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WASHINGTON, DC (September 3, 2014) — The American Association of Bank Directors (“AABD”) announced today that it has named Rich Whiting as Executive Director and David Baris as President.  Mr. Baris formerly served as AABD’s Executive Director.

Mr. Whiting, formerly the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Financial Services Roundtable, is a nationally known expert in banking policy, legislative and regulatory matters, as well as an expert in association operations.   In addition to his long service to the Roundtable, Rich also was a senior attorney to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (where he played a major role in many historic developments and received the FFIEC’s highest award) and a clerk to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Whiting also teaches banking law at the Georgetown University Law Center, is chair of the Board of Advisors to Boston University’s Center for Finance, Law and Policy and has held leadership positions within the American Bar, DC Bar and Federal Bar Associations, as well as the Exchequer Club and WHF.

“We are thrilled that Rich will add his wealth of experience, excellent reputation and vitality to AABD as we enter this next quarter of a century of service to America’s bank directors,” said Baris.  “With the increasing burdens, responsibilities and personal liabilities imposed upon bank directors, there has never been a greater need for AABD’s enhanced representation of bank directors.”

Baris is also a partner in the law firm of Buckley Sandler LLP, representing financial institutions throughout the United States on securities, corporate, transactional, and regulatory matters. Before entering private practice, he served as a bank regulator and Congressional staffer, serving as Regional Counsel to the Comptroller of the Currency and Counsel to the Government Operations Committee, U.S. House of Representatives.  Mr. Baris also served as a director of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, serving on their Executive, Audit and Investment Committees.  Among the books he has authored are The Bank Director Regulatory Burden Report and FDIC Director Suits: Lessons Learned.

Founded in 1989, the non-profit American Association of Bank Directors is the only trade group in the United States solely devoted to bank directors and their information, education, and advocacy needs. The Institute for Bank Director Education was established in 1993 as the educational arm of AABD. Its purpose is to act as a clearinghouse for education programs designed for bank and savings institution directors that support the nationally recognized Director Certification Program. www.AABD.org