
Melissa Timmer draws on 20 years of banking expertise, her in-depth knowledge of the cannabis industry, and a broad portfolio of compliance certifications to help financial institutions onboard and monitor cannabis customers.

A lifelong Michigander, Melissa lives at the base of the pinky when looking at “The Mitten.” That’s just south of Grand Rapids to the out-of-towners! She’s also proud to hail from the first state in the Midwest to legalize recreational cannabis in 2018 and make banking services widely available to licensed operators, big and small.
Here’s what she wants everyone to know about establishing and managing a cannabis compliance program:
Document, Document, Document
Thorough documentation is the cornerstone of a strong compliance program. Record every aspect of the relationship, from the application process to account opening and SAR reporting. This ensures you have a reliable repository to track typical account behavior, restrictions, and any suspicious activities. As the compliance mantra goes: "If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen."
Follow Up with Clients
Educate your MRB clients about your expectations and follow up to make sure they are completing tasks. Regular check-ins help ensure tasks are completed and can reveal systemic or egregious past-due cases—often signaling potential red flags.
Create Relationships, Not Transactions
"People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel." This is one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou. Each MRB client comes with unique levels of business knowledge and technical expertise. By taking the time to understand their operations and concerns, you can empathize with their challenges while maintaining firm compliance standards. Building trust leads to stronger relationships and more successful outcomes.