STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION 

Abstract 

Whether a deposit insurance system will be effective in meeting its public-policy objectives will 

be determined, in part, by how the system is structured and organised. Structure and organisation 

encompasses a deposit insurance system's mandate, roles and responsibilities; its governance 

arrangements; and its human resources and other operational considerations. Mandates, roles 

and responsibilities vary widely among deposit insurance systems. It is critical that they be welldefined and consistent with the stated public-policy objectives of the scheme. In order to 

discharge its mandate effectively, a deposit insurer should have access to requisite information on 

its member institutions. The choice of the governing structure for the deposit insurance system 

usually is influenced by the mandate and the degree to which the deposit insurer is legally 

separate from the other safety-net participants or those having an interest in deposit protection 

and financial-sector stability. Governance systems can be enhanced through the use of sound 

strategic- and risk-management processes and good internal-control and audit systems. 

Arrangements should be made to ensure that the governing structure is accountable and 

transparent. Human resources and other operational issues are a critical elements of the structure 

and organisation of a successful deposit insurance system. Key issues are: attracting and 

retaining qualified employees, determining the appropriate mix between dedicated staffing and 

outsourcing, ensuring the confidentiality of information supplied to employees, and guaranteeing 

that employees receive legal protection against lawsuits for their action in the normal course of 

their activities. 
 

 

 

STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION 

The ability of a deposit insurance system to fulfil its public-policy objectives is greatly influenced 

by its structure and organisation. The development of an appropriate structure and organisation 

for a deposit insurance system requires an examination of a number of factors. These include the 

deposit insurance system's specific mandate, its roles and responsibilities; governance 

arrangements; human resources; and other operational considerations. This paper will identify 

the relevant structural and organisational issues for deposit insurance systems, and will examine 

the trade-offs associated with choosing a particular structure and organisation. This paper 

represents the work of the Subgroup on Structure and Organisation.1 

Mandates, Roles and Responsibilities 

The mandate of an organisation encompasses the set of official instructions given to an 

organisation to perform its task(s). Organisational roles and responsibilities generally arise from 

the given mandate. A number of issues should be taken into account when setting out mandates, 

roles and responsibilities for a deposit insurance system. These include: the linkages between 

the deposit insurer’s mandate and its public-policy objectives and country circumstances; the 

degree to which mandates are defined in law or by other means; the degree of coordination with 

other organisations that comprise the financial safety net; and the processes in place for 

reviewing mandates. 

Mandates, roles and responsibilities vary widely among deposit insurance systems. They can 

focus on the relatively limited paybox responsibilities, such as the collection of premiums and the 

payment of claims to depositors, or they can be broader and focus on risk-minimisation 

responsibilities. Such responsibilities may include risk assessment and management, 

supervision, and intervention and failure resolution.2 

Mandates also can be influenced by the degree to which a deposit insurance system is either 

privately or publicly sponsored, administered or financed. In purely private systems—those 

sponsored and administered by private-member associations with no government involvement or 

financial backing—mandates tend to reflect objectives consistent with their members' wishes.3 

There are, however, some privately administered deposit insurance systems that have legislative 

underpinnings and significant public elements. These systems legally may be required to pay 

depositors' claims, may be given access to government assistance, and may include the 

participation of bankers and government officials on their governing bodies. In such cases, their 

1

 The Subgroup is comprised of representatives from Philippines (coordinator), Canada, Germany, Jamaica, and The 

World Bank. This paper is designed for deposit insurance practitioners and other interested parties. It is primarily 

based on the judgment of the Working Group members and the experiences of various countries that have addressed 

structure and organisation issues for deposit insurance systems. The paper also incorporates use of the available 

literature on the subject. 

2

 The issue of powers is discussed in another paper. 

3

 A number of privately administered systems have restricted their stated objectives and mandates to providing 

deposit insurance solely for protecting small and unsophisticated depositors. 
 

 

 

 

mandates, roles and responsibilities may reflect a wider range of concerns such as promoting 

confidence and financial-system stability. 

On the other end of the spectrum are purely public systems, which entail government 

sponsorship, administration and financing. Their mandates tend to emphasise objectives 

consistent with broader public concerns. Nevertheless, many so-called publicly sponsored and 

administered systems may rely on private financing from their membership and may rely on 

private-sector advisers and the views of member financial institutions. In practice, virtually all 

deposit insurance systems have some private and public characteristics. This public/privatesector mix, and resultant mandates, roles and responsibilities are country-specific. 

Linkages to public-policy objectives 

The public-policy objectives of the deposit insurance system and its mandate should be 

consistent in order to enhance the effectiveness of the system. Serious problems can result when 

they diverge. The issue of consistency is relevant across all deposit insurance systems. 

Specification of mandates, roles and responsibilities 

The degree to which mandates, roles and responsibilities are well-defined is another important 

consideration. The advantage of a well-defined system is that there is less ambiguity, because the 

rules are clear to all parties, including depositors, insured institutions, and safety-net participants. 

This can reinforce stability and confidence in the deposit insurance system. By making 

transparent information on the roles and responsibilities of the deposit insurer, and the terms and 

conditions of deposit insurance, incentives for greater accountability and good governance are 

provided.4

 The specification of the accountability regime, terms and conditions of insurance— 

such as membership, coverage, and the reimbursement process—and on the coordination and 

information-sharing arrangements between the deposit insurer and other safety-net participants 

should be well-defined. 

Formal specification can be accomplished either through law or regulation, a policy statement or 

agreement, or by private contract. Although some private systems may not be defined in 

legislation, they can be defined alternatively in private contracts. Even in cases where the deposit 

insurer is not a separate legal entity—for example, a department of a central bank—there are 

benefits to having well-defined mandates and responsibilities, including improved coordination 

with the activities of other departments within the organisation. 

Coordination with other safety-net participants 

In order to discharge its mandates effectively and meet its objectives, a deposit insurer should 

have access to requisite information on its member institutions. The need for adequate and 

timely information among members of the safety net is particularly critical because few deposit 

4

 There can be disadvantages associated with having too many characteristics of a system defined in law or private 

contracts. In some countries, operational features, such as staffing levels and budgets, are established by statute, 

which may diminish the flexibility of the deposit insurance system to respond to changing conditions. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

insurers have broad supervisory authority. At a minimum, access to basic information about 

member institutions, including information on current financial condition and the existence of 

problems, needs to be assured. Although informal arrangements can work well in some 

circumstances, it is often necessary that information sharing be mandated either through 

legislation or by private agreements, or both, given the sensitivity of member-specific 

information and the challenge of maintaining open communication channels. These should set 

out what is to be shared and by whom, as well as the type, level of detail, and frequency of the 

information to be exchanged. In all cases, the confidentiality of the information should be 

assured. There also should be goodwill among the heads of the agencies, indicating that they are 

firmly committed to information exchange. 

Coordination of the activities of the safety-net participants is important for ensuring an effective 

deposit insurance system and for avoiding inefficiencies and conflicts between safety-net 

participants. The need for cooperation among safety-net participants should be taken into 

account when determining the mandate, roles and responsibilities of the deposit insurer. This is 

particularly crucial in situations when the deposit insurer is accorded a broad mandate, such as 

the role to intervene in member institutions' affairs or act as receiver or liquidator. Experience 

has shown that clarity and coordination can contribute not only to the effectiveness of a deposit 

insurance system but also to the effectiveness of the entire financial safety net.5 

Process for the periodic review of mandates 

It is important to ensure that a process exists for the periodic review of the mandate, roles and 

responsibilities of a deposit insurance system. Rapidly changing conditions in the overall 

economy, and the financial sector in particular, make it necessary to undertake a situational 

analysis.6 The review process can include a regular assessment and report to stakeholders of the 

system’s effectiveness in meeting its mandate, including any recommended changes. 

Governance Arrangements 

Other important considerations relate to the structure and organisation of a deposit insurance 

system. These include: the structure of the governance system; the composition of the governing 

body and its duties and responsibilities; internal-control processes; and transparency and 

accountability regimes. 

Structure of governance 

The choice of the governing structure for the deposit insurance system usually is influenced by 

the mandate and the degree to which the deposit insurer is legally separate from the other safetynet participants. One option is to assign responsibilities for the insurance function to an existing 

entity. This option has been adopted in many cases where the insurance function is primarily 

public. Many countries have chosen to locate their deposit insurance function as a department 

5

 For a more detailed discussion of how coordination can be accomplished please refer to the paper on 

interrelationships. 

6

 See the paper on situational analysis. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

within a central bank or supervisory authority. This approach can be more cost-effective from an 

administrative point of view than the creation of a separate entity. It also allows the deposit 

insurer to tap into staff resources and skills from the existing entity. This type of arrangement 

also may facilitate information sharing and coordination. 

There are several drawbacks to not having a separate deposit insurance entity. The primary 

disadvantage is that the existing entity—whether it is a central bank, supervisory or other 

authority—may have difficulty separating its other responsibilities and interests from those of the 

deposit insurance function. It may be difficult to ensure that the interests of the deposit insurer 

are given appropriate weight in the decision-making process. In addition, it may give rise to 

conflicts because the objectives of the deposit insurer may conflict with those of the existing 

entity. 

Alternatively, the deposit insurance function can be set up as a separate legal entity. In this case, 

a governance choice is to vest a board of directors or managing board with the responsibility to 

direct the affairs of the organisation and to be held responsible for the sound functioning of the 

deposit insurance system. Board systems appear to be the predominant choice in cases where the 

deposit insurer has separate legal status from other safety-net participants or, in the case of 

private schemes, industry members. Board systems also may be utilised when the deposit insurer 

is designated as an autonomous subsidiary of a central bank, industry association or other 

organisation. In public systems, the board can be made responsible directly to the legislature or 

to the supervisory authority. In private arrangements, the board can be made responsible to its 

member institutions through an industry association. 

There are advantages associated with a separate legal status and a board structure. In particular, 

the deposit insurer may be more focused and effective in carrying out its often unique mandate, 

roles and responsibilities. Opportunities for conflicts are reduced compared to a departmental 

model. However, a board structure usually requires stronger accountability and transparency 

regimes as well as greater administrative resources than other alternatives. Legally separate 

deposit insurance systems also may face greater challenges in terms of information sharing and 

coordination with other safety-net participants. 

Composition and duties of the governing body 

The governing body of a deposit insurance organisation usually includes individuals who have 

decision-making authority. In addition, the input and views of other safety-net participants or 

relevant stakeholders are often taken into account. In order to improve effectiveness and to 

ensure the integrity of the deposit insurer, members of the governing body should understand the 

organisation's activities and the environment in which it operates. The members should be 

subject to some form of a "fit-and-proper" test, be free from serious conflicts of interest, and be 

as independent as possible from undue political or industry influence. It should be noted, 

however, that some of the best-qualified candidates for appointments to a governing body are the 

same people who may have conflicts of interests—individuals such as regulators or those 

affiliated with member institutions. Different systems make different judgments about who 

should be permitted to serve in a governing capacity and how conflicts should be managed. In 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

general, the narrower the mandate of the deposit insurance system, the less likely is the potential 

for conflicts of interest. 

For deposit insurance systems that are predominately administered privately through a board 

arrangement, the board composition may include active member institutions. Deposit insurance 

systems that are jointly administered may include members affiliated with financial institutions 

as well as government officials on their board. However, care needs to be taken to ensure that 

such arrangements do not lead to conflicts of interest that can be detrimental to the deposit 

insurance system. A number of public systems reserve positions for independent private 

members—those not currently active in the affairs of member institutions—in order to obtain 

additional expertise and advice. Some public schemes allow for members who are actively 

affiliated with member institutions. However, most systems discourage this practice because the 

interests of such members may conflict with the interests of other stakeholders and the 

confidentiality of information could be compromised. 

Governance systems often can be enhanced through the use of special advisory bodies or 

committees. Such committees can include industry representatives, particularly in systems that 

may exclude their direct participation in the governing body. These committees also may include 

industry representatives who can provide their expertise and views on certain matters, such as 

real estate. Once again, however, the use of outside experts should not compromise the 

confidentiality of information or permit conflicts of interest to arise. 

The delineation of the duties and responsibilities of the governing body is a critical aspect of 

good corporate governance. It is important for members of the governing body—such as 

members of the board, management and employees—to understand and to meet their 

responsibilities. It also is important to evaluate regularly the board's effectiveness in fulfiling its 

responsibilities. 

In many countries, the governing body is given authority for the selection and oversight of senior 

management, and the responsibility to review management, operations and the performance of 

the organisation. This can be extended to require that the governing body ensure that effective 

strategic- and risk-management processes are in place.7 The governing body’s authority also may 

include the ability to remove any officer or employee of the organisation for cause, and to deal 

with confidentiality, ethical business conduct, and conflict-of-interest issues. Other approaches 

may provide the board with the authority, under statute, to prepare and issue rules and regulations 

necessary for the sound functioning of the organisation. Some systems with a focus on risk 

minimisation may provide extra authority, through statute, to make regulations affecting the 

affairs of member institutions. 

7

 Effective strategic management usually incorporates an understanding of the environment in which an organisation 

operates, the establishment of organisational objectives, the development of implementation plans to achieve 

objectives, and the capability to report and assess progress toward meeting objectives. Effective risk management 

typically involves having the capability to identify and assess risks inherent in an organisation's current and 

anticipated operations, initiate policies to deal with these risks appropriately, and regularly review and evaluate riskmanagement policies. 
 

 

 

 

Internal-control processes 

Internal-control processes—by which deficiencies are identified and corrected—are important 

governance considerations. Sound internal-control and audit processes play a crucial role in 

ensuring the integrity and efficiency of operations, and they can enhance corporate standards of 

accountability. Internal audit programs typically involve regular compliance and accountability 

reviews and the monitoring of performance according to set standards and policies.8

 Some 

systems go so far as to include public-service delivery and operational quality reviews. It can be 

particularly helpful if the internal-control processes of the deposit insurer correspond to the 

general requirements for audit purposes set for financial institutions or comparable government 

institutions. 

Accountability, transparency and disclosure 

Appropriate accountability, transparency and disclosure regimes for the deposit insurer and other 

safety-net participants are important structure and organisation issues. It is important that the 

deposit insurer, regardless of its structure, be held accountable for its decisions and actions. In 

circumstances where deposit insurance is provided through a legally separate entity, 

accountability can be bolstered by ensuring that the board of directors and senior management are 

responsible and accountable to their primary stakeholder. In many public systems utilising an 

independent board structure, the organisation is made accountable in law to the public, often via 

the legislature or an appropriate ministry of the government. Input from member institutions and 

other interested parties can be channeled through the use of special advisory bodies or 

committees. Achieving the right balance between accountability and independence will depend, 

to a large extent, on country-specific factors. 

In predominantly private systems, the deposit insurance organisation often is held directly 

accountable to its member institutions or industry association. Where a private system is 

mandated by law, the deposit insurer often is made accountable to both its members and the 

public via the legislature, or to a department or ministry of the government. 

Setting up an appropriate transparency and disclosure regime also can provide benefits to a 

deposit insurance system. Transparency refers to the process by which information on the system 

and its actions is made available and readily understood by the public. Ensuring that the system 

is transparent and disclosing information on a timely, consistent and accurate basis can enhance 

accountability, sound management and the functioning of the system. Typically, this involves 

making transparent the deposit insurer's mandate, roles and responsibilities. In addition, 

information should be disclosed about a deposit insurer's activities, decision-making processes, 

financial position (for example, disclosure of audited financial statements that adhere to generally 

accepted accounting principles), funding arrangements, costs associated with failure resolutions 

8

 High-risk areas such as cash, securities, premises and assets of closed banks can be covered in separate verification 

processes. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and other relevant information for the provision of deposit insurance.9 A number of deposit 

insurance systems require a full consultative process with relevant stakeholders whenever 

changes are proposed to the policy or legislative framework affecting the system. This can be 

done as a matter of law or as a matter of administrative process. The consultative process, 

including the time frame, are often a function of the complexity and degree of controversy 

surrounding any changes. 

It is important to recognise the need for confidentiality and the judicious release of information 

as appropriate. The extent and frequency of information disclosed by deposit insurers varies 

considerably among systems. Some systems regularly disclose detailed reports on their activities, 

financial position, performance, funding positions, and even information on the costs associated 

with individual failures and problem institutions. Other systems release only a limited amount of 

information to the public. This reflects legitimate concerns that the disclosure of too much 

information (particularly information on the costs associated with failures and anything related to 

the financial position of individual member institutions) could negatively affect public 

confidence and the stability of the financial system.10 Ultimately, an appropriate balance should 

be struck between the desire to promote accountability and sound management through 

disclosure, and the need to ensure confidence and financial-system stability. 

Human Resources and Operational Considerations 

Human resources are a critical element of the structure and organisation of a successful deposit 

insurance system. Issues of interest are: ensuring the availability of human resources to meet the 

operational objectives of the system; compensation, incentives, training and other measures to 

attract and retain skilled staff; and confidentiality and legal-liability issues relating to employees. 

A number of approaches have been used to ensure the availability of qualified persons to meet 

the operational objectives of deposit insurance schemes. Some deposit insurers rely primarily on 

a body of dedicated staff, others emphasise the use of outsourcing, while still others utilise a 

combination thereof. Country-specific factors, such as the mandate and structure of the deposit 

insurance system, as well as the availability of skilled resources, influence staffing decisions. 

Having a fully dedicated staff allows for a high level of control over the functions of the deposit 

insurer and its ability to maintain tight control over service standards and quality. These 

functions include: executive decision-making; the management of operational policies, systems 

and practices; the strategic- and risk-management processes; and contingency planning. 

However, having a large proportion of dedicated staff can lead to higher fixed costs and may 

reduce the flexibility of the insurer to respond to changes in staffing requirements. It should be 

9

 Risk-minimisation deposit insurance systems with roles in examinations, interventions and failure resolution also 

may benefit from the disclosure of how these activities are set out and coordinated with those of the other safety-net 

participants. 

10 This form of disclosure can result in a reduction in asset values and losses to the deposit insurance system. In 

addition, the detailed disclosure of funding arrangements, particularly in cases where a deposit insurer is unclear on 

how it will fund the resolution of large member institutions in difficulty, also can erode confidence in the system or 

lead to conclusions by the public, rightly or wrongly, of the existence of a "too-big-to-fail" policy. 
 

 

 

 

 

noted that the latter concern can be addressed to some degree by cross-training employees in 

multiple skills. 

Alternatively, the deposit insurer can assign certain tasks to outside service providers through 

outsourcing. Outsourcing can include borrowing staff as needed from another safety-net 

participant or maintaining contracts with private-sector firms to undertake certain activities. It 

also is possible to outsource specific tasks while maintaining ultimate responsibility and control 

through the use of dedicated staff. Some countries have used this approach in the case of estate 

administration. External service providers can be required to file detailed business plans with the 

insurer before commencement of their activities. 

Advantages of outsourcing include flexibility to allocate staff, the ability to reduce staffing costs 

during idle periods, and the ability to take advantage of the efficiencies and specific expertise that 

service providers may offer.11 Outsourcing also can create arm’s-length arrangements that may 

benefit a deposit insurer, such as in the case of outsourcing asset-disposition duties. In some 

systems, the deposit insurer is the major creditor and it may be perceived that there is conflict of 

interest if the insurer undertakes these roles directly, particularly if the deposit insurer is a 

priority creditor. Outsourcing these functions also may free the deposit insurer from any 

rigidities in government rules, such as those regarding restrictions on negotiated sales. 

Major disadvantages of outsourcing include increased difficulty in controlling events as well as 

difficulties in ensuring consistent quality across the organisation. Given the difficulty in 

predicting the incidence of troubled banks and failures, service providers may not be able to 

respond quickly or adequately to an increased demand for their services.12 Experience suggests 

that the net savings associated with outsourcing may not be lower than from maintaining a 

dedicated staff. 

Because of the trade-offs associated with staffing issues, many deposit insurance systems rely on 

dedicated staff and outsourcing. For example, some systems assign dedicated staff to coremanagement functions within their organisations, while non-core functions are assigned to 

outside providers. Nevertheless, care must be taken to ensure that quality standards are met. 

The ability to attract and retain qualified employees and establish competitive compensation is 

another key human-resource challenge for deposit insurance systems. Many schemes, both 

public and private, have limited financial resources and often have difficulty providing 

competitive compensation relative to the financial-services industry—and in some cases, even 

relative to other safety-net participants. Furthermore, some systems may face constraints in 

securing adequate resources to train and develop employee skills. 

A variety of approaches have been undertaken to address human-resource issues. Some have 

focused on efforts to ensure that salary ranges are competitive with defined markets. Another 

11 Given the financial constraints many deposit insurance systems face in attracting and retaining highly skilled staff 

and experts, contracting out may provide a cost-effective alternative to access the skills of such individuals. 

12 In some situations the unavailability of experts can hinder attempts to outsource and lead to functions being 

carried out in-house. 
 

 

approach has been to offer opportunities for career progression through succession planning and 

training and development. For example, training and development can be undertaken in-house in 

situations where the dedicated staff of the organisation is large or if outside courses are 

unavailable. In other instances the deposit insurer may share training and development programs 

resources with other safety-net participants or industry associations. There also has been a 

growing recognition among deposit insurers of the benefits to be gained from international 

training, assistance, and collaboration. Although such assistance and collaboration can enable 

deposit insurers to share their knowledge, the ability to secure necessary funding for such 

activities may be beyond the capabilities of some deposit insurance systems. Additional 

assistance may be required from stakeholders such as governments and international 

organisations. 

Most deposit insurance systems need to rely on confidential information collected from 

institutions and other safety-net participants to fulfil their mandates. Thus, measures to ensure 

that this information remains confidential are important considerations for employees. A number 

of countries have introduced provisions regarding secrecy and confidentiality regarding all 

documents, information and records pertaining to matters dealt with by the deposit insurance 

entity. 

In terms of legal-liability issues, situations exist in some countries where employees of deposit 

insurers and other safety-net participants are held personally liable for actions taken on behalf of 

their organisations. Although this arrangement may have been instituted in an effort to improve 

accountability, a number of countries noted that it has resulted in serious impediments to 

employee and organisational performance. The lack of legal protection can reduce incentives for 

employees to be vigilant in the carrying out of their mandates—particularly in cases where 

mandates emphasise promptness in detection, intervention and closure of troubled institutions. 

The Working Group recognised the importance of statutory indemnification and recommended 

that staff should receive legal protection against lawsuits for their official action in the normal 

course of deposit insurance activities or supervision.13 

Information technology and other issues 

Information systems and the use of technology are other important operational areas for deposit 

insurance systems. Although specific needs may vary depending on the type of deposit insurance 

system in place and its mandate, access to timely, accurate and consistent information can be 

extremely beneficial. 

Information management systems that process information quickly and accurately can help a 

deposit insurer detect and deal with problems. In some cases, this information can be generated 

from systems within the deposit insurer, although in other cases, it may be necessary to retrieve 

information from other safety-net participants. 

13 Financial Stability Forum Working Group on Deposit Insurance, A Consultative Process and Background Paper, 

June 2000. 
 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions 

• Mandates, roles and responsibilities can vary widely among deposit insurance systems. It is 

critical that the mandates, roles and responsibilities are consistent with the stated publicpolicy objectives of the deposit insurance system. 

• Formal specification of the mandates, roles and responsibilities—either in law, a formal 

policy statement or agreement, or by private contract—and the establishment of relationships 

and linkages with other safety-net participants enhance the effectiveness of a deposit 

insurance system. The mandates, roles and responsibilities of the deposit insurance system 

should be clear to all parties concerned. This will reinforce stability and confidence in the 

financial system. It also will contribute to greater accountability and sound governance of the 

deposit insurance system. 

• In order to discharge its mandate effectively, a deposit insurer should have access to requisite 

information on its member institutions. The need for adequate and timely information is 

particularly critical because few existing deposit insurers have broad supervisory authority. 

• The coordination of the activities of the safety-net participants is important for ensuring an 

effective deposit insurance system and for avoiding inefficiencies and conflicts between 

safety-net participants. 

• A variety of forms of governance can be utilised by a deposit insurance system. The choice of 

the governing structure usually is influenced by the mandate and the degree to which the 

deposit insurer is legally separate from the other safety-net participants. 

• The composition of the governing body of a deposit insurance organisation should include 

individuals who understand the organisation's activities and the environment in which it 

operates. These individuals should have decision-making authority. In addition, the input 

and views of the safety-net participants and/or relevant stakeholders often are taken into 

account by the governing body. The members should be subject to some form of a "fit-andproper" test, be free from serious conflicts of interest, and be as independent as possible from 

undue political or industry influence. 

• Governance systems can be enhanced through the use of sound strategic- and riskmanagement processes and good internal-control and audit systems. Arrangements should be 

made to ensure that the governing structure is accountable and transparent. 

• Human resources are a critical element of the structure and organisation of a successful 

deposit insurance system. The ability to attract and retain qualified employees and establish 

competitive compensation are key challenges for most deposit insurers. 

• A number of approaches have been used to ensure the availability of qualified persons to 

meet the operational objectives of deposit insurance schemes. Some deposit insurers rely 

primarily on a body of dedicated staff, others emphasise the use of outsourcing, while still 
 

 

 

 

others utilise a combination thereof. Country-specific factors, such as the mandate and 

structure of the deposit insurance system, as well as the availability of skilled resources, 

influence staffing decisions. 

• Most deposit insurance systems need to rely on confidential information collected from 

institutions and other safety-net participants to fulfil their mandates. Thus, measures to 

ensure that this information is made available to the deposit insurance system and remains 

confidential are important. 

• The lack of legal protection for employees can reduce incentives for deposit insurers to be 

vigilant in carrying out their mandates—particularly in cases where mandates emphasise 

early detection, intervention and closure of troubled institutions. The importance of statutory 

indemnification should be recognised and employees should receive legal protection against 

lawsuits for their action in the normal course of deposit insurance activities or supervision. 

• The ability to have in place information management systems to access and process 

information quickly and accurately is vital for a deposit insurer to detect and deal effectively 

with problems.