We Told You So!

The Security Officer and the Compliance Officer have been enjoying a hiatus during the last couple of months because of the Y2K scare. Would we have any problems? Do we have enough protection? What should we be doing? How can we handle this?

Seems like everyone was turning for help to the sources in the financial institution where they knew the expertise and the help would be most valuable. And the Security and Compliance Officers who had to handle this did not let them down, but now what happens - when nothing happened?

We've prepared, trained, scheduled, planned, stocked, backed up, manned, plotted, worried, and finalized all aspects so well, that when nothing happened it was anticlimactic - and all those who said all that planning wasn't necessary will say, "I told you so!"

Will the Security Officer and the Compliance Officer fade back into the woodwork and will their positions become "business as usual?" Not if they've done their jobs right.

This was the opportunity for these areas to show what they can accomplish, and they should be rightfully proud of their achievement of "nothing happened." That's exactly what they set out to do. The job they have to do now is to continue in taking the lead into the next century in assisting their financial institutions in the areas of risk management and compliance.

In May we passed on some excellent advice from a couple of security officers that have not only kept up with the times, but have stayed ahead of the times. They suggested you get up to speed with technology, change your image, expand your services, network, and continue to learn if you are going to survive. These are the things you should be doing to prepare yourself for the days to come. By advertising your services, and discovering where you can be of the most value to your financial institution, you will be strengthening your position at the same time.

The best recommendation you can have for the days in the future is the result of "nothing happened" during Y2K. We'll be glad to see it. Be sure you take advantage of the fact. Blow your own horn in the New Year!

Copyright © 2000 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 9, No. 12, 1/00