Money laundering (ML) is the process through which criminals try to disguise the illegal origin of their proceeds. Concealing the source of funds is essential for criminals to exploit illegally earned money. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), it must be regarded as one of the largest global markets and a severe obstacle to governments and international authorities, which affects society and the economy. This thesis work focuses on money laundering prevention procedures in the banking industry. It analyses the evolution of the international anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory framework, with particular attention to US, EU and Italian regulation, as well as the obligations of financial institutions.