Employees' Vulnerability To Robberies

Question:

Are there any specific processes that institutions should use to help determine an employeeâ€™s vulnerability to being robbed?

Answer:

There certainly are. Have you thought of all the ways that you could rob your institution? Have you planned the most successful robbery within your institution? Have you identified the times when your employees are most vulnerable? You can bet that someone else has already done it. Begin by identifying and addressing a financial institution's most traditionally "at risk" tasks, including:

ATM replenishment of exterior-filled devices;

Single-person opening and closing practices for cash-handling facilities;

Teller-customer contact tasks;

Money transport between facilities by unarmed employees;

Opening and closing practices for all facilities;

Employees traveling to and from work; and

Employees traveling to and from a facility.

You canâ€™t stop every robbery â€“ but you can reduce your employeesâ€™ robbery-related risks by:

Developing and implementing enhanced security processes;

Contracting for exterior-filled ATMs with an armored carrier;

Delivering security-related training to employees before they ever come face-to-face with any non-employees; and

Insist on maintaining an organizational culture that emphasizes employee safety over institutional convenience.

First published on BankersOnline.com 2/6/12