Colin Darke, former Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel at Rocket Loans, to join AFC as Senior Advisor for Fintech Training and Educational Programing and will lead new initiatives

‘AFC Learning’ will kick off on August 10th with an educational webinar exploring third-party risk management, delegation and best practices in BSA/AML obligations and SAR filings

Washington, D.C. (July 25, 2023) – The American Fintech Council (AFC), the leading industry association representing responsible fintech companies, has announced the introduction of ‘AFC Learning’ in collaboration with leading professional services firm, FORVIS. The new compliance and education initiatives will be organized and overseen by Colin Darke, newly appointed Senior Advisor for Fintech Training and Educational Programing at AFC.

“AFC Learning will provide valuable opportunities for fintech companies of all sizes to understand the regulatory and compliance fundamentals needed to succeed and help financial institutions recognize the value of partnering with responsible innovators,” said Phil Goldfeder, Chief Executive Officer of the American Fintech Council. “FORVIS is a nationally respected provider of education, regulatory compliance, and capital advisory services to financial institutions and will be a huge asset to AFC members and the entire fintech community.”

Together with FORVIS, AFC will offer educational opportunities that will strengthen fintech compliance programs, provide tools and resources to financial institutions engaging with innovative companies and help bridge the regulatory information gap between new fintech entrants and established institutions.

“Truly looking forward to ProBank Education Services powered by FORVIS and AFC collaborating on these dynamic programs,” said Marty Mitchell, Managing Director at FORVIS.

In addition, AFC has appointed Colin Darke as its new Senior Advisor for Fintech Training and Educational Programming. In this new role, Colin will oversee all aspects of the AFC educational, compliance and training programming. An esteemed industry expert and sought-after speaker, Colin brings with him extensive experience in the legal and compliance field, having dedicated over a decade of his career to this area before joining Rocket Loans. He honed his skills through private practice and spearheaded community banking initiative at Flagstar Bank for three years. Serving as Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel at Rocket Loans for over eight years, Colin was pivotal in ensuring regulatory adherence and legal soundness. Currently, he with the entrepreneurial tech and business law firm GwC, spearheading their fintech practice, while also leading his own fintech compliance consulting business, Colin Darke Solutions.

“I am thrilled to help launch AFC Learning, a remarkable initiative that will undoubtably make a positive impact on the Fintech industry,” said Colin Darke. “Phil and I have previously collaborated on successful programing in DC, New York, and San Francisco, fostering an engaging dialogue amongst regulators and industry experts, dispelling misconception, promoting best practices and staying ahead of emerging fintech hot topics. With AFC Learning, we will bring the same level of dedication and expertise, facilitating a transformative learning experience for all involved.”

“Colin Darke is a dear friend and has led compliance, legal, servicing, operations, marketing, and technology teams at one of the largest fintech companies in the country,” continued Goldfeder. “Colin was a founder of the Online Lending Policy Institute (OLPI) and is the perfect choice to lead AFC Learning.”

AFC and its members deliver for customers by advocating for the next generation of companies at the intersection of technology and financial services. It fosters innovative, transparent, and responsible products that promote competition, consumer protection, financial health, inclusion, and equity. AFC is committed to robust industry standards, focused on consumer protection and regulatory compliance, in addition to advocating for and embracing appropriate government regulation.