]] — GwV-FINMA Art. 18 requires approval before opening any higher-risk relationship, which includes correspondent relationships with foreign banks; it is a general rule and for those relationships Art. 19 raises the approver to the top management body. *(related)* - [[AMLR Art. 42 - Politically exposed persons|AMLR Art. 42]] — GwV-FINMA Art. 18 requires approval before opening any higher-risk relationship, which includes PEP relationships; it is a general rule, and for foreign PEPs and for domestic or international-organisation PEPs with a further risk criterion Art. 19 raises the approver to the top management body. *(related)* ## Authoritative text > [!quote]- GwV-FINMA Art. 18 — German original, SR 955.033.0, consolidated version of 1 January 2023 (Fedlex) > **Art. 18 Aufnahme von Geschäftsbeziehungen mit erhöhten Risiken** > Die Aufnahme von Geschäftsbeziehungen mit erhöhten Risiken bedarf der Zustimmung einer vorgesetzten Person, einer vorgesetzten Stelle oder der Geschäftsführung.