Partner, Howrey, LLP, Counsel to The Money Services Round Table

Ezra C. Levine, a partner in the firm of Howrey LLP, is an expert in the law of non-bank money transmissions. Since 1986, Mr. Levine has represented a wide variety of check issuers, funds transmitters, stored value issuers, bill payment entities and internet funds transmitters with regard to all aspect of the approximately 45 state statutes dealing with licensing of payment instrument issuers, funds transmitters and the like. In addition, Mr. Levine has advised such businesses on compliance with the federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act and the various state companion recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Over the years, Mr. Levine has participated in the activities of the Money Transmitter Regulators Association (“MTRA”), the organization of state regulators which administers non-bank funds transmission laws. As part of that participation, he has been a member of the Model Legislation Drafting Committee of the MTRA, and has been a frequent speaker on licensing, safety and soundness and compliance issues at the MTRA annual meetings, as well as the annual legal seminars of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. He has had an active role in the enactment of the money transmitter laws in Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Iowa, West Virginia, Illinois, Wyoming, North Carolina, Florida, Idaho, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Maine, Vermont, Arizona, the District of Columbia and Indiana.

Mr. Levine is a member of the United States Treasury’s Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group and the co-chair of its Non-Bank Subcommittee. He has participated with the United States delegation at meetings of the Financial Action Task Force. Mr. Levine frequently testifies before state legislative bodies and committees of the United States Congress on matters relating to money laundering, terrorist financing, and the regulation of money transmitters.