Roundup: Kansas Regulator Quits Over Proposed Law

The Kansas banking commissioner quit this week after some state lawmakers recommended legislation that would have forced him to do so or give up his banking job.

Kansas is one of only two states that let a banking commissioner remain a banker. State Sen. Don Steffes plans to introduce legislation early next year that would have required W. Newton Male to choose between the two jobs.

Mr. Male is chairman of Prairie State Bank in Auburn and owns 25% of it with his daughters. He resigned from his commissioner's post immediately after a hearing on the draft legislation.

He could not be reached for comment. J. Sue Anderson, executive director of the Community Bankers Association of Kansas, said he viewed the proposal as a personal attack.

Mr. Male was state banking commissioner from 1987 to 1991 and was reappointed in 1995 by Gov. Bill Graves. Deputy Commissioner Judi Stork will be acting bank commissioner until a successor is named.

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