DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Securities Commissioner and acting State Banking Commissioner Fred Joseph has been appointed to the new position of Colorado Banking and Securities Commissioner.

The State Department of Regulatory Agencies said Tuesday that the division of banking and the division of securities will continue operating as separate agencies. Joseph will be responsible
for overseeing both the soundness of state banks and efforts to protect investors and maintain public confidence in the securities markets.

Department of Regulatory Agencies Executive Director Barbara Kelley says there are shared challenges confronting the financial services industries generally, and particularly the banking and securities sectors.

Joseph has been the Securities Commissioner since 1999 and has served twice as the acting Banking Commissioner.

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