Editing ATB Financial (section)

=== 1990s===

[[File:Alberta 2016-06-18 (27800957482).jpg|thumb|ATB Financial Branch in [[Big Valley, Alberta|Big Valley]].]]

In the 1990s, the government reformed Alberta Treasury Branches with the intention of transforming it into a financial institution that could compete with Canadian chartered banks. Public trust was eroded during the 1980s and 1990s as high-risk loans with political motivations eroded the Treasury Branches financial footing, including a $100-million loss in 1996.<ref name="EdmJrl1997">{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Tom |title=New role for Treasury Branches |work=[[Edmonton Journal]] |date=June 11, 1997 |location=Edmonton |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|2402436208}}}}</ref>

By 1994, there were 142 Treasury Branches, 125 agencies, 3,000 staff and 80 automated teller machines in Alberta. The Klein government appointed Gordon Flynn to review the Treasury Branches operations, Flynn recommended a number of changes including greater autonomy, financial accountability measures and the appointment of a [[Board of Directors]].{{sfn|Alberta Treasury Branches|1999|p=66}} Flynn's recommendations were reviewed by a working group chaired by former federal finance minister [[Don Mazankowski]], which provided nine further recommendations for the operations of ATB. Mazankowski recommended the government articulate the public policy goals and benchmarks for the institution, ATB must operate at an arms-length from the government, operate under a board of directors, be provided equal treatment against other [[private sector]] banks, modernized to allow ATB to compete with modern banks, offer new and in demand financial services and products, deliver programs with a for profit emphasis, remain cost conscious and profit motivated, and be subject to an accountability regime similar to the private sector.{{sfn|Ascah|Anielski|2018|p=16}}

Provincial Treasurer [[Jim Dinning]] quickly introduced legislation to create an independent [[board of directors]] made up of government appointees was established in 1996 and ATB formally became an autonomous provincial [[Crown corporation]] on October 8, 1997.<ref name="EdmJrl1997"/>{{sfn|Ascah|Anielski|2018|p=16}} The government also appointed former Metropolitan Life CEO Paul Haggis as the new superintendent of ATB in 1996.{{sfn|Ascah|Anielski|2018|p=17}}