Question & Answer

Question: We have some mortgage offices in another state where there is no branch involved-just the office with files and records. I know under the Bank Protection Act I have to have alarms, etc., in my actual banking offices, but what about subsidiary offices such as this where there is neither collateral nor cash. Do they have to be alarmed?

Answer: Actually, under the BPA you have to do whatever you think is necessary for the safety of personnel and assets-it does not specifically say "alarm" in this situation.

We asked a number of the security officers that were in attendance at the HOTLINE workshop this question, and also went to some heavy hitter security officers on the east coast for their opinion. All agreed there is a real necessity, for peace of mind, to put after-hour motion alarms in the facilities. And most would also add access devices, so there could not be a "walk-in." These decisions, of course, are also depending on location. In a high crime area, all would alarm. And if attached or accessible from a branch area, all would have added alarms.

Editor's Note: After receiving this call from a subscriber, culling the answer, and calling him back, he was still in the process of making a decision. He wanted to alarm?administration didn't want to spend the money. He called me back. Before they could come to an agreement, one of the mortgage offices was broken into and robbed. Computers and equipment gone, malicious damage done. Administration immediately scheduled a meeting with the Security Officer and instructed him to arrange to have the facilities alarmed.

Copyright © 1998 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 8, No. 6 5/98