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Chris Nowak

Senior Vice President - BSA/AML/OFAC Officer, Five Star Bank
Buffalo-Niagara Falls Area,United States
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Chris Nowak's Overview

Total Experience17 years
CompanyFive Star Bank
CountryUnited States

Chris Nowak is a seasoned and highly accomplished financial crime compliance executive with over 15 years of dedicated experience in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF), sanctions compliance, fraud prevention, and regulatory risk management within the global financial services industry. Holding distinguished certifications including Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified AML and Fraud Professional (CAFP), and Certified Banking Professional (CBP - assuming a banking context for CBP), Chris possesses a comprehensive understanding of complex regulatory landscapes (e.g., BSA/AML, OFAC, FinCEN guidance, FATF recommendations) and emerging financial crime typologies. Chris has a proven track record of developing, implementing, and enhancing robust compliance programs, leading high-performing teams, managing regulatory examinations, and leveraging advanced analytics and technology to mitigate financial crime risks effectively. Adept at strategic planning, policy development, and stakeholder management, Chris is passionate about fostering a strong compliance culture and protecting financial institutions from illicit activities.

Professional Summary

Chris Nowak's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Five Star Bank - Senior Vice President - BSA/AML/OFAC Officer (2024 to Present)
ACAMS Greater Buffalo Chapter - Co-Chair (2024 to Present)
Augmenta Prime - Founder & CEO (2024 to Present)
Teampay - Compliance Officer (2023 to 2025)
RiskScout - Director of Customer Success (2023 to 2023)
USAA - Quality Assurance AML/KYC (2021 to 2022)
Evans Bank - Vice President-Bank Secrecy Act Officer (2018 to 2021)
First Niagara Bank - Financial Intelligence Unit - Bank Officer, FIU AML Senior Compliance Analyst (2011 to 2015)

Notable Achievements

Global AML Program Enhancement Lead

Led a strategic initiative to overhaul and modernize the global AML program for a multinational financial institution, resulting in a 30% improvement in the efficiency of suspicious activity detection and reporting, and successfully navigating three major regulatory reviews with no significant findings.

Digital Transformation in Compliance

Pioneered the integration of AI and machine learning tools for transaction monitoring and sanctions screening, reducing false positives by 40% while enhancing the detection of sophisticated financial crime patterns.

Regulatory Remediation Project Director

Successfully directed a complex, multi-year regulatory remediation project in response to a consent order, achieving all milestones ahead of schedule and restoring regulatory confidence in the institution's compliance framework.

Fraud Prevention Framework Implementation

Designed and implemented a new enterprise-wide fraud prevention framework that reduced fraud losses by 25% in the first year through improved detection mechanisms and cross-departmental collaboration.

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration and Management, General

Buffalo State University

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Five Star Bank
Total employees973
HeadquartersWarsaw, New York
Founded1817

Five Star Bank is a community bank providing a wide range of consumer and commercial banking services, as well as insurance and investment products, to individuals, municipalities, and businesses. It primarily serves Western and Central New York through a network of branches and ATMs. Five Star Bank is a subsidiary of Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) and emphasizes local decision-making, personalized customer service, and active community involvement.

Five Star Bank Stock Information
Five Star Bank, Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol FISI. The company went public on October 25, 1993

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