Earl J. “Jake” Allen, assistant vice president/compliance officer was recently awarded the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association.

“Earning the CRCM designation validates Jake’s experience and depth of education in the bank regulatory compliance industry,” said Benchmark’s President/CEO Jay Stafford. “We are pleased that he has achieved this level ofa proficiency in this critical comaponent of bank regulation and operations.”

The CRCM designation is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of bank regulatory compliance. To qualify for the CRCM certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the compliance profession, pass an exam and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CRCM exam covers regulatory requirements as they relate to credit, deposits/securities, safety and soundness, information reporting and corporate responsibility

A resident of Farmville, Allen joined Benchmark in 2015. He is a 2011 summa cum laude graduate of the College of Business and Economics at Longwood University where he was named a McGowan Scholar (2010), a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and recipient of the 2011 Academic Excellence Award. While a student and following graduation, Allen embarked upon his banking career with Citizens Bank & Trust and Bank of McKenney before coming to Benchmark.

Financial services professionals, working through the Institute of Certified Bankers, initiated the CRCM designation and six others to establish meaningful standards of knowledge in specialty areas of the financial services industry. ICB certifications formally recognize those who meet these standards and meet professional continuing education and development requirements.

ICB, with more than 11,000 certified members, provides financial services professionals with confidence, credibility and recognition through its certifications. As a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association, ICB promotes the highest standards of performance in the financial services industry by validating individuals’ knowledge and expertise. For more information about the Institute of Certified Bankers and its professional certifications, call (202) 663-5092 or visit www.aba.com/icb.