Partner
Chris Van Dyck
Advising financial institutions on cannabis banking strategy, compliance structure, risk management, policy design, and sustainable program growth.
1 Publication 15 Events
Professional Profile
Chris Van Dyck has been involved in the cannabis banking space for over ten years, first as a financial regulatory attorney and then as general counsel, chief risk officer and BSA officer at a financial institution. During his time as a regulatory attorney, he worked closely with financial institutions regulated by his office on compliance issues, including cannabis banking when the FinCEN guidance was issued in 2014.
For ten years, he focused his attention on developing a cannabis banking program, ensuring that it met all regulatory expectations. During his tenure, the cannabis banking program at his financial institution grew extensively and became a significant revenue source.
Chris advises numerous financial institutions across the country on cannabis banking. Because of his extensive experience in this area as a regulator, general counsel, chief risk officer and BSA officer, Chris is uniquely qualified to advise your financial institution on starting and expanding its own successful cannabis banking program, ensuring that it adequately manages the risks associated with these accounts, developing policies and procedures that adequately reflect adherence to the 2014 FinCEN guidance, advising on ways in which to effectively implement these policies and procedures, and drafting depository account agreement and lending covenants that adequately protect your financial institution’s interests.
Areas of Focus
- Cannabis banking program strategy and implementation
- Financial regulatory compliance for financial institutions
- BSA/AML policy structure and risk management
- FinCEN guidance implementation and examiner readiness
- Depository account agreements and lending covenants
- Policy and procedure design for high-risk banking programs
- Program growth strategy for banks and credit unions
- Compliance, governance, and long-term risk controls
Featured webinars
- De Novo, BSA/AML & High-Risk Banking: What Fintechs and Institutions Must Know
- From Compliance Pressure to Capital Readiness: Structuring Cannabis Businesses for Financial Sustainability
- The Institutionalization of Cannabis Lending: Credit Risk, Regulators, and the Opportunity
- How to Launch and Scale Cannabis Banking Without Sacrificing Compliance
- The Executive Order to Reschedule Cannabis: Implications
- Keeping Financial Institutions on Track in Cannabis Banking
- The State of Cannabis Banking for 2026: Rescheduling, Descheduling, and the Future of Financial Compliance
- What Re-Scheduling Cannabis Means For Financial Institutions Contemplating Cannabis Lending
- The Smart Safe Revolution Transforming Cannabis Cash Management
- Cannabis Re-Scheduling: Commercial Lending Implications
- Cannabis Banking Fireside Chat
- Bridging the Cannabis Divide: CRB and FI Perspectives
- Building a Resilient Cannabis Banking Program
- Maximizing Profitability & Managing Risk in Financial Services
Connect with Chris
Connect directly to discuss cannabis banking strategy, policy structure, risk management, licensing support, and long-term program growth.
Thought Leadership
Insights & Speaking by Chris
Published Analysis
The Institutionalization of Cannabis Lending: Credit Risk, Regulators, and the Opportunity
cannabisbankinglending
Speaking Event
The Institutionalization of Cannabis Lending: Credit Risk, Regulators, and the Opportunity
Wednesday, July 29, 2026Upcoming
Speaking Event
From Compliance Pressure to Capital Readiness: Structuring Cannabis Businesses for Financial Sustainability
Tuesday, September 8, 2026Upcoming
Speaking Event
De Novo, BSA/AML & High-Risk Banking: What Fintechs and Institutions Must Know
Wednesday, September 9, 2026Upcoming2 Sessions
Speaking Event
How to Launch and Scale Cannabis Banking Without Sacrificing Compliance
Tuesday, April 14, 2026Past
Speaking Event
The Executive Order to Reschedule Cannabis: Implications
Saturday, January 10, 2026Past
Speaking Event
Keeping Financial Institutions on Track in Cannabis Banking
Tuesday, December 16, 2025Past
Speaking Event
The State of Cannabis Banking for 2026: Rescheduling, Descheduling, and the Future of Financial Compliance
Thursday, December 11, 2025Past
Speaking Event
What Re-Scheduling Cannabis Means For Financial Institutions Contemplating Cannabis Lending
November 2025Past
Speaking Event
The Smart Safe Revolution Transforming Cannabis Cash Management
Thursday, November 13, 2025Recording
Speaking Event
Cannabis Re-Scheduling: Commercial Lending Implications
2025Past
Speaking Event
Cannabis Banking Fireside Chat
2025Recording
Speaking Event
Bridging the Cannabis Divide: CRB and FI Perspectives
2025Recording
Speaking Event
Building a Resilient Cannabis Banking Program
2025Recording
Speaking Event
Maximizing Profitability & Managing Risk in Financial Services
2025Recording
Also on this team
Other attorneys who work alongside Chris
Related Practice Areas