Essential Tabletop Testing Exercises for Credit Unions

By Agility Recovery

Tabletop exercises are more than just a “what if” conversation – they’re essential tools for ensuring that your credit union can respond effectively to disruptions and demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. For credit union professionals, especially IT and compliance teams, these tests aren’t optional – they’re strategic.

But to get the full value from your tabletop efforts, documenting each exercise is just as important as conducting it. That record becomes a proof point during audits, an asset during after-action reviews, and a roadmap for future improvements.

Let’s walk through key tabletop scenarios credit unions should prioritize – along with guidance on which tier of testing (standard or advanced) is most effective, and how to capture the outcomes meaningfully.

1. Cybersecurity Incident Response

Best for: Advanced tabletop testing

• Scenario: A phishing attempt leads to credential theft and ransomware deployment.
• Why advanced? Cyber incidents require split-second decisions across IT, compliance, and member services. Real-time injects stress-test your response under pressure.
• Document this: Roles activated, communications reviewed, recovery timelines vs. RTO/RPO, gaps in detection or escalation, and alignment with your Information Security Policy.

2. Active Shooter or Workplace Violence

Best for: Standard → Advanced

• Scenario: A violent intruder enters a branch.
• Why both? Start with discussion-based walkthroughs to build familiarity; then escalate to advanced drills with local authorities or safety officers.
• Document this: Evacuation routes, lockdown roles, communication protocol, employee response confidence, and any facilities or training gaps identified.

3. Severe Weather or Natural Disaster

Best for: Standard or advanced, depending on impact

• Scenario: A hurricane shuts down multiple branches and affects data center operations.
• Why advanced? Multi-location events with tech disruptions require testing across IT, HR, facilities, and member communications.
• Document this: Backup power capabilities, site prioritization for recovery, remote work effectiveness, and service continuity plans. Review against your BIA and DRP.

4. Supply Chain Disruption

Best for: Standard tabletop testing

• Scenario: A third-party vendor outage impacts payment processing or core systems.
• Why standard? This scenario benefits from discussion-based exploration of risk tiers, contract terms, and vendor backup options.
• Document this: Vendor tiering, SLAs, escalation paths, communication playbooks, and updated vendor risk assessments.

5. Pandemic or Health Emergency

Best for: Standard (refresher), Advanced (multi-wave)

• Scenario: A health event causes staffing shortages and facility access issues.
• Why both? Start with reviewing previous plans; then simulate variable scenarios to test adaptability.
• Document this: Staffing contingency plans, telework effectiveness, member communication strategies, and policy alignment with OSHA/CDC guidance.

Don’t Forget: Document, Document, Document

Whether your tabletop is a basic walkthrough or a multi-department simulation, always capture key outcomes, such as:

• Attendee list and roles
• Scenario summary and timeline
• Decisions made and their rationale
• Gaps uncovered in procedures, communication, or technology
• Follow-up tasks and owners
• Links to updated policies or playbooks

This documentation serves a dual purpose:

1. Operational Resilience – It becomes your blueprint for real-world response improvements.
2. Regulatory Compliance – It’s tangible evidence of your credit union’s risk preparedness for auditors, boards, and examiners (like NCUA or FFIEC).

Pro Tip: Keep a Tabletop Testing Tracker

Create a centralized log of every exercise your credit union conducts. Use it to monitor progress, track resolutions, and support future audits.

By pairing thoughtful testing with thorough documentation, credit union IT and compliance professionals can transform tabletop exercises into a strategic advantage – reinforcing both operational readiness and regulatory peace of mind.

Want to enhance your resilience and take the stress out of documentation and compliance reporting? Agility Recovery offers both standard and advanced tabletop exercise facilitation complete with actionable insights and audit-ready reports. Let one of our Certified Business Continuity Professionals (CBCP) take the weight of facilitation off your shoulders and show you why hundreds of credit unions trust Agility to lead their annual testing exercises year after year. Connect with Agility Recovery to learn more.