Walter J. Mix III heads the Financial Services practice at Berkeley Research Group (BRG). He is a former commissioner of the California Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and also previously served as a banking executive at Union Bank of California. DFI is now called the Department of Business Oversight (“DBO”).

Mr. Mix advises domestic and international bank clients on corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning, and financial advisory assignments. He has significant experience in BSA/AML, Cybersecurity, FinTech, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and capital planning. He has also advised clients on reengineering and implementing technology to improve profitability. In addition, he performs litigation and expert services based on his extensive expertise in financial services. He speaks frequently before bankers’ groups and regulatory seminars.

In his position as commissioner of the DFI, he reorganized the organization and improved its efficiency and effectiveness. Mr. Mix worked with financial institutions on more than 60 mergers and acquisitions. He reengineered the examination processes for banking and other licensees. He was instrumental in the development and passage of California’s identity theft law and many other laws, including the interstate banking and branching law and cooperative supervisory agreements for domestic and international banks. Mr. Mix also spearheaded proposals designed to enhance financial institutions’ electronic banking and commerce capabilities.

He joined BRG from LECG, LLC and before that The Secura Group; he served as managing director in both firms. Mr. Mix is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside and earned a master’s degree with a concentration in economics and public policy from Rutgers University.