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Committed to our clients for more than 37 years.

Who We Are

About Unicon

Unicon Financial Services, Inc. is a leading provider of consulting and auditing services for banks, thrifts, and other financial institutions. Formed in 1989, we are the largest bank-consulting firm in the West. We provide services to domestic institutions across the nation and foreign institutions across the world.

We are engaged with many domestic banks, savings institutions, foreign branches and agencies, investment bankers, and law firms. We perform a wide range of consulting and auditing services such as:

  • Audits/Reviews (Loan, Compliance, BSA, IT, Electronic Banking, Note, Wire Transfer/ACH, and Branch Operations)

  • Audit Risk Assessments

  • ALLL and CRE Methodology Reviews

  • Litigation Support

  • Policy Development

  • System Analysis

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

What we offer our clients

We offer our clients a unique banking perspective.  Our years as regulators have provided us with an in-depth understanding of government policies, procedures, regulations, and the government's perspective on banks.  We take this expertise and pass it on to our clients. 

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We perform periodic loan reviews for stable institutions and for institutions that are experiencing credit quality difficulties.  Unicon has helped many banks develop systems that meet the new tougher regulatory requirements.  Many of our clients have been complimented by the regulators for the improvements we helped implement.  Additionally, we are approved to conduct loan reviews, management studies, BSA reviews, and operational reviews.

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Unicon has also been hired by many law firms to serve as expert witnesses and consulting experts, including complicated lending transactions and loan fraud.  Our consultants have also been hired to investigate numerous civil and criminal matters and we have worked closely with both the F.B.I. and United States Department of Justice.  In addition, Unicon has been appointed as an expert banking witness in federal court.

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Our Expertise

We have taught all levels of lending and compliance for the government and the private sector, including the regulator's highest-level international lending classes. Our team of experts have been awarded various industry known designations in their fields which solidifies our knowledge and experience. Our qualifications in the compliance area include being awarded the Certified Bank Compliance Officer and Certified AML Professional designations by the BAI.  In the IT area, our Manager for Information Technology (IT) and Internet Reviews qualifications include:  Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA); Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE); Microsoft Certified Professional & Internet; and, Cisco Certified Network Associate.

The Unicon Team

Before we were consultants, we served as bank examiners for the OCC and remain in frequent contact with regulators from all the agencies, both locally and in Washington D.C. Our years as regulators provided us with an in-depth understanding of government policies, procedures and regulations, and how the government views banks.

As examiners, our staff has lead assignments at the largest U.S. banking companies including: Citicorp, Bank of America, Security Pacific National Bank, First National Bank of Chicago, Continental Illinois, and Wells Fargo. We have taught all levels of operations, lending and compliance for the government and the private sector and we are frequently featured speakers at trade association meetings for such groups as CATL, IBAA, CBA, NACAB, and the Findley Seminars. We also speak often at various universities such as Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine, and Long Beach State. We have helped many banks develop systems that meet the new tougher regulatory requirements and many of our clients have been complimented by the regulators for improvements we helped implement. Lastly, and most importantly, we help our clients make better and more informed business decisions.

Mr. Francis is responsible for: general consulting, regulatory analyses, policy development, investment advisory, public speaking, litigation support, expert witness, software development, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning.

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Prior to becoming a consultant, Mr. Francis served as a National Bank Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency.  His ten years with the OCC gave him a thorough knowledge of the regulatory process including that of the State Banking Department, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Reserve Bank.

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While at the OCC, Mr. Francis supervised a large portfolio of banks, including foreign agencies and branches, and those requiring special supervision.  He has served as Examiner in Charge (EIC) of the Commercial Real Estate, International and Workout Loan divisions of multinational Banks.  He has also lead examinations of many banks, including problem institutions, and served as EIC of the lending, funds management, capital markets, and broker/dealer departments of multi-national, regional and community banks.  He has also been a voting member for the regulator's Shared National Credit program.

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Mr. Francis has served as an instructor for OCC and FFIEC schools, speaks frequently at industry schools and seminars, and, developed several computer based banking programs which are used throughout the United States.

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Awards & Certifications:

  •         B.S./Business Administration - Berea College 1979

  •         U.S. Treasury Special Achievement Award - 1982 and 1988

  •         Comptroller of the Currency Commissioned National Bank Examiner - 1986

  •         BAI Certified Bank Compliance Officer - 1990

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Professional Schools and Seminars:

Twenty-three schools and seminars addressing:  management, merchant banking, bank supervision, consumer affairs, trust, data processing, lending, international activities, and, funds management.

1989 - Present
Unicon Financial Services, Inc. was formed in 1989 by Mr. Francis, Berkman Hong, and Robert DeJong, all former national bank examiners.  Clients include community banks as well as some of the largest financial institutions in the country and overseas. 

Mr. Kingman has participated or led assignments at banks, foreign agencies, and foreign branches of international banks throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, New York, Utah, and Washington.  His loan review experience includes syndicated loans, large commercial real estate loans, construction financing, international trade finance, asset based lending, credit enhancements, leasing activities, credit card lending, sub-prime loan products, and hotel financing.  He has reviewed and analyzed numerous complex and troubled loans involving foreclosures, bankruptcy, and lender liability issues. Mr. Kingman leads our loan portfolio due diligence teams. He also conducts reviews of real estate appraisals for FIRREA compliance. 

 

Mr. Kingman routinely performs and develops detailed ALLL analyses for clients, which incorporate loan loss migration, computer modeling and economic analysis.  Mr. Kingman has also conducted forensic examinations involving suspicious activities, money laundering, loan fraud, and loan loss issues.  He has also assisted banks in developing new lending products and establishing new departments to administer these products. 

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Mr. Kingman has assisted many banks in developing creative CRA solutions; developed custom designed compliance programs; and, written various compliance policies and procedures.  He has also assisted many banks in complying with regulatory enforcement actions, developing loan policies, improving Board reports, and strategic planning. 

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Mr. Kingman is involved in employee recruitment and heads the new employee training program. 

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Education:

B.A./ Administrative Studies – University of California at Riverside, 1994

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Certifications:

  • Credit Risk Certified (CRC) - Risk Management Association (RMA)

  • Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) - American Bankers Association

  • Certified Lender Business Banker (CLBB) - American Bankers Association

1996 - Present
Mr. Kingman is responsible for conducting and overseeing loan, compliance, CRA, and due diligence reviews.  In addition; Mr. Kingman also performs lease administration reviews, ALLL analyses, fair lending reviews, special investigations; and, provides general consulting.

Catherine Khachaturian

ck@uniconfinancial.com

Ms. Khachaturian has also performed a number of special investigations since joining Unicon and, at the request of those clients, presented her findings to the regulators.  Some of these investigations involved wire transfer fraud, BSA structured transactions, money laundering, missing cash, forged endorsements, and check kiting. 

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Ms. Khachaturian has assisted many banks in:  designing new, or re-engineering existing, products; developed custom designed operations programs; and, written various operational policies and procedures.  Ms. Khachaturian has also developed and conducted numerous custom seminars for Unicon’s clients. 

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Ms. Khachaturian is very familiar with all aspects of the ITI, Jack Henry, and Altel systems.  In addition, she has a thorough knowledge of bank legal issues in the areas of new accounts, deposits, levies, and subpoenas. 

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Professional Schools and Seminars:

Fourteen schools and seminars addressing:  management, operations, documentation, accounting, consumer compliance, lending, trade finance, loan documentation, and, international activities.

1996 - Present
Ms. Khachaturian is Managing Director of Operations Reviews.  She joined Unicon in 1996 after 14 years in bank operations, audit, and compliance.  Her primary responsibilities include conducting/supervising Operational, Note Department, Compliance, Merchant Bankcard, and Money Order Examinations.  In addition, she conducts training in those areas and also provides general consulting.  Ms. Khachaturian also sits on Unicon’s Management Committee. 

At Unicon, Mr. Passemard conducts Online Banking Services and IT Reviews, assists banks in writing Online Banking Services and IT policies and procedures, Emergency Disaster/Business Continuity Plan and test, helps banks develop strategic plans for these areas and determine their computer needs, and consults with banks on all aspects of their Online Banking products, services and delivery system. He has participated in or led assignments at banks, bank service providers, and money service businesses in California, Nevada, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New York.

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Mr. Passemard has conducted BSA reviews of regional banks, community, and foreign banks operating in the United States. Mr. Passemard is a Certified Anti Money Laundering Professional. He has assisted banks under BSA enforcement actions in the development and implementation of corrective actions regarded by the regulators. He has also conducted forensic examinations and special investigations involving BSA, suspicious activities, money laundering, loan and operations fraud, and loan loss issues.

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His loan review experience includes Syndicated loans, structured finance, large commercial loans, international trade finance, construction loans, and credit card lending.  Mr. Passemard’s ALLL analyses include loss migration, computer modeling, and economic analysis.  

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Mr. Passemard, a native of France, is proficient in French, English, and Russian.

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 Education:

  • MBA - Chapman University, Orange, CA

  • B.A./Economics (Maitrise) - Université de Nice, France 

 

Awards & Certifications:

  • Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 

  • Microsoft Certified Professional & Internet 

  • Certified Information Systems Auditor

  • Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control

  • GIAC Certified Incident Handler

  • Certified Anti Money Laundering Professional

1998 - Present
Mr. Passemard is the manager of our Information Technology (IT) and BSA Reviews. Mr. Passemard is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), and Microsoft Certified Professional & Internet, and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control. In addition, he is an award winning Webmaster. Mr. Passemard conducts BSA reviews, develops BSA policies for banks, and provides instruction to bankers on proper BSA monitoring techniques.

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