NEW YORK -
Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan and New York State Banking Department Superintendent
Diana L. Taylor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today that
provides a mechanism for sharing consumer complaint information between
their two agencies.
The MOU is the first such agreement patterned on a template
created by the OCC and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. The
template, announced by the two organizations last week, recognizes
that consumers do not always know which regulatory agency - state or
federal - supervises their bank, and provides model procedures to
ensure that misdirected complaints are sent to the appropriate
agency.
"I want to thank Superintendent Taylor for working with us on
this MOU," said Comptroller Dugan. "The real winners here are New
York consumers, who should not be expected to know which regulatory
agency to send a complaint to when they run into problems."
"We are pleased to be the first
state to sign an MOU with the OCC to ensure consumer
complaints are addressed by the appropriate supervisory agency," said Superintendent Taylor. "This
agreement is an important first-step between the New York Banking
Department and a federal bank regulator to enhance cooperation in the area
of consumer protection."
#
# #
Media Contacts:
| OCC |
Robert M. Garsson |
202-874-5770 |
| NYSBD |
Liz Billet |
212-709-1690 |
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency was
created by Congress to charter national banks, to oversee a nationwide system
of banking institutions, and to assure that national banks are safe and sound,
competitive and profitable, and capable of serving the banking needs of their
customers in the best possible manner.
OCC press releases and other information are available at http://www.occ.gov. To receive OCC press releases and issuances
by email, subscribe at http://www.occ.gov/listserv.htm.
The New York State Banking Department is
the regulator for all state-chartered banking institutions,
virtually all of the United States offices of international banking
institutions, all of the State's mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers,
check cashers, money transmitters and budget planners. The aggregate
assets of the depository institutions supervised by the Banking
Department are more than $1.5 trillion. NYBA press releases and
other information are available at
www.banking.state.ny.us.