Volume II - PDF - International Association of Deposit Insurers

Acknowledgements
The preparation Financial Stability Forum (FSF) Report Guidance for Developing Effective Deposit Insurance
Systems took the energy of many talented people. I want to particularly thank the members of the Working
Group on Deposit Insurance, the research committee, and all of you who have contributed your hard work
and thoughtfulness. We have looked at deposit insurance issues from a practitioner’s perspective and developed
the guidance based on research, consultation and the knowledge brought by so many.
The FSF Report and the documents contained in this “volume” is the culmination of a process that began
with the creation of the Study Group on Deposit Insurance that was asked to assess the desirability and feasibility
of setting out international guidance on deposit insurance arrangements. The Study Group’s report
was tabled at a meeting of the Financial Stability Forum in March 2000. On the basis of the conclusions
in that report, I was invited to constitute the FSF Working Group on Deposit Insurance, to develop such
guidance and to deliver a final report.
We have made tremendous progress in developing the guidance, but I recognize that more work remains.
To name just a few examples, deposit insurers around the world will have to deal with the consequences of
technological change, financial sector consolidation and conglomeration, increasing cross-border deposittaking
activities, the growing use of deposit-like substitutes, and issues related to the Internet and electronic
commerce. Even the issues that we addressed specifically in the FSF report will have to be continuously
examined in light of new practices and innovations. Change is the only constant in the financial sector. All
of us will have to continually search out new information and examine our policies, practices and systems
to ensure that they remain current and relevant.
The Working Group began a process that helped deposit insurance practitioners and other members of the
financial safety net to better understand the nature of the challenges they face, think about possible solutions
and know who to call in times of need. Given the comments that I received during the past two years there
is a great need to continue our knowledge sharing. Deposit insurers should consider how best this can best
be accomplished.
J.P. Sabourin September 22, 2001
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation