Washington People: Former FDIC Chairman Finds Dream Private-Sector Job:

When Ricki Helfer resigned as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., she gave the standard excuse of wanting to devote more of her life to her family.

Most skeptics doubted her explanation, expecting her to land a plum private-sector job. But Ms. Helfer proved them wrong. She and her husband, banking attorney Michael S. Helfer, on April 18 brought home their adopted son, 1-year-old Matthew Bascom Helfer.

"He's a doll," she said, as the toddler on cue began crying in the background. "We are thrilled to pieces. He is very lively. He has taken over our house .... It is the most wonderful experience."

The adoption was already in the works when she announced her resignation in March 1997. "I had a lot of things in mind, but this was certainly one of them - a big one," she said.

u

Raymond Natter has become acting chief counsel at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, filling the vacancy created when Julie L. Williams became acting comptroller April 6.

Mr. Natter joined the OCC in January 1995 as deputy chief counsel after being the top Republican lawyer on the Senate Banking Committee.

u

Whopper of the week: Microsoft plans to charter a credit union. Its membership criterion, or common bond, would be using the Windows computer operating program.

Comparing banks to dinosaurs as Bill Gates did in 1995 would not come close to unleashing the fury that Microsoft's chartering a credit union could trigger.

Chase Manhattan Corp. lobbyist L. Thomas Block said he may know how the rumor got started. While visiting House lawmakers recently, Mr. Block was asked whether Chase considered credit unions a threat. His answer: No, not unless someone like Microsoft decided to seek a charter.

u

Rep. George W. Gekas, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's commercial and administrative law subcommittee, kept his sense of humor when confronted with dozens of Democratic amendments at a recent markup on consumer bankruptcy reform.

"We will take a break at 11 p.m. for coffee and resume at midnight," the Pennsylvania Republican said at the hearing, which started at 10 a.m. and concluded at 2 p.m.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER