The author addresses the issue of anti-money laundering in credit institutions and its legal foundations in their work. The aim is to reduce the risks and costs for credit institutions through recommendations for action within the framework of legal possibilities. The study examines the legal and reputational risks that credit institutions face in the context of anti-money laundering and how money laundering risk management fits into the overall risk management of banks. The work analyzes the individual steps of the risk assessment in credit institutions as a basis for anti-money laundering measures and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a rule-based versus a risk-based approach. In particular, it examines the assessment and discretion that the anti-money laundering officer has. As a result, opportunities for simplification and cost savings are identified, but the necessity of cumulative measures and controls is also emphasized. Finally, it is concluded that a risk-based approach not only provides benefits for credit institutions but also places the residual risk of money laundering on the state.