ABA Names Former Okla Gov Its New CEO

WASHINGTON – The American Bankers Association has chosen former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating to succeed Edward Yingling as president and chief executive officer next year.

American Banker, an affiliate of Credit Union Journal that is not affiliated with the ABA, reported that the choice may turn out to be controversial. While the ABA’s chief task is rebuilding its battered image following its fierce opposition to, and failure to stop, regulatory reform legislation, Keating is a well-known Republican who has questioned President Obama’s honesty in the past, the Banker noted.

Keating was elected to two terms as Oklahoma’s governor, holding the post from 1995-2003. Gary Jones, the new president and CEO of the Credit Union Association of Oklahoma, told Credit Union Journal he worked with Keating on the United Way several years ago in Tulsa. “He was a nice guy,” Jones said. “He listened to us and didn’t impact us in any way as far as a political agenda. We invited him to our events and he showed up every time.”

Jones noted Keating was in office for just three months when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed. “Frank did an incredible job of rallying the state after that happened. There was a credit union in the building and a number of lives were lost. The credit union community was significantly impacted and Frank Keating was an important part of the healing process at that time.”

 

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