ABA names Robertson and Boyer for Distinguished Service Awards in AML/CFT and fraud

The American Bankers Association has announced its Distinguished Service Awards for AML/CFT and fraud management. The recognitions went to two senior financial-crime practitioners for contributions to professional education and industry collaboration. This is a professional-recognition item rather than a rule change, but it signals where the industry's trade body places weight in its financial-crime training and community-building work.

• Rebecca Schauer Robertson of Blue Ridge Bank received the ABA Distinguished Service Award for AML/CFT, recognizing a 30-year career in financial services.
• Karen Boyer of M&T Bank received the ABA Distinguished Service Award for Fraud Management, cited for work on payment threats, social engineering, scams and account takeover.
• Both were honored on October 14, 2026 at the ABA AML and Fraud Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
• Robertson served on the founding boards of the Certified AML and Fraud Professional certification and the ABA AML and Fraud School, and helped design the school's curriculum.

Executive summary

The American Bankers Association announced on October 14, 2026 that two senior financial-crime practitioners had received its Distinguished Service Awards. Rebecca "Becky" Schauer Robertson, executive vice president and deputy chief risk officer at Blue Ridge Bank in Richmond, Virginia, received…

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