North Dakota Governor appoints banking and finance commissioner

Northwestern Financial Review, Sep 15, 2001

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven has appointed Tim Karsky to serve a four-year term as commissioner of the Department of Banking and Financial Institutions.

"My big issue is going to be Internet banking," said Karsky. "We need to get a task force together and properly examine online banking. Many North Dakota banks are now on the Web, and if they're not, they are planning to within the next 12 months. We also need to provide the right training for examiners so they can approach and assess the new systems accurately."

Technology issues will be a department priority as well. "Right now the department is going through a major technological overhaul," said Karsky. "We're automating everything including our records." Karsky said the departmental upgrade began several months ago during previous commissioner Gary Preszler's appointment. "A good deal of work has been done but it's still a huge project and is going to take some time," Karsky said.

Karsky began working for the department in 1986 as chief examiner. He was appointed assistant commissioner in 1989, a position he held through 1997, when he left the department to work at a bank. Karsky returned to the department in 1999 as assistant commissioner.