Press

Laster Named Director of NCUA’s Office of Consumer Protection

Buckham to Retire at End of 2012 after More Than 35 Years of Service

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Oct. 26, 2012) – National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board Chairman Debbie Matz today announced the selection of Gail Laster as Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, a senior management position within the agency.

“Gail’s extensive background in consumer protection, community development and financial services makes her an ideal choice as the next Director of our Office of Consumer Protection,” said Chairman Matz. “She’s an expert in policy, understands how to work with an array of constituencies, and brings the kind of consumer-focused approach that is central to our mission.”

Laster succeeds Kent Buckham, who will retire at the end of the year after more than 35 years with the agency. She will start her new assignment Nov. 19.

“Kent has made many impressive contributions to NCUA over the last three decades, including most recently standing up the Office of Consumer Protection,” added Chairman Matz. “We will miss Kent’s dedication to NCUA’s mission, willingness to undertake challenging assignments and positive outlook, but I am confident Gail will pick up where Kent left off and take the Office of Consumer Protection to the next level.”

Laster joins NCUA from her position as a Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, where she has worked since 2007. Laster previously served as General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as Director of Governmental Relations for the Legal Services Corporation, and as Counsel to both the Senate Judiciary and Labor and Human Resources Committees. She also participated in drafting many of the consumer protection laws with which credit unions are expected to comply, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Laster is a graduate of the New York University School of Law and earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University.

NCUA is the independent federal agency created by the U.S. Congress to regulate, charter and supervise federal credit unions. With the backing of the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, NCUA operates and manages the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, insuring the deposits of more than 93 million account holders in all federal credit unions and the overwhelming majority of state-chartered credit unions.