And I have never lost sight of the importance of those small businesses to local economies or the importance of loan availability to small businesses. From community banker to central banker I fully expected to complete my career working as a community banker in my hometown.
But in early 2007, I received a call asking if I would be interested in serving as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I was intrigued, flattered, and more than a little intimidated by the prospect.