NR 97-108
December 9, 1997

OCC Names Amy Friend Assistant Chief Counsel

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amy Friend, general counsel to the House Banking and Financial
Services Committee's Democratic staff, has been named assistant chief counsel for the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Chief Counsel Julie Williams announced today.

"Amy brings to the OCC a broad background in bank legislative issues," said Ms. Williams. 
"She has worked on all of the major banking bills that have been considered in the past two
Congresses and has a keen awareness of the many issues that factor into financial services
legislation.   On top of all that, she is a terrific lawyer." 

In her new capacity, Ms. Friend will focus on legislative matters affecting the OCC and the
national banking industry.  She will join the OCC in January, filling a vacancy in the Chief
Counsel's office.

Ms. Friend was appointed to her present position in September, after serving as counsel to the
Banking Committee since January 1993.  From November 1991 to January 1993, she was
counsel to the Banking Committee's Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.  Ms.
Friend has also held various positions on the legislative staffs of Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep.
Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.  She earned her J.D. in 1984 from
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in psychology from the
University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

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The OCC charters,  regulates and supervises more than 2,600 national banks and 66 federal branches and agencies
of foreign banks in the United States, accounting for 56 percent of the nation's banking assets.   Its mission is to
ensure a safe, sound and competitive national banking system that supports the citizens, communities and
economy of the United States.