Meri Valishvili

Bank Transfer Comments Such as 'Bribe' or 'To the Common Pot' Risk Triggering Compliance Reviews

Lawyer Meri Valishvili warned that casual or joking comments added to bank transfers can prompt automated compliance checks and account restrictions. Systems scan payment descriptions for terms like 'bribe', 'kickback', or 'to the common pot' without assessing humorous intent. No single public list of flagged phrases exists, as each bank independently configures its monitoring algorithms. Even routine descriptions such as 'for manicure' or 'utilities payment' may raise flags when combined with regular amounts or recurring patterns. Valishvili advises private individuals to omit unnecessary comments and to reference specific contract numbers and dates when a transfer has legal significance. For group collections, she recommends using bank-provided tools that clearly state the purpose of the payment.