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2026 TOP GUN
BSA AML CFT CONFERENCE

Hosted By BANKERSONLINE

MARCH 10 - 11, 2026 | ONLINE CONFERENCE

REGISTER TO ATTEND

TOP GUN 2026  HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR 14.5  CRCM, CAFP, 7.5  CERP, 1.0 CSOP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

TOP GUN BSA | AML | CFT Conference

It’s time to climb to new heights in financial crime prevention!  

BankersOnline’s BSA | AML | CFT Top Gun Conference is the ultimate training ground for compliance and risk professionals to sharpen their edge and elevate their programs with sophisticated Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) compliance tactics. 

As regulatory priorities shift under the current administration and artificial intelligence propels criminal activities to new levels of deception, today’s compliance teams must operate with greater precision and speed than ever before. The 19th annual Top Gun conference takes a deep dive into what’s new and what’s next.  

You’ll hear from compliance leaders who understand the challenges of running mission-critical financial crimes programs while balancing examiner expectations and pivoting under pressure in a fast-changing environment. They’ll share real-world solutions, hard-won insights, and will provide you with the intelligence you need to navigate through the unpredictable turbulence ahead. 

Each session delivers practical insights and proven strategies you can take back to your bank and deploy immediately.  From advanced SAR decision-making strategies and adaptive risk-based monitoring to integrating digital currency oversight into your compliance playbook, you will leave the conference with battle-tested solutions that work.  This conference is built for those who operate under pressure and want to take their BSA-AML-CFT compliance program to peak performance!

Actionable, Tactical Insights  |  Nationally Recognized Speakers  |  Zero Travel Required  

*Paid registrations include on-demand access to all conference content for 90-days following the event. 

JOIN US IN MARCH

CAN'T MISS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

TESTIMONIALS

"I have attended many conferences related to BSA but this is by far the conference I come away every single time feeling like I have tremendously benefited from being a part of it. I love the format - provides an environment where we can learn from the instructors, who are incredible."

"Best AML/BSA training I have had. I've been in the role of AML/BSA officer for 10 years and this is hands down the most comprehensive training, by the best and most knowledgeable presenters."

"I look forward to this conference EVERY year! Always good information from reliable and trusted industry experts. I always come away with valuable information for my FI. Thank You!"

Kim Kuhl, First Financial Bank, NA"

TOP GUN 2026  HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR 14.5  CRCM, CAFP, 7.5  CERP, 1.0 CSOP CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

CONFERENCE AGENDA

DAY ONE:
MARCH 10, 2026

“Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!” If it feels like the BSA, AML/CFT, and OFAC landscape has been moving at supersonic speed, you’re right! Under President Trump’s administration, the past year has delivered no shortage of turbulence for banks and financial institutions.

In this session, and during this two-day conference, we will cut through all of the noise to focus on what you should have on your radar for your Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) programs.

That includes discussion on policy changes, what regulators are now emphasizing, and where enforcement pressures have intensified. We’ll also identify areas of heightened risk evolving in regions experiencing geopolitical volatility, like Venezuela. This session’s overview provides the situational awareness you need to prepare as we:

  • Discuss the key BSA, AML/CFT and OFAC high-level regulatory and policy shifts this past year, including the debanking Executive Order, FinCEN Advisories, changes to record retention time frames, and recent geopolitical developments  impacting sanctions risk management,
  • Identify key enforcement trends, including recurring deficiencies, sanctions-related impacts, and the compliance lessons they signal for financial institutions, and
  • Look ahead to emerging challenges, including the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency and digital assets, faster payments and increasingly sophisticated fraud typologies on bank risk profiles.

 

Fentanyl trafficking and human trafficking remain top national security and public safety priorities not only in the southwest, but across communities nationwide. The human impact is devastating, so financial institutions play a critical role on the front lines for detecting and disrupting these criminal networks.

Drug-trafficking and other criminal organizations are continuously modifying their behaviors, making yesterday’s red flags insufficient for today’s risk environment. This session is crafted to ensure that you are up to date on FinCEN advisories as well as publicly disseminated law-enforcement trends, with real-world examples to help you strengthen flagging, investigation and reporting controls. In this session you will learn how to:

  • Identify financial indicators and typologies associated with fentanyl and human trafficking, involving cash-intensive behavior, international wire transfers, and other high-risk transaction activity as highlighted in FinCEN advisories,
  • Assess higher-risk business types, customer profiles and geographies where these crimes commonly intersect with the financial system, and understand how illicit activity may be layered into otherwise routine banking activity, and
  • Respond effectively when indicators are identified, including investigative steps, escalation, SAR decisioning and control enhancements to safeguard the financial system from exploitation.

 


While regulatory AML priorities may wax and wane with changing administrations, your AML program shouldn’t! It is essential to maintain a strong, well-reasoned AML program regardless of rhetoric shifts. You need to explain to senior management and your board of directors why scaling back could create unintended gaps, inefficiencies, and increased exposure, and that you are using your resources wisely

Now is a good time to elevate your risk-based approach and make defensible, risk-informed decisions about where to focus time, staffing and technology. That may include putting legacy controls on the chopping block if they no longer are delivering meaningful value. This session will discuss how to reduce “busy work,” improve efficiency, and  demonstrate program effectiveness and risk coverage to your board and your regulators. 

In this session you will learn how to:

  • Apply a risk-based framework to prioritize AML resources, focusing on higher-risk customers, products, and transaction types that present the greatest exposure,
  • Identify opportunities to recalibrate old controls that consume significant operational effort but provide very limited value in identifying or reporting suspicious activity,
  • Align AML program decisions with board-level expectations, translating risk-based choices into a clear, mission-focused rationale that supports operational effectiveness, efficiency and regulatory readiness, and
  • Consider how new “debanking” efforts by the regulatory agencies figure into your program and its goals.

 

Enjoy your break! Sessions resume at 2:00 pm ET.


Fraud can occur anywhere across a financial institution and through its third-party partners.  Regardless of the size of the bank or structure of the staff, the ability to timely connect the dots across all touchpoints is critical to fraud detection, investigation and prevention, consumer protection, as well as accurate SAR filings.

This session emphasizes the importance of breaking down silos, establishing clear communication channels, and synchronizing fraud and BSA controls in a proactive and thoughtful way.  Time is of the essence!  Learn from real-world examples how to ensure that relevant information timely reaches all of the right people – and what can go wrong when communication and reporting channels break down. 

In this session, you will learn how to:

  • Track fraud risk across the institution and third-party partners, identify hot spots where fraudulent activity is most likely to occur, and learn strategies to support a clear line of sight for all key personnel,
  • Enhance communication and coordination with processes and procedures that allow timely information flow from frontline staff to BSA officers for investigation, SAR filing and risk mitigation, and
  • Synchronize fraud and BSA controls with proactive measures, training and oversight to prevent financial crime, reduce operational losses, and protect consumers.

 

Crypto is here, even within institutions that think they “don’t do crypto.” Increasingly, customers are transacting with digital assets in ways that can trigger AML risk. Customers may move large sums to crypto exchanges like Coinbase, split funds across multiple wallets, or purchase stablecoins for investment or payment purposes. It’s critical to know how to appropriately risk-rate customer activity. 

The financial services industry itself is also rapidly evolving. While some institutions remain cautious observers, others are early adopters, working with payment processors and fintech partners that enable crypto-to-fiat or fiat-to-crypto transactions and supporting cross-border wires that settle via virtual currencies. These innovators (and competitors) are following the current administration’s lead by offering products and services that involve stablecoins or other digital assets. Ready or not, crypto is entering the banking ecosystem through multiple channels and partners, placing crypto risk squarely on the AML, sanctions and fraud radar. 

Compliance teams need to understand how crypto can appear across a variety of customer behaviors, through third-party platforms, or via transactions with other financial institutions, and learn how to differentiate legitimate activity from potentially suspicious activity.  At the same time, they must evolve their AML programs to address crypto-related risks, understand regulatory expectations, and integrate new technologies (such as AI) to enhance monitoring and controls (without introducing new risk). That’s a tall order!  In this session, you will learn how to:

  • Assess crypto-related AML risk, including stablecoins, on-chain activity, and cross-border exposures to identify where virtual currency activity may occur across the institution and associated third-party platforms,
  • Establish an exam-ready approach that addresses crypto risk through clear alignment with regulatory frameworks, examiner expectations, and documentation that supports defensible decisions, and 
  • Explore emerging trends in managing virtual currency risk, including how financial institutions and regulators are leveraging advanced analytics and AI for risk identification, transaction monitoring, blockchain analytics, adverse media screening, alert prioritization, and investigations.

 

Criminal networks are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, to scale fraud, evade detection, and exploit weaknesses within financial institutions. From synthetic identities and AI-assisted account opening to manipulated transaction patterns and socially engineered wire transfers, bad actors are leveraging the same technologies that banks are only beginning to learn about.

This session examines how AI is being weaponized against financial institutions, and what banks must do to recalibrate their AML, fraud and customer verification programs to detect, defend and respond. It is critical for compliance teams to understand how criminals are using AI to defeat traditional controls, and how to employ AI tools to fight AI-enabled criminal activity.

In this session we will: 

  • Examine real-world use cases where AI is enabling synthetic identity creation, CIP circumvention, behavioral masking and anomalous wire activity that may appear “normal” under legacy rules-based monitoring,
  • Discuss ways to leverage AI capabilities defensively to enhance transaction monitoring, prioritize alerts and evaluate high-risk customers and activity, while maintaining accountability, documentation and model risk discipline, and
  • Review the evolving AI landscape and emerging trends, including supervisory expectations, guidance on model risk, and the implications of federal AI strategy initiatives on the banking system.

 

We close out the day with an exciting question and answer session, where you’re able to interact directly with each of our speakers, moderated by John Burnett.

 

DAY TWO:
MARCH 11, 2026

In today’s fast-moving threat environment, industry-wide exclusions are no longer tactical, and are also outdated. In August 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans,” which addresses what the administration describes as politicized or unlawful debanking practices. Since then, federal banking regulators have begun translating that policy into action and supervisory expectations.

In this session, we will review how financial institutions should adjust their BSA, AML/CFT programs in response to the new “debanking” focus, and integrate evidence-based customer risk rating that aligns with regulatory expectations.  We’ll cover how to build defensible methodologies, document staff expertise and adjust policies to manage risk on a customer-by-customer basis.

In this session, you will learn how to:

  • Identify past practices that may have unfairly restricted access to financial services based on reputational or value-based criteria, including for industries such as oil and gas exploration, firearms manufacturing, private prisons, adult entertainment and digital asset/cryptocurrency businesses,
  • Develop practical approaches for updating policies, procedures and trainings that align with evolving supervisory expectations, including expert decision-making, clear risk criteria, and well-defined methodologies supporting reasoned judgment, and
  • Build a structured risk decision framework for making and documenting customer risk decisions that justify acceptance, rejection and mitigation decisions based on evolving supervisory expectations.

 

 

Navigating high-risk customer relationships is becoming increasingly complex as regulatory, legal and market developments continue to evolve.  What was once seen as automatically “high risk” is now more nuanced, increasing the challenge to manage these relationships with individualized attention and care.

This session dives into the practical challenges and emerging trends in managing customers in industries traditionally considered high risk, including cannabis, hemp-derived products, firearms and politically exposed persons (PEPs).  Participants will gain insight into recent regulatory and policy changes as well as best practices for monitoring transactional behavior and filing SARs while avoiding unnecessary exclusion of lawful customers.

In this session you will:

  • Take control of high-risk customer oversight and focus on individualized, elevated risk profiles, including cash-intensive businesses, cross-border activity and unusual transaction patterns;
  • Strengthen risk-based monitoring and escalation strategies with informed, documented decision-making to distinguish “normal” from “illicit” financial activity; and
  • Anticipate and adapt to evolving regulatory and emerging activity while maintaining operational agility to keep your compliance mission on target.


Too often, AML training is treated as a one-size-fits all, once-a-year exercise that may not even be tailored to the employee’s specific job requirements. These are great to cover the basics, but does it really comply with supervisory expectations, especially for evolving policy and guidance?

This session will explore how financial institutions can implement AML training programs that are dynamic, job-specific, and institutionally relevant.  We’ll also cover methods to engage remote learners effectively and track participation meaningfully.

In this session you will learn how to:

  • Tailor content to employees’ job functions, risk exposure and career progression, ensuring training is relevant, actionable and aligned with regulatory expectations;
  • Incorporate interactive elements, participation cues, and technology metrics to ensure learners are actively engaged, while maintaining verifiable records of training completion and effectiveness;
  • Leverage external education opportunities with a proactive plan for key team members to attend reputable courses and conferences throughout the year to broaden knowledge and enrich learning. Participants can later share insights internally, creating cost-effective, collaborative and rewarding learning experiences while also enhancing employee engagement, retention and overall organizational capabilities; and
  • Make AML training more efficient overall while maintaining regulatory rigor.

 

Enjoy your break! Sessions resume at 2:00 pm ET. 

 

For years, filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) has been driven by volume, with “more” reports deemed somehow to be “better.” That approach is shifting.  On October 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) joined with other prudential regulators and published new Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Suspicious Activity Reporting Requirements (FAQs) with a goal of making SAR reporting more efficient to write and more useful for law enforcement.

In this session, we will review the four FAQs and provide practical guidance to help compliance professionals understand the important clarifications on expectations for suspicious activity identification, investigation, documentation and reporting.  We will also address how to align monitoring to ensure that efficiency gains do not introduce blind spots, undocumented deviations from policy, or control failures that could surface in exams, audits or enforcement actions.

In this session, you will learn how to:  

  • Review and interpret key updates in the SAR FAQs, including when to file a SAR if structuring is suspected, how to handle continuing activity reviews and timelines, and the documentation needed to support a decision not to file a SAR;
  • Understand the shifting priorities FinCEN is signaling and how to execute on them to ensure consistent decision-making that aligns with regulatory intent in day-to-day investigative activities; and
  • Monitor alert management and quality assurance frameworks, including testing to confirm standardized execution and defensible reviews.

 

Global sanctions priorities are evolving faster than ever before, with several multi-million-dollar penalties and settlements arising out of enforcement actions this past year.  OFAC is expanding its focus beyond names on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List to include types of transactions, foreign banks and emerging hotspots.

In this session, we will examine the key themes from recent sanctions activity and explore how compliance professionals can apply these lessons to strengthen sanctions compliance programs, update procedures and manage emerging risks effectively. We’ll also address the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape in Venezuela and other hot spots that are reshaping sanctions risk in real time.

In this session you will learn how to:

  • Decode real-world examples from global sanctions enforcement actions, highlighting recent themes that emphasize gatekeeper obligations, obscured cross-jurisdictional and concealed transactions, and supply-chain exposures,
  • Apply practical due diligence and compliance procedures, including how to request and review information from senders and receivers, even for smaller institutions with limited direct international exposure,
  • Assess developments in Venezuela and other geopolitical flashpoints and discuss actionable sanctions program updates and enhancements, and
  • Address new special measures, such as those under Section 2313a of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act restricting certain Mexican banks.

 

 

Buckle up for a lightning round session tackling today’s hottest BSA, AML/CFT, and OFAC questions and topics! Expect rapid-fire discussion and multiple perspectives from all of the Day Two panelists.  Watch as the experts challenge each other with nuanced insights, practical solutions, and actionable takeaways that inspire you to bring back to your team and apply immediately.

Then get ready to wrap up this year’s Top Gun conference in the live panel Q&A following this session! 

 

We close out the day with an exciting question and answer session, where you’re able to interact directly with each of our speakers, moderated by John Burnett.

 

2026 SPEAKING FACULTY

Brian Crow
CAMS

Managing Partner & Co-President | Thomas Compliance Associates, INC

Sepideh Rowland


Partner | Klaros Group

Dawn Kincaid


Compliance Consultant | Brode Consulting Services, Inc.

Victor Cardona


Senior Vice President, Head of Anti-Money Laundering | Golden State Bank

Carl Pry
CRCM, CRP, JD

Senior Advisor | Asurity Advisors

John Burnett


Senior Contributing Editor | BankersOnline

REGISTRATION RATES

Actionable Insights | Nationally Recognized Speakers | Zero Travel Required

*All paid registrations include on-demand access to all conference content for 90 days. 

SINGLE TICKET PRICE

2026's event is priced so you can bring your entire team and maximize its impact.
Additional Attendees only $150 each!

$ 1495.00

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