Keating Named Bankers Association CEO

Former Governor Frank Keating, it was announced today, is the new president and CEO of the American Bankers Association in Washington.

The announcement came from Stephen P. Wilson, ABA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of LCNB National Bank in Lebanon, Ohio.

“On behalf of the ABA board of directors, I am pleased to announce that former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating has been named to be the next president and CEO of the Association. He will join ABA on December 1 and assume his new role on January 1, upon the retirement of current president and CEO Ed Yingling.

“Frank was the unanimous choice of the search committee. He brings to this position tremendous energy, a strong history of involvement in financial issues, the respect of policymakers on both sides of the aisle and extensive management experience, including eight years as CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers.

“He is well known in Washington and around the country and is highly regarded for his public service in senior positions in the Justice Department, Treasury and HUD, in addition to his eight years as governor of Oklahoma.

“Frank comes from a family of bankers and served on the board of a savings bank. His experience as assistant secretary of the Treasury and general counsel and acting deputy secretary of HUD will be helpful as Congress considers reform of GSEs and housing finance. He also brings to ABA strong management skills honed as governor and in his leadership of a large and complex trade association.

“Coming out of the financial crisis, we are entering a period of great change for our industry. We wanted a strong, proven leader and consensus builder who will listen to the concerns of bankers and be a dynamic champion for our industry during this critical time. That is what we have in Frank Keating.”

A Keating successor at the ACLI has not been named; there was speculation earlier that one of those possibly in line to rejoin the association was Mike Hunter, most recently in charge of the Oklahoma School Land Office. He previously worked with Keating at the association's headquarters in Washington.

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