Abstract (Summary)
With the threat of physical and electronic attacks ever present, banks need to be on full alert. To make things more difficult, bankers not only have to focus on external attacks, but also on internal ones. Keeping communications open between the Sherlock Holmeses in the teller's booth, the sleuths in the back office, and senior management is the single most important thing a bank can do to ensure its security, according to Tom Murray, Franklin Savings Bank. While it is essential that all staff possess the same security training, front-line personnel represent the first line of defense, according to Kay Moon, West Georgia National Bank of Carrollton. Instances of fraud can affect any community bank, no matter the location, and employees and customers need to be on their toes, Moon said. In an electronic era, banks can't stop at physical security. As banks employ increasingly sophisticated technologies to serve customers, new electronic security threats are emerging.
At Alaska Pacific Bank in Juneau, "detective" and "master sleuth" aren't listed on the job descriptions of front-line personnel. But they might as well be.
"You never know who might answer the phone and deal with a bomb threat, or who might be in the lobby when a robbery occurs. Everyone needs to know what to do in case of a crisis," said Lisa Corrigan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the $162 million-asset ACB member bank.
Being prepared and involving every employee in the banks security efforts is not unique to Alaska Pacific, according to Corrigan. "It doesn't matter where you're located or what size you are, you can still suffer from security threats. If you're not proactive with your security policies and procedures, you're a sitting duc ...