Dana Paull serves as a Virtual Compliance Officer for Virtual Partners at Compliance Alliance. With over 30 years of experience in banking and legal-related fields, Dana brings a career marked by resilience, expertise, and a passion for regulatory clarity. Originally setting out to become a librarian, Dana began her professional journey with a BA in English and a foray into Library Science. When that path proved less viable, she pivoted into banking—starting as a receptionist and quickly proving her aptitude by untangling backlogs in HMDA, UCC releases, and adverse action files. Long before TRID complicated the mortgage landscape, Dana was documenting and processing home improvement and construction loans with precision.
Compliance found Dana early, as someone simply “had” to take it on. She not only accepted the challenge but made it her niche—quickly transitioning into a dedicated compliance and BSA career. Over the years, Dana has held leadership roles including SVP of Compliance and CRA Officer, Compliance Director, and Operational Risk Lead at multiple institutions ranging from $550 million to $3.5 billion in assets. She’s known for her ability to take on regulatory challenges others avoid, tackling everything from Board Governance to Model Risk Management and building formal programs that align with institutional goals.
Dana is recognized for developing strong Compliance Management Systems (CMS), restructuring training and vendor management programs, and mentoring staff into accomplished compliance and BSA professionals. Her leadership consistently yields high marks from auditors and regulators alike. She holds a CRCM certification, multiple risk credentials, and is a published author of compliance articles and consumer fraud-themed mystery novels.
Dana grew up on Catalina Island and has worked since she was twelve. She and her husband Jim—self-declared “trophy husband” and stay-at-home dad—have been married for 33 years and are proud parents to two thriving adult children. Their son Ethan, a Yosemite tour guide and historical fiction author, lives nearby with his wife Gabby, who avoids any suggestion of a compliance career from her mother-in-law. Their daughter Jessica lives in New Zealand, pursuing a PhD in bryology and was recently featured in New Zealand Geographic for her research on mosses. At home in Central California with their German Shepherd, Heidi, Dana enjoys reading, true crime, plain teas, vintage jewelry, and old-time radio shows.
