PHOENIX – A new top credit union regulator for Arizona, FeliciaRotellini, takes over next month replacing Richard Houseworth, thestate's superintendent of banking, who is retiring after 12 yearson the job. Rotellini, an attorney who has been assistantsuperintendent since January 2005, assumes the regulatory post asthe banking department undergoes a name change to the Department ofFinancial Institutions. The name change is the result of a newArizona law which takes effect Dec. 31 and was pushed by theArizona Credit Union League. Announcement of Rotellini'sappointment was made by Gov. Janet Napolitano. Before becomingassistant superintendent, Rotellini served in the state AttorneyGeneral's office “investigating and prosecuting white collar andfinancial fraud cases,” said a statement from the governor'soffice. She also served as chief legal counsel for a newly createdAccountancy Enforcement Unit. Press accounts on the Rotelliniappointment noted the former AG staffer had been involved inprosecuting several high-profile cases in the state, including anaccounting fraud and a bankruptcy case centering on a Phoenix homebuilder. A statement sent out to members of the ACUL noted thatleague staff has worked closely with Rotellini and “we've developeda strong, positive relationship with Felicia during her tenure asassistant superintendent.” Houseworth, a former Bank of Americaexecutive before taking the state job, has served as superintendentsince 1993. He worked for BofA for 33 years before President Reaganappointed him to the Export/Import bank and later was named to theInter-American Development Bank by President George H.W. Bush.Rotellini earned her law degree from the University of Notre Damein 1986 and was an attorney in private practice from 1986-1992.-

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