Search the OFAC SDN list on the US Treasury's free online tool. If your name appears or produces a false match, a delisting petition through OFAC's administrative process is the route to removal. Name-based matches are common — particularly for common names shared with designated nationals — and require a documented challenge through OFAC's delisting procedure.
The OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list is the US Treasury's sanctions list, designating individuals and entities connected to terrorism, narcotics trafficking, weapons proliferation, and other sanctioned activities. An SDN listing blocks all US-person transactions with the designated individual and freezes their assets under US jurisdiction. For a non-US person, the operational consequence is typically a bank compliance freeze — banks worldwide screen against the SDN list, and a match freezes the account even where no US nexus exists.
How to Search the SDN List
The SDN list is publicly searchable on OFAC's website (sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov). The search tool accepts names, and the results include all matching entries with identifying information — date of birth, nationality, passport number (where available), and the sanctions programme under which the designation was made. The search is free and immediate.
The challenge with name-based searching is false positives. The SDN list includes thousands of designated individuals, many with common names. A person named "Mohammed Khan" or "Ivan Ivanov" may produce multiple matches, and a bank's automated screening software cannot always distinguish between a designated individual and a namesake. This is the most common cause of sanctions-related bank freezes — not that the person is actually designated, but that the screening software generated a false match.
A true match — where you are genuinely designated on the SDN list — is a serious matter requiring immediate legal counsel. A false match — where a namesake is designated and your account was frozen by mistake — requires a documented challenge through the bank's compliance process, supported by identity verification that distinguishes you from the designated individual.
Critical Warning
A bank freeze caused by an SDN false positive is not resolved by arguing with the bank. It requires a documented compliance appeal with identity verification that distinguishes you from the designated individual. A CCF no-record confirmation can strengthen the appeal by demonstrating that no Interpol data exists independently.
How to Challenge a False SDN Match
If a bank freezes your account based on an SDN false positive, the resolution has two tracks. The first is the bank's compliance appeal, which requires identity documentation that distinguishes you from the designated individual — date of birth, passport number, nationality, and biometric confirmation. The second is an OFAC administrative request, which can be filed if the bank's appeal does not resolve the issue.
- Bank compliance appeal: Counsel files a documented appeal with the bank's compliance officer, providing identity verification, the SDN search result showing the designated individual's details, and a legal analysis demonstrating that you are not the designated person.
- OFAC delisting request (if needed): If the bank's appeal does not resolve the freeze, counsel can file a request with OFAC directly, asking the agency to confirm that you are not the designated individual. OFAC's response can be presented to the bank as definitive.
- CCF no-record confirmation (supporting): A CCF access request confirming that no Interpol data exists in your name can strengthen the appeal, because it demonstrates independently that you are not the subject of international alerts.
How to Seek Delisting If You Are Genuinely Designated
If you are genuinely on the SDN list, the route to removal is an OFAC delisting petition. The petition must demonstrate that the designation is erroneous, that the underlying basis has changed, or that continued designation is unjust. OFAC reviews the petition and may remove the designation, modify it, or maintain it. The process can take months or years, and success depends on the strength of the evidence and the geopolitical context of the sanctions programme.
In one case, a client's name produced a false-positive match on the SDN list during a bank compliance screening. The designated individual shared the client's name and approximate date of birth but was a different person of a different nationality. Counsel filed a documented appeal with the bank's compliance officer, supported by passport verification, a CCF no-record confirmation, and an OFAC response confirming that the client was not the designated individual. The account was unfrozen within three weeks. Without the documented appeal, the freeze could have persisted indefinitely.
What to Do in Practice: Secure Your Clearance
The SDN list is free to search, but a match — whether genuine or false — requires a documented legal response. If your bank account has been frozen on an SDN match, or if you need to verify your status before a banking or visa decision, a counsel-led challenge through the bank's compliance process and OFAC's administrative channel is the route to resolution.
If you suspect your name is on an international watchlist or have an upcoming flight, do not leave your freedom to chance at a passport terminal. A confidential Interpol lookup or a comprehensive Pre-Travel Legal Check filed through Swiss legal counsel secures absolute clarity within days. Contact our Basel office confidentially to secure your legal travel shield.