Names are already circulating about possible successors to Richard S. Carnell, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for financial institutions, who is leaving this summer to teach at Fordham University's law school.
The early inside favorite is his assistant, Gregory A. Baer, who joined the Treasury in late 1997 after serving as managing senior counsel at the Federal Reserve Board.
But numerous banking lawyers and others outside the agency are also under consideration, sources say. Among them is Konrad S. Alt, a senior vice president of World Savings and Loan Association in Oakland, Calif. Before joining the thrift, Mr. Alt was chief of staff at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and a Senate Banking Committee lawyer.
Comptroller of the Currency Jerry D. Hawke Jr. thinks all banks and thrifts should ante up for deposit insurance.
During a rate-setting discussion last week at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Mr. Hawke asked an FDIC lawyer whether the board had the "authority to impose a minimum premium" or "user fee" on every bank and thrift.
"I just have some concerns that we are routinely giving away the benefits of deposit insurance," the comptroller said.
The FDIC does have that power, and it imposed a minimum payment of $2,000 on all institutions until 1996. Today only 562 of 10,486 FDIC- insured institutions pay any premium.
Paul A. Volcker has endorsed Bill Bradley for President.
"For years I have privately urged Bill Bradley to run for President," the former Fed chairman said at an April 15 fund-raiser for the candidate in New York. "Now he has. And that's why I am here with you tonight ready, for once, to put my mouth where my money is."
Mr. Volcker said the former National Basketball Association star and former U.S. senator from New Jersey has "a willingness to take on the tough issues and the tenacity to see them through."
Some of these tough issues, Mr. Volcker said, include improving race relations, implementing fair and effective tax reform, developing an international economic order, and understanding the technology that "drives both globalization and our own prosperity."
Say goodbye to gold watches. Anthony T. Cluff, former executive director of the Bankers Roundtable, wanted a more practical retirement present. At the group's annual meeting this month in Naples, Fla., Mr. Cluff was given a Chevy Suburban. All right, he just got a check and a picture of the huge vehicle, which lists for roughly $40,000 in the Washington area.
David V. Marventano, one-time chief of staff to former Rep. Bill Paxon, R-N.Y., has joined the Securities Industry Association as No. 2 lobbyist, behind Steve Judge. Mr. Marventano said the newly created position of vice president and senior director of government affairs gives him lobbying and administrative duties. Financial reform, taxes, and savings are his lobbying priorities. He will also focus on fund-raising and increasing the political involvement of the group's members.
Former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alfonse M. D'Amato continues to expand his resume.
The law firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle LLP last week hired the ex-lawmaker as senior counsel in the firm's Manhattan and Garden City, N.Y., offices. He will focus on banking, securities, insurance, and health- care issues for the firm.
Mr. D'Amato is also a columnist for George magazine, a Fox News commentator, and president of Park Strategies Inc., the Manhattan consulting firm he founded after losing his reelection bid last fall.
