Region IV - Austin

Keith Morton is the Regional Director for the Region IV office in Austin.  As Regional Director, Keith is responsible for the oversight of the chartering program for federal credit unions and the examination and supervision programs for all federally insured credit unions in Arkansas, Illionis, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and. Wisconsin. 

Keith’s career began in December 1986 as a field examiner in Washington, D.C.  He also was a Problem Case Officer prior to moving into management in 1994.  He spent nearly eight years in management roles in Region II (Alexandria, Virginia) as a supervisory examiner, director of Special Actions, and director of Supervision prior to joining Region IV as Associate Regional Director in 2002. 

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Keith holds an accounting degree from Frostburg State College, Frostburg, Maryland.

Jeff Steele is the Associate Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) for the Region IV office in Austin, Texas. As ARDO, Jeff is responsible for activities in the Region IV Divisions of Insurance, Management Services, Special Actions, and Supervision.

Jeff’s NCUA career began in June 1987 as an Examiner in Houston, Texas. He also served as a Liquidation Analyst in AMAC and Loss and Risk Analysis Officer in E&I prior to moving into management in 1993. He spent nearly seven years in management roles in Region I (Albany, New York) as the Supervisory Examiner for New York City and as the Director, Division of Special Actions. He also served three years as the Deputy to the President in AMAC prior to joining Region IV in May 2003.

Jeff holds a BBA in Accounting from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

L. J. Blankenberger is the Associate Regional Director for Programs (ARDP) for the Region IV office in Austin, Texas. As ARDP, Larry is responsible for managing the examination and supervision programs for the region.

Blankenberger joined NCUA as an examiner in 1987. He has also served as a problem case officer, supervisory examiner, and director of supervision. Prior to joining NCUA he worked since 1979 in various credit union operational and management positions.

Blankenberger holds an accounting degree from Indiana State University. In January of 1988, he received the designation of the National Credit Union Institute as a Certified Union Executive (CCUE).