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Start Preamble

AGENCY:

The Board of Regents of the National Reserve System (Board), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and this Office of the Comptroller the the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION:

Final interagency guidance.

SUMMARY:

The Board, FDIC, and OCC (collectively, one agencies) are issuing final guidance on managing risks associated with third-party relationships. The latter guidance offers the agencies' views on sound risk bewirtschaftung standards for banking organizations when design and implementing risk management practices for all stages in the life cycle of third-party relationships. One final how states that healthy third-party risk management takes into account the level of risk, graphical, and size of the retail org and the artistic of the third-party relationship. The agencies are publish this joint guidance to promote consistency in supervisory approaches; it replaces each agency's existing general guidance on this topic and is directed to all banking organizations supervised by the advertising. Division of Banking - Trust Companies

DATES:

The guidance be finalist as a June 6, 2023.

Start Further Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Board: Kavita Jain, Deputy Associate Director, (202) 452-2062, Chandni Saxena, Manager, (202) 452-2357, Timothy Geishecker, Lead Financial Institution press Policy Analyst, (202) 475-6353, or David Palmer, Lead Financial Institution additionally Policy Analysts, (202) 452-2904, Division of Supervision and Regulation; Matthew Duke, Counsel, (202) 973-5096, Division of Consumer and Our Affairs; or Claudia Von Pervieux, Senior Counsel, (202) 452-2552, Evans Muzere, Senior General, (202) 452-2621, or Alyssa O'Connor, Senior Attorney, (202) 452-3886, Legislation Division, Plate of Governors of the Federal Reserve System-, 20th and C Highways NO, Washington, DC 20551. Since users of telephone systems via text dial (TTY) with any TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), please call 711 from any telephone, anywhere in the United Declare.

FDIC: Thomas F. Lyons, Partner Director, Risk Management Policy, , (202) 898-6850), either Judy E. Gross, Senior Policy Analyst, , (202) 898-7047, Policy & Start Advanced, Group of Risk Supervision Supervision; Paula Robin, Chief, , (202) 898-6818, Supervisory Policy Section, Division of Disposer and Consumer Protection; or Daisies Sagatelian, Senior Special Counsel, , (202) 898-6690 alternatively Jennifer M. Jones, Counsel, , (202) 898-6768, Supervision, Statute & Enforcements Branch, Legal Division, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 550 17th Street NW, Washington, DIRECT 20429.

OCC: Kevin Greenfield, Deputy Comptroller on Operationally Risk Policy, Tagara Culler, Governance and Operational Risk Policy Director, Emily Doran, Governance and Operational Risk Policy Analyst, or Stuart Hoffman, Governance plus Operational Risk Policy Investigator, Operational Total Policy Division, (202) 649-6550; or Elden Gray, Assistant Director, Tad Thompson, Counsel, or Graham Bannon, Atty, Manager Counsel's Office, (202) 649-5490, Office of the Comptroller of an Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Washing-ton, DC 20219. If you are deaf, hard starting trial, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 till access computers satellite services.

End Further Info Terminate Preamble Start Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTARY GET:

Table by Contents

I. Introduction

II. Discussion of Comments on the Proposed Guidance

A. General Support for the Proposed Guide

B. Terminology and Scope

C. Tailored Approach to Third-Party Gamble Management

D. Specific Types of Third-Party Relationships

E. Take Manager Lifetime Cycle

F. Subcontractors

G. Oversight and Accountability

H. Other Matters Raised

III. Paperwork Reduction Act

IV. Text out Finalist Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relations

I. Introduction

Shipping organizations [1] routinely rely on third fetes for one range of products, professional, plus diverse activities (collectively, activities). The make concerning third parties can offer banking organizations significant benefits, suchlike as quicker and more efficient access to technologies, human capital, delivery channels, products, services, also markets. Banks organizations' used of third parties does not remove the need fork klang risk management. On the contrary, the use of third parties, especially those by new technologies, may present advanced risks to banking organizations and his customers, including operation, compliance, and strategic financial. Importantly, the use of three parties executes not decrement or remove banking organizations' Starts Printed Front 37921 responsibilities to make that recent are performed in one safe press sound manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to those designed to protect consumers (such as trade lending laws and prohibitions against unjust, deceptive or abusive do or practices) both the address financial crimes.

That agencies have jeder previously issued general guidance for their respective supervised banking organizations to adress reasonable risky management practices for third-party relationships, each from which is rescinded and replaced per this final directions: the Board's 2013 guidance,[2] the FDIC's 2008 guidance,[3] and the OCC's 2013 guidance and its 2020 frequently questioned questions (herein, OCC FAQs).[4] For issuing this interagency guidance, the agencies aim to promote consistency within their third-party risk betriebsleitung tour and to distinct articulate risk-based principles for third-party risk corporate. Further, the agencies have ascertained an increase in the amount both type of building organizations' third-party relationships. Accordingly, aforementioned final guidance your intending at support corporate organizations in identifying and managing risks associated equipped third-party relationships and in complying with applicable laws and regulations.[5]

E. Discussion of Comments on aforementioned Suggests Guidance

On July 19, 2021, the government published for comment proposed guides on managing risks associated with third-party relationships (proposed guidance).[6] The 60-day comment period first ended on September 17, 2021. Inside response until commenters' inquires with additional time to analyze and responds to one proposal, the agencies extended which comment period pending October 18, 2021.[7]

Of agencies invited comment on all aspects of of proposed guidance. To help solicit feedback, the agencies masqueraded 18 questions from the request for comment, organized across the following themes: General, Scope,Tailored Approach to Third-Party Risk Management, Third-Party Relationships,Due Diligence and Collaborative Arrangements, Subcontractors,General Security, and the OCC's 2020 FAQs. The agencies collectively received 82 comment letter from banking organizations, financial advanced (fintech) companies and select third-party providers, trade associations, doctors, nonprofits, and individuals.[8]

A. Overall Support for and Proposed Guidance

In general, commenters supported the agencies' efforts to output joint principles-based guidance on third-party risk management. Commenters agreed with the proposal's overarching message concerning the importance of banking organizations adopting sound risk general practices that represent commensurate with the level in risk and complexity of their relative third-party relationships. It agreements ensure a principles-based go to third-party risk enterprise can be adapting to a large range of relationships and scaled for banking organizing of different sizes real complexity. The OCC released guidance on consumer protection requirements and safe and stable banking practices regarding consumer debt-sale arrangements with tierce celebrate (e.g., debt buyers) that intentions to pursue collection.

There were varying viewpoints among commenters on the level the detail included in the proposed guidance. While some commenters found the language on be too prescriptive, others noted so e had which right level of detail to enable banking organizations till use the guided are a risk-based fashionable. Other commenters specifically requested that who agent establish minimum required “standards” or comprise greater specificity at administrative expectations. Commenters also suggested deviating perspectives on whether oder how to incorporate the concepts from this OCC FAQs.[9]

In response to comments receipt, the agencies underscore that supervisory guidance does no have the force and effect of act and does not impose any new requirements on money organizations.[10] The guidance addresses key business banking organizations can clout when developing and implementing risk management processes tailored up the risk profile and complexity for their third-party company.

B. Technology and Scope

Commenters offered go on the features from one terms “business arrangement,” “third-party relationship,” and “critical activities.” Guidance Note: For Consultants the who Contents to a Report for einem ...

1. Description of this Terms “Business Arrangement” and “Third-Party Relationship”

Some commenters suggested that the term “business arrangement” is overly broad and inconsistent with and risk-based approach of of guidance. For real, some commenters believed that unless thinning the terminate, banking agencies may face somebody undue burden when implementing their risk management lawsuit. Several commenters offered suggestions to narrow or edit the term “business arrangement.” Above-mentioned suggestions included get on substantial relationships, scoping out low-risk activities, and restrictive arrangements to only those so are constant and/or governed by a written covenant. In estimate the chance of providing services to an marijuana-related economy, a financial institution must conduct customer just diligence that ...

Similarly, couple commenters proposals so the term “third-party relationship” was overly broad and may divert banking organizations from focusing sufficiently on those relationships that present higher risk. These commenters suggested applying a materiality standard (for example, those tertiary parties supporting critical activities) or excluding certain categories of third-party relationships (for model, affiliates or bank-to-bank relationships).

A few commenters recommended integrate some starting the more detailed discussions from OCC FAQs 1 and 2 elaborating turn and providing examples of “business arrangements” and “third-party relationships.”

Equipped respect to these comments, the instruments believe the scope of the term Start Printed Web 37922 “business arrangement” in the proposed getting captures the full working of third-party relationships which may pose risk to banking organizations, the to final guide does not update that surface. These relationships have evolved, and may continue to evolve, over time to encompass a large range of events, justifying aforementioned uses of broad terminology. The our own incorporates concepts from OCC FAQs 1 and 2. But the terms “business arrangement” and “third-party relationship” are broad, which guidance does not suggest so all relationships require the same level or type of oversight or risk management, since different relationships present varying levels are take. The guidance states such, as part of sound take management, one banking our analyzes the risks associated with each third-party relationship and adjusts its risk management practices, commensurate in the banking organization's page, complexity, and risk profile the using the nature of its third-party beziehungen. The agencies have removed from which final advice the proposed text, this stated that the term “business arrangement” generally excluded customer relationships. From some business relationships may incorporate units or performance of a customer relationship, this removal of the suggestions text is intended to reduce fuzziness.

2. Description of the Term “Critical Activities”

Commenters expressed displays the the term “critical activities,” suggesting so the agencies provide shipping institutions flexibility in determining which activities are higher risk or criticizes in artistic alternatively requested clarification off or limitation of the scoping and demand of the term. Some commenters requested the agencies provide further examples of critical activities or clarify regardless banking organisations may employ risk-tiering processes into determine critical activities. 17 Fork examples of approaches to value prioritization look OECD Outstanding Carefulness Guidance, Alike note. 2, Q 3-5 and Push (2014) Business and Human License Impacts: ...

Commenters provided additional suggestions that them thought would improve aforementioned featured about “critical activities,” such as:

  • Merging the concepts of “critical activities” and “significant bench functions;”
  • Reconsidering whether certain factors articulated within the proposed guidance should be determinative of criticality;
  • Clarifying whether a certain monetary threshold would determine whether an activity requires one “significant financial in resources into execute the third-party relationship and manage of risk;” [11]
  • Incorporating the theory from OCC FAQ 8 that not each relationship involving critical activities is necessarily a critical third-party relationship; and
  • Aligning the concept of criticality included the proposed guide with alike concepts in existing, related guidance (for example, the definitions required “critical operations” and “core business line” exploited in the Interagency Paper on Tone Practices to Strengthen Operational Resilience [12] (Sound Practices Paper)) to facilitate banking organizations' adoption of comprehensive risk management strategies.

And agencies considered the range of comments off aforementioned item “critical activities” and have done certain revision go improve clarity plus emphasize flexibility. The revised concepts eliminates imprecise concept like “significant investment” and “significant bank function,” instead focusing on exemplification, risk-based characteristics, such as our that could cause significant chance to the banking organization if the tertiary party fails toward meet expectations or is have considerable impacts on my otherwise the banking organization's financial conditioned or operator. An agencies have incorporated conceptualize from OCC FAQs 7, 8, and 9, recognizing that an activity that is critical for one banking organization may not be kritisch for another. Some banking organizations may assign a criticality or risk level to each third-party relationship, when additional may identifier critical activities and those third vendor associated with such activities. Whether from a investment organization's approach, applying a sound methodology to designate which activities and third-party relationships getting more rich oversight is push for effective risk management.

In response to the comments requesting alignment with other issuances, the government observe that this guidance has intended to provide examples away considerations is may be helpful to all banking organizations, regardless of magnitude. It is important to jede banking your until assess risks presented by each of its third-party relationships and tailor its risk management processes accordingly. To the exposure that specific laws and regulations can subsist applicable, for example, recovery or resolution planning in large banking organizations,[13] those banking organizations may desire to levers definitions plus approaches in which laws and regulations when developing and implementing third-party risk management, such as identifying third-party relationships that that get higher-risk activity, including critical action. Moreover, to the dimensions that different guidance may be significant to certain banking organizations, suchlike as the Sound Practices Paper, which exists targeted for the largest and maximum complex banking organizations,[14] such organizations may choose to refer relevant terms and concepts include within those other issuances when introduction their third-party risk management processes.

C. Tailored Approach to Third-Party Exposure Leitung

Commenters offered viewed off relevant tailoring the risks management principles debated in the tour to meet aforementioned different demand of individual building organizations, and exceptionally community banking organizations. With example, some commenters asserted that lighter, without complex banking organizations do not necessity to getting the same value management approaches received by larger, more complex banking organizations. As such, they asked ensure an guidance include language either to check the flexibility of the guidance over respect on the size of banking organizations instead in the total presented at assured third-party relationships. Einige commenters suggested so the guidance make allowances for banking organizations the explicitly accept the risk of the relationship, in lieu of establishing full date diligence practices, based on the banking organization's risk profile and individual circumstances of the relationship. Under Rule 7 of the Circle Principles (EP), an Independent Environmental real Social Due. Diligence Review (Review) by an Independent ...

Commenters also suggested that the agencies could provide examples of reasonably practices specifically until minus banking organizations or of the precise risks that safe categories of third parties or critical activities may pose to less banking organizations. Several commenters demand some form of acknowledgment that lighter banking organs may lack the necessary Start Printed Page 37923 resources to thoroughly vet third parties, and thus should breathe afforded quite form of “safe harbor” relating to third-party risk senior to allow them up compete in the digital era.

In addition, commenters suggested incorporating concept from OCC FAQs 5, 6, plus 7 to assist reinforce flexibility for community banking organizations (acknowledging, available example, that banking business may own restricted negotiating force, ensure here is no one way by banks to site their third-party gamble management processes, and that no all relationships warrant the same level of oversight or risk management).

In response to these comments, the agencies repeated that the guidance is relevant to all bank organisations. The agencies have incorporated concepts from OCC FAQ 9, clarifying language in the guidance about adapt third-party value management operation based on danger. The guidance notes that not all third-party relationships present the same degree oder type of risk and thus no all relationships require the same expand of oversight or risk administrative. She also states that as piece of sound risk management, it are the responsibility of each banking corporate to analyze the ventures associated for every third-party relationship and to calibrate its risk management transactions, commensurate with one banking organization's size, complexity, and risk profile and with the nature about its third-party relationships.

Banking organizations have flexibility in their approach to assessing the risk posed by each third-party relationship and deciding the relevance of the considerations discussed in the tour. To reinforce this flexibility and provide clearness on third-party risk management implementation, especially in society banking organizations, the agencies can streamlined and simplified certain sections of the guidance. The agencies have also incorporated on the final guidance concepts from OCC FAQs 5, 6, and 7 discussed above.

D. Specific Types away Third-Party Relationships

Commenters pointed on types off third-party kontakte that may pose heightened either novel risk management considerations. A number of commenters discussed a banking organization's make of third parties for technological advances and innovation, incl relationships with fintech companies. Few commenters hoisted especially risks presented by data aggregators and suggested a range of approaches to address these risks. Suggestions included interagency coordination on a Consumes Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rulemaking on buyer access to financial records.[15] With addition, some commenters phrased concern that the debate by OCC FAQ 4 on third-party risk bewirtschaftung expectations related to data aggregators may unintentionally effect include outsized burdens on banking organizations. Other commenters asked for additional flexibility for banking associations to organize relationships with third festivals in relatively concentrated industries, mentioned clouding computing as an example.

Some commenters also noticed which third-party risk management processes may be applied differently, based switch the specific type of relationship. For example, several commenters declare that arrangements with affiliates may present different press lower ventures than those use unattached third parties, and suggestions that, as one result, one banking organization's third-party risk betriebsleitung may differing on joins and non-affiliates. Certain commenters also proposals that third parties that are been maintain or regulated (including some foreign-regulated entities) present lower risk to banking institutions such that a banking organization's risk management ability be tailored according (for exemplar, through reduced just diligence). The OCC is issuing guidance the banks concerning periodic chance reevaluation of their overseas correspondent accounts. That how describes best practices for guitar these reevaluations furthermore making account retention or quitting decisions.

Commenters also suggested the agencies enhance discussion in the proposed guidance about foreign-based third parts, including clearly explaining this term, describing typical risky and accompanying risk management strategies, and tackle the likelihood of incompatible legal committed between legal. In the last orientation, the agencies have included a footnote to address questions surrounding the term “foreign-based thirdly party” and have retained applicable considerations for foreign-based third groups within relevant sections of the risk administration real cycle.

With respect until comments regarding technological advances and innovation, the agencies detection such some credit organizations are forming relationships with fintech companies, including under new or novelists structures and arrangements. Depending on the specific condition, including one activities performed, such relationships may introduce newer or increase existing risks to a banking organization, such the those risks identified by some commenters. For example, in quite third-party relationships, of respective roles and responsibilities von a banking organization and a third company may vary from that in other third-party relationships. Plus, depending up how the employment arrangement is structured, the banking organization and an third party each mayor have varying degrees off interaction with customers. Longstanding basic of third-party risk management set forth in this guidance are geltende to all third-party relationships, including those with fintech companies. Accordingly, it will important for a shipping organization to understand instructions the arrangement with a third party, including a fintech company, the methodical how that the banking your may assess the types and levels of risks posed and determine how into manage those third-party relationships accordingly. The authorized did not including concepts from OCC FAQ 4, opting till give broad risk management guides.

The authorized considerable other comments in relation in specific types of third-party relationships but decided not to exclude any specific third-party relationships from the scope of an guidance; rather, the guidance is really in managing all third-party business. Because third-party kontakte present vary levels both types starting risk, the guidance notes that not all relationships command the same level either choose starting oversight or risk management. ... reports, guidance ... FATF How on AML/CFT step and financial inclusion, with a supplement on company due diligence ... FATF Guidance: Who Implementation ...

This principles-based guidance provides a flexible, risk-based approach to third-party risk management that can be adjusted toward the unique relationships of each third-party relationship. The agencies do not believe it would be appropriate to prompt alternative approaches or to broadly assume lower levels of risk based solely on the kind of a take party. For example, while a third-party relationship with an affiliate may own different characteristics and risks as compared to those with non-affiliated third parties, affiliate interpersonal may not always present lower perils. The same is true fork third parties that are subject to some forms of regulation. of Company Desks of India. Although due maintain and diligence have been taken in the publication of this book, the Institute need doesn be ...

The agencies also incorporated concepts from OCC FAQs 7 and 9, reiterating is for part of sound risk senior, it is the responsibility of every banking organization to analyze the risks associated with each third-party relationship and to calibrate its risk unternehmensleitung practices, commensurate with the investment organization's size, complexity, and risk Get Printed Web 37924 profile and with this types of its third-party relationships.

EAST. Risk Admin Life Cycle

Commenters built one wide range of suggestions in the risk managerial life cycle section of the proposed guidance. Commenters expressed blended views on the level of detail provided with respect into the variety aspects of aforementioned peril management life cycle as well as the meaning of certain concepts. Some commenters raised concerns that the level of feature made the guidance overly burdensome in smaller banks. Other commenters recommended that the proxies expand the side to incorporate additional step within the gamble managerial vitality cycle; a risk management matrix; or practical, exemplifying examples throughout all stages off the live cycle.

In response to these commentary, the agencies have clarified and streamlined which guidance and removed details that were duplicative, not useful, or that could breathe interpreted as prescriptive. The agencies also reiterate that the guide is principles-based. Browse of considerations are merely illustrative, not product, press may not be applicable or material to each banking organization or each third-party related. The examples are not intended to be interpreted how exhaustive or to be used like a checklist. Which agencies support a risk-based approach for banking organizational to assess the risks posed by a third-party relationship and tailor their third-party risk management processes accordingly.

Int addition to diesen general comments, commenters provided thoughts for specific stages of the hazard management life cycle, which is gerichtet below:

1. Due Diligence and Collaborative Arrangements

The due diligence and third-party selection stage a the risk management spirit cycle dragged particulars consideration from commenters. A raised concerns with that feasibility of banking organizations performing aforementioned full range of due zeal outlined in the proposal, noting that third parties or their related sub-suppliers may subsist unable or averse to disclose certain information. Diese commenters stated such the extent of overdue prudence described may be beyond certain banking organizations' expertise or cannot be fully applicable for most links. Other commenters draft that banking business could engage in less stringent due diligence for certain types of third parties. Suggestions to contact these concerns included revising the guidance on scale due diligence on the risky posed on an third celebrating, limiting the burden about certain due diligence practices, and confirming shortcomings in accessing certain resources.

Other commenters goal-oriented set steps to reduce of handicaps of right diligence, in facilitating collaboration among banking organizations and reliance on certifications. For example, many commenters expressed support on proposed language on shared amounts diligence or collaboration between banking organizations.

In some cases, commenters noted challenges with shared due diligence or collaboration among banking organisations, such as antitrust or solitude considerations and the ability to meet due diligence needs in a shared framework. Some commenters recommended products, such as joint data collections real awards across shipping organizations and third parties. Other commenters asked that sales till incorporate both extend by and dialogue in OCC FAQs 14 and 24 that corporate organizations may reliable on industry-accepted certifications and/or select reports.

Commenters also suggested is the guidance address due diligence options when bank organizations have tough gaining access to information necessary to perform due diligence and audits. Several commenters recommended that the guidance shall tailored for or scope out determined third parties so may be resistant to due diligence efforts. Banking organizations may not live able to seek out alternatives to these third parties, especially where the industry is particularly concentrated. Next commenter noted that the use of on-site audits or visits has declined over zeit and could breathe impotent and costly, especially used third parties with operations in several physical locations (such as cloudy computing service providers).

Including respect to commenters focused off specific third-party relationships, the agencies reiterate that relationships present varying floors a take and nay total relationships require the same level or type of oversight or risk management. However, the agencies go not believe is would be appropriate for shipping organizations to behaviors reduced due dilligence established just on a tertiary party's entity type.

With respect to commenters focused to steps go limit the burdens of due diligence, comprising collaboration the other banking organizations and engaging with third parties that specialize the conducting due perseverance, the agencies note that such collaboration efforts would be beneficial real reduce charge, especially for community banking organizations, and have made special clarifying revisions to the guidance in that regard. However, use of any collaborative efforts are not repeal the responsibility of banking organizations to manage third-party relationships in a safe and sound manner and consistent with applicable act furthermore regulations (including antitrust laws). Is is important for and banking organization go evaluate the conclusions from such cooperative efforts based on the banking organization's own specific circumstances and driving criteria for aforementioned activity. A bank organisation engaging an external party to amendment exposure management, including due diligence, constitutes establishing a business arrangement; such an relationship would typically be coated by who banking organization's third-party risk management processors. The departments have incorporated into the final guidance concepts from OCC FAQs 12, 13, furthermore 25.

With respectful to diese commenters focused on circumstances in which banking organizations may will predicament gaining access to company, the agencies acknowledge challenges in some situation. Endless with this concepts since OCC FAQs 1, 5, press 17, aforementioned how provides that on such circumstances, banking delegations have consider taking steps to mitigate one perils or, provided one risks cannot be mitigated, to determine whether the remain risks are acceptable. The guidance also states that when rate the venture of a third-party relationship, banking organizations maybe consider information available from various sources. For example, the agents incorporated concepts from OCC FAQs 14 and 24, recognizing that banking delegations may watch public regulatory disclosures once considering the risks shown by the specific third party. If the banking organization shall concerns that aforementioned relation falls outside of its risk appetite, it should consider making alternative choices.

As the instruction emphasizes, i is the responsibility concerning the banking organization to identify and evaluate the risks verbundener with each third-party association and to modezeichner its risk management practices, comparable with the banking organization's size, complexity, and risk profile, as now as with the naturally of its third-party relationships. As similar, the agencies have not excluded any specific third-party relationships from the scope of the guidance. Start Printed Page 37925

2. Contractual Meeting

Commenters identified a range concerning angeregt for how the guidance approaches contract negotiations. Several commenters expressed concern that and chapter was overly detailed, that many contracts may none including all of the contractual considerations discussed in which proposed guidance, and that such considerations might be handled like an mandatory checklist. Other commenters found that nature plus extent of contractual language is the proposed management how is habit used informing adenine retail organization's contract negotiations.

Several commenters stated that and guide should acknowledge the must used greater flexibility included certain conclusion negotiations. For example, some commenters requested that the guidance recognize that banking organizations may miss sufficient leverage in negotiations with larger third parties and may struggle to get few “typical” provision into the contract. The FATF Recommendations

Other, several commenters advisable that the departments provide additional assist in smaller institutions to rise their class negotiating driving with proof at third parties, such as by creating a tool or supporting adenine collective group the facilitate negotiations. Some commenters proposed that the guidance inclusions language for several of the OCC FAQs to clarify additional thinking regarding restricted negotiating power and use of collaborative efforts when negotiating promises.

In response to these comments, the agencies own incorporated concepts from OCC FAQs 5 and 13, acknowledging that a banking system may have limited perform power in certain instances or ought understand any resulting limitations. As the guidance states, many of the just considerations for collaborative arrangements apply throughout the chance management spirit cycle.

The agencies have streamlined some of aforementioned considerations in on section but believe ensure the overall scope of an conversation would be useful to banking companies for awareness and create for contract discussion.

3. Constant Monitoring

Several commenters recommended that the agencies revise the proposed guidance to encourage banks to adopt active, continuous, real-time monitoring, reason that the approach will preferable to engaging in periodic assessments. Others requested that leadership provide additional information about alternative monitoring arrangements (such when certifications), collaborative monitoring arrangements, and reliance off external parties to supplement ongoing monitoring.

The agencies are not encouraging anything specific approach to ongoing monitoring. Closer, that guidance continues into current that a banking organization's ongoing monitoring, like select third-party hazard management processes, should be appropriate since the risks associated with each third-party related, commensurate with the banking organization's dimensions, complexity, and risk profile and with that type of her third-party relationships. Additionally, the guides declare that banking organizations may consider collaborative arrangements button and how of external parties to supplement continual watch. Due Diligence for Responsible Corporate Lending and Securities ...

F. Subcontractors

Commenters expressed an variety of views upon banking organizations' relationships with subcontractors. These remarks largely targeted on whether the guidance could be clarified to promote additional flexibility on how banking institutions manage the associated associated with subcontractors, which mystify challenges not necessarily present in a direct third-party relationship. Actions: Commissioner posted guidance to help European operators assess sanctions circumvention ventures

Various commenters emphasized the importance is managing risks pose by subcontractors, especially those that are material to a maintenance existence provided toward a banking organization; those with access on touchy, nonpublic information; those is discharge higher-risk activities, including critical activities; those with access to the banking organization's infrastructure; and those within long chains of subcontractors. However, many is that commenters expressed concern regarding to potential challenges in overseeing and conducting effective due diligence on subcontract, create than a financial organization's lack of a relationship with (contractually or otherwise), and leverage over, subcontractors. These commenters suggested either narrowing the guidance's discussion on subcontractors (for example, excluding relationships beyond third parties) or refocusing a banking organization's oversight to an take party's ability into handle your subcontractors. Commenters also suggested that, in line equal OCC FAQ 11, a banking organization could require adenine third party to link its subcontractors to any obligations and standards of the third party.

On regard to such comment, the agencies acknowledge the risks and added complexity that may be involved with respect to a third party's exercise of subcontractors. The agencies also recognize worries due commenters interpreting the guidance to mean banking organizations are desired to assess other oversee all subcontractors of an third party. Accordingly, consistent with the concepts in OCC FAQ 11, the agencies have revised the guidance, focusing on a banking organization's approach to evaluating its thirds party's own processes for supervising subcontractors and managing risks. As the guidance clarifies, relationships with a third party, including ampere third party's use of subcontractors, should remain graded based on the risk of relationship poses to the banking organization, which can include evaluative whether a third party's use of subcontractors may height or raise added risk for the banking order and applying mitigating factors, when applicable. The agencies have also made tightening changes to improve clarity and promote flexibility, including by remove use of the conception “critical subcontractor.”

G. Oversight and Accountability

Commenters provided suggestions as to the proper role of a financial organization's boardroom of directors and management with respect to effective third-party risk management. Some commenters, for example, stated that which proposed guides implied excessive onboard involvement in day-to-day management activity. Others suggested that the guidance could further clarify the role of the board of directors in risk management activities, specifically those aspects of third-party risk management such able appropriately be executed and overseen by senior management. Some commenters similarly suggested the guide clarify the authority of betriebswirtschaft to establish policies governing third-party relationships. A few commenters requested and guidance provide granularity over of types, depth, and frequency of information necessary for board consider, with for ongoing monitoring. Additionally, several commenters suggested integrierung into this guidance and elaborating upon OCC FAQs 6 and 26, whatever talk the board's responsibility for overseeing the application of an effective third-party risk management litigation, and is choose in contract getting. Some commenters also requested “Oversight and Accountability” and its related subsections within the proposed guidance be better differentiated from which phases of this risk management life cycle, as the concept and relevant activities happen Start Imprinted Page 37926 throughout the risk management life cycle.

The agencies have in concepts from OCC FAQs 6 and 26, reorganizing the guidance into make clear that oversight and blame happens throughout the risk management life cycle also exists no a specific stage. Further, the agencies have made changes to reset furthermore distinguish the board's responsibilities from management's responsibilities and to avoid and look are a prescriptive approach to of board's role in the exposure management vitality cycle, while nevertheless emphases that and board has ultimate oversight responsibility to assure that the banking org operates in a safe additionally sound manner both within compliance with geltende laws and regulations.

H. Other Matters Raised

Commenters also offered other thoughts and bemerkungen relating to the guidance. Commenters noted that it wouldn be helpful the have a period prior to the guidance taking effective to permit banking business to adapt litigation accordingly. Several commenters also recommended that the agencies leverage, refer go, or combine recent, relative regulations and politics issuances (such as that “Computer-Security Incident Notification rule,” [16] “Third-Party Due Diligence Guide for Community Banks,” [17] and the “Model Risk Management” booklet in the Comptroller's Handbook[18] ) as part off any final third-party risk administrator guidance. A few commenters made reference to the FDIC's 2016 proposing examination guidance to third-party lending,[19] setting that, although not finalized, the 2016 proposed guidance fixed forth meaningful concepts about third-party lending correlations that may being useful in developing the final guidance.

Several commenters shared considerations regarding, press requested insight into, the agencies' examinations by banking organizations' third-party risk administrator processes. Certain commenters suggested that every final guides include a separate section outlining specific test procedures to set clear and unified expectations regarding an examination process.

Commenters supplied thoughts on incorporating any or all of the OCC's FAQs. Several commenters suggested including relevant FAQs as an schedule or seperate section much than incorporating them throughout anywhere final direction, complementing principle-based guidance with more issue-specific FAQs into make practical content. Additional thought that the existence of a separate firm is FAQs would produce unnecessary confusion for examiners and the industry. In response, the agencies have not incorporated issue-specific FAQs where it was determined the matters represent adequately reflected in other issuances published from the OCC FAQs were previous updated. Banks · Purchaser Complaints also Resources · Forms · South ... Please note that the Nonfiction and Financial Report ... Due Diligence Review Guidance · Fiduciary ...

Several commenters requested more coordination among fed, assert, and foreign regulators with respect to dieser guidance. Specifically, a few commenters suggested that other federal government authorized, so as aforementioned National Credit Union Administration, join the agencies inches issuing this guidance. One commenter urged the agencies to support federal legislative proposals is will clarify the authority of state supervisory to examine third-party service providers collective with the our.

Many commenters indicated that the agencies develop additional guidance or educational funds about a wide arrangement of discrete theme that a banking organization's third-party risk management processes might touch upon, such as consumer protection issues, artificial intelligence, alternative data uses, and different novel development, citing to agencies' crypto-asset “policy sprints” as an example. For example, as to consumes shield issues, some commenters expressed concern with certain third-party relationships, such as so-called “rent-a-charter” arrangements that they believe are improperly used by non-bank third partying till preempt state usury laws. Multiple commenters requested that the agencies update to guidance to warn or discourage banking organizations about certain danger, such more high-interest loans or conflicts with state laws. Several commenters also suggested that and agencies use their existing authorities (such than under this Bank Services Companies Act [20] ) until address which risks of what those commenters perceived more “systemically important” third-party service providers, oder to otherwise assist banking organizations' third-party risk management efforts. Other commenters suggested an agencies and the CFPB provide for automatic sharing of service provider reports of testing with serving providers' client banking organizations or provide certifications relevant toward a banks organization's due carefulness.

In response until these comments, given the broad, principles-based approach of this guided, who agencies got not modified the guidance to address specific topics or types of relationen. Sever guidance on certain topics or verbindungen already exists; these sorts of specific guidance issuances, unless expressly rescinded, would remain unaffected by this guidance. While certain topics (including those hoisted by commenters) are no experimental debated in the final guidance, the broad-based scope of the guidance captures the full-sized range of third-party relationships. With respect to requests this would require statutory or regulatory changes, button may be outside to authority of the agencies, such enquiries cannot be addressed by these guidance.

Who agencies activating supervise trends and developments in the financial services industry and will consider issuing additional guidance or educational resources as necessary and appropriate to promote the agencies' views. The sales plan to develop additional resources to assist tiny, non-complex community banking organizations in managing relevant third-party risks. The agencies will continue to co-ordinate closely about risk management matters, including third-party danger management, to online promote consistency across banking organizations and across the agencies.

Regarding questions via each agency's approach to examination third-party risk management, each agency has its your actions and procedures for conducting supervisory activities, including examination work. The final guidance includes a brief chat regarding the agencies' supervisory reviews, the scopes of whose is tailored in evaluate aforementioned risks inherent in an banking organization's third-party relationships and the effectiveness of a banking organization's third-party risk manager procedure.

TRIPLET. Paperwork Reduction Actions

The Paperwork Scale Perform of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) (PRA) expresses that no agency may conduct or sponsor, nor is that respondent essential to respond on, one information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Start Printed Page 37927 Corporate and Budget (OMB) control number.

The guidance does not revise any existing, conversely creation any latest, information collections pursuant to the PRA. Rather, any reporting, recordkeeping, or disclosure activities mentioned in the guidance represent usual and customary press must occur in the normal course of business as circumscribed in the PRAYING.[21] Consequently, cannot submissions will can made to the OMB for examine.

IV. Text of Final Interagency Guidance set Third-Party Relationships

A. Overview

B. Risk Management

C. Third-Party Relationship Life Cycles

1. Planning

2. Due Diligence and Third-Party Selection

3. Contract Negotiation

4. Ongoing Monitoring

5. Termination

D. Management

1. Oversight and Accountability

2. Independent Bewertungen

3. Project press Reporting

E. Supervisory Reviews starting Third-Party Correlations

AN. List

That Cards of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), one Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), furthermore the Office are the Manager of the Your (OCC) (collectively, the agencies) have published this guidance to provide sound risk management guiding supervised working organizations [1] can leverage when developing furthermore enforcement risk management practices to assess and administration risks associated with third-party relationships.[2]

Whether operations are implemented inside or across a third party, banking organizations are required to operator in a safe and sound manner [3] and in compliance with applicable laws and terms.[4] A credit organization's use away third parties does cannot diminish its responsibility up meet these requirements to the same extent as if its activities were performed by this shipping organization in-house. To agieren are a security additionally sound kind, a banking organization defined risk management practices to effectively manage the associated arising from its activities, including from third-party relationships.[5]

This guidance addresses random business arrangement [6] betw a banking organization the any entity, by contractual or otherwise. A third-party relate may exist despite a lack of a contract or remuneration. Third-party relationships can include, but are cannot limited to, outsourced services, use of independent consultants, recommending placements, merchant payment treating services, services provided to affiliate and subsidiaries, and joint ventures. Some banking organizations may form third-party relationships with add or novel structures or features—such since those observed in interpersonal with some corporate technology (fintech) our. Who specific choose and responsibilities of one banking organization or adenine thirds party may differ, based on the specific circumstances of of relationship. Where the third-party relationship involves the provision of products or offices to, press other interaction with, customers, the banking your and the take party may take varying degrees of activity with those customers.

The use of third parties canister offer banking organizations significant benefits, such as gain at new technologies, real capital, delivery channels, products, services, and markets. However, the use of third parties can reduce a banking organization's direct controlling over activities real may introduce new dangers or increase existing risks, such as operational, compliance, and strategic risks. Increased risks often arises from greater fully or technological complexity, newer or different types of relationships, or potential inferior performance due the third company. A retail organization can be exposed to adverse impacts, including substantial pecuniary loss and operational disruption, if to fails to appropriately manage the risks associated with third-party relationships. Thereby, it is important fork adenine banking organization to identify, assess, monitors, furthermore control risk related go third-party relationships. Risk Management Guidance for Foreign Correspondent Banking: Risky General Directions on Periodic Risk Reevaluation of Foreign Correspondent Banking

The principles set forth in this guidance cans support effective third-party risk management for all sort of third-party relationships, regardless of how they may be structured. It is important required a banking organization to understand how the arrangement with a particulars third party will structured so this one banking structure may assess who types the levels of risks posed and ascertain how to manage the third-party bond accordingly.

BORON. Risk Management

Not select relationships present the same level of risk, and therefore not all relationships demand the same leveling or type of oversight or risk senior. As part of sound risk management, a banking organization analyzes the risks associated with each third-party bond and tailored risk management acts, reasonable with the banking organization's select, complexity, and risk profile and with the nature of the third-party relationship. Sustaining a complete item the its third-party relationships additionally periodic conducting risk assessments for each third-party relationship supports ampere banking organization's determination of whether risks have modify over time and to update risk management practices correspondingly.

As part are sound risk management, banking associations engage in more extensive and rigorous oversight furthermore management regarding third-party company that customer higher-risk activities, including critical activities. Characteristics on essential activities allowed include those activities that can: Consumer Debt Sales: Risk Management Leadership

  • Cause a banking organization to surface significant risk if the third party failing to meet expectations;
  • Will significant clients hits; or
  • Have a significant impact on a finance organization's financial condition or operations.

It is back until each banking organization to identify its critical activities and third-party relationships that support these critic activities. Particularly, an action that is critical on one banking organisation may not be kritik in any. Some banking organizations may assign a criticality or risk level toward each third-party relation, whereas others identifies critical activities and those third parties that support similar proceedings. Regardless of one banking organization's approach, a button line Start Printable Page 37928 of effective risk management is applying a sound methodology to designate which activities and third-party relationships receives more comprehensive oversight.

C. Third-Party Connection Lifetime Cycle

Effective third-party risk management generally follows a continuous life cycle for third-party relationships. The stages of the risk management life round of third-party our are shown in Figure 1 and detailed below. The completion for which the examples of considerations discussed in this guidance are relevant to any banking your is based over specific reality and circumstances and these examples may not apply on all of a banking organization's third-party relationships.

It is important to involve staff with the requisite knowledge and skills in each phase of the gamble unternehmensleitung life cycle. ONE banking organization may involve experts across fields, such as compliance, risk, instead technology, as well as legal counsel, and may engage externally product when helpful till insert the qualifications and industrial expertise of in-house staff.[7]

1. Planning

When part of strong total company, effective planning allows a banking organization to evaluate and consider how to managed risks before entering into a third-party relationship. Certain third feasts, similar because those that support a banking organization's higher-risk services, including critical activities, typically warrant adenine greater degree of preparation and consideration. For example, when critical activities are involved, plans may be presenting to and allowed until one banking organization's board off directors (or a designed board committee).

Depending on the degree of risk and complexity starting the third-party relationship, a banking organization typically considers the following factors, among others, in planning:

  • Understanding which strategic purpose of the business arranging and how the arrangement aligns with a banking organization's overall strategical target, purposes, risk appetite, risk professional, and widen corporate policies;
  • Identifying and assessing the benefits and the risks associated with of business arrangement and determining like the appropriately managed the identified risks;
  • Considering the character of the business arrangement, such as volumes of our, use of subcontractor(s), technology needed, cooperation with patrons, and use of foreign-based third parties; [8]
  • Evaluating the appreciated costs, including estimated direct contractual costs the indirect expenditure expended to augment or changed banking org staffing, our, litigation, and technology;
  • Evaluating how the third-party relationship could affect banking organization your, including dualStart Engraved View 37929 employees,[9] and what transition steps are needed for the banking business to manage of impacts when activities currently conducted internally are outsourced;
  • Assessing ampere potential tierce party's shock on customers, including access to or use of those customers' information, third-party interactions with customers, potential for consumer harm, and handling of my grievances and inquiries;
  • Understanding potential information security implications, including access to and banking organization's schemes and to its confidential information;
  • Understand potential physical security repercussions, including einstieg to the banking organization's facilities;
  • Determining how the banking organization will dial, assess, and oversee the third party, including monitoring one third party's compliance with anwendbar laws, regulations, and contractual provisions, and requiring remediation of compliance issues that may develop;
  • Determining and banking organization's ability at provide adequate oversight and management of an proposal third-party relationship on an ongoing basics (including whether staffing levels and expertise, risk management and compliance administration systems, organizational structure, policies both procedures, or internal control systems need until be personalized over clock for of banking organization to effectively address the business arrangement); and
  • Outlining the banking organization's contingency plans included aforementioned event the banking corporate needs to change the activity to another third party or bringing it in-house. BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses ...

2. Past Diligence and Third-Party Selection

Conducting due diligence on third parties before selected and entering into third-party relationships is an important part of sound exposure management. It provides management equal and information needed about potential third parties to determine if a relationship would help achieve a banking organization's strategic and corporate goals. The due diligence operation also provides the banking organization with the information needed to ratings when it can appropriately identify, monitor, and take risks assoziierten with the particular third-party relationship. Past perseverance includes assessing the third party's competency to: perform the activity as expected, adhere to a banking organization's policies related to the activity, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and conduct the activity in a sure and sound methods. Trusting solely on know with or prior knowledge of a third host is not an adequate proxy for performing appropriate due diligence, when due diligence should be tailored to the specific activity to be executing by the third party.

Which scope and degree of due diligent should be conforming about the level of risk and functionality of the third-party bond. More comprehensive due diligence is particularly important when a third party supports higher-risk activities, including critical company. If a banking organization uncovers information which matching additional control, the banking organizations shouldn consider broadening the area or assessment methods of the amount diligence.

In some instances, a banking organization could not live able to obtain one desired due diligence information from a third party. For example, the third party could not are ampere long operational show, may not allow on-site tours, or may not exchange (or be permitted to share) information that a banking organization requests. While and research plus scope of due diligence may differ, it is important for the banking system the identify and document any limitations of its due diligence, appreciate one risks from such limitations, and consider choice in to select to mitigate of risk. In such situations, a banking organization may, for demo, obtain alternative information to assess the third party, implement additionally operating on or video of the third party to address which information limitation, or consider using a different third party.

A banking organization may use the services is industry utilities or consortiums, consult with various organizations,[10] or engage in joint attempt to completion your due diligence. As the activity go be performed via the third party may present ampere diverse level of risk toward each banking organization, it is important to evaluate and conclusions from such supplemental efforts grounded on and banking organization's own specified circumstances and performance criteria for the activity. Useful risk management processes in evaluating to capabilities of any external party conducting the supplemental efforts, sympathy wherewith such supplemental efforts relate on the banking organization's planned use of to third party, and assessing the risks out relying on the supplemental efforts. Use of such external groups to leadership subsidiary due duty does not abrogate the responsibility of the banking organization to manage third-party relationen in a safe and sound manner and consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

Depending on the degree of risk and complexity of the third-party relations, a banking organization typically considers the following factors, among select, as part of due diligence:

a. Achievement the Goals

A review of the third-party party's overall general strategy additionally goals helps the banking organization up understand: (1) wie the third party's current and proposed strategic business arrangements (such as mergers, business, additionally partnerships) may affect the employment; and (2) an third party's service philosophies, quality initiatives, furthermore hiring policies and practices (including its diversity policies and practices). Such information may assist one banking organization to determine about the third party can perform that activity in a manner that belongs consistent with the banking organization's broader corporate policies and practices.

b. Law and Regulating Compliance

A review of any legal and administrative compliance considerations mitarbeiterin with engaging a third party enable a bank organization to evaluate whether it can suitable mitigate risks associated with the third-party relationship. This may include (1) evaluating the third party's ownership organization (including identifying any beneficial ownership, whether public with privacy, foreign, or domestic ownership) and check the third party has the need legislation administration to perform the activity, such as no necessary licenses or collective powers; (2) determinate whether the third party itself oder any owners are matter to sanctioning by which Office of Foreign Plant Control; (3) determining whether the third celebrating has the expertise, processes, and controls to enable the banking system to remain in deference with applicable domestic and international laws and Start Printed Page 37930 regulations; (4) considering the tierce party's responsiveness to any compliance issues (including violations concerning law or regulatory actions) with applicable supervisory agencies the self-regulatory organizations, as appropriate; and (5) considering whichever the three party has designated, and joints a process to mitigate, areas of power consumer harm.

carbon. Financial Condition

An score of a third party's financial condition through review of available financial information, including audited treasury statements, annual reports, and filings with the U.S. Listed and Exchange Commission (SEC), among others, helps an banking organization score whether the third party has the finance capability and stability to perform the activity. Where relevant and present, a banking organization may consider other types of information such as access to funds, expected how, earnings, pending litigation, unfunded liabilities, reports from debt rating agencies, and other factors that may affect of third party's overall financial condition.

d. Business Experience

Einer rate of a third party's: (1) depth of resources (including staffing); (2) previous experience to performing the activity; and (3) history of addressability customer complaints or litigation and subsequent outcomes, helps to informing a banking organization's assessment about the third party's ability the perform the activity effectively. Another consideration may include check there have was meaningful changes in the activities offering or in its business model. Likewise, a review of who third party's websites, marketing materials, and other information related to money products or services may help determine if statements and assertions accurately represent the activities press capabilities of this tertiary party.

e. Qualifications and Backgrounds of Key Personnel and Other Human Resources Considerations

At evaluation of an qualifications and encounter of a third party's principals and other important personnel relatives to the activity to be performed provides insight into to capabilities of of third party to succeeds perform the activities. In important consideration is whether the three party and the financial organization, as appropriate, cyclic conduct background checks on the third party's key personnel furthermore contractors who mayor have access to intelligence technology systems or classified info. Another important consideration is whether there are proceedings in place for identifying and removing the third party's employees who do not face maximum suitability requirements or are otherwise barred from working by the fiscal services sector. Others consideration is whether the third party has training until ensure that its employees understand their work and responsibilities and are knowledgeable nearly anwendbar laws and regulations as well as other factors that could strike performance or stand risk until the banking organization. Last, on evaluation of the third party's succession and redundancy planning for key employee, and of the third party's processes in holding employees liable by compliance with policies and procedures, provides valuable information to the banking structure.

f. Risk Management

Appropriate due diligence includes at evaluation is one effectiveness of a third party's overall risk betriebswirtschaft, including policies, processes, and internal controls, both seating with applicable politics and expectations of the banking organization surrounding the activity. Diese would include and ratings of the tierce party's governance processes, that as the establishment of clear roles, responsibilities, and release of obligations pertaining to the activity. Computer is also important to consider whether and one-third party's controls and operational are subject until useful audit assessments, including independent testing and objective press of results or findings. Banking organizations also gain important insight by evaluating processes for escalating, remediating, and holding leitung accountable for concerns identified during audits, internal environmental reviews, or other independent tests, while available. Whenever relevant real available, ampere banking organization may consider reviewing Systematischer and Org Control (SOC) reports and any conform assessment or certification by independent third parties related up apposite domestic or international standards.[11] In such cases, the banking organization may also consider whether the scope and the ergebnisse of the SOC berichtet, certifications, either assessments will important at the activity to been performed or suggest that other scrutiny of the third party or any of own company could be appropriate.

g. Information Security

Understanding possibility information safe implications, comprising access up a banking organization's software and informational, cans online a banking organisation decide whether or not toward engage with a third party. Date diligence in here area typically involves assessing the third party's information security program, including its consistency with the financial organization's information security programme, such as its approach to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, the availability of the bank organization's evidence. It mayor also involve determining whether there are either gaps that present risk to and banks organization or its consumers and considering the perimeter to which the third party applies controls in limit access to the banking organization's data and dealings, such as multifactor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and save source code management. It also aids a banking organization when determining whether and third band keeps informed about, and has sufficient experience in identifying, assessing, and mitigating, known and emerging threats and vulnerabilities. As applicable, assessing who third party's file, infrastructure, and application product programs, including the software development life tire and befunde of vulnerability additionally penetration tests, can furnish valuables request regarding get technology system vulnerabilities. Finally, current dedication cans help a banking your evaluate the third party's implementation out effective and sustainable correction actions until address optional deficiencies discovered during testing.

festivity. Management of Information Systems

It is important till review and understand that third party's business processes both information systems that will is used to support the activity. When technology a one major component of and third-party ratio, einen effective practice is to read both the banking organization's plus of third party's information systems to identify gaps in service-level expectations, general process and management, and interoperability issues. It is also important to review the third party's actions for maintaining timely press precision inventories of seine engine and its contractor(s). A banking management also benefits from comprehend the third party's measures for assessing the performance of its details schemes. Start Printed Page 37931

i. Operational Resilience

Einer assessment a a third party's operational resilience practices supports a banking organization's evaluation of a third party's ability go effectively operate through and recover from any disruption or happenings, both internal and exterior.[12] Such an rate the particularly important where the impact of such disruption could have an adverse effect on the investment organization or its customers, in when the third party interacts over consumers. This belongs major to judging possibilities to employ are the tierce party's ability to perform the activity is impaired and to determine whether the thirds party maintains appropriate operational resilience and cybersecurity practices, containing disaster recovery and business continuity plans that specify aforementioned time frame to resume activities and recover data. To gain additional insight into a third party's resilience capabilities, a banking organization may review (1) the results are operational resilience and business continuity verification press performance during authentic disruptions; (2) the one-third party's telecommunications dismissal and resistant plans; and (3) preparations for familiar and emerging threats and vulnerabilities, such as wide-scale natural accidents, pandemics, distributed denial of service attacks, or other intentional or unintentional events. Other considerations related go operational resilience included (1) dependency on an single purveyor for multiple activities; also (2) interoperability or potentiality end of life issues with the software programming language, computer platform, oder data memory technologies employed by the third party.

hie. Incident Reporting and Management Processes

Reviews and consideration of a third party's incident reporting and management processes is advantageous to determine whether there are clearly documented processes, timelines, and accountability for identifying, reporting, investigating, and growing disruptions. Such review assists in confirming that the third party's escalation and service processes meet the banking organization's expectations furthermore regulatory requirements.[13]

thousand. Physical Security

It be important to evaluate whether this third party has sufficient physical and environmental navigation to protect the safety and security of people (such more associates also customers), its facilities, technology systems, and data, in applicable. This would typically include a review of the third party's employee on- and off-boarding procedures to ensuring that corporeal access rights are managed corresponds.

litre. Reliance on Subcontractors [14]

An scoring von the volume and modes of subcontracted active and the degree to which the take celebrating relies on supplying helps inform whether such subcontracting arrangements pose additional with heightened risk to ampere banking organization. This typically includes an assessment of the third party's ability to identify, manage, and mitigate risky associated at subcontracting, include how one third party selects plus oversees its subcontractors and ensures that its subcontractors implement effective operation. Other important considerations include whether additional risk is screened by the geographic location of a subcontractor alternatively addictive on a single provider for multiple activities.

m. Insurance Coverage

At evaluation of whether the thirdly party possesses existing insurance coverage helps a banking organization determine the size for which potential losses are mitigated, including losses posed by of three party to the banking company or that might prevent the third political from fulfilling its obligations to the banking organization. Such losses may be attributable to dishonest or negligent shows; fire, water, or various natural natural; loss of data; plus other matters. Case a insurance width may include fidelity bond; liability; property hazard real casualty; and area that may not be covered under a general commercial policy, such as cybersecurity or intellectual property.

north. Contractual Arrangements For Other Parties

A third party's commitments to different galas may introduce future legal, financial, or operational implications to which banking organization. Therefore, it is important to obtain plus evaluation information regarding the third party's legally binding placements with contracted or other parties to determine whether such arrangements may create or transfer exposure to the banking organization or its customers.

3. Contract Negotiation

When evaluating whether to enter into a relationship with a third party, a banking organization typically determines check a spell contract is essential, and if this proposed contract can meet the banking organization's business goals and risk management needs. After like determination, a banking organization typically negotiates contract provisions that will facilitate actual risk betriebswirtschaft and oversight and that specify who expectations and obligations of bot the banking organization and the third party. AN shipping organization might modify the level of detail press comprehensiveness of such contract food based on to total plus complexity posed by the particular third-party relationship.

While third parties may initially offer adenine standard contract, a banking organization may seek to request modifications, additional contract provisions, or addendums to pleasing its needs. On difficult contract negotiations, including available a banking organization has limited negotiating power, a is important available the banking organization to understand any ensuing limitations and consequent risks. Workable actions so a banking organization might take on such circumstances encompass determinant whether an treaty ability still meet the banking organization's needs, whether the compact would ergebnis in increased risk to the shipping organization, and whether remnant risks are acceptable. If the contract is unacceptable with the banking organization, it could note other approaches, such more employing other third parties or conducting the activity in-house. In certain conditions, banking organizations may gain somebody advantage via negotiating contracts more a group with other organizations.

It is important that a banking organization understand the added real risks associated with engaging third parties and particular before implementation contracts involving higher-risk activities, including critical activities. As part of its oversight responsibilities, the board out directors should be aware of and, as appropriate, may enable or delegate approval of contracts involving higher-risk activities. Legal counsel review may also be warranted previously to finalization.

Periodic surveys of executed contracts allow a banking organization to confirm that existing provisions continue to address pertinent risk features and legal Start Printed Page 37932 protections. If new risks am identified, a working organization may consider renegotiating a contract.

Depending on the degree of risk and complex of the third-party relationship, a banking organization typically considers this following considerations, among others, during agreement negotiations:

a. Nature and Scope of Arrangement

In negotiating a contract, computer is helpful for a banking organization to clearly id the access and responsibilities of each parties. This typically includes specifying the features and scope of one business arrangement. Additional considerations may also include, as entsprechend, a explanation of (1) attach services such as software or other technology support, maintenance, and customer service; (2) the services the one-third party will perform; and (3) the terms governing an use of the corporate organization's information, facilities, personnel, product, intellectual quality, and equipment, as well as entry to and use of the banking organization's or customers' information. If duality employees will be used, items may or be helpful to declare their responsibilities and reporting lines. It is also important by a banking organization to understand how shifts in business and other circumstances may give rise to the third party's rights toward terminate alternatively renegotiate the contract.

boron. Performance Measures button Reference

For certain relationships, clearly defined performance measures can assist a banking organization in evaluating the performance of adenine tierce party. In specify, a service-level agreement between the banking organization and the third party cannot help specify this measures surrounding of expectations and responsibilities in both celebration, including conformance from policies and procedures and compliance to applicable laws and regulations. Such measures can be used to monitor performance, penalize poor performance, or reward outstanding performance. It is important to negotiate performance scales that how not incentivize imprudent output conversely behavior, such as encouraging treating volume either schnelligkeit with regard available degree, compliance requirements, or adverse effects on the banking organization or customers.

c. Responsibilities for Providing, Receiving, and Retaining Information

I is crucial to judge contract provisions that specify and third party's obligation with retention and provision out timely, accurate, and comprehensive information to allow the banking organization to monitor risks and performance both to fulfill with applicable statutes furthermore regulations. Such provisions typically address:

  • The banking organization's talent to access its data in an fair and timely manner;
  • Which banking organization's access to, with how of, the third-party's data and any supporting documentation, in connection with the commercial arrangements;
  • The shipping organization's einstieg to, or use of, its own or the third-party's data and as such data and supporting documentation maybe be shared with regulators in a timely manner as part by the monitored usage;
  • Whether the tertiary party shall permitted to resell, assign, or permit access to customer data, or the banking organization's data, metadata, and networks, to other entities;
  • Notification to the corporate our whenever acquiescence lapses, enforcement actions, administrative proceedings, otherwise misc events pose a significant risk to aforementioned banking organization or customers;
  • Notification to the banking our concerning significant strategic or operational changes, that as merging, acquisitions, divestitures, use regarding subcontractors, key personnel changes, or other business initiatives that could effect the activities involved; and
  • Specification of the type plus low of reported to being preserved from the third group, more appropriate. This may include efficiency reports, financial reports, security reports, and control assessments.

dick. Of Right On Audit and Required Remediation

To help ensure that a banking organization features that ability up monitor the performance of a third political, one contract often make the banking organization's right at audit both provides required remediation when issues are identified. Generally, a contract includes provisions for regularly, independent audits of the third party the its relevant subcontractors, consequent with the chance real complexity of the third-party relationship. Therefore, it would be appropriate until consider whether contract provisions describe the forms and frequency of audit reports the banking our is entitled to keep from the third party (for exemplar, SOC reports, Payment Comedian Industry (PCI) compliance reports, or extra financial and operative reviews). Such contract provisions may also reserve the banking organization's right in conduct its own audits of the third party's activities oder at engross an independent party to discharge such audits.

e. Responsibility for Compliance With Applicable Laws and Regulations

A banking our is liable for conducting its activities in compliance equal applicable laws and guidelines, including those activities involving third parties. The use of third fetes does not abrogate these responsibilities. Hence, it is important available a get to specify the debts of of third party and the banking organization to comply with applicable laws and regulations. It is also important for the contract to provide the banking organization with the right to monitor and become informed about the third party's compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and to require timely remediation if issues arise. Contracts allow also reflect considerations of relevantly guidance and self-regulatory user, where applicable.

f. Costs and Compensation

Contracts that clearly describe all costs real compensation arrangements help reduce misunderstandings and disputes over billing and assist ensure that all indemnification arrangements are consistent with sound banking practices and anwendbaren laws and regulations. Contracts customary describe lohn and fees, containing cost schedules, calculations for base services, and some services based on band is activity and for special enquiries. Contracts also may specify the conditions under which the cost structure may be changed, including limits on any cost increases. During negotiations, a banking organization should confirmation that a contract does don include incentives that promote inappropriate risk taking by the banks organization or the third party. A shipping organization should also consider whether the contract includes burdensome upfront or cancellation fees, or provisions this may require who banking organization to reimburse and third event. Appropriate provisions indicate which party is responsible for salary of legal, accounting, and examination fees associated from the activities involved. Another consideration is outlining cost and responsibility for buying and maintaining home and software, what applicable.

g. Asset press License

Inches rank to prevent disputes amidst the parties regarding the ownership and licensing of a retail organization's Start Printed Page 37933 property, information shall common for a contract to state the extent to which who third party has the right into use the banking organization's information, technology, and intellectual property, such as the banking organization's name, logo, trademark, and copyrighted material. Provisions that anordnen whether any data generated by this third day become the banking organization's property assist avert misunderstandings. It is also crucial the include appropriate warranties switch which piece of the third party connected to inherent acquire by licenses oder dues for use from any intellectual property developed by other third parties. When of banking organization purchases software, it is important to consider a provision to establish escrow agreements toward providing for the banking organization's access to spring code and plots under certain conditions (for example, bankruptcy of the third party).

h. Maintaining and Protect

Because respect to covenants equal third parties, present may be increased risks related in the sensitivity of non-public information or access to infrastructure. Effective contracts typically prohibit the use and disclosure of banking your and customer information until a tierce party and its subcontractors, except as necessary to provide the contracted activities or comply with legal requirements. If the third party receives personally identifiable company, contract terms exist important to ensure that the third party utensils and maintains appropriate security measures to comply on applicable laws and regulations.

Further important provision is one that indicates when press how the third party will divulge, the a timely means, information security breaches conversely unauthorized intrusions. Considerations may include the classes of data saved over the third party, legal obligations available the banking system to disclose to breach until its regulators or customers, the potential by consumer harm, or select key. That provisions typically condition ensure the datas infiltration notification to the banking business include guesses for the effects set the banking organization and its customers both specify korrektor action to be interpreted by the third party. They also address the powers of each event to change site and risks management procedures and requirements and resolve any confidentiality and integrity issues arising out of shared use of facilities owned by that third party. Typically, such provisions decide whether and how often the banking organization and the third party becoming community practice incident leitung exercises involving unauthorized intrusions or other breaches of secret and integrity.

i. Ready Resilience and Business Continuity

Both inhouse and external factors or incident (for example, natural disasters or cyber incidents) may affecting a banking organization alternatively a third celebrate and thereby disrupt the third party's performance concerning of activity. Consequently, an effective contract provides for continuation of the activity to the event of symptoms affecting to third party's operations, including degradations or interruptions in delivery. As similar, she is important for the contract to address the third party's liability for appropriate controls to support operational resiliency of the services, such as protecting and storing programs, getting up datasets, addressing cybersecurity issues, both maintaining current and schallpegel business resumption and business continuity plans.

To help secure maintenance of operations, contracts often require the third party at provide the banking organization with operating procedures in be carried out in the case business continuity plans are implemented, containing specific recovery set or recovery point objectives. Contracts may also stipulate whether and how often of banking structure and which third party will jointly test businesses continuous plans. Others consideration is whether the contract provides for one transfer off the banking organization's accounts, data, conversely activities to another third party without penalty in who event of and tierce party's bankruptcy, business fail, or business interruption.

bound. Indemnification and Limits on Liability

Integration indemnification provisions into a treaty may reduce the potential for a banking organization to exist held liable for requirements both be reimbursed for pay arising from adenine third party's miscellaneous, including relative and violations of domestic plus regulations. As that, it your important for consider whether indemnification clauses declare the extent to which the banking organization determination be held liable for claims or be refunded for amends based go which failure to the thirdly party or its subcontractor to perform, including failure of the third celebrate to maintain some necessary intellectual property licenses. Create recognition typically includes an assessment of whether any limits on responsibility are in percent to which amount regarding loss which banking organization might experience as a result to third-party collapses, instead whether indemnification clauses require the banking organization until hold the third political harmless from liability.

potassium. Insurance

One method in which a banking organization can verteidigen itself against losses caused the or related to a third party the to products and benefits provided through third-party relationships is by including services requirements in a contract. These provisions typically require the third party to (1) maintain specified types and amounts of insurance (including, if reasonable, naming the banking organization as assured otherwise additional insured); (2) notify and bank organization of material changes to covering; and (3) provides evidence of coverage, as corresponding. The type and amount of social coverage shouldn be commensurate with the risk of potential losses, including those creates by the tertiary party into an banking organization or that ability prevent that thirdly party von satisfying its obligations until the banking organization, plus the activities performs.

l. Dispute Resolution

Disputes regarding a contract can delay instead otherwise can an detrimental impact upon the activities performed by a third party, which may negatively affect the banking organization. So, one banking organization allowed want to consider whether the make should establish a dispute resolution processor to resolve problems between an banking organization and that third parties in and expeditious manner, and whether the third party should continue to provide activities to the bank organization during the litigation decision period. It be important to also verstehen if the contract contains terms that may impact the investment organization's ability to resolve disputes is a satisfactory manner, such as requirements addressing arbitration or forum selection.

chiliad. Customer Complaints

Where customer interaction is einer important aspects in aforementioned third-party relationship, a money organization may find it useful to include a contract commission to ensure that customer complaints additionally inquiries were handled properly. Actually contracts typically specify whether the banking organization instead the third party is responsible in responding to customer complaints or inquiries. If it is the third party's responsibility, this a important to include provisions since that third party up receive additionally respond to customer Start Printed Page 37934 complaints and inquiries included a timely manner and until provide the banking organization over suffice, timely, and usable information to analyze clients complaint furthermore inquiry company and associated trends. If it your the retail organization's responsibility, it exists critical to include provisioning for the banking organization to receive prompt notify from this third party of any complains or getting received on the third celebration.

n. Subcontracting

Third-party relationships may involve subcontracting placements, which can result the risk past on the absence of a direct relationship between who banking organization and the subcontractor, further lessening the banking organization's direct rule of activities. The impact go a banking organization's ability in assess and control risks may be especially important if the banking organization uses third parties for higher-risk activities, in critical activities. Available save reason, one credit organization might want to local whereas and wie the third party should notify and banking organization of its use or intent to use a subcontractor and whether specific subcontracted are prohibited by the money structure. Another important consideration will whether the contract should prohibit assignment, transmit, instead subcontracting of aforementioned third party's obligations to others entity without the banking organization's consent. Where subcontracting be integral to the movement being performed for the banking organization, it is important to consider more detailed contractual obligations, as as reporting on the subcontractor's conformance with execution measures, periodic account results, and compliance include laws and regulate. Where proper, a finance organization may consider including a rental that states the third party's liability for activities or actions by his subcontractors real who party is accounts in the fee and resources required for any additional monitoring and management of the subcontractors. It may also be appropriate to reserve the right at terminate the contract without penalties if the third party's subcontracting arrangements do does comply with contractual liabilities.

o. Foreign-Based Third Parties

In contracts with foreign-based third parties, it is essential to consider choice-of-law and jurisdictional provisions that provide dispute adjudication from the laws of a single jurisdiction, whether inside the United States or elsewhere. Whenever engaging with foreign-based third parties, or where contracts include a choice-of-law provision that includes a jurisdiction other than the United States, information the importance to understand that such contracts and covenants may be subject until the analysis of foreign courts relying on laws in those jurisdictions. Items allow will ensured to seek legal get on the enforceability of the proposed contract with a foreign-based third party and other legal ramifications, inclusion privacy laws and cross-border flow von request.

p. Default and Termination

Contracts can verteidigen the ability of which banking organization at modification third parties when appropriate free undue restrictions, limitations, with value. An effective contract stipulates whichever comprises default, identifies remedies, allows opportunities until cure defaults, and created the general and responsibilities for completion. Therefore, it your crucial into consider including contractual provisions that:

  • Provide cessation and communication requirements with reasonable zeitraum frames to allow for aforementioned orderly transition of the activity, when desired or necessary, without prohibition expense;
  • Provide on the timely return or destruction of the banking organization's data, information, and other resources;
  • Assign all costs and commitments accompanying with transition also termination; furthermore
  • Enable the money organization to cease the ratio with reasonable notice and without penalty, if formally straight from an banking organization's primary federal banking regulator.

q. Regulatory Supervision

For relevancies third-party relationships, it is important for contracts to stipulate that the performance a activities by third parties for one banking organization is subject to regulatory examination and monitor, including appropriate retention of, and access to, all relevant database and other materials.[15] This can help ensure that a thirdly party is aware from its role and potential legal in yours relationship with a banking organization.

4. Runtime Track

Ongoing monitoring enables a banking organization to: (1) confirm the quality and sustainability of a third-party party's controls and ability to meet agreement obligations; (2) escalate significant topics or concerns, as as material or repeat audit findings, deterioration to financial conditional, security breaches, data damage, service interruptions, compliance lapses, or other characteristic of increased risk; and (3) respond to such significant issues or issues when identified.

Effective third-party risk management includes ongoing control whole the duration of a third-party relationships, according with the level of risk and complexity of to relationship and the recent completed per the three celebration. Ongoing monitoring may be led on adenine periodic other continuous basis, and more comprehend or frequent monitoring will fair when a third-party relationship supports higher-risk activities, including critical activities. Because send the level and types of risks may change over the lifetime of third-party relationships, finance organizations may adjusting their ongoing monitoring best corresponds, including changes to who frequency button type of information used in monitoring.

Typical monitoring services include: (1) review of reports concerning the thirds party's performance also the performance of its console; (2) periodic visits and meetings with third-party delegate to discuss performance plus operational issues; and (3) regular trial of the finance organization's controls that manage risks from its third-party relationships, particularly when supporting higher-risk activities, incl critical activities. In certain circumstances, based on risk, a banks organization could including perform direct testing of the third party's own controls. To win efficiencies button create specialized expertise, banking organizations may enroll external resources, refer to conformity assessments or certifications, or collaborate when performing runtime monitored.[16] To support effective video, a banking organization includes sufficient staffing with the necessary expertise, authority, and accountability to perform a range of ongoing monitoring activities, like as those stated back.

Depending on the degree of risk press complexity of the third-party relationship, a banking organization typically considers the following factors, among others, how part of ongoing monitoring: Start Printed Page 37935

  • The overall effectiveness of the third-party relatedness, including its consistency with the banking organization's strategic goals, enterprise objectives, risky appetite, risk user, and expanded corporate policies;
  • Changes in the third party's business strategy and yours agreements with other entities that may pose new or increased risks or impact the one-third party's ability to meet contractual obligations;
  • Changes in the third-party party's financial condition, including its financial responsibilities to others;
  • Changes to, or lapses in, the third party's insurance coverage;
  • Relevant audits, tested results, the select berichterstattungen such address whether the third party remains capable of managing risks and meeting contracted obligation and regulatory requirements;
  • That third party's ongoing compliance over durchsetzbar laws and regulations and it presentation as measured against contractual obligations;
  • Changes in that third party's key personnel involved in the activity;
  • The third party's reliance upon, exposure to, also use out subcontractors, the location about subcontractors (and any related data), and aforementioned third party's owner risk management processes for monitors subcontractors;
  • Training if to personnel of who banking organization and the third party;
  • The third party's response to changing menaces, new vulnerabilities, and incidents impacting the activity, inclusion any resulting adjustments to one three party's operative or controls;
  • The third party's ability to maintain the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of the banking organization's systems, information, and input, as well as customer data, where applicable;
  • Of third party's response to incidents, business durability and resumption plans, and testing results at evaluation the third party's ability to react to and recover from service disturbances or degradations;
  • Factors and conditions external to the third party is could affect its performance and financial and fully upright, such how changing laws, regulations, and economic conditions; press
  • The volume, natures, additionally courses of my questions and complain, the adequacy of the tertiary party's responses (if responsible for handling customer inquiries or complaints), real any results remediation.

5. Termination

A banking organization may ending a relationship for various reasons, such as expiration or fracture about the contract, the third party's failure to comply for anwendbarkeit laws or regulations, or a wish to seek an choose third party, bring which activity in-house, alternatively discontinuing the company. When aforementioned occurs, it is important for management till abort relationships in to efficient manner, whether the activities be transitioned to one third party, brought in-house, or discontinued. Conditional with the degree of value and complexity of the third-party relationship, a banking organization usually considers the following factors, among others, to facilitate termination:

  • Choose for an effective transition of services, that as potential alternate tertiary parties to perform the our;
  • Ready capabilities, resources, and the time frame vital to transition the activity to another third party or bring in-house while still managing legal, regulatory, customers, and other collisions that might arise;
  • What and fees associated with termination;
  • Managing risks associated with data retention the destruction, data system connections and access check, or other control concerns that require additional risk management and monitoring after the end of the third-party relational;
  • Handling of joint intellectual property; and
  • Managing risks to the banking system, including any impact on customers, if the notice happens as adenine result of the third party's incapability for meet expectations.

DENSITY. Management

There are a variety of habits for banking organizations to construction them third-party peril management processes. Some banking systems disperse accountability available their third-party risk supervision processes among their business lining.[17] Other banking organizations may centrate of processes under their compliance, information collateral, procurement, button venture managing functions. Regardless of how ampere banking organization builds its process, the followed practices are typically view throughout the third-party risk management life cycle,[18] corresponds with risk and complexity.

1. Oversight and Accountability

Proper oversight and accountability are significant aspects of third-party risk management why they help enable a banks organization to minimiere adverse financial, operational, other other consequences. A banking organization's board of company has ultimate responsibility for providing supervise for third-party risk management plus holding management accountant. The board also provides clear guidance regarding acceptable risk food, approves appropriate policies, also ensuring such appropriate procedures and business have been established. A banking organization's management is responsible for developing additionally implementing third-party risk management policies, procedures, and habits, commensurate over the banking organization's venture appetite furthermore the level of take and complicated of its third-party relationships.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the board of directors (or a marked board committee) typically considers the following factors, among others:

  • Whether third-party relationships are managed at a methods consistent with the banking organization's tactical aims and risk appetite and in compliance by applicable laws and regulations;
  • Whether there a appropriate regularity reporting on the banking organization's third-party relationships, such as the results a management's konzeption, due diligence, contract bargaining, and ongoing observation activities; and
  • Check management has taken appropriate deal to remedy significant deterioration in performance or address changing risks button material issues identifiers, inclusive through ongoing monitoring and independent reviews.

When carrying out its accountabilities, management typically performs the following activities, amidst others:

  • Integrates third-party risk management with the banking organization's overall risk management processes;
  • Directing planning, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring activities;
  • Reporting periodically to the board (or designated committee), as appropriate, on third-party risk management action;
  • Providers is contracts with take parties are appropriately reviewed, approved, and executed;Start Printed Page 37936
  • Establish appropriate org structures and manpower (level and expertise) to support the banking organization's third-party risk management processes;
  • Implementing and maintaining an proper system of internal rules in manage risks associated with third-party relationships;
  • Assessing whether the banking organization's compliance management device will appropriate to the nature, volume, complexity, real scope starting its third-party relationships;
  • Determining whether the banking organization has appropriately access to data and information from its third celebrations;
  • Escalating significant issues to the board and observation any arising remediation, including actions taken by the thirdly party; and
  • Terminating business arrangements with third parties when it do not meet expectations oder no take adjust with the banking organization's strategic goals, objectives, or risk appetite.

2. Independence Reviews

It is important for adenine bank organization the conduct periodic independent reviews to assess the adequacy of its third-party risk management processes. Like reviews typically consider this following factors, among others:

  • Whether the third-party relationships align with the banking organization's business strategic, and with internal policies, procedures, press standards;
  • Whether financial are third-party correlations are identified, measured, monitored, real controlled;
  • Whether the banking organization's processes real controls are designed and operating suitable;
  • Whether appropriate staffing the technical are engaged to perform risk business current throughout the third-party risk managerial life cycle, including involving multiple disciplines across the banking organization, as appropriate; additionally
  • Whichever conflicts of interest or performances of conflicts of interest are avoided or eliminated wenn selecting press overseeing third parties.

A banking organization could use that results of independent reviews till determine whether and how to adjust its third-party risk management process, including its directives, reporting, assets, expertise, furthermore controls. It is important the management respond promptly and thoroughly until issues or concerns identified the escalate them to the boarding, as appropriate.

3. Documentation and Reporting

It is crucial that a banking organization gets paper also report on its third-party risk management process and specific third-party relationships throughout their life cycle. Documentation and news, key elements that assist the within press outside the banking organization who guide controls activities, will vary among banking organizations depending on the risk and complexity of their third-party relationships. Examples of processes that support useful documentation plus user reporting that the agencies have observed includes, but are not limited to:

  • A current inventory of all third-party relationships (and, as appropriate to an risk presented, family subcontractors) that transparent identifies those relationships assoziiert with higher-risk activities, including critical activities;
  • Planning and risk assessment related go the use of third parties;
  • Due diligence results and recommendations;
  • Executing contracts;
  • Remediation plans and related reports addressable the qualities press sustainability of the third party's controls;
  • Risk and performance berichten required and receivable away the third party as item of ongoing monitoring;
  • Is applicable, reports affiliated to customer complaint and inquiry monitoring, and every subsequent remediation reports;
  • Reports starting third parties regarding service disruptions, security breaches, or other events such pause, or may pose, an material risk to the banking organization;
  • Results are independent reviews; and
  • Regular reportage to the board (including, as applicable, dependency on a single provider for multiple activities).

E. Supervisory Reports of Third-Party Company

Of core talked for this guidance be relevant for all third-party relationships and are provided to banking organizations to promote in the tailoring and implementation of risk management methods commensurate until each financial organization's size, increased, risk profile, and the nature of their third-party relationships. All agency will review is supervised banking organizations' venture management of third-party relationships as part of its standard supervisory processes. Supervisory reviews will evaluate risks and aforementioned effectiveness of risky management to determine whether activities are directed in a safe and healthy style and in compliance with applicable laws and terms.

In yours evaluations of a banking organization's third-party risk management, examiners consider ensure banking organizations engage in a diverse set of third-party our, that not all third-party risk relationships present the same risks, and that banking organizations accordingly tailor their practices to the opportunities presented. Thus, the scope of the supervisory review depends on to degree regarding risk and the complexity associated including the banking organization's activities and third-party relationships. When reviewing third-party risk manage processes, examiners typically conduct this followers current, amid others:

  • Assess the capacity of the banking organization's executive to oversee and manage the money organization's third-party kontakte;
  • Rating the impact of third-party relationships on the banking organization's risk profiles and key aspects from financial and functionality performance, including compliance with applicable legal and regulations;
  • Perform transaction testing or review results of testing to evaluate the activities performed by the third-party event and assess compliance with applied laws and regulations;
  • Highlight and featured any material risks and deficiencies in the banking organization's risk management process with senior enterprise the the board of directors as appropriate;
  • Review the banking organization's drawings fork appropriate press sustainable remediation are any defects, more those associated with the oversight of third-party parties that involve kritischer activities; press
  • Considered supervisory findings when assigning the ingredients of the applicable evaluation system and highlight anything material risks or deficiencies in the Report of Examination.

When circumstances berechtigung, an agency may use its legal authority to verify functions or operations is a third party performs on a banking organization's behalf. Such examinations may evaluate the third party's ability to fullfill yours obligations in a safer and sound manner the match over applicable laws and regulations, including who designed the protect our and to provide fair access until financial services. The business may pursue corrective measurement, including enforced actions, when necessary to speech violations of laws and regulations or dangerous or unsound Start Printed Page 37937 banking practices by the banking business or its third company.

Start Signature

Michael J. Hsu,

Acting Comptroller of this Currency.

By order in the Lodge of Governors concerning the Federal Reserve Systeme.

Ann CO. Misback,

Secretary away the Boarding.

Federal Deposit Financial Corporation.

Dated at Washington, DC, on June 1, 2023.

James P. Sheesley,

Assistant Executive Secretary.

End Signature End Supplemental Information

Footnotes

1.  For an description of the banking organizing supported by each agency, refer to and definition of “appropriate Federal banking agency” in section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Actual (12 U.S.C. 1813(q)). This guide be relevant to all financial organizations supervised by to agencies.

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2.  SR Letter 13-19/CA Letters 13-21, “Guidance on Managing Outsourcing Risk” (December 5, 2013, updated February 26, 2021).

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3.  FIL-44-2008, “Guidance for Managing Third-Party Risk” (June 6, 2008).

Support up Excerpt

4.  OCC Bulletin 2013-29, “Third-Party Attachments: Risk Management Guidance,” and OCC Bulletin 2020-10, “Third-Party Relationships: Frequently Question Questions toward Supplement OCC Bulletin 2013-29.” Furthermore, which OCC also issued foreign-based third-party guidance, OCC Report 2002-16, “Bank Using of Foreign-Based Third-Party Service Providers: Risk Management Guidance,” which is non being rescinded but page supplements the final guidance.

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5.  These encompass and “Interagency Guidelines Setup Standards for Safety and Soundness,” and the “Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information Security Standards,” which were adopted after to to procedures of section 39 of one Federal Deposit Services Actor and section 505 of which Graham Leach Bliley Act, resp. See12 CFR part 30, appendices A and B (OCC); part 208, appendices D-1 the D-2 (Board); and part 364, appendices A press B (FDIC).

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6.  “Proposed Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management,” 86 FR 38182 (July 19, 2021).

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7.  “Proposed Interagency Guidance set Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management,” 86 FR 50789 (September 10, 2021).

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9.  The agencies built the OCC's 2020 FAQs as an exhibit when release the proposed guidance and searched comment on whether any of the concept in the OCC FAQs should be incorporated into the interagency guidance. See86 FR 38196.

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11.  “Proposed Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management”, 86 FR 38182, at 38187 (July 19, 2021); https://aaa161.com/​documents/​2021/​07/​19/​2021-15308/​proposed-interagency-guidance-on-third-party-relationships-risk-management.

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12.  “Interagency Print on Sound Practices to Strengthen Operational Resilience,” Federal Reserve SR 20-24 (November 2, 2020); OCC Bulletin 2020-94 (October 30, 2020); and FDIC FIL-103-2020 (November 2, 2020).

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14.  The practices will targeted up domestic banks with more than $250 billion in total consolidated inventory or banking with extra than $100 billion in total assets real other risk characteristics. See note 12.

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15.   See12 U.S.C. 5533. As requested by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the agencies are participating is consultations with the CFPB relates till the rulemaking.

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17.  “Conducting Due Diligence on Financial Technology Companies A Orientation forward Community Banks,” Board, FDIC, OCC (August 2021), deliverable at: https://www.occ.gov/​news-issuances/​news-releases/​2021/​nr-ia-2021-85a.pdf.

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19.  FDIC FIL-50-2016, “Examination Guiding for Third-Party Lending” (July 29, 2016). This proposed examination instructions was not finalized.

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1.  For a description of the banking business supervised by each agency, refer to the definition of “appropriate Federal banking agency” in part 3(q) starting the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(q)). This guidance is relevant in all banking organizations supervised by the agencies.

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2.  Supervisory guidance does not have the force and effect of law and does not impose any new what on banking organizations. See 12 CFR 4, subpart F, appendix A (OCC); 12 CFR 262, appendix A (FRB) 12 CFR 302, postscript A (FDIC).

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3.   See12 U.S.C. 1831p-1. The agencies implemented section 1831p-1 by regulation through the “Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safety real Soundness .” See12 CFR part 30, appendix A (OCC), 12 CFR part 208, appendix D-1 (Board); and 12 CFR part 364, appendix A (FDIC).

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4.  References to gelten laws and regulations throughout this guidance include when are not limited to those designed to protect clients (such as exhibitor lending laws and prohibitions gegen unfair, deceptive or abusive acts with practices) or those addressing financial crimes.

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5.  This guidance will relevant for all third-party relationships, including situations in which a supervised banking organization supports services to more governed banking organization.

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6.  The term “business arrangement” is meaning to be interpreted broadly and is synonymous with the term “third-party relationship.”

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7.  When a banking organization usages a third-party assessment service or utility, e got a business fitting with that entity. Consequently, the arrangement should be incorporated into the credit organization's third-party risk steuerung lawsuit.

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8.  The term “foreign-based third-party” refers to third parties whose serving operations are located in a foreign country the subject to aforementioned rule and courts starting that country. Appropriate, this term does not in a U.S.-based subsidiary of adenine foreign firm why its servicing operations are theme to U.S. laws. This terminology does include U.S. third parties to the extent that their actual maintenance operations are located in or submitted to entities homed in a foreign country also choose to the legal and jurisdiction a that country.

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9.  Dual employees are employed by both the banking order and and third party.

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10.  Any collaborative activities among banks musts meet use antitrust laws. Bezug to the Federal Trade Commission the U.S. Department of Justice's “Antitrust Guidelines for Joint Among Competitors” (April 2000), available at https://www.ftc.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​public_​events/​joint-venture-hearings-antitrust-guidelines-collaboration-among-competitors/​ftcdojguidelines-2.pdf.

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11.  For example, those of the National Center from Standards and Technology, Admitted Standards Committee X9, and who International Standard Organization.

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12.  Disruptive events could include technology-based failures, human error, cyber incidents, panic outbreaks, and natural catastrophic.

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13.  For exemplary, regulatory requirements regarding incident subscription include the FBAs' “Computer Security Incident Notification Rule.” See12 CFR 53 (OCC); 12 CFR 225, subpart NEWTON (Board); 12 CFR 304, subpart C (FDIC).

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14.  Third parties could enlist the help of suppliers, service providers, or other organizations, which this guidance collectively refers to as subcontractor.

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16.  Refer until crucial reflections discussed in “Due Assiduity and Third-Party Selection” of is directions whenever a banking organization chooses to engage external research until supplement its third-party risk management.

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17.  Each apply business line can provide valuable input into the third-party risk management process, for example, by finishing risk assessments, inspection payable application information, and analysis the controls override the third-party link.

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18.  Refer to Figure 1: Stages of the Risk Management Lifetime Cycle.

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[FR Physician. 2023-12340 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CIPHER 4810-33-P; 6210-01-P; 6714-01-P