• Examines the purpose of having board committees, describes basic types of committees and offers broad guidelines for establishing a committee structure.
• Lists the most common bank board committees and provides data on average sizes of committees.
• Explores how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ratcheted up audit committee standards and provides guidance on overseeing internal and external auditors.
• Delineates how the loan committee can provide oversight without substituting its judgment for management’s.
• Describes how boards can effectively oversee executive pay, personnel and benefits. Special attention is given to benchmarks and regulatory requirements, and a sidebar spotlights how compensation concerns may differ for mutual institutions.
• Offers guidelines on determining the proper board composition for a given bank, includes a detailed discussion of qualities to look for in a director, provides tips on recruiting and explains the regulatory framework for corporate governance.
• Examines the 12 other committees that are common in banks. Most operate at the board level, though some are at the management level with extensive board interaction.
• Evaluates four critical elements in effective committees: A clear sense of purpose, an empowered chairman, engaged members and appropriate resources.
• Breaks down some chores associated with committee work, including keeping minutes, conducting evaluations and scheduling.
• Emphasizes how board committee members can cultivate good working relationships with management, and vice versa, and offers tips on how to keep committees productive and prevent spirits from flagging.

A review copy of the book is available upon request.