WASHINGTON — With little fanfare, the Senate today confirmedMichael E. Fryzel to a seat on the NCUA board.

Fryzel, a former director of the Illinois Department ofFinancial Institutions, will serve on the board through 2013. Hewill succeed Chairman JoAnn Johnson, whose term expired lastyear.

The Bush administration has said it will designate Fryzel as theboard's chairman but his tenure in that post could be short livedas each president has the right to designate their own chairman,though he would remain on the board regardless.

“I am deeply honored by my U.S. Senate confirmation. Inpreparing to assume office, I want to reiterate the prioritiesstated during my recent Senate Banking hearing: vigilant andthorough supervision, emphasis on safety and soundness, anddedication to protecting the consumer,” Fryzel said in a statement.The credit union industry, now entering its second century, hasproven itself valuable to America's consumers and as such has aright to expect fair, consistent, common-sense regulation. It is mycommitment to conduct my chairmanship in that manner.”

Fryzel has had extensive experience dealing with credit unionsboth while in government and in private practice, since leavingstate government in 1989. He has represented numerous state andfederal chartered credit unions and was the legal counsel for theMidwest Association of Credit Unions before it merged with theIllinois Credit Union League.

No date has been set for his swearing in. He was first nominatedto the post by President Bush last Nov. 30.