Charles A. Vice, of Winchester, was appointed commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) effective Aug. 16, 2008. As the commissioner of DFI, Vice has responsibility for the regulatory oversight of all state-chartered financial institutions, which includes examinations, licensing of financial professionals, registration of securities and enforcement.
Vice currently serves in several national leadership roles through the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the nationwide organization representing state bank regulators. In late 2009, Vice was named treasurer of the CSBS Board. Complementing this role, he also serves as treasurer on the State Regulatory Registry LLC (SRR) Board of Managers as well as the Education Foundation of State Bank Supervisors (EFSBS). The SRR operates the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry on behalf of state financial regulators. The EFSBS sponsors professional training programs for state banking department examiners and senior staff. Vice’s term on all three boards has been renewed and expires in 2013. Serving as treasurer on the CSBS board is a track toward becoming chairman in several years.
He is a member of the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council (FFIEC) State Liaison Committee, which develops principles, standards and report forms for the examination of financial institutions. Vice also serves on the FFIEC Taskforce on Supervision, which oversees guidance regarding safety and soundness issues relating to bank examinations.
Previously, Vice was a bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for 18 years in the Lexington field office. During his tenure with FDIC, Vice served as the office's expert on subprime lending and capital markets. He was in charge of the examination of numerous troubled financial institutions and of the information technology operations of three other banks. His awards have included the 2007 FDIC Chicago Region employee of the year.
Vice holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also successfully completed the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking program. He graduated from Biloxi High School in 1985.