Roundup: Fla. Regulator: Family Unfit to Run Bank

The family of disgraced Miami banker Abel Holtz should not be running the bank he founded, according to an order issued Monday by Florida's top banking regulator.

Robert F. Milligan, state comptroller and head of the Department of Banking and Finance, denied a request by Mr. Holtz's wife, Fana, and his sons, Daniel and Javier, that they be allowed to operate and control $1.7 billion-asset Capital Bancorp.

Mr. Milligan said the trio lacked the reputation, character, and experience to run Capital Bancorp, one of Miami's largest independent banks. He said that their control would "jeopardize the interests" of other stockholders, depositors, creditors, and the public in general. His ruling came after an administrative law judge's recent recommendation that the Holtzes be forced to relinquish control of the bank.

In 1994, Abel Holtz, the family patriarch, turned over control of the bank to his family before pleading guilty to lying to a federal grand jury. He has been banned by federal regulators from any participation in the bank company, including discussing it with his wife and sons.

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