Donna Owens, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, will tour Ohio River Bank, 221 Railroad Street, in Ironton on Wednesday, June 25 at 1:45 p.m. The tour will be led by Daniel H. "Skip" Wiley, the bank's President and Chief Executive Officer.

As Director of Commerce, Ms. Owens oversees the Division of Financial Institutions which charters and regulates Ohio's 134 state-chartered banks. These institutions hold $38.8 billion in assets. Ohio River Bank holds assets of $36.7 million. When the institution was chartered by the Ohio Department of Commerce on May 22, 1995, it became the first new bank chartered in Lawrence County in 105 years.

Since 1995, the Division of Financial Institutions has issued charters for four new community banks, including Ohio River Bank.

"The creation of new banks not only demonstrates the strength of Ohio's banking industry, but also increases the number of banking options open to Ohio's citizens," Director Owens said. "Community banks provide an invaluable service and remain an important component in Ohio's economy."

During the visit, Director Owens and President Wiley will discuss the role of state-chartered financial institutions in Ohio and the affect of recent changes in banking law.

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The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Financial Institutions regulates financial institutions chartered in Ohio. The superintendent serves as chief executive officer of the division and three deputy superintendents oversee the sections of Banks, Savings and Loans/Savings Banks, and Credit Unions. These sections are responsible for all examination, supervision and regulation activities of each specific industry. In addition to financial institutions, Commerce also regulates securities, industrial compliance, fire codes, unclaimed funds, and real estate, among other industries.