Commissioner Cooper Bio

Charles G. Cooper, Commissioner

Charles G. Cooper was appointed Texas Banking Commissioner by the Texas Finance Commission on December 1, 2008. His career in the banking industry spans almost 50 years and includes senior level positions in both the public and private sectors.

As Texas Banking Commissioner, his responsibilities include the chartering, regulation, supervision, and examination of 212 Texas state-chartered banks (as of December 31, 2023) with aggregate assets of approximately $428.8 billion. In addition, the Department supervises trust companies, foreign bank agencies and branches, prepaid funeral licensees, money service businesses, and perpetual care cemeteries. He has served in various positions with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS). He was elected Chairman in 2016 and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. He served two terms as the state banking representative on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) from 2018 to 2022. In May 2023, Mr. Cooper was appointed as Chairman of the State Liaison Committee (SLC). This position also serves as a voting member of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). He also serves as the state representative on the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee (FBIIC) and is heavily involved in promoting cybersecurity efforts in the financial sector.  

Mr. Cooper began his career in banking in 1970 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the Dallas Region. In his 12 years within the public sector, he served in various capacities, including, examiner, review examiner and then field office supervisor of the Houston Northeast Field Office. He made the transition to the private sector in 1982 and since then has served as a banking executive, board member, educator, and professional consultant to the industry. His financial services experience includes executive level positions associated with lending, credit administration, asset/liability management and general bank operations.

A native Texan, Mr. Cooper holds a BBA degree in Finance and Economics from Baylor University and is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU. He also received an advanced peace officer certification. He has been on the board of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate since 1990. He is married and has two daughters and one granddaughter.