Bank Boards Spending More Time on Risk Management

BRENTWOOD, TENN., March 26, 2013 – Ninety-one percent of directors and all risk officers surveyed reported an increase in time devoted to risk management issues within board meetings over the last three years, reveals a Bank Director survey that was co-developed with and sponsored by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services.  Seventy-two percent of risk officers and 63 percent of directors report that this time has doubled or tripled. Key findings include:

• Keeping up with risk management regulatory expectations was cited as the biggest risk management challenge by 72 percent of risk officers and 69 percent of bank board members.  Falling closely behind, 61 percent of risk officers and 41 percent of directors cited that maintaining the technology and data structure to support risk decision-making is a top challenge.
• Directors, at 91 percent, and risk officers, at 89 percent, of large banks identified themselves as very confident or confident in their bank’s ability to manage risk.  None of the respondents expressed a lack of confidence in their institution’s risk management abilities.  Ninety-one percent of directors rated their bank management team’s ability to identify, manage, and control potential risks to the bank as excellent or good.  Eighty-three percent of risk officers rated their board’s ability to understand and interpret risk data as excellent or good.
• Operational risk is a key concern.  When asked about which specific risk categories concern them most, 83 percent of risk officers and 56 percent of directors listed operational risk.  Compliance risk was cited as key concern by 72 percent of risk officers and 53 percent of directors.  Fifty percent of directors also rated credit risk as one of the risk categories that concerns them most.

The survey was conducted in January of this year, with Bank Director contacting by email risk officers and directors at banks with more than $5 billion in assets.  Thirty-two directors and 19 risk officers completed the survey.  A summary of the survey results is available at BankDirector.com. Further information on the results will appear in the 2nd Quarter 2013 issue of Bank Director magazine, to be published in April.

Timothy Burniston, vice president and senior director of the risk and compliance consulting practice at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, will speak next month on sustainable growth strategy at Bank Director’s annual Bank Chairman/CEO Peer Exchange, an event specifically developed for bank CEOs, chairmen and lead directors.

ABOUT BANK DIRECTOR
Since 1991, Bank Director has served as a leading information resource for the directors and officers of financial institutions.  Throughout the year, Bank Director asks officers and directors of financial institutions to share their thoughts on board-specific issues like compensation, managing risk, growth, board liability and strategic planning.  Bank Director’s research and analysis provides a bank’s board members with unparalleled insight and information.  In addition to research, Bank Director reaches the leaders of the banking industry through its quarterly magazine, annual conferences, and its website,

ABOUT WOLTERS KLUWER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Whether complying with regulatory requirements, addressing a single key risk, or working toward a holistic risk management strategy, more than 15,000 customers worldwide count on Wolters Kluwer Financial Services for a comprehensive and dynamic view of risk management and compliance.  Wolters Kluwer Financial Services provides audit, risk, finance and compliance solutions that help financial organizations improve efficiency and effectiveness across their enterprise.  With more than 30 offices in 20 countries, the company’s prominent brands include: FRSGlobal, FinArch, ARC Logics for Financial Services, Bankers Systems, VMP® Mortgage Solutions, AppOne®, GainsKeeper®, Capital Changes, NILS, AuthenticWeb™ and Uniform Forms™.  Wolters Kluwer Financial Services is part of Wolters Kluwer, a leading global information services and solutions provider with annual revenues of (2012) €3.6 billion ($4.6 billion) and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide.  Please visit www.wolterskluwerfs.com for more information.

Source: BankDirector.com

Contact: Emily McCormick, director of research, (615) 777-8471 or [email protected]