Safety and Soundness Certification

Certified Senior Bank Examiner (CSBE)

The CSBE certification is step 4 in the CSBS bank safety and soundness credentialing program for those without managerial and/or supervisory responsibilities. Candidates for the CSBE designation must provide evidence of the following:

  • Completion of a minimum of five (5) years employment with a state regulatory agency, including two (2) years of on-the-job service and training as an examiner-in-charge.
  • Satisfactory completion of the following course offerings or equivalent:
    • Requirements for the COE, CCE, and CEIC designations and one or more of the following course offerings or an equivalent:
    • Large Bank Examination School or other FDIC specialty school
    • CSBS LEAD School (formerly, Senior School) or other CSBS specialty school
    • Graduate School of Banking
  • Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills 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 leadership and organization to the examination process by:

  • Effectively supervising personnel of the examination or the target examination to ensure adherence to examination procedures and policies
  • Providing effective training, mentoring, and coaching
  • Monitoring progress of assigned personnel to ensure accurate and timely completion of work
  • Effectively organizing and delegating assignments
  • Effectively supervising the organization and documentation of workpapers according to prescribed procedures
  • Effectively supervising and overseeing the entire examination process, including those examinations performed jointly with multiple regulatory agencies, including federal agencies, and including examinations of multiple bank holding companies and institutions with multiple lines of business

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the overall activities of financial institutions by:

  • Effectively following established examination procedures to collect and analyze data
  • Developing accurate conclusions from collected data
  • Effectively reviewing reports of examination for accuracy, content, conclusions, and proper grammar
  • Effectively evaluating and adjusting scope of examination as required

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

HUMAN RELATIONS

  • Effectively conducting meetings with management and the boards of directors of financial institution
  • Effectively coordinating examination planning and execution with other state and federal supervisory authorities

ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

  • Effectively and clearly communicating assignments to assisting personnel
  • Effectively and clearly communicating with financial institution personnel to obtain information
  • Effectively and clearly communicating examination findings to financial institution and supervisory personnel
  • Effectively preparing written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn

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.