Resolution to confirm Grace as banking commissioner moves to House

Ray Grace is getting closer to being confirmed as banking commissioner for North Carolina, with a resolution passing on first reading in the state House Monday.

Last week, the resolution, which confirms Gov. Pat McCrory's appointment of Grace, moved from the Senate to the House. On Monday, it was referred to the House's Committee on Banking, which is chaired by Rep. Ruth Samuelson, a Charlotte Republican.

Grace was named acting banking commissioner after Joseph Smith, in February 2012, resigned to oversee the roughly $25 billion national mortgage settlement.

Officials with the North Carolina Bankers Association told the Observer earlier this year that they expect the General Assembly to confirm Grace.

If confirmed, Grace would serve the remainder of Smith's term, which ends March 31, 2015.