Financial Institution Letter
FIL-6-2008
February 6, 2008Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20429-9990
INTERAGENCY STATEMENT ON PANDEMIC PLANNING
Guidance for Minimizing a Pandemic’s Potential Adverse Effects
Summary: The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council has issued the attached “Interagency
Statement on Pandemic Planning” (Statement) identifying actions that financial institutions should take to
minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. An institution’s business continuity plan should
address pandemics and provide a preventive program, a documented strategy scaled to the stages of a
pandemic outbreak, a comprehensive framework to ensure the continuance of critical operations, a testing
program, and an oversight program to ensure that the plan is reviewed and updated.
Distribution:
FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)
Suggested Routing:
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Security Officer
Chief Compliance Officer
Human Resources Manager
Related Topics:
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
Business Continuity Planning
Attachment:
Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning
Contacts:
Senior Examination Specialist Donald Saxinger at
dsaxinger@fdic.gov or (202) 898- 6521 or
Examination Specialist Stephanie S. Wilson at
stwilson@fdic.gov or (202) 898-8512
Highlights:
• The Statement explains the differences between
traditional business continuity planning and pandemic
planning, as well as the unique challenges posed by a
pandemic.
• Pandemic plans, reflecting an institution’s size,
complexity and business activities, should be sufficiently
flexible to effectively address a wide range of possible
effects that could result from a pandemic.
• The Statement describes risk-assessment and risk-
management steps that are important for pandemic
planning, such as coordinating with outside parties and
providing employees with remote access.
• The Statement highlights the specific challenges faced
by management and the mitigating controls that should
be considered when developing a pandemic plan.
• An institution’s pandemic planning activities should
involve senior management from all functional areas
including administration, human resources, legal, IT
support, and key product lines.
• A key challenge is developing a testing program that
provides a high degree of assurance that critical
business processes will function even during a severe
pandemic.
• The Statement identifies some of the guidance issued by
other federal agencies and industry associations to
assist institutions in developing plans for pandemic
events.
Note:
FDIC financial institution letters (FILs) may be
accessed from the FDIC's Web site at
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2008/index.
html
To receive FILs electronically, please visit
http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/fil.html.
Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters
may be obtained via the FDIC's Public Information
Center (1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200).
FIL-6-2008
February 6, 2008Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20429-9990
INTERAGENCY STATEMENT ON PANDEMIC PLANNING
Guidance for Minimizing a Pandemic’s Potential Adverse Effects
Summary: The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council has issued the attached “Interagency
Statement on Pandemic Planning” (Statement) identifying actions that financial institutions should take to
minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. An institution’s business continuity plan should
address pandemics and provide a preventive program, a documented strategy scaled to the stages of a
pandemic outbreak, a comprehensive framework to ensure the continuance of critical operations, a testing
program, and an oversight program to ensure that the plan is reviewed and updated.
Distribution:
FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)
Suggested Routing:
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Security Officer
Chief Compliance Officer
Human Resources Manager
Related Topics:
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
Business Continuity Planning
Attachment:
Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning
Contacts:
Senior Examination Specialist Donald Saxinger at
dsaxinger@fdic.gov or (202) 898- 6521 or
Examination Specialist Stephanie S. Wilson at
stwilson@fdic.gov or (202) 898-8512
Highlights:
• The Statement explains the differences between
traditional business continuity planning and pandemic
planning, as well as the unique challenges posed by a
pandemic.
• Pandemic plans, reflecting an institution’s size,
complexity and business activities, should be sufficiently
flexible to effectively address a wide range of possible
effects that could result from a pandemic.
• The Statement describes risk-assessment and risk-
management steps that are important for pandemic
planning, such as coordinating with outside parties and
providing employees with remote access.
• The Statement highlights the specific challenges faced
by management and the mitigating controls that should
be considered when developing a pandemic plan.
• An institution’s pandemic planning activities should
involve senior management from all functional areas
including administration, human resources, legal, IT
support, and key product lines.
• A key challenge is developing a testing program that
provides a high degree of assurance that critical
business processes will function even during a severe
pandemic.
• The Statement identifies some of the guidance issued by
other federal agencies and industry associations to
assist institutions in developing plans for pandemic
events.
Note:
FDIC financial institution letters (FILs) may be
accessed from the FDIC's Web site at
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2008/index.
html
To receive FILs electronically, please visit
http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/fil.html.
Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters
may be obtained via the FDIC's Public Information
Center (1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200).