Peter Bell, chairman of the Metropolitan Council, was elected to the TCF Financial Corp. Board of Directors on Friday. Bell has served on the Met Council since Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed him in 2003. He was executive vice president of corporate community relations at TCF Bank from 1994 to 1999 and a regent at the University of Minnesota from 2002 until 2007. âÄú[Bell] brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in government services, business development, transportation, higher education and housing,âÄù said William A. Cooper, chairman of the board and CEO of TCF, in a prepared statement. âÄúWe look forward to his guidance and counsel.âÄù Bell co-founded the Institute on Black Chemical Abuse and served as its executive director. He has also written several books on chemical dependence. In addition to his participation in the Board of Regents, Bell has been a member of the board of directors for many local and national social and civic organizations. Wayzata-based TCF has $17.7 billion in total assets and 443 banking offices across eight states, including Minnesota where it is considered the official bank of the University.