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Partners and associates

Blaser_Melissa Rockford

4949 Harrison Ave., Suite 300
Rockford, IL 61108

Tel:

815.484.5652


Email: mblaser@wipfli.com

Melissa D. Blaser, CPA, CRCM, CAMS, CFSA, CFIRS

Partner

Melissa Blaser leads the regulatory compliance and Bank Secrecy Act practice for the firm. She assists financial institutions in navigating the complex requirements included within consumer federal bank regulations. Melissa has 25 years of experience in regulatory compliance, internal audit, and public accounting for the financial services industry within a Bank environment and within a public accounting/consulting firm.

Certifications

  • Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist
  • Certified Financial Services Auditor 
  • Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist
  • Certified Public Accountant

Professional memberships and activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) - Member
  • Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) - Member
  • Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) - Member
  • Institute of Certified Bankers (ICB) - Member
  • Trainer for financial institution and industry groups including the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Illinois Bankers Association (IBA), Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), Bankers Administration Institute (BAI) and Accounting CPE Network (ACPEN)
  • Leader of regular meetings and coordinator of annual workshops for compliance professionals' associations

Areas of Focus

  • New regulations and other regulatory matters implementation consulting
  • Risk-based compliance monitoring and audit plans development and implementation
  • Risk assessments
  • Co-source engagements coaching
  • Fair lending comparative file analysis and assessments
  • BSA investigations and look-backs
  • Community Reinvestment Act performance assessment and consulting
  • HMDA reviews and refilings
  • Audits and monitoring engagements covering all consumer federal regulations
  • Regulatory compliance consent order assistance and consulting

Education

Rockford College
  • Bachelor of science degree in accountancy