The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said this week that it hascreated a new Office of Financial Institutions and BusinessLiaison.

The agency said Monday that the new office is intended toenhance collaboration and communication between the CFPB and tradeassociations, financial institutions and other businesses.

The CFPB also announced it has filled two senior managementpositions, including an assistant director to lead the newoffice.

“As the bureau moves forward with its important work, wecontinue to build a strong, talented team and to enhance ouroutreach to all stakeholders involved in improving markets forconsumers and responsible businesses,” CFPB Director RichardCordray said in the bureau's announcement.

NAFCU spokesperson Patty Briotta said her trade groupappreciates the open line of communication the CFPB has providedthus far, and will utilize the newly created office to continueadvocating for credit unions.

Dan Smith will serve as the first assistant director for theOFIBL. Smith comes to the CFPB having previously served as thedirector for industry and state relations at Freddie Mac.

Catherine Galicia will serve as the new assistant director forlegislative affairs. Most recently, she served as senior counselfor the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairsunder Chairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)

She helped draft the consumer protection provisions of theDodd-Frank Act as a counsel to then-Senate Banking Chairman ChrisDodd (D-Conn.)

Lisa Konwinski, who was previously the bureau's assistantdirector for legislative affairs, will now be serving as its deputyassociate director for external affairs. Konwinski joined thebureau in 2011 after serving as deputy director of legislativeaffairs for President Obama.

Hubert “Skip” Humphrey will transition from his role asassistant director in the Office of Older Americans to remain withthe Bureau as a senior liaison officer, where he will focus onexpanding the office's relationships with state, local, public andprivate organizations.