Louisiana Finance Association

John Ducrest Named Chairman of CSBS

John Ducrest Named Chairman of CSBS

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has announced that John P. Ducrest, Commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), became chairman of CSBS effective January 14, 2011. Ducrest is the first Louisiana commissioner to hold the chairmanship since 1934. Ducrest will complete the term begun by former Iowa Superintendent of Banking Tom Gronstal before initiating his own one-year term in May 2011. Ducrest has long been involved in the leadership of CSBS. Prior to becoming chairman, Ducrest served as chairman-elect of CSBS, a position he held since May 2010. He was also vice chairman of CSBS and chairman of the CSBS Legislative Committee.

“John is a proven leader among state regulators with a strong commitment to the dual-banking system and the role of the states in financial supervision,” said Neil Milner, President and CEO of CSBS. “He will provide critical leadership at a time when the financial industry and its system of supervision are undergoing extraordinary change.”

Ducrest has served as Commissioner of the Louisiana OFI since his appointment in June 2004, and was reappointed by Governor Bobby Jindal in January 2008. As commissioner, Ducrest manages oversight of various entities that provide financial services to individuals and businesses in Louisiana, ranging from depository institutions such as banks and credit unions, to non-depository providers such as mortgage companies and mortgage brokers. Ducrest first joined OFI in 1985 as a financial examiner before rising to the post of deputy chief examiner and eventually commissioner. During hurricane Katrina, Ducrest earned high praise for his tireless leadership in working with other state officials and the federal government to ensure a functional financial system for the citizens of Louisiana.

Ducrest is a 1984 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He is also a 1994 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Examinations Manager.