Sepideh Rowland Honored with Annual ABA Distinguished Service Award for Financial Crimes

The American Bankers Association today announced that Sepideh Rowland, a senior managing director within FTI Consulting’s financial services practice, has been recognized as the recipient of this year’s ABA Distinguished Service Award for Financial Crimes. The award, which ABA presents annually, recognizes national leadership, initiative and accomplishment in financial crimes advocacy and compliance. It was presented during the 2023 ABA/ABA Financial Crimes Enforcement Conference in National Harbor, Md.

Rowland has more than 25 years of legal and compliance experience in developing and administering state-of-the-art financial crimes compliance programs and is known for her deep regulatory and operational knowledge of banking, money service business, virtual assets and fintech. She has held leadership positions as chief compliance or BSA/AML and sanctions officer at several financial institutions.

“It is a privilege to publicly acknowledge an individual who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the financial industry's fight against bad actors," Ryan Rasske, ABA senior vice president of risk & customer markets. "Sepideh's dedication and continuous desire to make a meaningful impact has earned her the right to be this year's award winner."

Rowland serves as co-chair of the Advisory Board for the ABA/ABA Financial Crimes Enforcement Conference, co-chair of the editorial board for ABA Risk and Compliance, was an advisory board member, former chair, and a current holder of the ABA Certified AML and Fraud Professional certification, and co-chair of the U.S. Capital Chapter Advisory Board for the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS).

“Throughout her career, Sepideh has made significant contributions to ABA’s BSA advocacy and its financial crimes and compliance programming and we’re proud to name her this year’s Distinguished Service Award winner,” said Ginny O'Neill, ABA’s executive vice president, regulatory compliance & policy. “She has a history of freely sharing her tremendous industry knowledge with bankers nationwide, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.”

Rowland earned a J.D. from Michigan State University School of Law and a B.A. in political science and sociology from George Washington University.