Klaros Group

Get the Big Decision Right the First Time.

Experienced advisors for banks, fintechs, and financial innovators navigating high-stakes moves.

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As Featured in Bloomberg

"Who companies call when they want to become a bank."

Klaros advises fintechs, sponsor banks, embedded finance providers, payment innovators, and investors on the strategic, regulatory, and compliance decisions that shape growth, from bank charter strategy to sponsor bank partnerships, U.S. market entry, and BSA/AML and financial crimes risk.

Konrad Alt

Co-Founder | Partner

Konrad Alt

Co-founder of Klaros, advising boards and executives on enforcement, risk governance, and entry into banking through de novo charters and acquisition.

  • Advises boards and senior leaders on regulatory, governance, and risk
  • Former Chief Banking Officer, Green Dot Corporation; Vice-Chairman, Green Dot Bank
  • Founded and led Promontory Financial Group’s San Francisco office; later Promontory’s COO
  • Former Chief of Staff and Senior Deputy Comptroller at the OCC
  • Former counsel to the U.S. Senate Banking Committee
Michele Alt

Co-Founder | Partner

Michele Alt

Co-founder of Klaros specializing in bank applications, business plan development, and regulatory strategy and engagement.

  • Focus on U.S. bank licensing strategies and business plan development
  • Former leader of major bank licensing efforts at Promontory Financial Group
  • Advised banking organizations on Dodd-Frank and Volcker Rule matters
  • 22 years in the OCC Law Department
  • Led interagency Dodd-Frank rulemakings; agency point person on federal preemption
Adam Shapiro

Co-Founder | Partner

Adam Shapiro

Digital assets and fintech practice leader focused on payments, digital assets, and other new products.

  • Former Head of Strategy & Chief Control Officer, BBVA Open Platform (Banking-as-a-Service)
  • Built and led Promontory Financial Group’s fintech practice
  • Advised crypto firms, payment companies, and banks on fintech and risk management
  • Regulatory policy experience at the U.K. Financial Services Authority
Brian Graham

Co-Founder | Partner

Brian Graham

Bank strategy and investment leader with four-plus decades spanning M&A, operating leadership, and financial services investing.

  • Led CapitalSource’s transformation into a bank
  • Former partner at Blue Ridge Capital Management (financial services investing)
  • Former CEO, BancAlliance — network of 300+ community banks
  • Former M&A investment banker at Morgan Stanley
  • Senior financial services aide to then-Congressman Charles Schumer during the thrift crisis
  • Staff member, Brady Commission (1987 market crash investigation)
  • Board member, Grasshopper (U.S. digital commercial bank)

Why clients choose Klaros

Unmatched Track Record

We have advised on bank charters, fintech launches, partnerships, and market-entry decisions across financial services for decades.

Ex-Regulators & Insiders

You get counsel from people who know what regulators are looking for, because they've sat on the other side of the table.

Speed to Market

Bad advice is expensive. Slow advice is too. We get you to the right answer faster, with the credibility regulators and partners expect.

Bring us the questions that don't have obvious answers

  • Should we get a bank, and if so, what's the right path?
  • What charter or structure actually fits our business?
  • How do we reduce risk in a regulatory application?
  • What do regulators and sponsor banks need to see from us?
  • How do we enter the U.S. market without wasting time and money?
  • How do we strengthen compliance and financial crimes controls before they block growth?
  • How do we build a credible business plan for a bank, fintech, or new product?
  • Is a bank partnership, acquisition, or charter move actually worth it?

Working through one of these decisions?