Santo Domingo, Abril 22, 2019 – La Unidad de Análisis Financiero (UAF) y la Asociación Internacional de Banqueros de la Florida (FIBA por sus siglas en inglés) suscribieron un acuerdo de colaboración con el objetivo de ofrecer capacitaciones, incluyendo la Certificación Contra el Lavado de Dinero (AMLCA, por su sigla en inglés) dirigido a los funcionarios responsables de las actividades y profesiones no financieras designadas (APNFDs) en La República Dominicana, así como otras actividades de capacitación y eventos para fortalecer el sistema de prevención del lavado de activos y financiamiento del terrorismo en el país.

El convenio fue suscrito por Wendy Lora Pérez, MA, Directora General de la UAF y David Schwartz, presidente y CEO de FIBA.

Wendy Lora Pérez indicó que la UAF se encuentra comprometida para que los sectores involucrados cuenten con el expertise sobre los temas de lavado de activos y así garantizar un efectivo combate hacia el mismo y una efectiva investigación financiera; ya que las organizaciones criminales son cada vez más sofisticadas y ágiles.

Mientras, David Schwartz, CEO y presidente de FIBA comentó que las empresas tienen una responsabilidad importante en la prevención del lavado de dinero. El despliegue de sistemas y controles efectivos, bien como una fuerte inversión en tecnología y capacitación son la única forma de garantizar una economía transparente y próspera.

Los Programas a desarrollar buscan presentar un conocimiento mínimo, homogéneo y estandarizado dirigido a Oficiales de Cumplimiento, Operadores, y demás personal de los sectores Financiero, Mercado de Valores, y el Sector Real, lo cual asegura que las personas que ostenten la Certificación Contra el Lavado de Dinero (en las APNFDs), tengan los conocimientos para entender y administrar los riesgos del lavado de activos y el financiamiento del terrorismo, o para desempeñar un tipo de cargo específico en este ámbito.

Los cursos de capacitación y la Certificación Contra el Lavado de Dinero, tendran un componente virtual con materiales especializados y una capacitación presencial de 16 horas académicas; y contará con el aval de la FIBA, la Universidad Internacional de la Florida (FIU) y la UAF.

SOBRE LA UAF
Coordinador nacional del sistema contra el lavado de activos, financiamiento del terrorismo y proliferación de armas de destrucción masiva, que recopila, analiza, procesa y proporciona información al Ministerio Público y autoridades competentes para proteger la integridad de la República Dominicana.

SOBRE LA FIBA
Fundada en 1979, la Florida International Bankers Association (Asociación de Banqueros Internacionales de la Florida) es una asociación sin fines de lucro que ofrece un completo apoyo a la industria global de servicios financieros, a través de formación, conferencias y la defensa de sus intereses. Entre sus miembros, se encuentran algunas de las mayores firmas financieras y de las más influyentes organizaciones del mundo. FIBA es reconocida por la industria de servicios financieros, reguladores y autoridades como un centro de excelencia por sus conocimientos y experiencia.

Created in partnership with the Florida International University (FIU) in 2007, the FIBA AMLCA has certified over 5,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries. This includes over 500 regulators in Latin America, the Caribbean and the U.S.

“The AMLCA is a certification standard like no other in the financial services and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) sectors. It provides a functional and practical approach to designing and implementing a financial crimes prevention program from a Risk-based approach, considering multiple industries, international standards, and U.S. regulatory aspects that have a direct impact on countries in Latin America,” stated Ana Maria de Alba, Consultant and Lead AMLCA Instructor.

The new AML certification guides professionals in understanding the crucial components and recent changes that continuously reshape the compliance landscape. Taught by a team of experienced AML professionals from the public and private sectors, the credentials are customized to serve the training needs of regulators such as the Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama and the Superintendencia de Mercado de Valores (SMV), also in Panama.

In addition, FIBA has created several new partnerships with entities outside of banking such as CAPMEC (Cámara Panameña de Mercado de Capitales) to offer professional education on a consistent basis. They have shared their AML expertise and expanded their offerings to new sectors most impacted by financial crime—in the areas of Securities Industry, Casinos, the Stock Market and DNFBP.

“The AMLCA was specifically designed for compliance, auditing and risk control professionals,” said Julio Aguirre, Consultant and AMLCA Instructor. “This certification endorses AML professionals’ expertise on this matter.”

“Criminal organizations are becoming more sophisticated and agile, so it’s imperative that AML professionals sharpen their skills on a regular basis,” said Sofia Villalobos, FIBA Institute Director of Executive Education. “The great news about this revamped certification is that it focuses only on the U.S. regulatory considerations that directly impact foreign banks—for an intentional approach and tailored, regional training.”

Creada en colaboración con la Florida International University (FIU) en 2007, el FIBA AMLCA ha certificado a más de 5,000 profesionales de la industria de más de 70 países. Esto incluye más de 500 reguladores en América Latina, el Caribe y los EE. UU.

“La AMLCA es un estándar de certificación sin igual en los sectores de servicios financieros y de Negocios y Profesiones no Financieras Designadas (DNFBPs, por su sigla en inglés)". Proporciona un enfoque funcional y práctico para diseñar e implementar un programa de prevención de delitos financieros desde una perspectiva basada en el riesgo, considerando múltiples industrias, estándares internacionales y aspectos regulatorios de EE. UU. que tienen un impacto directo en los países de América Latina", declaró Ana Maria de Alba, Consultora e Instructora Principal de AMLCA.

La nueva certificación AML ayuda a los profesionales a comprender los componentes cruciales y los cambios recientes que remodelan continuamente el panorama de cumplimiento. Impartidas por un equipo de experimentados profesionales de AML de los sectores público y privado, las credenciales están customizadas para satisfacer las necesidades de capacitación de reguladores como la Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá y la Superintendencia de Mercado de Valores (SMV), también en Panamá.

FIBA también ha creado varias asociaciones nuevas con entidades como CAPMEC (Cámara Panameña de Mercado de Capitales) para ofrecer educación profesional de manera constante. También ha compartido su experiencia en AML y ampliado su oferta de cursos a los nuevos sectores más afectados por los delitos financieros, como Industria de Valores, Casinos, el Mercado de Valores y el DNFBP.

"La AMLCA fue diseñada específicamente para profesionales de control de cumplimiento, auditoría y riesgo", dijo Julio Aguirre, Consultor e Instructor de AMLCA. "Esta certificación respalda la experiencia de los profesionales de AML en este asunto".

"Las organizaciones criminales son cada vez más sofisticadas y ágiles, por lo que es fundamental que los profesionales de AML mejoren sus habilidades constantemente", dijo Sofía Villalobos, Directora de Educación Ejecutiva del Instituto FIBA. "La gran ventaja de esta certificación renovada es que se enfoca sólo en las consideraciones regulatorias de los EE. UU. que afectan directamente a los bancos extranjeros, el cual permite un enfoque intencional y una capacitación regional customizada".

A raíz de esta creciente demanda, la Asociación de Bancos Comerciales de la República Dominicana (ABA) se asoció con la Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) y la Florida International University (FIU) para ofrecer la primera capacitación AML enfocada específicamente a las necesidades de los casinos y de la industria del juego.

“Esta certificación internacional forma parte de los esfuerzos de la ABA para contribuir con la formación de los recursos humanos del país en la prevención del lavado de activos”, expresó la entidad que reúne a múltiples bancos del país.

La Certificación AMLCA para Casinos de FIBA & FIU, a la que asistieron aproximadamente 30 ejecutivos, fue impartida por Julio Aguirre; instructor del Instituto FIBA y consultor internacional especializado en AML. El programa fue diseñado específicamente para las necesidades de los profesionales de los casinos y de la industria del juego, ayudando a los participantes a comprender mejor los nuevos requisitos para la prevención del lavado de dinero.

Como parte del programa, los participantes conocieron más a fondo los mecanismos de prevención y control, señales de alerta y reporte de operación sospechosa, modelos de informes, entre otros temas.

“Esto con el objetivo de facilitar las técnicas razonables por las que deben pasar los Sistemas Integrales de Prevención de Lavado de Dinero para adecuarse al estándar internacional del Enfoque Basado en Riesgo”, agregó la ABA.

In response to this growing demand, the Asociación de Bancos Comerciales de la República Dominicana (ABA) teamed up with the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) and Florida International University (FIU) to deliver the country’s first AML training focused specifically on casinos and the needs of the gaming industry.

“This international certification is part of the Association's efforts to contribute to the development of the country's human resources as it relates to money laundering,” said the ABA.

FIBA & FIU’s Anti-Money Laundering Certified Associate (AMLCA) Certification for Casinos, which was attended by approximately 30 executives, was taught by Julio Aguirre, a FIBA Institute instructor and international consultant specialized in AML. The program was specifically designed to suit the needs of casino and gaming sector professionals, helping participants to better understand the new requirements for money laundering prevention.

As part of the program, the participants learned about prevention and control strategies, typical warning signs and how to detect and report suspicious activities, among other topics.

“This program shared the best practices of Integrated Money Laundering Prevention Systems to bring local professionals up to speed with the international standards of the Risk-Based Approach," added the ABA.

Miami, Florida – April 26, 2017 – After over ten years of offering the Anti-Money Laundering Certified Associate (AMLCA) certification, FIBA – The Florida International Bankers Association, is providing professionals in the casino services sector a tailored program that identifies important requirements to lawfully operate within the gaming industry.

Each participant will be presented with the latest criteria in prevention and controls to successfully audit and supervise a team of individuals working in this sector. The certification will be offered from FIBA, for the first time, on June 6 & 7, 2017 at the LAFT America Risk Management Conference taking place in Bogotá, Colombia.

FIBA’s CEO, David Schwartz, J.D., had received many requests from Latin American businesses outside of banking to develop programs in other industries. “As laws have changed in Latin America, FIBA is responding to several private and non-financial sectors that require employees to be certified in compliance – such as the gaming industry,” he said.  

The two-day program will be taught in Spanish by the course developer, Julio Aguirre, AMLCA, CPAML. Mr. Aguirre has over 27 years of banking experience in Latin America’s private and public sectors. He has specialized in dealing with risk management and banking matters, and his knowledge in AML allows him to manage the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, worldwide. 

The course was created with the highest standards to cover general anti-money laundering protocols but also includes a wealth of information on associated risks, preventative internal systems, industry alerts, evaluations, and real case studies that directly impact the way casinos are to be managed. Upon completion, each learner will be able to detect risks and build their own evaluation and control systems to prevent money laundering activity.

FIBA offers high-quality and up-to-date compliance programs in many areas. By working closely with diverse sectors, FIBA evaluates and detects the training needs for specific industries. The field experts respond by creating current course developments to provide compliance solutions. Please stay connected to find out more about continuing education programs that are currently being developed.

For more information about FIBA’s certifications and other professional development programs, please visit http://www.fiba.net or contact Sofia Villalobos, FIBA’s Institute Director via email at svillalobos@fiba.net or by phone at (305) 539-3746. 

FIBA and Florida International University (FIU) partnered and have successfully certified thousands of specialists in both domestic and international markets. The AMLCA was developed to be taught in an online or in-person format in English and in Spanish. But now, to prioritize on each participant’s interactive learning experience – the online certification has been updated with activities and tools to stay engaged.

On May 18, 2017 FIBA and FIU Online will showcase the renewed look and feel of the online AMLCA course. This modern design was created with the learner as the focal point by offering features to encourage interactivity. The course was intentionally organized so that students actively progress with a new template that features user-friendly navigation. To maintain engagement, participants practice what they’ve learned with built-in quizzes and discussion forums after being presented with the content in each module.

In addition to the change in layout, a more personalized approach was added to promote collaboration between students and their instructors. Learners are welcomed to their online experience with a video message from FIBA’s CEO, David Schwartz, J.D., and as they advance through the course, instructors deliver personalized content with video presentations in each section.

Instructor Ana Maria de Alba, AMLCA, CPAML, has taught the online certification for several years. “The new format offers excellent tools to keep learners engaged and focused, as it does not allow for wandering around and multitasking while listening to the lessons. It is designed in a visually appealing format that is interactive and fully relevant with in-depth best practices and guidance,” she said. 

Aside from updated content, the design revamp includes modern icons, templates and ways for students to stay up-to-date with a calendar of due dates and special assignments. The 90-day course is structured so that each participant learns at his or her own pace and completes the exam once ready.

For more information about FIBA’s certifications and other professional development programs, please visit http://www.fiba.net or contact Sofia Villalobos, FIBA’s Institute Director via email at svillalobos@fiba.net or by phone at (305) 539-3746. 

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016                       BEST OF MIAMI                      MIAMI TODAY 29

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR

A scan of job openings in Miami's banking industry shows that every post — ranging from junior financial analyst for an international client to senior regulatory compliance officer —requires "good communication skills, accuracy and efficiency, cooperative personality and a quick learner."

John Harriman has all those qualities and more, which makes him someone "who commands respect," said Bernie Navarro, president of Benworth Capital Partners, who nominated Mr. Harriman as a banking leader in Miami most respected by his peers.

"As the chief operating of­ficer for the Florida Interna­tional Bankers Association (FIBA), John has financial over­sight of an organization that's the true voice and champion of international banking," said Mr. Navarro. "FIBA is the watch­dog for the industry and pro­tects it."

Such an important position requires the trust of member banks, Mr. Navarro said. "John commands respect, which is what makes him so effective in this role, spearheading the day-to-day fiscal management and ensuring FIBA's continued fi­nancial viability," he said. "He's a natural leader."

On its staff as COO for 11/2 years, Mr. Navarro said "John has been a part of FIBA since its inception [in 1979, including serving as its chair] and has played a vital role in its evolu­tion on a local, national and international scale."

Mr. Harriman began his inter­national banking career with Bankers Trust in New York. He spent six years in the bank's Brazil office as senior represen­tative before returning to New York to become area head for Brazil and the Southern Cone.

Among other positions in his 45-year career, Mr. Harriman headed the international divi­sion for Pan American Bank for five years before becoming president of Schroders Edge Act subsidiary, where he was responsible for wealth manage­ment business for Latin America. Over 30 years ago, Mr. Harriman came to Miami as vice president and general manager of Bankers Trust.

He said he's enjoyed seeing the growth of the international banking industry for 38 years. "Today, however, the industry is facing many challenges in the regulatory environment, and FIBA serves as an important collective voice among local, national and international regu­lators, policymakers and stakeholders to address the impor­tant issues facing international banking."

To that end, Mr. Harriman said, FIBA holds four to five conferences a year with indus­try leaders, including a major one on anti-money laundering attended by some 1,400 people from around the globe. Other conferences are on foreign trade, wealth management, bank security and technology.

Additionally, Mr. Harriman said, the non-profit trade asso­ciation offers online and in-per­son training for international bankers on topics including compliance, international trade, correspondent banking and wealth management, and part­ners with FIU in its certification programs.

FIBA members can join a number of committees that Mr. Harriman said are quite active, including Anti Money Launder­ing, Legal & Regulatory Af­fairs, Women's Leadership, Trade Finance, Wealth Management, Asian Markets, Treasury & Liquidity Management, Corn­munity Relations, Innovation, Operations & Technology and Education & Training.

When he thinks of the quali­ties a banker needs to be suc­cessful, Mr. Harriman said —apart from the essential techni­cal skills — a good banker must be ethical, experienced and have common sense.

According to Ernie Diaz, re­gional president for TD Bank in Florida, banking leaders are well informed and work as hard —even harder — than their em­ployees. "You might be having a bad day but, if you're a leader, you don't let on," Mr. Diaz said. "The best leaders don't even think about it."

Gene Schaefer, president of Bank of America for the Miami market, has those traits, he said. "Gene is comfortable with him­self and inspires his workers," Mr. Diaz said, when he nomi­nated Mr. Schaefer as a bank­ing leader most respected by his peers. "He creates a culture of team work."

Mr. Schaefer is doing an ex­cellent job at the Bank of America, Mr. Diaz said, and is also active in the community, including his role as incoming chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and board member for Enterprise Florida, the United Way of Mi­ami-Dade and the American Red Cross.

"He's always willing to help —just a great human being," Mr. Diaz said. "He's at the top of the mountain [as a banker] and didn't get there by accident. You have to work at it to be in a position like Gene's."

A leader in the banking indus-try has to be willing to listen, Mr. Diaz said. "So many things go on with a large staff and a leader has to be uniform. Those who are successful don't have variability in their mood."

Mr. Schaefer, who also co-heads the southeast region for global commercial banking for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said he was always interested in finance and investing, even as he worked his way through the University of Miami in the retail sector. "When banks recruited on campus, it piqued my interest," he said. "It really com¬bines finance, problem-solving and client service all in one."

Over his 25-plus-year career in financial services, Mr. Schaefer said he's seen first¬hand the role that the financial sector plays in creating a sus¬tainable, long-run thriving economy. "Plus, I enjoy work-ing with people, understanding the needs of our clients and helping to make their financial lives better."

Mr. Schaefer said he also enjoys being involved in the community. "As the Miami president, I get the opportunity to learn about our community's needs, the work of our non¬profit sector decked against those needs and opportunities for collaboration where we aim to achieve," he said. "Ulti-mately, I see myself, Bank of America and all my teammates as stakeholders in the success of our community.

Miami is at a critical point in its evolution, Mr. Schaefer said, and "there is no place more exciting in terms of potential for growth." An educated workforce is at the core of a sustainable, economically vibrant community, he said, so his hope is "that we will con-tinue to make strides in developing talent to meet the current and future needs of our business community, across sectors."

Mr. Schaefer said he hopes we will continue to "be nimble in supporting emerging industries and continue to improve our infrastructure, thereby remaining an attractive choice for business."

Also cited were Luis de la Aguilera, CEO of US Century Bank, for growing former employer TotalBank into a "local powerhouse over a 15-year time period," and in his first six months at US Century is "al-ready turning around this bank that historically has had growing pains;" Frank Robleta, CEO, president and director of BAC Florida Bank, for "successfully turning the bank around after going through a difficult period, who is also innovative in finding ways to attract new sources of business and, therefore, expanding the relevance of this Miami-based bank;" and Jorge Salas, CEO and president of Banesco USA, who is a "relative newcomer to South Florida but has quickly adapted himself to the local regulatory and business environment, and has helped increase the profitability and visibility of Banesco USA."

By: Mark Sell |August 26, 2015

77 students graduate from 2015 Future Bankers’ CampA record 77 students — most of them incoming seniors in Miami-Dade public schools from low- and middle-income families — have graduated from this year’s Future Bankers’ Camp.

The innovative four-week camp, which ended June 26 and is now in its eighth year, provides hands-on experience for future students interested in financial services industry careers. The camp gives students opportunities to enhance math, communication and financial literacy skills, while completing a bank internship and receiving industry certification.

The camp is hosted by Miami Dade College and the Center for Financial Training and sponsored by CareerSource South Florida, CNC-Nurturing Hispanic Communities and local institutions. This year, a record 24 institutions participated, up from 15 last year.

Participants include: Ocean Bank, which took in 26 interns this year and provided the original seed money for the program; Banco de Credito e Inversiones (BCI); BankUnited; Banesco; BBVA Compass Bank; City National Bank; Coconut Grove Bank; Community Bank of Florida; Continental National Bank; Espirito Santo Bank; First Bank of Florida; Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA); JetStream Federal Credit Union; Mercantil Commercebank; Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC (MBAF); Pacific National Bank; Popular Community Bank; Professional Bank; Regions; Santander; South Florida Banking Institute (SFBI); Sunstate Bank; TD Bank, and U.S. Century Bank.

“The students keep getting better and better,” said Cheryl Rees, Ocean Bank senior vice president and CFT board member. “We are challenging each of our partners to match Ocean Bank and step up. This internship give students crucial ‘hands-on’ experience, builds teamwork and communication skills valuable in any career, promotes financial literacy, and changes lives.”

For the first time, this year’s class included 16 college students, some of them alumni of previous Bankers’ Camps, and added two Customer Service tracks, offering dual enrollment for the high schoolers and a three-credit class for MDC students, in addition to the program’s bedrock Teller Track.

CFT executive director Connie Laguna expects the program to continue its dramatic growth.

“This year’s class has shined, and we plan to build on this year’s momentum,” Laguna said. “We are confident that institutions will ramp up their participation.”

Juan del Busto, who worked his way up from the mailroom to head of the Miami office of the Federal Reserve, wants to take the idea farther.

“We need to replicate this in the rest of the country because it works,” said del Busto, a member of the boards of both the CFT and Ocean Bank.

Tomara Graham of CareerSource South Florida told the class, “You have been given a great opportunity. Don’t take it for granted. Allow this opportunity to become a stepping-stone.”

The students are enrolled in Miami-Dade College and nine Miami-Dade Public Schools Academy of Finance programs at Barbara Goleman Senior High School, Coral Gables Senior High School, Coral Reef Senior High School, Hialeah Gardens Senior High School, Mater Academy East Charter Senior High School, Miami Edison Senior High School, Miami Jackson Senior High School, North Miami Beach Senior High School, and William H. Turner Technical Arts High School.

The Miami-Dade Public Schools Academy of Finance program is a member of the National Academy Foundation, a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Fifteen Miami-Dade high schools have Academy of Finance career academies.

The Center For Financial Training provides financial services education, training and technology to financial services professionals throughout the United States and around the world. CFT is a national organization and the largest industry-sponsored adult education program in the world. CFT training and education programs provide job specific skills and knowledge to the financial services industry.

CFT is the educational arm of the American Bankers Association and courses are part of a national continuing education curriculum. Completion of prescribed programs can lead to industry-recognized AIB diplomas and certificates, assist in professional licensing requirements and meet college credit and degree requirements. For more information, visit www.sfcft.org.

Read More http://communitynewspapers.com/coralgables/77-students-graduate-from-2015-future-bankers-camp/ 

Miami-based FIBA took a step into the tech world Wednesday, unveiling its Institute for Financial Education: A Global Center of Excellence. 

About 50 people attended the unveiling’s event at the FIBA (Florida International Bankers Association) offices in Brickell, including Barry Johnson, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Larry Williams, president and CEO of the Beacon Council. Others checked in virtually via live streaming.

The international bankers association will use the 60-seat tele-education center to host webinars, training sessions, certifications and more around the globe, all from the comfort of its Miami offices.

Washington, D.C.-headquartered Casaplex installed the state-of-the-art live-streaming video and audio system at FIBA’s center over six-months. The system allows users to conference in to the center in real time, and participate in FIBA’s educational offerings, said Derek Goldstein, CEO and co-founder of Casaplex.

A contingent of FIBA-certified bankers in the Dominican Republic attended the live-stream event virtually, including FIBA’s lead instructor for anti-money laundering compliance certification, Ana Maria De Alba.

“With this new [live-stream] option, FIBA can have the same trainings in Miami reach all the places in the world,” De Alba said.

FIBA was founded to bring together and educate bankers domestically about international banking, and bankers in the Caribbean and South American countries about banking in the U.S.. But the association has blown past those borders and developed into a global organization with outreach and educational efforts in other parts of the world.

The institute’s inaugural session will be hosted Thursday, and that event sold out within hours to FIBA members, said David Schwartz, president and CEO of the organization.

“Our goal, our mission, is to bring financial education to the world,” Schwartz said.

The event was capped at 60 participants in the Miami office, who will learn about the Internal Revenue Service’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The training will also stream globally to select locations, and FIBA is already planning a second training on FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.)

“There is a lot of demand for training,” Schwartz said. “At the end of the day everyone wants to do business here. To do that you have to comply with the rules and regulations here. We can bring that training to them.”

See article at http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2015/06/24/fiba-unveils-banking-tele-education-to-expand.html