Chicago Chapter

It has been a busy year for the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), and summer 2011 has been no exception. With a full agenda of featured learning events, the chapter has offered a variety of anti-money laundering (AML) topics and networking opportunities. Learning event topics have included terrorist financing, bank fraud, and a new AML "roundtable" forum—an open discussion and brainstorming session. Featuring expert panelists from various financial institutions, government agencies and the private sector, each event is developed in an effort to continue the chapter's mission to provide education, information sharing and networking opportunities for AML professionals throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

On May 26, 2011, the Chicago Chapter hosted its first open forum learning event, titled "Roundtable — A Chance to Dialogue on Critical Compliance Issues." The session was held in order to highlight current AML "hot topics" while offering an opportunity for Chicago area AML professionals to table current issues, concerns, and questions as well as allow for peer information sharing and networking in an open forum. The event was sponsored by Deloitte and held at the firm's downtown Chicago offices.

On June 10, 2011, the Chicago Chapter hosted a learning event titled "Terrorist Financing—How the U.S. Fights Terrorism by Tracking Assets," sponsored by Northern Trust Bank at their main offices located in downtown Chicago. The event was developed to shed new light on current aspects of international terrorism financing schemes and featured a presentation led by returning guest speakers Thomas Moriarty, special investigator, U.S. Attorney's Office, and Patricia Nevin, IRS-CI, special agent & member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Attendees were provided with leading-edge subject matter expertise from seasoned field experts on the complex means by which international terrorist organizations and interests receive their financial support.

Finally, on August 18, 2011, the Chicago Chapter will host a learning event sponsored by Wipfli, LLP featuring guest speaker Tim Tedrick, Partner, Wipfli LLP. Mr. Tedrick's presentation will focus on the means by which financial institutions may fall victim to organized fraud schemes — both internal and external—and methods to help reduce the likelihood of future losses. This learning event continues the Chicago Chapter's efforts to highlight the synergy between AML and fraud initiatives and the need for collaboration and improved efficiencies when leveraging investigations resources within financial institutions. These factors come into play particularly when patterns and trends that may appear unique to each respective area require a convergence of investigations and a need for information sharing.

The ACAMS Chicago Chapter will proudly celebrate its third anniversary on September 11, 2011. A tentatively scheduled event will feature a member appreciation event and the introduction of a new group membership pricing schedule, with a date to be announced. The Chicago Chapter board continues to invite any ACAMS members visiting from outside the Chicagoland area to drop in on learning events for increased networking.

For more details on past and future events, refer to the Chicago Chapter web site at: http://www.acams.org/chicago-chapter/

Leave a Reply