The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council issued updated guidance requiring financial institutions to minimize the adverse effects of a pandemic through robust risk management. Institutions must periodically review business continuity plans to ensure they can deliver products and services with minimal disruption across a wide range of scenarios. This interagency statement supersedes previous pandemic planning letters SR 07-18 and SR 06-5 to reflect current operational resilience standards.
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SR 20-3 / CA 20-2: Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM WASHINGTON, D.C. 20551
DIVISION OF SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
DIVISION OF CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
SR 20-3 / CA 20-2
March 10, 2020
THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF SUPERVISION AT EACH FEDERAL RESERVE BANK AND TO INSTITUTIONS SUPERVISED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE
SUBJECT:
Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning
Applicability: This letter is relevant to all institutions supervised by the Federal Reserve.
The member agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) recently updated guidance identifying actions that financial institutions should take to minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. 1 As discussed in the attached Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning , financial institutions should periodically review related risk management plans, including business continuity plans, to ensure that they are able to continue to deliver products and services in a wide range of scenarios and with minimal disruption. 2 With the issuance of this interagency statement ,
SR letter 07-18, "FFIEC Guidance on Pandemic Planning," and SR letter 06-5, "Influenza Pandemic Preparedness," are superseded.
Reserve Banks are asked to distribute this letter to the Federal Reserve-supervised institutions in their districts, as well as to their supervisory and examination staff. Questions regarding the revised guidance should be addressed:
Division of Supervision and Regulation: Matthew Hayduk, Manager, Systems and Operational Resiliency Policy section, at 202-973-6190.
Division of Consumer and Community Affairs: Phyllis Harwell, Associate Director, at (202) 452-3658.
In addition, questions may be sent via the Board's public website. 3
signed by Michael S. Gibson Director Division of Supervision and Regulation
signed by Eric S. Belsky Director Division of Consumer and Community Affairs
Supersedes:
SR letter 07-18, "FFIEC Guidance on Pandemic Planning"
SR letter 06-5, "Influenza Pandemic Preparedness"
Attachments:
Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning
Notes:
Refer to the FFIEC March 6, 2020, press release at https://www.ffiec.gov/press/pr030620.htm . Return to text.
Additional information is available in the FFIEC Business Continuity Management Examination Handbook at https://ithandbook.ffiec.gov/it-booklets.aspx . Return to text.
http://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/contactus/feedback.aspx
Return to text.
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Last Update: March 10, 2020