In February 1995, Levin was appointed by New York Governor George Pataki to serve as the state's Superintendent of Banks.

[1] Levin worked in a corner office on the 67th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower.

Before the tower was struck, Levin was speaking on the phone with his executive adviser, Karen Eastman.

It hit on the opposite side so we just felt the impact and the building kept shaking and swaying for a long time.

[citation needed] The Neil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce was established by Governor George Pataki and the State of New York in his memory, and is a part of the State University of New York.