Webinar Date/Time

January 6, 2026
1:00 - 2:00 pm ET

$149 Includes Playback without Expiration

Enroll Today!

About this Event

Event Description

The Bank Secrecy Act requires every financial institution to anchor its compliance program on the “Five Pillars.” Yet, regulators continue to find weaknesses in implementation, especially as customer risk profiles evolve. This session walks through each pillar — policies, compliance officer, training, independent testing, and customer due diligence — with a focus on 2026 expectations.

We’ll move beyond the basics to explore how institutions are operationalizing the Five Pillars in high-risk environments like cannabis, fintech, and MSBs. You’ll learn best practices to ensure each pillar is not only documented, but also effective, adaptable, and exam-ready.

Key Takeaways:

  • Break down the Five Pillars into actionable compliance steps.

  • Identify common regulator criticisms and how to address them.

  • Explore technology tools that reinforce BSA/AML frameworks.

  • Learn how high-risk industries stress-test your program.

  • Build a roadmap for ongoing monitoring and improvement.

Instructor(s)

Erin O'Donnell

Co-Founder- American Cannabis Bankers Association

Erin O'Donnell, Founding Partner of the American Cannabis Bankers Association, Co-Founder of BankersHub and Co-Founder and former CEO of Bankerstuff oversees product innovation and education. She has over 30 years of experience in strategic event management, specializing in technology and online delivery of content.

Michael Beird

VP, Treasury Management - Southwest Capital Bank
Founding Partner - ACB

Michael Beird is the Vice President of Treasury Management for Southwest Capital Bank, a canna-friendly institution in New Mexico. Michael also co-founded the ACB after spending over a decade building BankersHub, the leading online education platform in financial services, in order to bring nationally renowned speakers to smaller financial institutions, community banks and credit unions through webinars, on-demand certifications and live-streaming from conferences and conventions. BankersHub launched the industry's first Cannabis Banking Professional certification in 2020 and is now leading the effort to bridge education and compliance between these two heavily regulated industries with his co-authoring the recent Wiley book, "Cannabis Banking: Legal Frameworks and Practical Solutions for Cultivating Compliance"