Our Mission
BERCLA Consulting is an independent consulting and advisory firm uniquely dedicated to helping financial technology firms (fintechs) and BaaS banks operate in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations and navigate regulatory changes. We help fintechs and BaaS banks develop and implement effective programs to comply with BSA/AML/CFT regulations including customer due diligence (CDD) and KYC/CIP regulations, fintech due diligence services, and third-party risk management. We also help clients design and implement compliance programs that meet regulatory expectations including policies and procedures, review of new products and services, ongoing compliance monitoring reviews and testing.
Clients
BERCLA Consulting is an independent consulting and advisory firm intentionally and uniquely dedicated to helping financial technology firms (fintechs) and BaaS banks. Our clients are fintechs, BaaS banks, API providers and other stakeholders in the U.S fintech eco-system.
Our Team
Felix B. Leno
Managing Director
Felix is an experienced attorney and risk management professional with over 15 years’ experience in the banking industry. He is a subject matter expert in Banking as a Service (“BaaS”) and fintech banking with working knowledge of applicable U.S. regulations and best practices for BaaS consistent with regulatory expectations. Felix has extensive experience in AML/CFT compliance, regulatory compliance and risk management. He has experience building governance, risk compliance programs including compliance management systems (CSM), BSA/AML/CFT programs, and third-party risk management programs. Felix has served as point of contact on supervisory matters and examinations for banking institutions with FDIC, OCC, FRB, and New York State Department of Financial Services.
Felix served as Chief Risk Officer at Piermont Bank in New York City, one of the premier BaaS banks in the United States. At Piermont, he was responsible for formulation, design and implementation of the Bank’s BSA/AML/CFT programs, regulatory compliance programs, and risk management framework. Felix helped design and implement Piermont Bank’s BaaS program.
Prior to Piermont Bank, Felix served as General Counsel and Head of Compliance/Risk for KEB Hana Bank USA in New York City.
Felix is an attorney licensed in New York State. He is also a Certified Enterprise Risk Professional (CERP).
Felix graduated with a B.A in law from Sorbonne University (Paris), a Master’s Degree in business law from Dauphine University (Paris), and a Master’s Degree (LLM) in banking and financial law from Fordham University Law School.