Niel Willardson

Niel joined the San Francisco Fed on October 1, 2023, as the interim Executive Vice President, Supervision + Credit. In this capacity, he oversees bank supervision and regulation for bank holding companies, state member banks, and foreign banking organizations throughout the Twelfth Federal Reserve District, as well as the provision of liquidity to the payment system by extending credit through the Federal Reserve’s discount window. He is also a member of the Bank’s executive leadership team.

Prior to joining the Bank, Niel had over 30 years of leadership experience with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, serving as its managing officer in Banking Supervision for two years and Senior Vice President and Officer in Charge of Supervision for eight years. He also served as the Bank’s General Counsel for more than fifteen years and led the Minneapolis Fed’s Financial Management Group, Office of the Secretary, and the Payments Standards and Outreach group for several years. He completed a secondment at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as Deputy Director, Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems shortly after the Financial Crisis.

Niel has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law school for more than thirty years. Courses taught include Financial Regulation, Corporate Counsel Seminar and Federal Reserve System Seminar.

Niel earned his bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University and his Juris Doctorate from University of Minnesota Law School.