Malessa Arias-Babineaux

During her career, Malessa has gained experience in building and maintaining effective BSA/AML compliance programs at several companies in the Money Services Business (MSB) industry. She began her career as a Compliance Analyst specializing in transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting at Bancomer Transfer Services.  Subsequently, Malessa headed up compliance programs at several MSBs including TransNetwork Corporation, Noventis, Inc. (f/k/a PreCash), and FTGlobalPay LLC (a Sigue Corporation affiliate).

In addition to BSA/AML, her expertise includes developing and implementing programs for OFAC, consumer privacy (GLBA), CFPB remittance transfer rule (Reg E), consumer fraud, anti-bribery (FCPA), elder abuse, sanctions screening including PEPs, and transaction monitoring and reporting. She also has extensive knowledge in building agent oversight and foreign correspondent programs, training programs, customer due diligence processes, risk assessments and writing regulatory policies and procedures. She has also created, established, and managed MSB compliance programs in Latin America.

In her current role with Ankura, Malessa uses her expertise to assist a variety of fintech clients such as MSBs, payment processors, virtual currency firms, gaming companies, BaaS platforms, and other financial services firms with the creation, implementation, and maintenance of their regulatory compliance program including policies, procedures, processes, systems, and controls.

Malessa has a BBA in Business Management from the University of Houston and has been CAMS certified since 2007.