AML RightSource, which helps banks and other companies spot illicit financial transactions, has expanded to Buffalo, with plans to create more than 100 jobs in five years.

Cleveland-based AML RightSource has 31 employees at its offices in Larkinville and expects to increase that to about 45 to 50 employees by June.

"We are all systems go here in Buffalo," said Frank Ewing, the CEO. The company's local operations started a couple of weeks ago.

Ewing, 38, has strong ties to upstate New York. The Utica native previously worked for HSBC Bank USA in Buffalo and graduated from the University at Buffalo Law School in 2012. He splits his time between Cleveland and Buffalo.

When AML RightSource was looking to expand, a consultant prepared a list of possible locations using criteria identified by the company. Buffalo ranked fifth on the list of 20 cities. Ewing said the difference among the top five wasn't significant. And he was already familiar with the Buffalo area and its workforce, something that was a point in Buffalo's favor.

"You can't have a spreadsheet that shows you that the folks here are gritty, and that the folks here work really hard, and that they're committed," Ewing said. "Those are things in business that you have to have a feel for."