OCC Names a New Chief Bank Supervisor

Leann G. Britton was tapped to be chief supervisor of national banks Monday, replacing Stephen R. Steinbrink, who will retire March 11 after 29 years with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

As senior deputy comptroller for supervision operations, Ms. Britton will lead the agency's 2,700 examiners. Mr. Steinbrink said he expects Ms. Britton to change the way the Comptroller's Office is structured and how it examines national banks.

"Our agency mirrors the industry that we supervise," he said. "I think there will be some major changes, such as consolidation of offices."

Ms. Britton joined the OCC in 1975, and is currently deputy comptroller for the central district. She spent much of 1995 working on the agency's review of its organization and systems.

Mr. Steinbrink, 51, said he is leaving because he's tired of shuttling between Washington and Dallas, where his wife runs a home-remodeling business. "I've been commuting six years; I'm ready to go home."

Mr. Steinbrink started his career with the OCC in 1967. He climbed the ranks and became a senior deputy comptroller in 1991. Mr. Steinbrink ran the agency from March 1992 through April 1993.