Susan Hernandez
Colorado Springs
Summary
CAMS-Certified Financial Crimes Investigator with 13 years of banking experience, specializing in the end-to-end BSA/AML lifecycle. Expert in navigating complex investigations and driving technical success through the implementation of Verafin and Digital Insight. Proven ability to bridge the gap between compliance and technology by leading UAT (User Acceptance Testing) and tuning alert thresholds to optimize detection and ensure regulatory alignment.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Financial Crimes Investigator
San Francisco Fire Credit Union
San Francisco, CA
- Current
- Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE): Serve as the primary investigator for EFE cases, managing end-to-end case lifecycles and liaising with Adult Protective Services (APS) and law enforcement.
- International & Sanctions Monitoring: Review International ACH Transactions (IATs) daily for potential sanctions and OFAC matches.
- Specialized Fraud Investigation: Conduct in-depth investigations into check kiting, account fraud, synthetic identity theft, and loan fraud.
- Digital Payment Oversight: Analyze Zelle fraud alerts and review high-risk wire transfers to mitigate financial loss and ensure regulatory alignment.
- Regulatory Reporting & 314(a): Review/clear Section 314(a) and OFAC alerts and submit timely SARs and CTRs, maintaining strict adherence to federal requirements.
- Operational Excellence: Conduct annual process reviews to update procedures and optimize Verafin workflows, reducing case resolution times.
- External Collaboration: Facilitate 314(b) information sharing and partner with law enforcement to collect evidence for successful prosecution.
AML Customer Risk Specialist
PNC Bank (formerly FirstBank)
Lakewood, CO
09.2022 - 10.2023
- Executed end-to-end processing for CTRs and SARs across multiple branches, ensuring federal compliance while mitigating fraud risks through AML investigations.
- Documented all CTR/SAR exclusions to maintain audit readiness and robust compliance records.
- Reviewed potential sanctions matches with expertise in CAMS certification practices, accurately dispositioning false positives and escalating confirmed risks.
- Managed Know Your Customer (KYC) processes through ongoing Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reviews for high-risk customer segments, resulting in timely risk assessments and reduced onboarding delays.
BSA/AML/OFAC Compliance Administrator
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
El Paso, TX
03.2018 - 09.2022
- Prepared, reviewed, and submitted CTRs and SARs for 10 branches within regulatory timeframes, ensuring strict adherence to Bank Secrecy Act guidelines.
- Documented all exclusions related to CTR/SAR items to maintain complete and accurate compliance records.
- Presented weekly analysis of investigation results to the SAR committee, supporting team decision-making on evolving fraud trends.
- Achieved a 100% compliance rate in meeting filing timeframes over a 4-year period.
- Collaborated with a team to test and implement new AML software, Verafin, enhancing investigation efficiency.
- Optimized workflow procedures through an annual review, updating daily processes to align with best practices and enforce BSA compliance.
- Investigated high volumes of automated transaction monitoring alerts daily in Verafin, determining appropriate courses of action for potential fraudulent activities.
- Communicated effectively with financial institutions, internal partners, and customers to address inquiries and support compliance efforts.
Senior Member Advisor
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
El Paso, TX
02.2016 - 03.2018
- Served as liaison between members and the Credit Union in a high-volume inbound call center, using the CRM system to handle financial inquiries and achieved high member satisfaction scores.
- Resolved member issues by analyzing transaction history and recommending appropriate products and services, which increased member satisfaction and cross-sell opportunities.
- Assisted in fraud prevention initiatives by reviewing Remote Deposits, Wires, and Procedures, contributing to the safeguarding of member assets.
- Collaborated with subject-matter experts and the compliance department to investigate potential fraudulent activity under OFAC and AML regulations, updating procedures that reduced false-positive alerts.
- Trained 20 new employees on transaction analysis, AML investigations, and compliance protocols, and supported colleagues in resolving escalated service and compliance issues, leading to faster issue resolution times.
Teller II
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
El Paso, TX
02.2013 - 02.2016
- Executed transactional duties with high accuracy, serving members by receiving and paying out funds.
- Identified and reported suspicious activities, contributing to early detection of potential fraud.
- Assisted colleagues with accurately filing SAR/MIL reports to ensure timely regulatory compliance.
- Enhanced member relations by recommending relevant financial products and services based on identified needs.
Education
Nursing
University of Texas
05.2004
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH12-2027
Skills
- Investigation & Compliance: BSA Compliance, Fraud Prevention, AML Regulations, AML Investigations, OFAC Regulations, Financial Compliance Knowledge, Fraud Detection, CAMS Certification
- Analytical & Operational Skills: Transaction Analysis, Advanced Attention To Detail, Demonstrated Decision-Making, Strong Time Management, Research Skills, Technologically Proficient, Team Support
- Detailed report writing
- Due diligence
- Money laundering investigations
- Case management
Certification
Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
Timeline
AML Customer Risk Specialist
PNC Bank (formerly FirstBank)
09.2022 - 10.2023
BSA/AML/OFAC Compliance Administrator
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
03.2018 - 09.2022
Senior Member Advisor
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
02.2016 - 03.2018
Teller II
Firstlight Federal Credit Union
02.2013 - 02.2016
Financial Crimes Investigator
San Francisco Fire Credit Union
- Current
Nursing
University of Texas
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University