AML & KYC Statement

Gold Vault Store is committed to the highest standards of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and the prevention of financial crime. This statement sets out our policies, procedures, and obligations — and what we require from our customers — to ensure our platform is never used as a conduit for illicit activity.

Our commitment

Gold Vault Store recognizes that physical gold is a high-value, portable asset with potential for misuse in money laundering, terrorist financing, tax evasion, and sanctions circumvention. We take this risk seriously and have built a comprehensive compliance framework to mitigate it.

We are committed to:

Legal & regulatory framework

Our AML and KYC program is designed to comply with applicable laws and international standards, including but not limited to:

Framework	Jurisdiction / Body	Relevance
FATF Recommendations	Financial Action Task Force	International AML/CTF standards for precious metals dealers
EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives (AMLD)	European Union	6th AMLD requirements for high-value goods dealers
Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA 2002)	United Kingdom	Sanctions and asset freezes are applicable globally
Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)	United States (FinCEN)	Dealer reporting and record-keeping requirements
UN Security Council Resolutions	United Nations	Country-specific dealer obligations, where applicable
Local AML Legislation	All operating jurisdictions	Country-specific dealer obligations where applicable

Where local laws impose stricter requirements than international standards, we apply the more stringent obligation.

Our AML programme

Gold Vault Store maintains a risk-based AML program comprising five core pillars:

KYC requirements by customer type

The level of due diligence required depends on the customer type and transaction profile. The following documents are required:

Customer type	Required documents	Threshold
Individual — standard	Government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID card), proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, dated within 3 months)	Orders above $5,000 USD
Individual — enhanced	As above, plus source of funds declaration and supporting evidence (bank statement, payslip, inheritance documentation)	Orders above $25,000 USD or high-risk profile
Corporate entity	All orders, regardless of value	All corporate orders
Trust or foundation	Trust deed or foundation charter, trustee identification (as individual above), beneficiary disclosure	All orders
PEP or high-risk individual	Enhanced due diligence package — see Section 07	All orders regardless of value

All documents must be provided in English or accompanied by a certified translation. Copies must be clear, unaltered, and unexpired. Certified copies may be required for high-value or high-risk accounts.

Verification process

Our KYC verification is conducted securely through our onboarding platform. The process is as follows:

Standard KYC verification typically takes 1–3 business days. Enhanced due diligence cases may take longer, depending on the complexity of the review and the customer’s responsiveness.

KYC verification must be completed before any order can be processed. Placing an order does not guarantee approval — orders are held pending successful verification.

Risk-based assessment

Gold Vault Store applies a risk-based approach (RBA) to customer and transaction assessment. Each customer is assigned a risk rating — Low, Medium, or High — based on a combination of factors:

Risk rating	Due diligence level	Review frequency
Low	Standard CDD	Every 24 months
Medium	Enhanced CDD — source of funds required	Every 12 months
High	Full EDD — senior management approval required	Every 6 months or per transaction

Politically exposed persons (PEPs) & sanctions

Gold Vault Store applies enhanced due diligence (EDD) to all customers identified as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), their close associates, or immediate family members, regardless of order value.

We do not onboard or transact with individuals or entities listed on any applicable sanctions list, including those maintained by the UN, EU, OFAC (US), HM Treasury (UK), and equivalent authorities. Matching a sanctions list results in immediate account suspension and mandatory reporting to the relevant financial intelligence unit.

EDD requirements for PEPs include:

• Senior management approval before establishing or continuing the business relationship
• Documented source of wealth (not only a source of funds for specific transactions)
• Enhanced ongoing monitoring of all transactions on the account
• Annual review of PEP status and continued risk assessment
• Immediate escalation to the compliance officer if adverse media is identified

Customers are screened against PEP and sanctions databases at onboarding and continuously thereafter using real-time data feeds.

Suspicious activity & reporting

Our compliance team is trained to identify and escalate suspicious activity indicators (red flags). Common red flags in precious metals transactions include:

• Structuring orders to remain just below reporting thresholds (smurfing)
• Repeated purchases using multiple payment methods or accounts for the same delivery address
• Customers are unable or unwilling to explain the source of funds for large purchases
• Requests to deliver to a third party not related to the account holder
• Unusual geographic combinations — e.g., payments from a jurisdiction inconsistent with the delivery address
• Large cash-equivalent payments (cryptocurrency or prepaid instruments) with no apparent business rationale
• Customers who express unusual urgency or resistance to standard KYC procedures

Where suspicious activity is identified, Gold Vault Store is legally obligated to submit a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to the relevant financial intelligence unit. We are prohibited by law from informing the customer that a SAR has been filed — this is known as the “tipping-off” prohibition.

Orders associated with a pending SAR may be paused, canceled, or delayed without explanation. We will not be held liable for any losses arising from such actions taken in good faith for compliance purposes.

Record keeping

Gold Vault Store retains all KYC documents, customer due diligence records, and transaction data in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Standard retention periods are as follows:

Record type	Retention period	Format
KYC identity documents	5 years from the transaction date	Encrypted digital
Transaction records	5 years from the filing date	Encrypted digital
Source of funds evidence	5 years from the end of the relationship	Encrypted digital
SAR filings & supporting notes	5 years from the screening date	Secured — compliance access only
Screening results (PEP / sanctions)	5 years from the training date	Encrypted digital
Staff training records	Screening results (PEP/sanctions)	Digital HR system

Where local law requires a longer retention period, the more stringent requirement is applied. All records are stored securely, with access limited to authorized compliance personnel and senior management.

Staff training & governance

Gold Vault Store maintains a comprehensive AML training program for all staff who interact with customers, conduct transactions, or support compliance functions. Training covers:

• Recognition of money laundering and terrorist financing typologies relevant to precious metals
• Customer due diligence procedures and escalation protocols
• Sanctions and PEP screening requirements and outcomes
• How to identify and report suspicious activity internally
• Legal obligations, including the tipping-off prohibition and personal liability

Customer obligations

By using our platform, you agree to the following obligations as part of our AML and KYC framework:

• Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information during the verification process
• Promptly supply additional documentation when requested by our compliance team
• Notify us immediately of any material changes to your circumstances (address, beneficial ownership, PEP status)
• Confirm that all funds used for purchases are from legitimate, lawful sources
• Not use our platform on behalf of an undisclosed third party without prior written disclosure
• Not structure transactions to avoid reporting thresholds or circumvent our compliance controls

Providing false or misleading information, withholding material facts, or attempting to circumvent our AML controls is a serious criminal offence in most jurisdictions. Gold Vault Store will report such conduct to the relevant authorities and terminate the account immediately.

We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate any account or transaction at our sole discretion where we have reasonable grounds to suspect non-compliance with this policy, without liability to the customer.

Contact & compliance inquiries

For questions relating to our AML and KYC program, verification requirements, or compliance matters, please contact our dedicated compliance team:

All compliance inquiries are treated with strict confidentiality. Please do not share KYC documents via unsecured channels — our team will provide a secure upload link upon request.

Zero tolerance for financial crime — Gold Vault Store

Gold Vault Store

© 2026 Gold Vault Store. All rights reserved.

This AML & KYC Statement was last updated on April 7, 2026.

This document does not constitute legal advice. For jurisdiction-specific compliance guidance, consult a qualified legal or compliance professional.

AML & KYC Statement