Rick St. Onge, Principal

Rick is a recognized regulatory leader and financial services expert with over three decades of combined industry, executive, and public sector oversight experience.As a co-founder of Regulatory Services Co., Rick leverages an insider’s perspective on state and multi-state compliance, financial supervision, and exam strategy to help organizations navigate evolving regulatory frameworks.

Deep Regulatory Leadership & Multi-State Expertise

Rick served for over two decades with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Division of Consumer Services, including a long-tenured role as Examinations Chief and Program Manager.In this executive role, he directed examiners conducting regulatory oversight of residential mortgage lenders and servicers, money transmitters, consumer finance companies, escrow agents, and student loan servicers.
His influence spans nationwide multi-state policy and networked supervision:

• Multi-State Mortgage Committee (MMC): Served seven years on the committee, including as MMC Chair, leading cross-state regulatory examination initiatives and enforcement. 
• Money Transmitter Regulators Association (MTRA): Served 10 years on the MTRA Board of Directors and five as the President of the MTRA Board of Directors, shaping nationwide policy standards for money services businesses
  
• NMLS Policy Committee: Represented state regulatory interests on the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) Policy Committee.
  

Industry Recognition & Practical Perspective

Prior to his public service, Rick was an owner-operator of a mortgage brokerage and banking firm.This dual perspective—having built and managed a financial services business before serving as a chief regulator—allows him to bridge the gap between business operations and regulatory expectations.
In recognition of his contributions to financial regulation, Rick received theDistinguished Service Awardfrom the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR).

Core Competencies

• Multi-State Examination Strategy & Examination Audit Preparation and Response
• NMLS Licensing & Policy Alignment
• Money Services Businesses (MSB) & Lending Compliance
• State & Federal Supervisory Relations
• Design and Implementation of Compliance Management Systems