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Winning today’s payments race means a deeper risk conversation.
When money moves in seconds, there are no second chances. Financial institutions must deliver seamless payment experiences while managing evolving risks. We help organizations build the capabilities to do both.
Payments no longer just move money. They influence trust at every transaction.
As the payments industry accelerates and proliferates, financial institutions must balance innovation with resilience, regulatory readiness and real-time trust.
When a global fintech responsible for tens of billions of transactions needed to resolve critical regulatory commitments, FTI Consulting was appointed to provide an independent assessment — and ended up transforming the compliance function.
Transforming the path to purchase in the age of AI
How do you create the frictionless customer experience AI enables — and consumers expect — while preventing increasingly sophisticated fraud?
Financial ServicesOthers navigate.
Learn MoreOthers navigate.
We act.
See why we’re the first call when financial institutions need to tackle high-stakes risk, performance issues, restructuring challenges and growth opportunities.
Payments, digital assets and the expanding regulatory agenda
From BNPL to digital assets and stablecoins, new technologies are creating new opportunities — and new obligations. As regulators sharpen their focus on consumer protection, financial crime, governance and operational resilience, institutions must adapt quickly.
Our Leadership TeamToday’s payments challenges are new.
Today’s payments challenges are new.
Our experience isn’t.
Our global teams bring together former regulators, industry leaders and real-world operators to help clients move decisively across risk, remediation and payments.
Stella M. Mendes has more than 25 years of experience leading AML and BSA reviews for banks, money service businesses, credit unions and other financial service providers.
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. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Mendes served as President and Chief Operating Officer for First National Bank of New York (now Dime Community Bank). 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.
Stella M. Mendes, CAMS
Senior Managing Director, Global Leader of Financial Services
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Over his more than 30-year career, Mike Walters has led many high-profile global matters involving forensic, regulatory, financial crime and investigation work.
Mr. Walters helps financial services clients navigate complex risk, financial crime and regulatory compliance issues, transforming their capabilities in the face of change. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Walters led the compliance function at Barclays. He covered all compliance risks globally, including suitability, conflicts of interest, cross-border, whistleblowing, data privacy, anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption and personal account dealing. He led 1,300 professionals across 40 countries and was accountable for investigating alleged breaches of Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), EU and His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) sanctions and ensuring the bank’s compliance with the resultant Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
Mike Walters
Senior Managing Director, EMEA Head of Financial Services, Forensic & Litigation Consulting
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Christopher S. Allen has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry with a background that combines consulting expertise with hands-on industry experience.
Mr. Allen is a payments expert who helps clients modernize their products, core operations, processes and underlying technology. He has a proven track record of leading critical and transformative payments work with expertise spanning retail and consumer, transaction banking, business and merchant acceptance, payment networks and intermediaries. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Allen was a Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLP, where he led the Banking and Payments practice. He oversaw full engagement delivery, developed high-performing teams and maintained trusted client relationships. During his tenure, he held leadership roles on several accounts including the Federal Reserve and Visa.
Alma Angotti is a recognized expert in financial crime compliance and economic sanctions, with more than 25 years of experience in regulatory enforcement and global consulting.
Ms. Angotti advises clients on compliance risk assessments, remediation strategies, enforcement preparedness and regulatory investigations. Her clients include global and mid-sized financial institutions, global fintech firms, digital assets and payments institutions, stablecoins and cryptocurrency platforms, broker-dealers, hedge funds, casinos and multinational corporations. Ms. Angotti brings deep subject-matter expertise in regulatory compliance, including Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-money Laundering (“BSA/AML”), sanctions and counter-terrorist financing (“CTF”). Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Angotti held senior enforcement roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Bryce Snape provides advanced data analytics, data governance and digital asset investigation services across financial services, cryptocurrency, fintech, telecom, healthcare and retail industries.
Mr. Snape has led numerous crypto and blockchain investigations involving on-chain tracing, smart contract code review, market manipulation analysis and asset recovery. His digital asset casework has included evaluating potential Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump activity, misallocation of funds and multibillion-dollar exchange litigation. He has traced hundreds of thousands of transactions across multiple blockchains, built automated monitoring systems for suspicious activity, evaluated illiquid assets and provided technical guidance on subpoenas, settlement discussions and expert testimony. Mr. Snape has also supported regulatory agencies on matters involving cryptocurrency exchanges, including staking operations and blockchain technology education.
