The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) agencies would like to invite financial institutions to participate in the U.S Treasury Department sponsored industry-wide business continuity exercise for members of the financial services sector. The purpose of the exercise is to test the financial sector's ability to respond to a pandemic like crisis, such as an influenza pandemic. The exercise targets all financial services organizations across the United States including banks, thrifts, credit unions, securities firms, and insurance companies. Financial institutions may want to consider this exercise as an opportunity to test their pandemic contingency programs and to identify opportunities for improvement.

The exercise will simulate one wave of a pandemic like event and is scheduled to begin September 24, 2007, and conclude on October 10, 2007. The exercise is voluntary and there is no fee to participate. Participating financial institutions will conduct the exercise anonymously from their own locations through electronic mail and a secure website. Detailed information about the exercise and registration is available at the following website: www.fspanfluexercise.com.