Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 3, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Bley resigns as director of Department of Financial Institutions

OLYMPIA – John Bley, director of the state’s Department of Financial Institutions since its inception, submitted his resignation to Gov. Gary Locke on Friday with the “deepest respect and honor” for the opportunity of serving in his administration.

Locke praised Bley for his management of the agency and his nearly 14 years of service to Washington state.

“John has been a member of my cabinet from the start of my administration,” Locke said. “He is an excellent manager whose hard work and leadership as DFI director made the agency a nationally-recognized leader in securities fraud and lending enforcement. Because of his tireless efforts, the department is in a position to better serve Washingtonians and the state is poised to meet the many new demands of the ever-changing financial services marketplace.”

“I wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” the governor added.

“I have had the honor of being the first director of the Department of Financial Institutions,” Bley said. “With regret but also with a sense of pride I leave the members of my executive management team. They have all distinguished themselves as leaders and earned respect from those whom they regulate.”

DFI provides regulatory oversight for Washington’s financial service providers. The department was created by combining pre-existing units from two state agencies in October 1993. The department's four divisions regulate a wide range of financial enterprises and individuals, such as banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, consumer loan companies, escrow companies and securities issuers and salespeople.

Bley has not yet set the effective date of his resignation.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions

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