The Central Bank of Samoa says the country hasn't yet been blacklisted by the EU for poor money-laundering and terrorism financing.
The European Commission said last week it had been added to a list of 21 countries which had strategic deficiencies for dealing with suspicious money flows.
But on Thursday, the Central Bank stressed the list has to go before the European Parliament for a vote before it is official.
It said there were flaws in the process, including limited information and warning from the EU, and no opportunity to respond.
The criticisms echo those of the US Treasury Department last week, which rejected the inclusion of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The blacklist will go before parliament within a month.