Julie L. Williams Becomes Acting Comptroller of the Currency

WASHINGTON, DC — Julie L. Williams became acting Comptroller of the Currency on April 5, succeeding Eugene A. Ludwig who completed a five-year term of office Saturday.

Ms. Williams has been Chief Counsel since 1994 and was also designated First Deputy Comptroller. Under the National Bank Act, she automatically became acting Comptroller following Mr. Ludwig's departure.

"I'm very proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the OCC over the past five years, and I plan to build upon that record," said Ms. Williams. "Thanks to the hard work of the OCC's dedicated and highly-professional staff, the national bank system today is stronger, more efficient and better able to serve all of the nation's communities than at any time in its history."

"However, we have much work ahead of us," she added. "I am determined that the OCC will not rest in its efforts to provide for the safe and sound operation and the long-term vitality of the national banking system."

Ms. Williams said today she has named Deputy Chief Counsel Ray Natter to serve as acting Chief Counsel.

Ms. Williams, 47, joined the OCC in May, 1993 as Deputy Chief Counsel and became chief counsel the following year. She had been Senior Deputy Chief Counsel at the Office of Thrift Supervision, and served since 1983 at that agency and its predecessor, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Previously, she worked on securities and banking law issues at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Kampelman in Washington.

She is a graduate of Goddard College, Vermont, and graduated first in her class at Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. She is the author of numerous articles on banking, securities and financial institutions law. Ms. Williams and her husband, attorney Don G. Scroggin, have a son, Patrick.