ACAMS Southern California Chapter
ACAMS Southern California was formed in order to provide the anti-money laundering community with a professional resource that can provide support, guidance, training, and peer interaction across industry lines. Our goal is to raise awareness and further educate and identify the issues that are specific to our region.

Membership Pricing

Upcoming Events


Terrorist Financing in Southern California: Recent Cases and Trends

Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Elks Lodge Address: 1373 E. Las Tunas Drive (San Gabriel, CA)
Credits: 3 CAMS/ 3 CFE
Cost:
• FREE to Chapter Members
• $50 for Non-Chapter Members


Norkom Technologies
is the proud sponsor of this event.

Register now!


Previous Events

Networking Event
September 16, 2010


Board Members - Bryan Tinoco, Mikahail Reider-Gordon and Liz Slim

Guest Speaker - Jerry Livigni
   

Networking Reception

Registration - Board Members - Chuck Taylor and Brian Stoeckert


Understanding the AML/CTF Risks of Virtual Currency
July 21, 2010

Banking by the Border
June 16, 2010

MSBs 360º: A Compliance Perspective
March 24, 2010

A Look Inside the FBI's Fight Against AML/CTF
January 20, 2010

ACAMS Southern California Chapter Event
September 16, 2009

Executive Board

Elizabeth A. Slim, CAMS
Co-Chair
Grandpoint Bank

Ms. Slim is Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for Grandpoint Bank located in downtown Los Angeles. She is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) since 2004. Before joining Grandpoint, Ms. Slim was First Vice President and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer at Community Bank in Covina, Calif., where she was responsible for developing a centralized BSA function, establishing enhanced and refined procedures for the Bank’s BSA program, and monitoring training for bank personnel for the past six years.

She has been in the banking industry for over 25 years in areas of Operations, Fraud, Security, Training and Risk Management with financial institutions such as Bank of America, First Interstate Bank of California, Home Savings of America and Sanwa Bank.

Elizabeth is President of the Patriot Officer (AML Software) User Group and has been a guest speaker for the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum.  She is a member of the Association of Certified Anti-Money laundering Specialists (ACAMS), the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI) and National Association of Women’s Business Owners in Los Angeles (NAWBO-LA).  She attended California State University, Los Angeles.

Email: eslim@grandpointcapital.com


Jesse Torres
Co-Chair
Pan American Bank

Mr. Torres is President and Chief Executive Officer of Pan American Bank in Los Angeles, California.  He is a regular speaker at banking industry conferences and seminars including the FFIEC Advanced Anti-Money Laundering School in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to joining Pan American Bank, Jesse was a regulator with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a Senior Consultant with KPMG Peat Marwick and a senior officer at several banks in the Los Angeles area.  He is a graduate of UCLA and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. 

Jesse is an active non-profit volunteer, serving in governance and other capacities, including as Immediate Past President of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce.  He is also the Chairman of the L.A. Watts Summer Games boys and girls soccer tournaments which represent the largest portion the the LAWSG - the country's largest high school athletic tournament.  In 2006 Jesse was awarded by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Jesse has sat on the Board of the West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum since 2002.  Apart from his AML expertise, Jesse is an experienced marketer and has authored several publications including the Community Banker's Guide to Hispanic Marketing and the Community Banker's Guide to Social Network Marketing.  He has also been published in industry trade journals including Bank Technology News, U.S. Banker, ABA Banking Journal and Bank Director Magazine.

Jesse lives in Redondo Beach, California with his wife and two daughters.  He is an avid soccer player and founder of the very successful Hermosa Beach Soccer Club. Jesse can be reached by e-mail at MrJesseTorres@gmail.com .  He can also be found on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jessetorres and on Twitter www.twitter.com/jstorres

Email: jtorres@panamericanbank.us


Maleka Ali, CAMS
Secretary
Bankers Toolbox

Ms. Ali has over 25 years experience servicing the financial community. She has been working with Bankers Toolbox as a Risk Management Consultant since October of 2005.  Prior to joining Banker’s Toolbox, Maleka worked at several financial institutions in Southern California. Experience includes Operations/BSA management, fraud/risk control, product development, marketing and training along with participation in the creation of two new “denovo” financial institutions and served on task forces for several mergers, acquisitions and system conversions. 

She is CAMS certified and has developed and implemented BSA programs along with comprehensive risk assessments at several financial institutions. At Bankers Toolbox, she has trained over 500 financial institutions on BSA/OFAC compliance and how to effectively utilize automated monitoring systems. She has created BSA/OFAC desktop procedures and helped develop products that assist financial institutions and corporations with their compliance to these laws and recommendations.

Maleka was a faculty member on BSA/AML at America’s Community Bankers National School of Banking in Connecticut and has served as a guest speaker and workshop instructor at their National Compliance Conferences. She has also been a guest speaker at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners national conference, as well as at several financial and corporate compliance organizations, addressing the subjects of BSA/AML/OFAC compliance, risk assessment management, fraud and identity theft.

Maleka was a faculty member on BSA/AML at America’s Community Bankers National School of Banking in Connecticut and has served as a guest speaker and workshop instructor at their National Compliance Conferences. She has also been a guest speaker at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners national conference, as well as at several financial and corporate compliance organizations, addressing the subjects of BSA/AML/OFAC compliance, risk assessment management, fraud and identity theft.

Email: malekaa@bankerstoolbox.com


Chuck Taylor, CAMS
Co-Secretary
City National Bank

Mr. Taylor is Senior Vice President, BSA Officer for City National Bank, headquartered in downtown Los Angeles.  He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the BSA/AML function for City National.  He has been in the banking industry since 1992 and the BSA/AML field exclusively since 2003.  His resume includes positions with; California National Bank, Bank of America, Pacific Capital Bancorp and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.  Chuck completed his Juris Doctorate in 2001, received certification as an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) in 2003 with the inaugural class and became a Certified BSA Officer in 2007.

Email: chuck.taylor@cnb.com


Bryan Tinoco
Treasurer
Wescom Central Credit Union

Mr. Tinoco specializes in BSA/AML and OFAC regulatory compliance.  He has over 18 years of experience in the operational areas of retail and business banking, and in the credit union industry. During the last 8 years, his focus has been on BSA/AML and OFAC. 

Currently, Bryan is the corporate BSA Compliance Officer and OFAC administrator at Wescom Central Credit Union based in Pasadena, CA.  He has successfully built the compliance infrastructure for the organization and continues to enhance and manage the OFAC, BSA and anti-money laundering programs, as well as coordinates and advises changes in regulations and analyzes the changes as it effects operations. Recent projects completed include the implementation of the credit union’s BSA/AML/CFT monitoring systems. Prior to joining Wescom Central Credit Union, Bryan was the AVP BSA Compliance Manager at Far East National Bank, a nationally chartered bank with both corporate and individual banking services in Northern and Southern California, along with an overseas Beijing Representative Office, and a branch in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He helped develop and implemented new policies, procedures, and testing programs to ensure continuing adherence to BSA/AML laws and regulations including a liaison between regulatory agencies (OCC and FRB) in connection with their examinations.
 
Bryan is a member of several professional organizations, such as the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators and a BSA Compliance Specialists with the Credit Union National Association. He has accomplished all P.O.S.T. (Police Officers Standard Training) requirements and is certificated as a level 1 Police Reserve Officer.

Email: btinoco@wescom.org


Alan Rodrigues, CAMS
Co-Treasurer
Union Bank

Alan currently serves as Vice President, Risk & Compliance at Union Bank. He has worked in BSA/AML since 2004. Prior to joining Union Bank, Mr. Rodrigues worked in the capacity of a Financial Analyst and Internal Auditor in the software industry. Alan graduated with a B.S. from Seattle University and an MBA from Seattle University with an emphasis on Finance & International Business. Alan has been CAMS-certified since 2006 and has AML/BSA experience in banking, securities and investments.

Email: Alan.Rodrigues@unionbank.com


Hoi Luk, CAMS, CRCM
Membership Director
ICS Compliance

Mr. Luk, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), is a Regional Director with ICS Compliance. Hoi is responsible for project oversight and the delivery of risk management services for the western region. His regulatory compliance, risk management, and internal audit experience spans more than 20 years with specialties in the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/Anti-Money Laundering (AML), residential lending, and asset quality reviews.

Prior to joining ICS Compliance, Hoi was a director at a leading national business consulting, accounting, and tax firm where he was responsible for risk management consulting services. He has also served as a compliance specialist for two $3 billion institutions and also worked for two mortgage companies, performing regulatory compliance testing and support functions.

Email: hluk@ICScompliance.com


Camille Catalano, CAMS
Co-Membership Director
Cal National Bank

Ms. Catalano, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), is the Assistant Vice President/BSA Officer for Cal National Bank, a commercial community bank serving Southern California with 68 locations.  She is the acting chair of the BSA Risk Management Committee.

Camille is responsible for the development and training of job specific classes on BSA/AML for all bank employees. In addition, she assists in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures specific for the BSA unit and is a policy committee member for the development and enhancement of policies and procedures for the bank’s retail branch network.  One of Camille’s strengths includes building and maintaining internal client relations.

In addition to her job responsibilities, Camille is a board member of the West Coast Anti-Money Laundering (WCAML) Forum, which sponsors conferences on BSA/AML/OFAC current trends and topics. Camille is also a Certified Sheshunoff BSA Officer (CSBSAO).

Prior to joining Cal National Bank, Camille was the managing officer of the Central Operations Division at Fidelity Federal Bank.

Email: ccatalano@calnational.com


Tim Richey, CAMS
Communications Director
First Private Bank & Trust

Mr. Richey currently serves as Senior Vice President/Chief Compliance Officer and BSA Officer of First Private Bank & Trust.  Prior to joining First Private, Mr. Richey was a contract consultant from 2006 to 2007 and assisted various institutions with significant AML/BSA-related remediation efforts.  From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Richey was employed by AEGON USA/Transamerica, a $35B mutual fund complex consisting of four fund groups, investment adviser, transfer agent and custodian.  At AEGON USA/Transamerica, Mr. Richey most recently served in the position of Assistant Vice President-Compliance, BSA Officer and Assistant Secretary.  Mr. Richey graduated with an AS from Vincennes University, a BA from Indiana University and received a JD from Stetson University College of Law.  Mr. Richey has been CAMS-certified since 2004 and has AML/BSA experience in banking, securities, investments and the life insurance industries.   

Email: trichey@1stprivate.com


Brian Stoeckert, CAMS, CFE
Co-Communications Director
OneWest Bank, FSB

Mr. Stoeckert serves as Vice President of Enterprise Compliance and Deputy Bank Secrecy Act Officer at OneWest Bank, FSB, where he manages the enterprise-wide BSA/AML program.  This includes the deposit and lending portfolio and involves ongoing risk management, policy implementation, and compliance monitoring.  He played a key role in developing the BSA/AML program for the newly chartered bank based in Pasadena, California.

Prior to joining OneWest, Brian was in private practice and provided consulting services to the financial and legal industry on BSA look-backs, financial investigations, and risk controls for high-risk entities.  Brian has been quoted as a currency exchange expert in The Wall Street Journal and is a leading authority on permuta bond swaps.  He is co-author of “Moving Money North: Currency Exchange in Venezuela via the Permuta," the first publication to assess the money laundering risks of the bond swap in Venezuela’s parallel market.  Brian also serves as a speaker at international and regional conferences. 

Brian received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.  He is a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

Email: brian.stoeckert@owb.com


Mikhail Reider-Gordon, CAMS, CFCI
Managing Director
Capstone Advisory Group LLC

Ms. Reider-Gordon is a Managing Director with Capstone Advisory Group LLC’s Litigation and Forensic practice based in Los Angeles. She focuses on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations, forensic investigations and white-collar crime matters. She has served as an expert witness in numerous State & Federal bench trials, jury trials and federal grand jury proceedings both in the criminal and civil matters, particularly around the theft of intellectual property and trade secrets. Prior to joining Capstone, Ms. Reider-Gordon was in the forensic & dispute practice with a Big-4 firm. She has amassed over twenty years of experience including federal and state investigations and intellectual property protection. Mikhail supervised anti-piracy investigations for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA); worked in intelligence with the U.S. Department of Justice and the RAND Corporation. Mikhail is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), an International Certified Financial Crimes Investigator (CFCI) and past-President of the Southern California Chapter of the High Technology Crime Investigators Association (HTCIA). She serves as Vice-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Anti-Corruption committee of the International Law section. She also sits on the International Trademark Association (INTA) Anti-Counterfeiting committee (Middle East, Africa & Southeast Asia).

Email:  mreider-gordon@capstoneag.com


Andrea Winter
Co-Programming Director
ACAMS

Email:  awinter@acams.org

Resources

Banking by the Border (6-16-10) Red Flag Indicators

Banking by the Border (6-16-10) FINCen_Maintaining_Accounts_Guidance

Banking by the Border (6-16-10) _Ed Lisandro

MSBs 360 A Compliance Perspective

netforum