INSTITUTE FOR BANK DIRECTOR EDUCATION (IBDE)

The Institute for Bank Director Education (IBDE) curriculum design reflects input from regulators, insurers, bankers, and banking law experts as well as outside directors themselves. In fact, several state banking departments and associations frequently act as education providers for the IBDE. Because insurers agree that one of their best "risk reducers" in writing financial institution D&O insurance is an educated board, those who complete the IBDE director education certification program can earn significant discounts on their D&O insurance.

The IBDE is a clearinghouse for director education. The IBDE reviews courses offered by various institutions, government regulatory agencies, and businesses for their applicability to financial institution directors, and evaluates both the course material and the qualifications of instructors. If a course is approved for inclusion in the program, the IBDE assigns the credit available for the course and lists the course in its Course Guide -- at no charge to the course provider.

The IBDE maintains records of each individual director's progress toward education certification, and financial institutions may have their D&O insurers call the IBDE offices for verification that their directors are certified. The IBDE charges no fee to financial institution directors to participate in the education certification program.

Directors pursuing education certification do, of course, have to pay the course provider for the course, and must be members of the AABD. In most cases, the D&O discounts earned will more than pay for membership in AABD.