Finance News

Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri Division of Finance has appointed two veteran regulators to lead its legal and bank-monitoring efforts:

Gregory G. Barlow, Deputy Commissioner - With more than 30 years of financial regulation experience in Missouri, Barlow's number-one priority will be assisting the Commissioner of Finance in managing the division and helping to ensure the safety and soundness of Missouri banks in today's challenging economy. The division normally examines banks every 18 months, but banks facing difficulties are examined every six months.

Barlow began his career with the Division of Finance in 1976 and for the past 12 years has led the division's oversight of mortgage brokers and savings & loan associations. He has degrees from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) and the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wi.

Christie A. Kincannon, Chief Counsel - an attorney, Kincannon has spent the past 16 years in the Missouri Attorney General's Office, where she represented a number of state agencies in state and federal court, including the Division of Finance and Division of Credit Unions. She managed the Attorney General's Financial Services Unit in Jefferson City and had oversight of bankruptcy cases in which the state had an interest.

As chief counsel, Kincannon will provide legal advice to the Commissioner of Finance and represent the division in enforcement and disciplinary actions brought by the commissioner. Kincannon is a certified public accountant (CPA) with a business degree and a law degree from Saint Louis University.

Both Barlow and Kincannon will report to Commissioner of Finance Rich Weaver, who was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon in March and confirmed unanimously by the Missouri Senate in April. Weaver previously served as deputy commissioner and has been with the division since 1985.

"The division's priority in the coming 18 months will be to do everything it can to ensure banks are competitive and healthy and making loans to Missouri consumers," said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP). "The banking system plays a vital role in moving Missouri's economy forward, and the Division of Finance is in good hands with these three new leaders."