Open to opportunities

Kirk Merrow

@kirkmerrow

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Experienced banking professional specializing in AML, Fraud, and KYC.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I am seeking a role that challenges me and allows for professional growth, ideally in a collaborative environment focused on compliance and risk management.

I am a well-rounded banking professional with over 10 years of experience in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Fraud, and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. My career has been marked by a commitment to excellence, consistently recognized as a top performer in both volume and quality of work. I thrive in collaborative environments, often taking on leadership roles in special assignments and fostering team engagement through open communication and inquiry.

In my recent role as a Quality Assurance Advisor at USAA, I led quality reviews of AML and Fraud investigations, providing constructive feedback that helped my team meet high production goals. My experience spans various banking institutions, including East West Bank and JP Morgan Chase, where I honed my skills in investigating suspicious activities, onboarding clients, and performing comprehensive due diligence. I am passionate about leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency, as demonstrated by my involvement in developing automated quality metric reports in Tableau and participating in User Acceptance Testing for new applications.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Quality Assurance Advisor Senior

USAA

Jun 2021 - Apr 2025 (3 years 10 months)

Served as a senior quality reviewer for AML and Fraud consumer investigations, including Alerts, Cases, and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Provided clear, concise feedback and helped the team meet high production goals in backlog and remediation reviews. Led procedural discussions and contributed to special projects involving Tableau report development and Salesforce UAT.

Quality Assurance AML Fraud KYC Tableau Salesforce User Acceptance Testing Actimize

BSA Analyst II

East West Bank

Oct 2019 - May 2021 (1 year 7 months)

Investigated alerting activity on consumer accounts in a fast-paced environment, making determinations to file SARs for AML and Fraud where appropriate. Prepared SAR narratives and forms, performed cash analysis to identify spikes in volume and trends. Researched Chinese businesses owned by bank customers for risks and mitigating factors.

BSA AML Fraud Risk Assessment KYC Due Diligence

KYC Officer (Client Facing)

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Jun 2013 - Aug 2019 (6 years 2 months)

Onboarded and maintained a portfolio of Energy and Diversified Industries accounts, including high-risk Money Service Business and Third Party Payment Processors, in a client-facing role. Performed comprehensive Know Your Customer reviews using public and non-public sources, including Enhanced Due Diligence and Specialized Due Diligence. Coordinated with sales teams to onboard domestic and interna

KYC AML Customer Onboarding Risk Analysis FinCEN CDD Rule

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Massachusetts

Bachelor of Arts, Economics

Studied the fundamentals of economics at the University of Massachusetts. Gained a comprehensive understanding of economic principles and their applications.