meta_id 3332018

On July 16, 2026, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a joint statement establishing enhanced security procedures for handling highly sensitive information during examinations of supervised banks. The statement describes a coordinated approach to identifying and reviewing highly sensitive data and documents, with procedures designed to reduce cybersecurity risks while maintaining regulatory access to information throughout examinations. Key measures include reviewing materials on-site rather than transferring them onto agency systems. The agencies recognise the importance of maintaining confidentiality of banks' highly sensitive information and protecting it against unauthorised disclosure or access resulting from cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The joint statement applies to all supervised banks subject to examination by the FDIC, FRB, and OCC. The enhanced procedures represent a coordinated effort across the three federal bank regulatory agencies to balance supervisory requirements with cybersecurity protection. The agencies have committed to notifying affected banks of any potential or confirmed material data breach involving confidential supervisory information. Banks must receive notification as soon as practicable, and no later than 72 hours after discovery, unless legal restrictions apply. This notification requirement ensures transparency and allows banks to take appropriate remedial action in response to any security incidents affecting their supervisory information. REFERENCES: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. "Agencies Issue Joint Statement on Handling of Highly Sensitive Information During Bank Examinations." News Release 2026-60, July 16, 2026. https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-60.html