Commissioner Cooper Bio

Charles G. Cooper, Commissioner

Charles G. Cooper was appointed Texas Banking Commissioner by the Texas Finance Commission on December 1, 2008. His career in the banking industry spans 50 plus years and includes senior level positions in both the public and private sectors.

As Texas Banking Commissioner, his responsibilities include the chartering, regulation, supervision, and examination of 205 Texas state-chartered banks (as of June 30, 2025) with aggregate assets of approximately $431.9 billion. In addition, the Department supervises trust companies, foreign bank agencies and branches, prepaid funeral licensees, money service businesses, and perpetual care cemeteries. He has served in various positions with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS). He was elected Chairman in 2016 and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. He served two terms as the state banking representative on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) from 2018 to 2022. In May 2023, Mr. Cooper was appointed to and serves as Chairman of the State Liaison Committee (SLC) which serves as a voting member of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. He also serves as the state representative on the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee (FBIIC) and is heavily involved in promoting cybersecurity efforts in the financial sector. On May 1, 2025, Mr. Cooper was inducted into the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame established by the Sam Houston State University banking program to provide positive recognition to Texas Bankers who have made valuable contributions to the banking profession and pioneered the Texas banking industry.   

Mr. Cooper began his career in banking in 1970 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the Dallas Region. He served in various capacities, including examiner, review examiner and then field office supervisor of the Houston Northeast Field Office. He made the transition to the private sector in 1982 and since then has served as a banking executive, board member, educator, and professional consultant to the industry. His financial services experience includes executive level positions associated with lending, credit administration, asset/liability management and general bank operations.

A native Texan, Mr. Cooper holds a BBA degree in Finance and Economics from Baylor University. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU and currently serves on its board of trustees. Mr. Cooper also received an advanced peace officer certification. He has been on the board of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate since 1990. He is married and has two daughters and one granddaughter.