Regions Bank announced Anna Brackin has been appointed to serve as Chief Compliance Officer overseeing the company’s compliance risk management program. In addition, Gary Walton joined the bank as Business Unit Chief Risk Officer for Regions’ Consumer Banking and Wealth Management divisions.
As Chief Compliance Officer, Brackin will lead an experienced team of risk management professionals who support the entire bank and its customer base. Areas of focus include building on Regions’ foundation of thorough compliance programs, consistently ensuring a prudent regulatory risk framework, and helping protect Regions and its customers from financial loss or harm.
Brackin assumes the role following the recent retirement of Doug Jackson after a 34-year career at Regions. Brackin will report to Regions Chief Risk Officer Matt Lusco.
“Effective risk management is a strategic priority and a key component of our culture at Regions,” Lusco said. “Maintaining a strong compliance management system is a fundamental part of our risk framework. I am confident Anna’s experience, including her clear focus on compliance, plus her strong leadership skills, will ensure Regions’ enterprise approach to compliance risk management remains comprehensive and in consistent alignment with the complex laws, regulations, and guidance that are closely followed by our industry.”
Brackin joined Regions in 2020 as head of Corporate Banking Strategy and Administration. Over the last three years, Brackin more closely aligned essential functions within the Corporate Banking group, such as risk controls and compliance, program and process management, analytics and reporting, and more. Additionally, she promoted the development of new frameworks to further empower teams while ensuring a consistent approach in decisioning and project execution. Her new, company-wide leadership role enables Brackin to leverage her deep experience in the compliance arena to further evolve processes and procedures across the bank in support of Regions’ compliance and risk-management functions.
Before joining Regions, Brackin held leadership roles in the Risk Management, Operations, and Wholesale Banking division at SunTrust Bank for 12 years. Responsibilities ranged from execution to oversight for enterprise-wide risk functions such as BSA/AML/OFAC programs, Information Security Risk Management programs, and Fraud Strategy and Operations.
Another cornerstone of Regions’ commitment to prudently managing risk is the company’s team of business unit chief risk officers, which now includes Gary Walton. In his role supporting Regions’ Consumer Banking and Wealth Management groups, Walton will work closely with business leaders and their teams to consistently ensure risk management is at the heart of everyday strategies and decision-making. Walton, too, will report to Chief Risk Officer Matt Lusco.
Walton comes to Regions from Union Bank, where he served as Chief Credit Officer and Executive Risk Officer. His 34-year banking career also includes risk management roles at SunTrust, InfiLink and Bank of America.
“Regions associates throughout our company know that every one of us serves a crucial role in managing risks, and the addition of Gary to our team will help us build even further on our strong foundation of prudent risk management,” Lusco said. “In particular, his experience, advice and guidance will help Regions keep a clear focus on customer protection while managing current and emerging risks in the Consumer and Wealth Management businesses.”