The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) was established pursuant to title X of Public Law 95-630, the Financial Institutions Regulatory and Interest Rate Control Act of 1978 (FIRA). The purpose of title X was to create an interagency body empowered to “prescribe uniform principles and standards for the federal examination of financial institutions…and make recommendations to promote uniformity in the supervision of these financial institutions.” As a part of its mandate, the Council conducts training programs for federal and state financial institution examiners.

The goals of the training program are to (1) promote training efficiency by encouraging consistency of examiner education through joint sponsorship of interagency training; (2) develop, maintain and deliver timely, state-of-the-art interagency training; (3) serve as a clearinghouse of training opportunities offered by the member agencies; and (4) provide support to the initiatives of the Council and its task forces.

Since its inception in 1979, the Council has provided training for 88,000 participants. All programs are offered under the auspices of the Task Force on Examiner Education, whose principal members are officers of the five Council-member agencies and CSBS who oversee examiner training. Programs are expressly designed to meet the needs of examiners.

The training office relies primarily on the private sector for instructors. Bankers, attorneys, accountants, and consultants bring outside expertise to the classroom. This provides a source of instructors to supplement those found in agency commissioning training. Staff members from participating agencies provide lectures on regulatory topics. The training office stands ready to provide “Just in Time” training as needed to prepare examiners for new regulatory initiatives. When new interagency regulatory announcements are made, the Council training office can respond quickly to the training need.

In 1999, the FFIEC developed a method of delivering training or information called the "FFIEC InfoBase." This technology makes it possible to produce CD-ROMs that are compatible with the computer systems in the member agencies, including examiners’ laptops. This provides the Council with the means to disseminate new interagency policies, procedures, and training to the examiners of the member agencies and to respond quickly, thus reducing the lag between policy announcements and examiners' receipt of additional information and training. InfoBase products are also available on the www.ffiec.gov website.

The FFIEC EEO has continued to coordinate revisions of the FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook. In addition, to provide a resource to understand the compliance implications for the 21st Century Act (Check 21), a Check 21 InfoBase was added for bankers and examiners. The FFIEC EEO continues to update the online Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual InfoBase. All are available at www.ffiec.gov.

In 2002, the Examiner Education Office (EEO) began providing a supplemental CD to all attendees as a value-added tool for their training needs. The CD contains presenters’ materials, pertinent regulatory guidance, and other relevant industry issuances. An e-mail address, ffiecfeedback@fdic.gov, has been set up to provide examiners an opportunity to respond to questionnaires and to provide a direct link for suggestions. Also in 2002, the FFIEC began a relationship with CSBS to provide an on-line distance learning Fraud Identification training course. In 2003, an on-line Real Estate Appraisal Review training course was added.

The EEO is currently working under the direction of the IT Subcommittee to create a standalone CD-based training product for agency personnel regarding the financial analysis of technology service providers (TSP). This CD is available and will serve as a tool for member agency staff who want additional information on TSP.

Karen K. Smith, Manager, Examiner Education, May 1, 2008