U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) Acting Director Travis Hill as the permanent chair of the banking regulator, an action that drew support from the banking industry. The nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Hill has served in this role since Jan. 20, 2025. He was sworn in as vice chairman of the FDIC on Jan. 5, 2023.
Hill had previously worked at the FDIC from 2018 to 2022. Among his roles during that stint were deputy to the chairman for policy and senior advisor to the chairman. In these roles, Hill oversaw and coordinated regulatory and policy initiatives at the agency and advised the chairman on regulatory and policy matters.
From 2013 to 2018, Hill worked as senior counsel at the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. In that role, he participated in the drafting and negotiating of numerous bipartisan bills. And from 2011 to 2013, Hill worked as a policy analyst at Regions Financial Corporation.
Hill has a Bachelor of Science from Duke University, where he studied economics and political science, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
“In serving the agency since 2018 in roles that include acting chair, vice chair, and deputy to Chairman McWilliams for policy, Hill has demonstrated a keen understanding of the complex policy issues facing our financial system,” Rob Nichols, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, said. “He has also taken significant steps to address misguided regulations put in place under the FDIC’s prior leadership and helped restore confidence in the agency. We urge the Senate to quickly confirm Hill to this important position.”
The nomination drew praise from across the banking industry, including the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).
“ICBA and the nation’s community banks congratulate Travis Hill on his nomination to serve as chairman of the FDIC and encourage swift confirmation by the Senate,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “In his service as acting chairman and vice chairman, Hill has demonstrated his clear understanding of the important role of community banks and the need for tiered regulations to preserve access to banking services in local communities.”
ICBA will continue to encourage policymakers to address excessive regulatory burdens on community banks and ensure a level regulatory playing field between banks and nonbank entities, Rainey said.
The Consumer Bankers of America (CBA) also support the nomination of Hill as permanent FDIC chair.
CBA President and CEO Lindsey Johnson said, “Travis’s deep experience within the agency and across the financial policy ecosystem will serve the country well. America’s leading banks look forward to working with him to strengthen consumer confidence, support innovation, drive economic growth and access to capital, and ensure our banking system continues to be the most resilient in the world.”