Safety and Soundness Certification

Objectives:

• To achieve recognition of the leadership and organizational skills required to manage the full scope of the bank examination process, from planning and scoping to execution, reporting, and communication of supervisory findings.
• To promote continuing education in leadership, risk-focused supervision, and cross-functional coordination with other supervisory authorities.
• To emphasize the need for professionalism, effective communication, and sound supervisory judgment in leading examination teams and ensuring consistent regulatory outcomes.
• To enhance and maintain the quality of job performance, risk assessment, and decision-making capabilities of examiners serving as Examiner-in-Charge.

The CEIC certification is step 3 in the CSBS bank safety and soundness credentialing program. Candidates for the CEIC designation must provide evidence of the following:

• Has successfully served as Operations Manager (OM) or designated team lead on at least two examinations; has capably performed as Examiner-in-Charge (EIC) in at least two banks, demonstrating leadership and management of the examination process; and has actively participated in loan scoping and other pre-examination planning activities. A supervisor must affirm the examiner’s capability to fulfill these responsibilities.
• Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent
  • Course requirements for the COE and CCE designations and
  • CSBS Examiner-in-Charge School or
  • FDIC Risk Management Capstone

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:

• Supervises personnel, ensuring adherence to examination procedures, policies, and supervisory standards.
• Provides effective training, coaching, and mentoring to examination staff.
• Monitors the progress of assigned personnel to ensure accurate, complete, and timely work.
• Delegates assignments appropriately based on staff skills and developmental needs.
• Ensures workpapers are properly organized, documented, and support examination conclusions.
• Oversees the entire examination process, including scoping, execution, and report preparation, in accordance with supervisory guidance.
• Demonstrates competence in the use of examination technology, data analysis tools, and secure systems.

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

• Demonstrates awareness of risk across all categories and identifies when specialist expertise is needed.
• Develops accurate, risk-focused conclusions and examination ratings.
• Reviews reports of examination for accuracy, clarity, consistency, and professional presentation.
• Evaluates and adjusts examination scope based on emerging risks, supervisory priorities, and findings during fieldwork.
• Applies sound judgment in balancing risk identification with resource allocation.
• Recognizes systemic issues and recommends supervisory strategies or corrective actions.

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

• Applies comprehensive knowledge of state and federal banking laws, safety and soundness standards, and emerging regulatory expectations, and recognizes when potential consumer protection issues require specialist review.
• Identifies and addresses violations of law, rules, or regulations, and recommends appropriate corrective measures.
• Ensures examination findings are consistent with legal and supervisory frameworks.
• Demonstrates awareness of litigation risk, enforcement actions, and other supervisory remedies available to address deficiencies.
• Maintains current knowledge of banking law, accounting standards, and regulatory policies.

COMMUNICATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications:

• Clearly communicates assignments and expectations to examination staff.
• Produces risk-focused, well-supported reports of examination.
• Presents findings, ratings, and recommendations to financial institution management and board of directors in a professional manner.
• Coordinates examination planning and execution with other state and federal supervisory authorities as applicable.
• Demonstrates leadership, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all supervisory interactions.

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.