Two Kearny Bank executives — West Milford resident Ken Helmrich and Silvia Merino-Topley of Garfield — have been promoted to new positions. Helmrich is now senior vice president and Bank Secrecy Act/Office of Foreign Assets Control officer, while Merino-Topley has been elevated to chief compliance officer.
Both Helmrich and Merino-Topley report to Kearny Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer John Dunne.
“What Ken and Silvia do requires attention to precise details, along with a range of knowledge and specific skills that can only be developed through experience,” Dunne said. “I’m confident their professional expertise will continue to benefit our clients as well as our company.”
Helmrich originally joined Kearny Bank in 2020, and is focused on managing all aspects of the BSA/anti-money laundering and OFAC compliance program, including client due diligence, high-risk client management, monitoring and reporting of suspicious activities and identity theft prevention. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and a Certified Financial Crime Specialist, as well as being a member of both the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists.
Merino-Topley — who also joined Kearny Bank in 2020 — is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s compliance department, which includes reporting on compliance issues and evaluating compliance risk. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing from Montclair State University and has earned American Banking Association certificates in lending compliance, deposit compliance and BSA/AML compliance. She’s a member of two New Jersey Bankers Association groups — the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and the Women in Banking Committee.
