State Spotlight: Kentucky -- Interview with Charles Vice, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions

Unemployment is up, the economy is weak, and Kentucky's banking institutions are working hard to overcome these challenges and stay strong. In the first of a series of interviews with state regulatory leaders, Charles Vice, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, discusses: Kentucky's unique banking challenges; Regulatory priorities for the state's institutions; Areas banking/security leaders must focus on headed into 2010. Vice was appointed commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) effective Aug. 16, 2008. As the commissioner of DFI, Vice has responsibility for the regulatory oversight of all state-chartered financial institutions, which includes examinations, licensing of financial professionals, registration of securities and enforcement. Vice was a bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for 18 years, serving the Lexington field office. During his tenure with FDIC, Vice served as the office's expert on subprime lending and capital markets. He was in charge of the examination of numerous troubled financial institutions and of the information technology operations of three other banks.