Julie L. Williams Becomes Acting Comptroller of the Currency

Julie L. Williams became acting comptroller of the currency on Oct. 14, succeeding John D. Hawke Jr., who completed a five-year term of office and served as comptroller for nearly six years.

Williams

"As during 1998, I have the honor to serve as acting comptroller of the currency and lead our highly professional staff until a new comptroller takes office," Williams said. "My total commitment will be to support the interests of our agency and our workforce, to maintain and strengthen the safety and soundness of the national banking system, and to protect the Interests of the customers national banks serve."

"The national banking system is strong and vital," Williams added. "Through the committee on bank supervision, we have a structure in place to tackle the challenges we face with the diversity of banks and bank activities we see today. In the face of those challenges, our goal must continue to be to provide expert, experienced, consistent and balanced supervision for all our banks-large and small," she said.

"Today, the attributes of the national bank charter are increasingly attractive to banks of all sizes, but with the benefits of being a national bank also come responsibilities," Williams said. "Some of the greatest challenges that our banks face today arise from non-traditional sources-such as reputation risk."

Williams has named Deputy Chief Counsel Daniel P. Stipano to serve as acting chief counsel.