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As a community bank, trust is your currency. But when you rely on third-party vendors to handle critical operations—from core processing to cloud storage—you are extending that trust outside your walls. While outsourcing services is essential for efficiency and innovation, it’s important to remember one golden rule: you can outsource the work, but you cannot […]
13
Feb
Feb
Think about your own attic or garage for a moment. Over the years, you accumulate boxes. Some contain holiday decorations you use once a year, others hold tax returns from a decade ago, and a few might even contain family heirlooms. If you don’t know what’s in those boxes or where they are, you can’t […]
03
Feb
Feb
Criminals aren’t just after customer data anymore. Increasingly, they’re back to targeting the machines themselves. ATM jackpotting—a cyber-physical attack that forces an ATM to dispense all its cash—is on the rise, and community banks are squarely in the crosshairs. While many banks are familiar with digital fraud or card skimming, jackpotting represents a more sophisticated […]
13
Jan
Jan
Few things create more stress for a bank than an upcoming IT exam. Even well-run institutions can feel pressure as timelines tighten, documentation gets pulled together, and teams scramble to explain systems and decisions made months—or years—ago. The reality is this: the banks that feel the most confident during examinations aren’t necessarily the most technically […]
12
Jan
Jan
Remote and hybrid work are no longer temporary adjustments for community banks—they’re part of the operating reality. Employees, vendors, and service providers increasingly access systems outside the traditional branch network, and customers are visiting physical locations less often than ever. Our community bank security team has noticed that as more banks go remote with fewer […]
05
Jan
Jan
For community banks, IT oversight has never been more critical—or more complex. As technology becomes deeply embedded in every banking function, IT regulations are evolving to reflect how banks actually operate today: cloud-enabled, vendor-dependent, and increasingly exposed to cyber risk. If you’ve noticed examinations feeling more nuanced, more ongoing, and more focused on real-world risk […]
14
Nov
Nov
In the banking sector, your information security is a pillar of trust, stability, and regulatory compliance. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) has long established that a bank’s security program is “essential to the overall safety and soundness of an institution.” As cyber threats become more sophisticated and relentless, banks are turning to AI-powered […]
14
Nov
Nov
Bank examiners arrive with clipboards, spreadsheets, and a thorough understanding of regulatory expectations. When they review your IT security policies, they’re not just checking boxes—they’re evaluating whether your institution has a comprehensive framework that protects customer data and maintains operational resilience. IT security policies are the foundation of your bank’s cybersecurity posture. These documents define […]
14
Nov
Nov
For community banks, Microsoft 365 is a powerful tool for productivity. But with great power comes great responsibility. Financial institutions are prime targets for cyberattacks, and a default Microsoft 365 setup leaves too many doors open for malicious actors. It’s not enough to simply use these tools; you must actively secure them. This process is […]
04
Nov
Nov
Banking security budgets are under unprecedented pressure. What was once a manageable line item has transformed into one of the most significant operational expenses for community banks nationwide. Does it feel that way for your bank? You may be worried about how much is too much (or too little), and how to allocate it. 70% […]
