Impact of the Appraisal Function on Operational Risk

The regulators want financial institutions to comply with their appraisal guidance. But more importantly, the regulators intend for banks to recognize and avoid situations that create risk for their specific institution. Operational risk incorporates many of the other types of risk an institution can face. There are some conditions under which a faulty appraisal program can inflate a bank's operational risk. This webinar will look closely at those situations and options to avoid them.

You will learn: 

• How the interagency appraisal and evaluation guidelines stress risk assessment in the appraisal program?
• The definition of operational risk and how this flows through the entire organization, including the appraisal function
• That operational risk can be managed, but not eliminated
• About ORM, discipline, and practice for managing operational risk
• The problems with retaining a more traditional system of risk discipline silos
• The importance of transparency in the ORM process

1.    You will be given a framework for and ideas to allow your bank to customize its ORM program.

2.    You will learn:

• The impact of the appraisal function on the institution and its operational risk
• How, with an effective ORM program, the appraisal function facilitates loan production and also reduces risk
• How people play a part in successful operational risk management
• How technology can have an impact on operational risk management
• Some warning signs of poor appraisal function integration in operational risk management

• Banks are astute in assessing credit risk, but often underestimate the risk to the institution from lack of full compliance with the Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines
• Most banks are not aware that inefficient and improper linkages of the appraisal function with other departments within the institution can create an added risk to the institution
• The big focus in banks is on credit risk, followed by market risk, but internal practices can also enhance risk to a bank's operation
• Many banks' compliance monitoring and risk assessment processes overlook the appraisal function
• This webinar provides context for a better understanding of operational risk and how the appraisal function may enhance or impair the soundness of an institution

• CEOs and presidents of community banks
• Credit administration officers
• Chief appraisers/appraisal function managers
• Credit officers involved in the appraisal function
• Credit reviewers and other credit side personnel
• Lending group managers
• Employees tasked with elements of the appraisal function

Heidi Lee is a commercial review appraiser with 18 years of experience at Whitney National Bank, a mid-sized financial institution. Since retiring from Whitney Bank in 2011, Heidi has founded Appraisal Review and Consultation to share her skills and appraisal regulatory knowledge base with other financial institutions. Her firm offers commercial review services and appraisal policy/procedures assistance to small- and medium-sized banks across the country.

She has earned the MAI and the AI-GRS designations issued by the Appraisal Institute and the MRICS designation issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. She holds a general appraiser certification in Louisiana and Texas and was appointed by two governors to serve on the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board. Additionally, she is a member of RMA (Risk Management Associates), with a special interest in credit risk and operational risk.