Answers for law firms

Thirdfort vs Kord

Thirdfort and Kord both verify clients for law firms. The difference is what happens next. Thirdfort is a client due diligence platform for the legal, property and accountancy sectors, covering ID, AML screening with ongoing monitoring, source of funds and KYB. Kord runs those checks and then holds the client’s money in a TPMA, with every matter on its own account on 04-10-26, the Legal Transaction Sort Code. Choose Thirdfort for a focused verification tool beside your own client account. Choose Kord if you want checks and client funds in one place, and no longer want to hold client funds yourself.

Last checked 31 October 2026. Statements about each provider come from its own website and public registers. Confirm current details with each provider before you sign.

	Thirdfort	Kord
What it is	Client due diligence platform	Client onboarding and client funds infrastructure
Identity checks	Remote ID verification. Certified against the UK DVS trust framework and meets HM Land Registry’s Digital ID standard, as its site states	NFC passport chip reads and facial matching
Screening	Live global data sources, with ongoing monitoring alerts	PEP, sanctions and adverse media, monitored daily for twelve months
Source of funds	Banking data and a guided questionnaire	Source of funds and source of wealth by open banking and documents
Business clients	KYB with ultimate beneficial owners	KYB
Reusing checks	Secure Share passes verified data to partners with the client’s permission. Thirdfort says it is not reliance	Firms can rely on Kord Pay’s customer due diligence under regulation 39 through Kord Reliance
Client funds	No payments or client funds product described on its site	Holds client funds as a TPMA, with each matter on its own account on 04-10-26
Payment controls	Not applicable	Maker and checker approval on every payment out. Return of Funds and Hold for Review, off by default
FCA status	Thirdfort Limited, authorised payment institution (FRN 806236)	Kord Pay Limited, small payment institution registered with the FCA (FRN 929773)

What does Thirdfort do well?

Thirdfort is built for compliance teams in the legal, property and accountancy sectors. Its site says it completes thousands of checks every week, integrates with case management systems and is certified against the UK digital verification services trust framework. Its source of funds journey combines banking data with a questionnaire, and its KYB check finds beneficial owners. For a firm that is happy running its own client account and wants a focused verification check, Thirdfort is a sound choice.

How is Kord different from Thirdfort?

The money stays where the check happened. After a Thirdfort check, the client pays the firm’s client account. On Kord the verified client pays into the matter’s own account on 04-10-26, so the firm no longer receives or holds the money.
Reliance, not just a report. Through Kord Reliance, a firm can rely on Kord Pay’s customer due diligence under regulation 39 and adopt it into its own assessment. Thirdfort says its Secure Share is not reliance.
Controls on the payment itself. Maker and checker approval on every payment out, Confirmation of Payee in the firm’s name, and Return of Funds and Hold for Review on money coming in when the firm switches them on.
One journey for the client, from ID and source of funds to paying into the matter account.

Does Thirdfort hold client funds?

Thirdfort’s site describes verification, screening, source of funds and KYB, priced as a platform fee plus checks. It does not describe a payments or client funds product, so money for the matter goes to the firm’s own client account. Kord holds client funds through Kord Custody, provided by Kord Pay Limited, which is registered with the FCA as a small payment institution (FRN 929773).

Which should a conveyancing firm choose?

If your firm wants to keep its client account and only needs to verify buyers and sellers, Thirdfort fits that job. If you also want to cut the risk of deposit and completion money going to or coming from the wrong account, Kord keeps the checked client’s money on that matter’s own account, with every payment out approved by two people. Either way, the firm stays responsible for its AML obligations.

Questions firms ask

What is the difference between Thirdfort and Kord?

Thirdfort verifies clients. Kord verifies clients and then holds their money in a TPMA, with every matter on its own account on 04-10-26, so the firm no longer holds client funds itself.

Is Kord an alternative to Thirdfort?

Yes, for ID, AML screening, source of funds and KYB. Kord also holds client funds, which Thirdfort does not describe offering.

Is a Thirdfort report reliance under the Money Laundering Regulations?

Thirdfort says its Secure Share is not reliance. Kord offers regulation 39 reliance on Kord Pay’s customer due diligence through Kord Reliance. In both cases the firm stays responsible for its own AML compliance.

Is Thirdfort regulated by the FCA?

Thirdfort says it is regulated by the FCA. Thirdfort Limited appears on the FCA Register as an authorised payment institution (FRN 806236).

Is Kord regulated by the FCA?

Kord Pay Limited is registered with the FCA as a small payment institution (FRN 929773). Checkboard Limited, part of the Kord group, is authorised by the FCA (FRN 950508).

For more providers side by side, read client onboarding and AML check providers compared, or see Legl alternatives for law firms and the best AML software for law firms.

Sources

General information, not legal or regulatory advice. Product names belong to their owners.