Michigan Financial Institutions Bureau Deputy Commissioner Donald P. Mann today announced the appointment of Stephen F. Trembath as the new regional supervisor in the West Region of the Bank and Trust Division.

Trembath, a 25 year employee of FIB, most recently served as Senior Review Examiner for the Bank and Trust Division. "Steve's years of experience and excellent record of professional achievement made him the perfect candidate for Regional Supervisor of the West Region," Mann stated.

"Due to changes in the number of state-chartered banks in Michigan, their geographic distribution, and early retirements in the FIB, changes in our regulatory structure were needed," explained Mann. The four Lower Peninsula regions have been consolidated into three regions, the East, Central and West regions. The Northern Region was abolished, with staff and banks reassigned to the East Region (formerly the Detroit Region), the Central Region (formerly the Lansing Region) and the West Region (formerly the Grand Rapids Region). The Upper Peninsula region did not change.

Banks and savings banks are assigned to a specific region based on geographic location, with the exception of multi-bank holding companies with banks in more than one region of the state. Each region is staffed with a team of financial institutions examiners, headed by a regional supervisor. "Banks to whom a new Regional Supervisor has been assigned can expect a courtesy call from their new regional supervisor," Mann assured. "Our supervisors and examiners live in the localities in which they work and are accessible to the banks they regulate," Mann continued.

The Financial Institutions Bureau is the primary regulator of Michigan's state-chartered banks, credit unions, savings banks, and over 4,000 other licensed lenders.