Merrill J. Reynolds, Jr.
Partner and Co-Founder
A graduate of Southern Methodist University and The Southwestern Graduate School of
Banking, Mr. Reynolds began his career as a bank examiner with the Federal Reserve
Bank of Dallas. A 30+ year banking veteran, he has worked for both community and
multi-bank holding companies in a wide range of lending and managerial capacities.
Prior to beginning his consulting career, Mr. Reynolds served as Senior Vice President
and Business Banking Manager for Wells Fargo, N.A. in New Braunfels, Texas. Mr.
Reynolds founded Reynolds Williams Group in 1999 as a bank consulting firm designed
to provide services to both commercial and savings financial institutions nationwide. Mr.
Reynolds serves as a lead instructor for multiple banking organizations, and was
instrumental in the design of the only accredited certification course for loan review
professionals. Mr. Reynolds serves as a 10+ year faculty member of The Southwestern
Graduate School of Banking and is a regular speaker for The Assembly for Bank
Directors and numerous national conferences and seminars including the Bank CEO
Network, the American Bankers Association, and the Farm Credit Association.
Aimee A. Williams
Partner and Co-Founder
A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, School of Business, holding a B.B.A. in finance and a 20+ year banking veteran, Ms. Williams has extensive commercial lending, loan review and regulatory compliance experience. Her specialties include loan policy development and revision, loan review development and implementation, and credit-related training. Ms. Williams began her career as a commercial real estate lender for Citibank, FSB in Chicago and, prior to co-founding Reynolds Williams Group, spent several years as an independent credit review and regulatory compliance consultant for various companies throughout the nation. She successfully developed and managed an internal loan review program for a large community bank in the Midwest, has performed numerous personnel and credit-related efficiency studies for banks nationwide and currently serves as a lead instructor and speaker for Bank Administration Institute, Chicago, and several state banking organizations.
Matthew R. Earl
Associate Partner
A graduate of The University of Toledo, holding a B.B.A. in finance, Mr. Earl has held
various positions in organizations ranging from community banks to super regional bank
holding companies and an internationally-recognized accounting firm. He has direct
experience in commercial, consumer and mortgage lending, loan review, credit
administration, internal audit, regulatory compliance and enterprise risk management. He
has also spent extensive time performing due diligence on both acquiring and to-be-acquired
entities for banks and leasing companies. Mr. Earl has developed and
implemented systems that both monitor credit risk and provide strategic methodologies,
policies and procedures for credit administration, lending and control standards, process
flow and tracking mechanisms. Mr. Earl specializes in risk rating systems, problem bank
resolution, loan review programs and allowance for loan loss methodology. He has also
developed a solution for CRE Stress testing that has been implemented at both Banks and Credit Unions nationally. Mr. Earl currently consults on a national level for Banks and Credit Unions of all sizes, in all areas of credit risk and has provided ready solutions for
his clients in response to all forms of regulatory enforcement actions.
Joseph D. Pianalto
Associate
A graduate of The University of Arkansas, holding a B.B.A. in finance, Mr. Pianalto has
experience in risk management, credit administration, and loan review. Mr. Pianalto
began his career as a Credit Risk Analyst for a community bank and was responsible for
leading reviews on all segments of the bank’s loan portfolio including: commercial real
estate, commercial and industrial, construction, mortgage, and consumer loans. Mr.
Pianalto gained further experience with US Bank as a Credit Review Specialist. In
addition to specializing in credit analysis and risk rating, he provided lender support for
the region and training for Review Specialists. Mr. Pianalto is currently a consultant to
the financial services industry where he specializes in commercial and agricultural
lending and has been involved in consulting engagements nationwide. Mr. Pianalto's direct
involvement in both lending and loan review allows him to provide clients with solutions
to almost any credit related issue that are both practical and meet regulatory expectations.
Walter L. Smith
Sr. Financial Services Consultant
With over 25 years banking experience, Walter Smith has experience across multiple bank disciplines including commercial lending, risk management, credit administration and loan review. Smith served as Vice President and Loan Review Manager in the Risk Support Services Division of Wachovia’s Risk Management Group where his responsibilities included regional management of Loan Review staff, assessing the quality of assets and credit processes of the corporation, training corporate lenders in risk management and credit grading. Specific loan review responsibility included defense & aerospace, asset based lending, corporate leasing, rail car group, transportation and construction group and special asset (loan work-out) areas. Mr. Smith’s prior experience also includes over 25 years in banking with First Union, First Fidelity Bank, Meritor Savings Bank and Bank Leumi Le-Israel. Mr. Smith is a graduate of Drexel University where he received a B.S. in Business Administration majoring in Accounting. He has been a lead instructor for Bank Administration Institute, Chicago for over ten years.