Artikel 25 Ermittlung des Zwecks und der angestrebten Art einer Geschäftsbeziehung oder gelegentlichen Transaktion

This article sits within the customer due diligence framework and addresses the obligation of obliged entities to understand the purpose and intended nature of a business relationship or occasional transaction before it begins.

Rather than simply identifying who a customer is, this article focuses on the "why" — ensuring the obliged entity gathers enough contextual information to make sense of the relationship or transaction.

A specific carve-out applies to obliged entities dealing in high-value goods under Article 74, who must additionally determine whether those goods are intended for commercial or non-commercial use.

Important points:

• Before entering a business relationship or performing an occasional transaction, obtain information on the purpose, economic rationale, estimated activity amounts, source and destination of funds, and the customer's business activity or occupation.
• The obligation to gather this information is conditional — it applies "where necessary," meaning it is not a blanket requirement in every case.
• Obliged entities covered by Article 74 (those dealing in high-value goods) must also establish whether the intended use of those goods is commercial or non-commercial.