Brenda Barrett
Husch Blackwell
Partner
Brenda represents clients in the credit union industry, overseeing corporate transactions and providing general corporate counsel, and she co-leads HB’s Credit Union practice. Brenda brings 20 years of experience with credit unions and routinely represents these organizations in transactions and regulatory matters. She works especially often with her credit union and CUSO clients on strategic mergers with other credit unions, and she performs contract review, advises on corporate governance questions, and represents the credit union before both state and federal regulators. Brenda’s detail-oriented and goal-driven nature make her ideally suited to corporate and transactional work: she loves helping clients get to yes and helping both sides achieve a common goal. Brenda also served in the highly-respected position of Chair of the Credit Union Committee of the American Bar Association for three years.
Payment and Deposit Fraud: Compliance Challenges, Controls, and Practical Responses for Credit Unions
Regulatory Updates: NCUA/CFPB and Beyond
Husch Blackwell
Partner
Brenda represents clients in the credit union industry, overseeing corporate transactions and providing general corporate counsel, and she co-leads HB’s Credit Union practice. Brenda brings 20 years of experience with credit unions and routinely represents these organizations in transactions and regulatory matters. She works especially often with her credit union and CUSO clients on strategic mergers with other credit unions, and she performs contract review, advises on corporate governance questions, and represents the credit union before both state and federal regulators. Brenda’s detail-oriented and goal-driven nature make her ideally suited to corporate and transactional work: she loves helping clients get to yes and helping both sides achieve a common goal. Brenda also served in the highly-respected position of Chair of the Credit Union Committee of the American Bar Association for three years.
Payment and Deposit Fraud: Compliance Challenges, Controls, and Practical Responses for Credit Unions
Regulatory Updates: NCUA/CFPB and Beyond
Nathan Behncke
Cornerstone League
Associate Regulatory Compliance Counsel
Nate Behncke is associate regulatory compliance counsel for the Cornerstone League. He has worked for Cornerstone for more than 13 years and, in his current role, answers compliance inquiries, assists with legislative and regulatory analysis, provides training, and speaks on a variety of credit union-related topics.
Before joining Cornerstone, Behncke worked in various finance-related roles in the Mercedes and Chrysler family of companies, including collections, and even tried his hand at self-help repossession. He also had a minor role as “husband” on an episode of House Hunters.
Behncke lives in Austin with his wife, Erin, two daughters, Alaina and May, and three otherwise unremarkable cats. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, with a focus on bankruptcy and business law.
Late Breaking Topics and Closing
Cornerstone League
Associate Regulatory Compliance Counsel
Nate Behncke is associate regulatory compliance counsel for the Cornerstone League. He has worked for Cornerstone for more than 13 years and, in his current role, answers compliance inquiries, assists with legislative and regulatory analysis, provides training, and speaks on a variety of credit union-related topics.
Before joining Cornerstone, Behncke worked in various finance-related roles in the Mercedes and Chrysler family of companies, including collections, and even tried his hand at self-help repossession. He also had a minor role as “husband” on an episode of House Hunters.
Behncke lives in Austin with his wife, Erin, two daughters, Alaina and May, and three otherwise unremarkable cats. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, with a focus on bankruptcy and business law.
Late Breaking Topics and Closing
Alex McFall
Husch Blackwell LLP
Senior Counsel
Alex has built a reputation for delivering comprehensive and sophisticated representation to a diverse range of clients, including banks, credit unions, fintechs, mortgage companies, and commercial and consumer finance companies. With a multifaceted skill set encompassing regulatory compliance, licensing, and litigation, Alex consistently achieves exceptional outcomes in high-stakes disputes and provides strategic counsel on intricate regulatory matters.
Alex is a trusted advisor to financial services clients operating in a heavily regulated landscape. She possesses a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities, allowing her to guide clients through various challenges, particularly in areas such as new product launches, money transmission, commercial finance, unsecured consumer lending, retail installment sales, and comprehensive regulatory compliance and licensing issues.
What distinguishes Alex is her unique perspective, forged by her experience in both regulatory compliance/licensing and litigation. This dual proficiency enables her to provide clients with holistic and forward-thinking strategies, anticipating potential challenges and proactively mitigating them before they escalate into costly legal disputes. Alex’s ability to think creatively and offer innovative solutions is highly regarded by clients who value her sophisticated approach to problem-solving.
Payment and Deposit Fraud: Compliance Challenges, Controls, and Practical Responses for Credit Unions
Regulatory Updates: NCUA/CFPB and Beyond
Husch Blackwell LLP
Senior Counsel
Alex has built a reputation for delivering comprehensive and sophisticated representation to a diverse range of clients, including banks, credit unions, fintechs, mortgage companies, and commercial and consumer finance companies. With a multifaceted skill set encompassing regulatory compliance, licensing, and litigation, Alex consistently achieves exceptional outcomes in high-stakes disputes and provides strategic counsel on intricate regulatory matters.
Alex is a trusted advisor to financial services clients operating in a heavily regulated landscape. She possesses a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities, allowing her to guide clients through various challenges, particularly in areas such as new product launches, money transmission, commercial finance, unsecured consumer lending, retail installment sales, and comprehensive regulatory compliance and licensing issues.
What distinguishes Alex is her unique perspective, forged by her experience in both regulatory compliance/licensing and litigation. This dual proficiency enables her to provide clients with holistic and forward-thinking strategies, anticipating potential challenges and proactively mitigating them before they escalate into costly legal disputes. Alex’s ability to think creatively and offer innovative solutions is highly regarded by clients who value her sophisticated approach to problem-solving.
Payment and Deposit Fraud: Compliance Challenges, Controls, and Practical Responses for Credit Unions
Regulatory Updates: NCUA/CFPB and Beyond
Ken Otsuka
TruStage
With 35 years TruStageTM experience within risk management specializing in risks associated with payments, deposits, funds transfer/ACH, and fraud, Ken is a commonly featured author for our RISK Alerts and a speaker throughout the U.S. He was previously an insurance auditor.
Ken resides in Illinois and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Fraud & Scams That Should Be on Your Radar
TruStage
With 35 years TruStageTM experience within risk management specializing in risks associated with payments, deposits, funds transfer/ACH, and fraud, Ken is a commonly featured author for our RISK Alerts and a speaker throughout the U.S. He was previously an insurance auditor.
Ken resides in Illinois and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Fraud & Scams That Should Be on Your Radar
Tiffany Smith
WilmerHale
Tiffany J. Smith is a member of the Securities and Financial Services Department, and Co-Chair of the firm’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Working Group. Tiffany has a deep understanding of trading, crypto, and securities regulations, and is a sought-out adviser to some of the largest and most prominent U.S. and international fintech and crypto companies on their most critical matters. Tiffany is recognized as a leading expert in crypto regulation and is frequent speaker on crypto and artificial intelligence. She recently served as a witness at a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee hearing on crypto market structure.
Tiffany has received a number of accolades and recognitions including being ranked by Chambers FinTech USA 2024, 2025, and 2026 in the area of Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies.
Tiffany has a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and a BBA from The George Washington University.
Crytpo and Credit Unions: Opportunities, Risks, and Regulatory Considerations
WilmerHale
Tiffany J. Smith is a member of the Securities and Financial Services Department, and Co-Chair of the firm’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Working Group. Tiffany has a deep understanding of trading, crypto, and securities regulations, and is a sought-out adviser to some of the largest and most prominent U.S. and international fintech and crypto companies on their most critical matters. Tiffany is recognized as a leading expert in crypto regulation and is frequent speaker on crypto and artificial intelligence. She recently served as a witness at a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee hearing on crypto market structure.
Tiffany has received a number of accolades and recognitions including being ranked by Chambers FinTech USA 2024, 2025, and 2026 in the area of Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies.
Tiffany has a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and a BBA from The George Washington University.
Crytpo and Credit Unions: Opportunities, Risks, and Regulatory Considerations
Suzanne Yashewski
Cornerstone League
Regulatory Compliance Counsel
Suzanne Yashewski serves as regulatory compliance counsel for the Cornerstone League. On staff as legal counsel since 2001, she advocates for credit unions at the state, regional, and national levels in both regulatory and legislative arenas. She also leads the League’s efforts to operate Information Central, a division that provides a compliance hotline and resources to help credit unions address compliance and operational questions.
Yashewski is a graduate of Purdue University and Indiana University Maurer School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Texas. She is a noted expert in credit union and banking law, with a background in employment law. In 2017, Yashewski was recognized as a “Rock Star” by Credit Union Magazine.
Late Breaking Topics and Closing
Cornerstone League
Regulatory Compliance Counsel
Suzanne Yashewski serves as regulatory compliance counsel for the Cornerstone League. On staff as legal counsel since 2001, she advocates for credit unions at the state, regional, and national levels in both regulatory and legislative arenas. She also leads the League’s efforts to operate Information Central, a division that provides a compliance hotline and resources to help credit unions address compliance and operational questions.
Yashewski is a graduate of Purdue University and Indiana University Maurer School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Texas. She is a noted expert in credit union and banking law, with a background in employment law. In 2017, Yashewski was recognized as a “Rock Star” by Credit Union Magazine.
Late Breaking Topics and Closing