Description:
In 2026, do compliance exams matter anymore?
With shifting regulatory priorities, evolving supervision strategies, and ongoing talk of “deregulation,” many institutions are asking the same question: Do compliance exams still carry the same weight they once did?
Short answer: yes—absolutely.
While the tone of exams may be changing, the core expectations have not. Examiners are still evaluating your institution against established standards, using the FFIEC Uniform Interagency Consumer Compliance Rating System as their guide. Risk-based focus areas remain front and center, and institutions that aren’t consistently prepared may find themselves exposed when examiners arrive.
This session takes a practical, real-world look at how compliance exams are conducted today—and how you can stay ready year-round. From understanding how ratings are determined to managing examiner interactions, you’ll gain actionable insight into what matters most and how to position your institution for success.
During this session, you’ll learn how to:
- Apply the 4 foundational principles of the Interagency Consumer Compliance Rating System
- Understand the 3 core components of an effective Compliance Management System (CMS)
- Evaluate violations and consumer harm using the 4 key regulatory considerations
- Distinguish between the 3 levels of violations and how they impact exam outcomes
- Navigate the 5-level rating scale used by examiners
- Strengthen third-party oversight and understand its growing importance in exams
- Identify high-risk areas that receive greater examiner scrutiny
- Implement practical strategies for managing the exam process before, during, and after the review
The key to a successful exam isn’t last-minute preparation—it’s building a mindset of continuous readiness. Every report you write, every committee meeting you attend, and every compliance decision you make should stand up to examiner review.
Led by a seasoned compliance professional with over 25 years of experience and firsthand insight from multiple compliance exams, this session delivers practical guidance you can immediately apply to strengthen your program—and approach your next exam with confidence.
Who should attend:
Compliance professionals, risk managers, loan policy specialists, operations leaders, marketing teams, and audit staff seeking to better understand—and successfully navigate—the compliance exam process.
Presenters:
Rebekah Leonard, CRCM
Rebekah is the owner of Elucidate LLC, a compliance training and consulting company. Elucidate means to “make clear, explain, throw light upon”, and describes Rebekah’s desire to illuminate the complexities of compliance with passion and fun. She’s created and produced a TRID music video parody and several Compliance Breakout escape rooms, which she frequently provides at state banking compliance conferences. She is an accomplished speaker and regularly provides webinars through BOL and Compliance Resource.
Rebekah is currently serving as the VP Director of Compliance for a $6 Billion community bank in Montana. She began her career in 1995 at a private lending company, but soon settled into banking, where she’s covered nearly all of it – customer service and teller work, loan processing and review, and security and business continuity. She now oversees CRA, BSA and all aspects of compliance as a senior leader. She has successfully navigated numerous FDIC Compliance, CRA, and BSA Exams.
Rebekah has a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University (Magna cum Laude), attended the American Bankers Association National Compliance School in 2003, and has held her Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation since 2006. She is a BOL Compliance Guru.
July 16, 2026