KPMG Peat Marwick expanded its regulatory advisory services from a single Washington location to a national network last week.
The financial services regulatory advisory practice was boosted to help banks stay competitive while also staying in compliance.
"The expansion comes from a recognition that rather than declining, regulatory compliance will be an important business issue for a long time," said Steven M. Roberrs, the partner in charge of the group. Prior to joining Peat Marwick, Mr. Roberts was Federal Reserve Chairman Paul A. Volcker's assistant and chief economist for the House Banking Committee.
Mr. Roberts said his customers were Eking for more and more compliance advice.
"Every time there's another Justice Department lawsuit, our phones ring off the hook," he said.
Peat Marwick's network consists of 120 people - including former bank examiners - in 56 cities, and is available to all the company's clients.
Mr. Roberts said the practice's advice should help banks get in compliance before examiners discover a problem, and allow them to focus on business and expansion issues. "Our main purpose is to save clients time and money," Mr. Roberts said.
