Apr 16, 2026
Community Bank Compliance Officers (COs) face intensified pressure from escalating cyber threats, complex new tech like AI, increased third-party risks, and a constant flood of new or changing regulations. Congratulations! You are brand new to this role! Now what?
Welcome to the community bank CO role where you will often wear multiple hats, demanding more tech skills, and requiring stronger communication with boards and business lines to avoid supervisory downgrades, even as regulators shift toward more flexible, risk-focused supervision. This two-part series explores the role, responsibilities, techniques and career path for community bank compliance officers and includes case studies, problem solving and tips for building your complaint program. This program will help you to:
Limited Spots available! Join us for these special 2 ½ hour classes and workshops for community bankers to develop the community bank Compliance Officer skillset for achieving satisfactory reviews. Part 1 begins by establishing the Role, Responsibilities and Career Path of the Community Bank Compliance Officer. Part 2 is about execution and picks up to refine the requirements as building blocks to create your own Compliance Management System (CMS) while managing key relationships for a successful program.
As always, we will begin with the basic regulatory requirements. We will share common errors, audit exceptions and exam findings to highlight potential gaps in your CMS. Finally, we will break into workshop groups to explore common questions and the operationalizing of compliance at your institution, including tips on developing internal controls to assist you. We will share in a “cameras on”, “microphones on” mode during the workshops.
What You'll Learn:
The Compliance Officer Role
Lauren Sparks
Regulatory Risk Management
With a career spanning 40+-years as a community banker and banking regulatory risk management consultant, Lauren Sparks is an accomplished advocate for community banks and women’s financial services leadership. In her career Ms. Sparks held positions in community banks that ranged from teller to Investment Officer, Loan Officer, and Cashier. She founded a women-owned, women-led denovo community bank and served as CEO and Chairman of the Board. In risk management consulting, Ms. Sparks moved to bank consulting firms at a local level, and then to a national level where as a Director she specialized in troubled banks and fintech. In 2009, Ms. Sparks formed 3PR, Inc., a woman-owned consulting firm specializing in community banks and financial service firms where she serves as CEO. 3PR serves more than 50 community banks at any given time and has been a preferred vendor for one of the world’s largest software providers.
She has edited the Reference Guide for Regulatory Compliance Manual (RGRC) for the American Bankers’ Association (ABA). Ms. Sparks is a founder of the Houston chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), and has been an Accredited ACH Professional (AAP).
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This workshop will be a starting point for CO newbies, and a foundational class for those intrigued by the role or fairly new in the role. It is a need for those with hands-on responsibilities for compliance in the bank to obtain an understanding of the critical elements of a Compliance Management System. This can include aspiring compliance officers, Compliance Officers, risk managers, auditors, or anyone that must manage the compliance function in a community bank.
Live Webinar - $450.00
Available Upgrades
**100% surcharge applied to non-members.
| Susan Clark | Silvia Regalado | |
| Professional Development Coordinator | Professional Development Coordinator | |
| o: 317-387-9380 | o: 317-387-9380 | |
| d: 317-333-7169 | d: 317-333-7170 | |
| sclark@indiana.bank | sregalado@indiana.bank |