Recognizing the benefits inherent in the development of a network, in 1995 a group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) met at the Egmont Arenberg Palace in Brussels and decided to establish an informal group whose goal would be to facilitate international cooperation. Now known as the Egmont Group, these FIUs meet regularly to find ways to cooperate, especially in the areas of information exchange, training and the sharing of expertise.

Any Financial Intelligence Unit which considers itself to comply with the criteria of the Egmont Group of being a central, national agency responsible for receiving, (and as permitted, requesting), analysing and disseminating to the competent authorities, disclosures of financial information, is eligible to apply to become an Egmont member FIU.