Susan F. Krause is paring her responsibilities at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Starting today, Ms. Krause becomes senior deputy comptroller for international affairs and will work two and a half days a week. Ms. Krause, who was formerly senior deputy comptroller for bank supervision policy, wants to spend more time with her two children.
Samuel P. Golden, the agency's ombudsman, will fill Ms. Krause's position until a replacement is found.
Ms. Krause, an architect of the agency's risk-based exams, will continue to represent the OCC on international matters, including the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
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If the Clinton administration supports mergers between banks and nonfinancial firms, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alfonse M. D'Amato will make financial reform a top priority, an aide to the New York Republican said Friday.
"The key to financial modernization is the administration," said Philip E. Bechtel, the Senate Banking Committee's chief counsel.
Sen. D'Amato has introduced legislation allowing broad affiliation between banks and nonfinancial firms. Without administration support the plan is unlikely to go far, he said, because Sen. Paul Sarbanes, the committee's ranking Democrat, opposes any mixing of banking and commerce.
"If the administration comes out with a bill close to the D'Amato approach, I think you'll see a lot of activity," said Mr. Bechtel.
The Treasury Department must deliver its financial modernization plan to the Hill by March 31.
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Rather than accept the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s offer to move him to Dallas, Al Long joined the Katten Muchin & Zavis law firm here.
Like many employees at the overstaffed FDIC, the 13-year agency veteran chose quitting over relocating. As head of the assessments branch, Mr. Long spent the last few years focused on the premium disparity between banks and thrifts. But the '96 bailout law resolved the issue and the FDIC no longer needed him.
Mr. Long is putting his CPA to work as Katten Muchin's director of financial institution services.
"It's a switch, but I think knowing how FDIC thinks and how they approach things" will help the firm's clients, Mr. Long said.
