Twenty years ago, a group of anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals gathered at the offices of U.S. Trust in New York City, marking the first event of the ACAMS New York Chapter. In November 2025, roughly 250 AFC professionals gathered to commemorate the chapter’s 20th anniversary, a milestone that honors its enduring legacy and highlights the vital role ACAMS chapters play in the global fight against financial crime.
The ACAMS New York Chapter has been instrumental in ACAMS’ overall success, positively influencing the professional lives of thousands of people through the hundreds of events they have organized. Its story exemplifies the growth and evolution of the AFC industry, ACAMS and the ACAMS chapter network, pioneering a model for the volunteer-led chapter network that now includes 66 chapters across six continents. From established hubs like New York, South Florida and Australasia, to newly launched chapters in Mexico and the Cayman Islands, the collective contributions of this network trace back to the inaugural event in New York City two decades ago.
The genesis of ACAMS chapters
ACAMS was founded in early 2001, yet the organization and the entire AML profession experienced explosive growth in the wake of September 11, 2001 (9/11) and with the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act. As the industry and the organization grew, so did the demand for training. With that in mind, a group of dedicated ACAMS members met to discuss forming a chapter in New York that would focus on providing localized, peer-led training and networking that went beyond centralized certification programs. “ACAMS was still a fairly new organization, and the CAMS designation had not yet attained the worldwide distinction that it now does. There was a lot of excitement in the conference room at U.S. Trust where the chapter was launched and the first event was held,” said Vasilios Chrisos, a former ACAMS New York Chapter board member.
Led by an inaugural executive board of prominent industry leaders and law enforcement (LE) experts in anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF), the ACAMS New York Chapter officially launched. The volunteer-led chapter model proved effective, establishing a blueprint for global expansion. Within two years, ACAMS had more than 15 chapters in North America and its first international chapter in Australasia. “ACAMS Chapters provide the local tangible presence of ACAMS in delivering its global objective of advancing the skills and professionalism of the financial crime community. Chapters support this global strategy through value-adding local in-person education, training and networking events,” said Aub Chapman, the co-chair and founder of the ACAMS Australasian Chapter.
Milestones in New York: Innovation and collaboration
The ACAMS New York Chapter pioneered initiatives that demonstrated how chapters can serve the AFC community. In 2009, it hosted the first chapter event on human trafficking and smuggling, drawing over 200 attendees. In June 2011, it held the first full-day seminar, attracting nearly 200 participants with public- and private-sector speakers. That year, it also became the first to address Bitcoin and virtual currency risks, attracting 300 attendees.
Member-driven ideas led to the development of job fairs and CAMS exam study groups. By its 10th anniversary in 2015, the chapter was the oldest and largest, with over 500 active members. Meryl Lutsky, co-chair of the ACAMS New York Chapter, emphasizes public-private partnerships: “The importance of the public-private partnership cannot be overstated. The founders of the New York chapter understood that in this age of new technology and ever-shifting geopolitical landscapes, it was imperative for LE and financial professionals to have a forum in which they could come together on a regular basis and share information. This remains a primary goal of the chapter.”
A diverse and expanding network
ACAMS, the chapter network and the industry have continued to grow. In 2025, ACAMS launched two new chapters in Mexico and the Cayman Islands. These locations are excellent examples of how a local chapter can offer insights into the unique challenges that different chapters face. “Having in-person events tailored to local relevance is important, rather than just global educational events,” said ACAMS Cayman Islands Chapter co-founder Amber Ramsey. “Our events will be specific to what professionals in the Cayman Islands need to know.” At the ACAMS Mexico Chapter launch, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson highlighted the launch of the chapter as an exciting opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the Mexican and the U.S. AFC communities, especially given shared national security threats enabled by illicit financial flows.
The ACAMS Cyprus Chapter is also celebrating a milestone, its 10th anniversary, offering a parallel story of transformation. Founded during intense reputational scrutiny over AML practices, the Cyprus Chapter chair, Greg Dellas, illustrates how the Cyprus Chapter has evolved with the industry: “The ACAMS Cyprus Chapter was born a decade ago, at a time when our country faced one of its greatest reputational challenges, in regard to its AML practices. From those difficult days, we chose a different path―one of accountability, learning and progress. Ten years later, we have created a community that stands united and strong, one that has helped reshape Cyprus’s narrative―from crisis to credibility, from doubt to trust, from silence to leadership.”
Every chapter has its own story, following the foundation that New York and other chapters have lain before.
Looking ahead
As the ACAMS New York Chapter celebrates 20 years, its impact on public-private dialogues, innovative programming and expanding the ACAMS community continues to inspire the global network. We thank all of the volunteer chapter board members for their dedication to furthering the ACAMS mission that has supported our chapters for decades. Meryl Lutsky and Susan White, the New York Chapter co-chairs, exemplify the giving nature of our chapter network. “Over the past 20 years, the ACAMS New York Chapter has been instrumental in advancing the mission of ACAMS by delivering cutting-edge education and networking opportunities for AML and AFC professionals. By convening industry leaders, regulators and LE experts through events focused on emerging risks like digital payments and cross-border compliance, the chapter has strengthened the resilience and collaboration of New York’s financial community. With more than 10,000 attendees participating in its programs over two decades, the chapter’s impact reflects a deep and lasting commitment to professional excellence and the fight against financial crime,” they said.
ACAMS Today thanks the New York, Cyprus, Australasia and Cayman Island chapter boards for their contributions to this retrospective.
David Jacobs, head, Membership and Chapter Experience, ACAMS, 
