Stella M. Mendes, CAMS

Stella M. Mendes, CAMS, leads FTI Consulting’s Global Financial Services practice, focusing on financial institutions, bank governance and regulations. Ms. Mendes has more than 25 years of diverse banking industry experience.

Ms. Mendes leads anti-money laundering (“AML”) and Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) reviews for banks, money service businesses, credit unions and other financial service providers. She has established and enhanced BSA, AML and Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) policies, procedures and processes to ensure compliance with regulations. She has also led multiple compliance “look-back” reviews. She consults with clients on BSA and AML best practices and performs reviews and enhancements of BSA/AML/OFAC Risk Assessments and conducts AML investigations as part of governmental investigations. Ms. Mendes provides advisory services on regulatory responses, AML training to banks and other financial services firms and gives webinars on regulatory compliance best practices. She also assists clients with other regulatory compliance matters. Recently, Ms. Mendes was appointed as an independent, on-premises administrator to oversee the general management of the affairs, funds and books and records of Municipal Credit Union.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Mendes served as President and Chief Operating Officer for First National Bank of NY (“FNBNY”). Additionally, Ms. Mendes served as the Compliance & Bank Secrecy Officer for the Bank, interfacing with regulatory agencies and coordinating all communications and the regulatory exam process. In her role as the bank’s Senior Compliance Officer, she was responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive compliance, risk assessment and training programs for staff and the Board of Directors. In addition, Ms. Mendes was responsible for overseeing all compliance issues, including money laundering, terrorist financing activity and violations of the BSA (including structuring transactions to evade reporting). In addition, she conducted AML, BSA and OFAC compliance reviews and mock exams in preparing for regulatory examinations. She also managed client relationships and branch offices.

Ms. Mendes also has extensive bank operations experience. She established, reviewed and implemented various policies, procedures, internal controls and work programs as well as designed and documented process workflows. In addition, in her previous capacity as a senior manager at a commercial bank, Ms. Mendes was responsible for the audit function, reviewed audit/exam findings and designed programs to ensure necessary corrective actions were implemented. She has been a core integration team member for three bank mergers, where she conducted due diligence for the compliance program, material contracts and customer base and sales.

Ms. Mendes earned her B.S. from Hofstra University. She is CAMS-certified, fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and active in numerous professional organizations, including Hofstra Women in Leadership, New York Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association and The Cancer Center for Kids. She is also a Board Member at the Education and Assistance Corporation.

Awards & Recognition:

• Notable Women in Accounting & Consulting, Crain’s (2019)
• Women Leaders in Consulting – Leadership, Consulting Magazine (2021)
• Top 25 Financial Services Leaders in Consulting, The Consulting Report (2022, 2025)