Security Program Manual

Why Do I Need The Security Program Manual?

Security isn't a separate function -- it has to be integrated into the institution's everyday operations. And there's much more to "security" than just dealing with alarms, dye packs and cameras. An effective Security Program promotes a security-conscious working environment -- where sound business practices are the norm instead of the exception. The literal regulatory requirements for having a Security Program that are applicable to banks, credit unions and thrifts are simply not enough. Regulations require that the board of directors of each institution insure that:

l        A Security Officer has been formally appointed to develop and administer the Security Program

l        The Security Program is available in written form

l        Each facility is equipped with appropriate security devices

l        Appropriate security policies and procedures have been developed and implemented to discourage robberies, burglaries, and larcenies -- and to assist in identifying and apprehending persons who commit such acts

l        A training program is developed for and delivered to officers and employees about their responsibilities under the Security Program and in proper employee conduct during and after a robbery, burglar or larceny

l        The Security Officer reports at least annually to the board of directors on the implementation, administration and effectiveness of the Security Program

To be truly effective however, an institution-wide Security Program must contain policies and procedures that regulate the routine activities of every function and department within the institution. The goals of these policies and procedures must be to:

l        Reduce or eliminate the opportunity for mistakes, misunderstandings and criminal acts to occur

l        Hold persons responsible for the results of their decisions

l        Protect employees and other persons lawfully present on the premises

l        Assist in the identification, apprehension and prosecution of offenders

Without effective policies, procedures and strategies, how will you be able to fulfill the Security Department's mission -- to safeguard and defend the institution's:

l        Employees, insiders and institution-affiliated parties -- and their families?

l        Customers, vendors and third-party service providers?

l        Facilities that the institution owns, manages, maintains or controls?

l        Assets that are both tangible and intangible -- particularly the institution's image? and

l        Records and documents that exist in all forms -- paper and electronic?

Your institution's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and customers is directly related to the institution's professional image and reputation. This image is based upon trust and confidence -- and the appearance of safety and soundness.

A professional reputation takes years to acquire, moments to destroy and an eternity to rebuild. Inappropriate and ineffective operational procedures that are used by your employees often destroy an institution's image. Learning the concepts and practical application of time-tested security practices is essential to every institution's success. Learn how.

What Is The Security Program Manual?

Version 7 of the Security Program Manual is a strategic, model plan for reducing exposure and avoiding losses from both external and internal events. The 306 page edition contains sample policies, procedures, forms and training programs in template form that are designed to address the most common -- and the most costly -- sources of loss exposure. It's designed for your use in developing and customizing a comprehensive and effective Security Program for all of your institution's functions -- and it meets the needs of all types of financial institutions: banks, thrifts and credit unions. In addition to formalizing policies and procedures that are "understood", the information contained in the Security Program Manual's sixty-one (61) sections will help you to reduce or eliminate the opportunity for mistakes and misunderstandings to occur. These policies and procedures are also designed to address routine and extraordinary operations techniques involving the three (3) types of internal and external crimes:

l        Crimes committed by document, device or technology

l        Crimes committed by trickery or deceit

l        Crimes committed by force or fear

Who Will Benefit From This Information?

The Security Program Manual is written especially for those people who are responsible for any institution's safety and soundness: compliance officers, security officers, auditors, training managers, human resources directors and operations managers. Previous operational experience is helpful -- but it's not necessary to understand and use the information. You will benefit if you are responsible for or assist with designing a Security Program, conducting operational reviews, training employees or writing policy and procedures.

The Security Program Manual uses a logical and strategic model to help you understand the true scope of security and operations planning within your institution. By understanding the cause and effect relationships between an institution's policies and operating procedures -- and the likelihood of error and exposure to crimes -- you can implement a comprehensive institution-wide Security Program that will significantly reduce your institution's risk.

What Does The Security Program Manual Contain?

The General Information Segment presents overview and updating information, including:

Foreword -- The Security Officer's Role (updated)

l        Introduction

l        The Problems

¡       The First Problem: Appointment

¡       The Second Problem: Training

¡       The Third Problem: Support

l        The Institution’s Security Program

l        What Does The Bank Protection Act and Regulation H Really Mean?

¡       Security Procedures

¡       Suspicious Activity Reports

l        Other Security Responsibilities

¡       Employees, Insiders & Institution-Affiliated Parties

¡       Customers, Vendors & Third-Party Service Providers

¡       Facilities That The Institution Owns, Manages, Maintains Or Controls

¡       Assets That Are Both Tangible & Intangible

¡       Records & Documents That Exist In All Forms, Paper & Electronic

¡       Laws, Rules & Regulations

¡       Security Practices & Resources

l        Summary

The Security Program Segment contains template policies, procedures and related documents, including:

l        Introduction & Purpose

l        Policy & Procedure Statements (updated)

l        The Security Director (updated)

l        Security Function: Office & Department Managers (updated)

l        Security Function: Staff & Supervisory Personnel

l        Security Procedures (new)

l        Annual Risk Assessment & Evaluation

l        Testing & Training Requirements

l        Security Training Program (updated)

l        Security Devices (updated)

l        Opening & Closing Procedures For Cash-Handling Facilities (updated)

l        Opening & Closing Procedures For The Vault & Teller's Cash Safes Or Lockers

l        Suspicious Persons & Activities (updated)

l        Personal Protection & Safety For Employees (updated)

l        Emergency Operating Procedures: All Personnel

l        Employee Assignments During Emergency Responses (updated)

l        Robbery Procedures: Staff Personnel (updated)

l        Robbery Procedures: Management Personnel (updated)

l        Extortion Procedures: Staff Personnel (updated)

l        Extortion Procedures: Management Personnel (updated)

l        Bomb Threat Procedures: Staff Personnel (updated)

l        Bomb Threat Procedures: Management Personnel (updated)

l        Workplace Violence Procedures: All Personnel

l        Executive Protection Program (updated)

l        Disaster Response Procedures: Staff Personnel

l        Disaster Response Procedures: Management Personnel

l        Guard Program (updated)

l        Workstation Security

l        Suspicious Withdrawals Or Deposits (updated)

l        Fire Prevention & Detection

l        Hazardous Materials

l        Ethics & Employee Conduct

l        Safeguarding Proprietary Information (updated)

l        Information Security & The Information Technology Center

l        Fingerprinting & Photographing Employees (updated)

l        Employee Use Of Drugs Or Alcohol (updated)

l        Policy & Criminal Violations (updated)

l        Possession & Carrying Of Firearms (updated)

l        Court Testimony By Employees (updated)

l        Identification Procedures (updated)

l        Pre-Recorded Serial-Numbered Bills (updated)

l        Counterfeit Currency (updated)

l        Office Currency Limits (updated)

l        Negotiation & Cash Storage Limits

l        Transportation Of Currency & Valuables (updated)

l        Combination Security

l        Key & Access Device Control

l        Night Depository & ATM Deposits (updated)

l        Safety Deposit Boxes (updated)

l        Vault Robbery Or Burglary Procedures (updated)

l        Inventory, Delivery & Receiving Procedures (updated)

l        Incident Alert Procedures

l        First Aid & Medical Emergencies

l        Internal Investigations (updated)

l        Documenting Investigations & Reports (updated)

l        Media Relations Procedures: All Personnel

l        Forms

l        Resolutions For The Security Program & Succession Appointment

l        Executive Committee: Appointment

l        Executive Committee: Acknowledgment

l        Board Of Director's Certification Resolution

The Forms & Templates Segment contains standardized forms and specialized templates for your use in managing the components of the institution's Security Program, including:

l        Alarm Activation Form

l        Incident Alert Form

l        Pre-Recorded Serial-Numbered Bills Form

l        Pre-Recorded Serial-Numbered Bills & Chemical Or Electronic Devices Verification Or Change Form

l        Bomb Warning Telephone Call Form

l        Chemical Or Electronic Devices Form

l        Chronological Report Of Events Form

l        Combination Control Form

l        Combination Number Change Form

l        Counterfeit Currency Form

l        Currency Transportation Form

l        Employee Assignments Form

l        Extortion Telephone Call Form

l        Affidavit Of Forgery Form

l        Insufficient Funds Reporting Form

l        Key Control Form

l        Night Deposit & ATM Reconciliation Form

l        Opening & Closing Form

l        Employee Personal Profile Form

l        Safe Deposit Inventory Form

l        Security Device Testing, Inspection & Service Record Form

l        Security Checklist For The Month Form

l        Monthly Surveillance Camera Form

l        Suspect Description Form

l        Suspicious Incident Report

l        Suspicious Or Threatening Telephone Call Form

l        Telephone Contact Form

l        Employee Cash & Negotiable Document Limit Form

The Appendix provides additional tools for your use when managing the institution's Security Program, including:

l        File Listing

l        Template for repetitive text entry

l        Security Director Position Description

l        Sample Confidentiality Agreement

l        Sample Facility Diagrams

l        Sample Security Survey

l        Sample Security Orientation Training Program (updated)

¡       Introduction

¡       Types of Crimes

¡       Types of Offenders

¡       Employees’ Responsibilities

¡       Costs To The Institution

¡       The Institution’s Loss Prevention Efforts

¡       Summary

l        Sample Security Orientation Training Program Leader's Guide

¡       Overview

¡       Objectives

¡       Discussion Materials

¡       Meeting Preparation

¡       Conduct The Meeting

¡       After The Meeting

¡       Memo

¡       Training Roster

¡       Seminar Evaluation

l        Robbery Prevention & Response Techniques Workbook (new)

¡       Introduction

¡       Determining Vulnerabilities

¡       The Institution’s Security Program Robbery Requirements

¡       Developing A Robbery Prevention Checklist

¡       Robbery Prevention Checklist Examples

n        Employees, Insiders & Institution-Affiliated Parties

n        Customers, Vendors & Third-Party Service Providers

n        Facilities That The Institution Owns, Manages, Maintains Or Controls

n        Assets That Are Both Tangible & Intangible

n        Records & Documents That Exist In All Forms, Paper & Electronic

¡       Robber Descriptions

¡       Media Relations

¡       Robbery Response Techniques

¡       Types of Robberies

¡       Critical Decision Making

¡       The Difference Between Business Crimes & Personal Crimes

¡       Your Robbery Response Plan

¡       Robbery Prevention & Response Strategies

¡       Sample Robbery Procedures: Staff Personnel

¡       Sample Robbery Procedures: Management Personnel

¡       Summary

l        Robbery Prevention & Response Techniques Leader's Guide (new)

¡       Overview

¡       Objectives

¡       Discussion Materials

¡       Meeting Preparation

¡       Conduct The Meeting

¡       After The Meeting

¡       Memo

¡       Training Roster

¡       Seminar Evaluation 

What Do I Do Next?

Our manuals and software are marketed exclusively by BankersOnline.com and the company offers its own product warranty. Please visit BankersOnline.com's Banker Store for information about purchasing individual titles or the entire Financial Institution Security Library, which includes the following works:

l        Business Continuity Manual

l        Conducting Investigations Manual

l        Loss Prevention Techniques & Training Manual

l        Security Program Manual

l        Workplace Violence Manual

Call Security Education Systems at 830-535-6500 for more information about related training and consulting services.