Gov.-elect Dan Malloy reappointed state Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin on Tuesday to serve in his administration.
A 30-year veteran of the Department of Banking, Pitkin has lead the agency for the past five years.
“Howard Pitkin has had a long, successful tenure … and I’ve been impressed with his leadership since becoming commissioner five years ago,” Malloy said. “The Connecticut Department of Banking will play a large part in our state’s economic recovery and I’m pleased he will continue in this role.”
The commissioner administers state laws governing commercial and savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, consumer credit, broker-dealers, investment advisers, securities, tender offers and business opportunities.
Pitkin also will continue to oversee the supervision of 40 state-chartered banks and thrifts and 34 state-chartered credit unions. The Banking department has a $20.6 million annual budget and nearly 120 employees.
“I appreciate Governor-elect Malloy’s confidence in me, and I’m looking forward to continuing on in my current role under his leadership,” Pitkin said. “Connecticut consumers need to have confidence in their banking institutions as we begin to reemerge from the recession and move toward recovery.”
Prior to serving as commissioner, Pitkin was chief of administration, which included overseeing the agency’s technological initiatives, and restructuring the bank examination and credit union divisions into the financial institutions division.
Pitkin had served on the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the board of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors.
A graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, Pitkin also is a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. A resident of South Windsor, Pitkin has two children and three grandchildren.
Also Tuesday, Malloy named three commissioners from Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration to serve on an interim basis while his staff continues with national job searches.
Peter O’Meara of Developmental Services, Jeffrey Parker of Transportation and Michael Starkowski of Social Services will continue to head their respective departments when Malloy takes office on Jan. 5.