The banking industry is one of the largest in existence. Moreover, it handles and circulates a great deal of money. Thus, it is no surprise that people within the industry have to face certain risks; such risks have the potential to destroy the integrity and the very fabric of a banking institution. Check out this list of three risk concerns for banks.
1. Credit
The number of non-bank lenders is rising. Also, people have more access to these lenders because they can use the Internet to search for them, fill out their applications, and submit supplementary forms. Banks must keep this in mind. They have to improve the structure and terms of the loans they offer people so that they can compete with the growing number of non-bank lenders. Some banks may have to reconsider the stipulations they have put in place for loan qualification. Others may have to adjust their interest rates and down payment percentages.
2. Compliance
The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) is an anti-laundering regulation aimed at preventing and stopping financial crime. Banks and other kinds of financial institutions have to be BSA compliant. This means that they must set up internal systems and controls as well as provide their employees with BSA training programs. The BSA has a substantial amount of reporting and filing standards that some banks struggle to keep up with. Bank officials have to enhance their records systems and streamline their communication processes. Failing to do could result in lawsuits. They would have to obtain a litigation support specialist and rectify the matter so that they can improve their relationships with their customers and with government officials.
3. Operations
Cyberattacks represent one of the biggest threats to banking operations in this day and age. These attacks can occur in a multitude of ways, including phishing schemes, identity theft scams, malware infections, and account takeover initiatives. A bank can lose a significant amount of money if financially motivated criminals successfully carry out cyberattacks on its digital systems, online platforms, or mobile applications. Some banks have had to halt specific aspects of their day-to-day operations to address a cyber threat. Ultimately, bank officials have to acquire high-level cybersecurity tools and maintain special security protocols to protect themselves from the havoc that a breach can cause.
The banking industry has to deal with a plethora of risks. It can do so if it adheres to rules and regulations and adapts to the ever-changing times.
