Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Veteran banking executive to head Office of Financial Institutions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2005) – Cordell G. Lawrence, who came to state government after a long banking and trust career, has been selected for appointment as executive director of the Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) by Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Lawrence, 52, of Louisville, has been deputy commissioner of the Governor’s Office for Local Development, where he assisted in overseeing the allocation of over $58 million in state and federal funds to local communities.

“Cordell Lawrence has been an asset to this administration throughout his service as deputy commissioner of the Governor’s Office for Local Development,” Governor Fletcher stated. “With his many years of banking and trust experience, he will do an outstanding job at the Office of Financial Institutions.”

Lawrence was born in Somerset but grew up in Louisville, where he launched a 31-year banking career from a job as a messenger for the former Liberty National Bank and Trust Co. He rose through the ranks to become Liberty’s senior vice president for corporate trust services. He was a vice president and later regional manager for National City Corp. for 10 years prior to joining the Fletcher administration in 2003.

Lawrence said his new assignment presented “a rare opportunity.”

“My 31 years of banking and trust experience will hopefully offer some unique perspectives and assist with fulfilling Governor Fletcher’s vision for growing and strengthening the financial services industry within our great Commonwealth,” Lawrence said.

OFI is an agency of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC). It charters, licenses and regulates all state banks and branches, trust departments and independent trust companies, state credit unions, state savings and loan associations, consumer and industrial loan companies, mortgage lenders and mortgage loan brokers.

It oversees check-cashing businesses, title pledge lenders and companies that sell money orders. OFI also registers investment securities; licenses securities brokers, dealers, agents and investment advisers; and regulates Kentucky’s securities industry.

EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher said Lawrence “brings an excellent management background to this important position. We are glad to have him on our team.”

Lawrence is a graduate of Spalding University, a member of its Board of Trustees and a former president of its Board of Overseers. He has been a member of the National Committee on Planned Giving and the Kentucky Planned Giving Council and is a former chairman of the Planned Giving Committee at Berea College.

He and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children.