Safety and Soundness Certification

The COE certification is step 1 in the CSBS bank safety and soundness credentialing program. Candidates for the COE designation must provide evidence of the following:

• Completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of on-the-job service and training related to financial institution regulation and supervision.
• Satisfactory completion of the following course offerings or equivalent:
  • CSBS Day One: Bank Safety & Soundness Examiner Training and Bank Financial Analysis School or
  • FDIC Introduction to Examinations and Financial Institution Analysis Schools
• Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities by the applicant's direct supervisor or another individual familiar with the applicant's performance.

Applicants must ensure that they meet all certification requirements and will then complete an attestation of successful job performance and mastery of job-related skills, providing a thorough written response for each competency category. Their supervisor will then review and affirm the attestation to ensure accuracy and completeness. The core competencies are an integral part of the certification, and a high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation for determining compliance with these skill areas. The supervisor reviewing the application form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and be confident that the applicant meets all the requirements outlined in the form.

TECHNICAL - Provides effective organization to the examination process by:

• Effectively adhering to examination procedures and policies
• Effectively organizing assignments
• Ensuring pre-examination planning and requests are successfully completed in a timely manner
• Organizing and effectively documenting workpapers according to prescribed procedures

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the operational activities (i.e., capital, earnings, liquidity, sensitivity to market risk, and miscellaneous areas) of financial institutions by:

• Effectively following established examination procedures to collect and analyze data
• Developing accurate conclusions from collected data

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE - Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations.

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicating with financial institution personnel to obtain information
• Effectively and clearly communicating examination findings to supervisory personnel
• Effectively preparing written comments that are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn
• Working effectively with others to achieve common goals

RECERTIFICATION

Every three years, participants will be required to provide evidence of the successful completion of a minimum of 63 continuing education hours (CEH). If an examiner exceeds this requirement, up to 14 CEHs may be carried over into the new three-year term. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the examiner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Participants are also required to review and remain in compliance with updates to certifications. Should a material change related to the certification occur, additional training may be required to maintain certification.