Peer Exchanges

Peer Exchanges | Monday, June 12

Bank Director hosts its popular peer exchanges the day prior to our annual Bank Audit & Risk Conference. Small groups of experienced audit and risk committee members, as well as senior bank executives — along with outside advisors — meet in closed-door, off-the-record peer groups for candid discussions about various issues and challenges facing officers and directors.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Registration + Breakfast

10:30 AM – 10:40 AM
Welcome
Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director

10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
Concurrent Bank Audit & Risk Peer Exchange Sessions
The Audit Peer Exchange focuses on topics such as audit committee functions, IT risks, regulation, committee effectiveness and communication. To open the Audit Peer Exchange sessions, we explore issues such as:

• What is the relationship between internal audit and the audit committee?
• What is the appropriate skill set for an audit committee member?
• How do you identify the subject matter that should be at the top of your committee agenda?

The Risk Peer Exchange focuses on topics such as risk governance, regulation, committee effectiveness, compliance and culture. To open the Risk Peer Exchange sessions, we explore issues such as:

• What are the top three risks that your bank is most concerned about?
• Has your board set up a separate risk committee?
• If so, why did you decide to do this?

11:40 AM – 11:50 AM
Refreshment Break

11:50 AM – 12:30 PM
Concurrent Bank Audit & Risk Peer Exchange Sessions
Following a short refreshment break, we reconvene in peer exchange sessions, building on earlier conversations by addressing topics such as:

• What are the recommended best practices for audit committees?
• How long should a director serve on the audit committee?
• What input are you getting from stakeholders when it comes to your bank’s approach to ESG (environmental, social and governance issues)?

For our Risk Peer Exchange, questions include:

• How frequently does your board review cyber risk and cybersecurity? How are you staying on top of this issue and its impact on your bank?
• What has the board done to create a culture of risk awareness throughout the organization?
• What are some best practices regarding the separation of the audit committee and risk committee lines or areas of responsibility?

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Provided to all peer exchange participants, we set aside an hour to allow people to eat, check emails and return phone calls before resuming the afternoon sessions.

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Concurrent Bank Audit & Risk Peer Exchange Sessions
For an hour and fifteen minutes, we expand our conversations to include questions like this for our Audit Peer Exchanges:

• What are the top three regulatory compliance challenges facing your bank?
• How does your bank evaluate the effectiveness of your board?
• Where is their overlap between your bank’s risk and audit committees?

And questions like this for our Risk Peer Exchanges:

• Has your bank hired a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and why/why not?
• Has your bank suffered a cyber-intrusion? How did you handle it?
• How does your bank manage enterprise risk management?

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Refreshment Break

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Concurrent Bank Audit & Risk Peer Exchange Sessions
Sample Audit Peer Exchange questions include:

• What do you expect management to communicate to you?
• Where does loan review sit in the organization, and what are its reporting lines?

What staffing and resources do you have devoted to regulatory compliance?
Sample Risk Peer Exchange questions include:

• How can risk be measured so that it is not a barrier to growth?
• Do those that serve on the risk committee also serve on other committees?
• How does your bank mitigate vendor risk?

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Networking Peer + Guest Reception
To cap off the day, we invite all participants – and their guests – to join us for refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres.