MTRA held a successful five-day intermediate examination school in Miami, Florida from April 21 – April 25, 2008. This five day, hands-on course was attended by 34 regulators from 17 states. The objective of the school was to offer the tools to become a proficient examiner, using MTRA joint examination procedures to evaluate money transmitters, and to provide networking opportunities with fellow state examiners. The school curriculum incorporated safety and soundness and compliance considerations in examining money transmitters, and the class used the MTRA rating system in simulated examinations. Students learned mining techniques using actual data to assure compliance with anti-money laundering laws and detect violations, and performed computer aided instruction and exercises.
The school curriculum has been designed by the MTRA Education Committee. The school was taught by veteran State regulators: John Bishop, Senior Administrator, Ohio Division of Financial Institutions; Rollin Badal, Financial Examiner, Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation; Bert Gonzalez, Financial Examiner, Texas Department of Banking; and Tom McVey, Jr., Chief Examiner, West Virginia Division of Banking.
Nick C. Kyrus, Deputy Commissioner of Financial Institutions in Virginia, and MTRA past president and current director attended, and commended the instructors for their hard work and dedication. Mr. Kyrus pledged MTRA’s support of the professional development of examiners and announced that MTRA is planning a beginners school for early 2009.