Mr. Burns, who joined the the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in November 2000, is responsible for the development and management of the Payment Cards Center.

From 1996-2000 he was managing director of the Financial Institutions Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and continues to serve on its advisory board of directors. Mr. Burns has an extensive background in the financial services industry, having held a number of senior management positions during a 25-year career with CoreStates Financial Corporation and its predecessor, Philadelphia National Bank.

Mr. Burns received an AB degree from Lehigh University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.