Integrity Bankcard at Level Up 2026

I will be attending the Association of Payment Professionals Level Up Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 20 through 22, 2026, and participating in a timely and important panel discussion addressing one of the most debated topics in the payments industry today.

David Press, a 40-year veteran in the bankcard space, shares real-world insights from the front lines of risk management and card brand compliance. This session offers a rare historical lens on how the industry’s approach to oversight has adapted and what it means for the road ahead.

Panel Session:

Reputational Risk: What the “Fair Banking” Executive Order and the Legacy of Operation Choke Point Mean for the Industry

Speaker:

• David Press
  Founder & President, Integrity Bankcard Consultants

• Theresa Kananen
  Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

• Shari M. Savlick
  Vice President, Merchant Compliance, Merrick Bank

Moderator:

• Marlena Hubley
  Founder & Principal Consultant, Rebeta Consultants

Session Overview:

This panel examines the implications of the 2025 Executive Order aimed at eliminating so-called “reputation-based debanking,” set against the backdrop of Operation Choke Point, a now-abandoned DOJ initiative that pressured financial institutions to sever relationships with lawful but reputationally sensitive industries.

The discussion will focus on how the Executive Order shifts regulatory expectations toward measurable, individualized, and risk-based decision-making, rather than political, religious, or subjective reputational considerations.

Attendees will hear from legal, acquiring, and merchant banking perspectives on how the payments industry is responding to these directives, the evolving role of reputational risk, and what is realistically achievable from an operational and compliance standpoint. The panel will provide clarity on legal exposure, practical risk management considerations, and how compliance teams can navigate this changing landscape with confidence.

#Payments #Compliance #RiskManagement #APPLevelUp #LasVegas #IntegrityBankcard