Kathy Forrest

Resourceful leader recognized for directing mortgage operations, due diligence, and BSA/AML compliance functions, leading cross-functional teams of analysts, reducing CDDI backlog, and significantly shortening BSA/AML review cycles. Adept at strengthening underwriting quality and regulatory alignment, driving double-digit increases in underwriting accuracy, higher loan approval rates, and near-perfect audit accuracy across CDD/KYC and FNMA/FHA/VA compliance reviews. Skilled at building and empowering due diligence and quality review teams, expanding CDDI unit, and mentoring staff members toward strong internal promotion rates.

Creative problem-solver who embraces change and is known for translating performance analytics and root-cause trend analysis into process transformations that reduce cycle times, strengthen governance, and sustain compliance.

Primary Caregiver at Career Sabbatical (2024-01 – 2025-31)

Took planned career break to serve as primary caregiver for parent, managing schedules, documentation, and care coordination while honing organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.

Operational Risk & Due Diligence Manager (AVP) at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (2017-11 – 2023-09)

Capitalized on unique blend of technical, managerial, and operational abilities to lead all aspects of operational risk, customer due diligence, BSA/AML, KYC, quality assurance, and process improvement initiatives across consumer and commercial portfolios. Coordinated intake of customer documentation and requests, verifying availability of required materials before cases entered review workflow. Maintained case queues, assignment records, workflow trackers, and administrative controls.

Responded to analyst questions regarding procedural requirements, documentation standards, system navigation, and case-handling protocols.

• Accelerated team quality performance by 15% above established benchmarks by supervising and developing a 15-member analyst team responsible for due diligence reviews, BSA/AML monitoring, KYC processes, and customer maintenance.
• Decreased Corporate Due Diligence Investigation backlog by 65%, exceeding 50% target ahead of schedule, by completing specialized CDDI QA training and expanding review team from 10 to 26 analysts for lower-risk reviews.
• Developed stronger internal talent pipeline by establishing mentorship-focused team culture that empowered 20% of team members to secure promotions within Wells Fargo or advance to roles at other financial institutions.
• Enabled well-informed operational risk management by analyzing performance metrics, service levels, and key risk indicators, conducting trend and root-cause analysis, and executing cross-functional process improvements.
• Achieved and sustained 97% quality performance by auditing customer profiles, validating documentation, and ensuring adherence to CDD/KYC requirements and internal governance standards.
• Slashed BSA/AML periodic review cycle times from 90 to 30 days by designing and implementing a Customer Outreach pilot that optimized CDD/EDD updates while ensuring regulatory alignment.
• Earned promotion to Assistant Vice President (AVP) in recognition of optimal leadership, strong team performance, and significant contributions to professional development initiatives.

Mortgage Underwriting • Processing Manager at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (2012-03 – 2017-11)

Led and streamlined complete-spectrum mortgage underwriting operations, including but not limited to workflow optimization, quality assurance, compliance, and team development across full loan processing. Aligned team practices with investor-specific guidelines, focusing on improving consistency and accuracy in lending decisions. Applied strong analytical reasoning to analyze team metrics and process trends, identify capability gaps, and direct targeted training and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Boosted loan approval rates by 20% and cut processing timelines by 15% by identifying workflow bottlenecks, standardizing upfront documentation requirements, and implementing pre-review checkpoints to reduce conditions and resubmissions.
• Modernized borrower and sales-partner experience through proactive communication throughout loan lifecycle, providing greater transparency around requirements, status, and next steps.
• Strengthened team performance through insightful coaching, feedback, accountability, and professional development while maintaining adherence to regulatory and quality expectations.
• Amplified underwriting accuracy and decision consistency by 25% by implementing structured peer reviews and knowledge-sharing programs across a 20-member underwriting team.

Account Representative at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

• Reduced conditional reissues and rework by instituting feedback loops between processing and underwriting, standardizing checklists, and strengthening first-time file quality while maintaining FNMA, FHA, and VA compliance.
• Improved underwriting quality and cycle times by identifying recurring documentation gaps, underwriting conditions, and aging-file bottlenecks and implementing targeted coaching, job aids, and pre-underwrite reviews.
• Optimized loan progression and documentation compliance by conducting pipeline and quality-control reviews with loan officers and analyzing loan scenarios to support credit decisions and underwriting outcomes.
• Accomplished and maintained 99% accuracy in loan data entry, customer transactions, and system updates while meeting prescribed regulatory and investor requirements.

High School Diploma – Walkersville High School