Bank Business Continuity Plan Testing and Readiness Checklist
This comprehensive bank business continuity plan testing and readiness checklist ensures regulatory compliance with FFIEC, OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC Bulletin 2019-37. Annual BCP testing and readiness verification for financial institutions covering recovery time objectives, alternate site activation, technology recovery, and regulatory notification per FFIEC Business Continuity Management booklet (2019), OCC Bulletin 2019-37, and FDIC FIL-14-2015. BCP deficiencies are among the most common
- Industry: Financial Services & Banking
- Frequency: Monthly / Quarterly
- Estimated Time: 50 minutes
- Role: Compliance Officer / Branch Manager
- Total Items: 19
- Compliance: FFIEC, OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC Bulletin 2019-37
BCP Governance and Documentation
Verify BCP governance per FFIEC BCM booklet.
- Is comprehensive written BCP in place covering all critical business functions?
- Has BCP been reviewed and approved by board of directors within past 12 months?
- Is a designated BCP/BCM coordinator responsible for plan maintenance and testing?
- Is Business Impact Analysis (BIA) current identifying critical processes, dependencies, and RTO/RPO?
- Does BCP address multiple threat scenarios including natural disasters, cyber incidents, pandemic, and utility failure?
Recovery Site and Technology Capabilities
Verify recovery infrastructure.
- Is alternate work location available for critical operations with sufficient workstations and capacity?
- Is data backup tested with verified restore capability meeting RPO requirements?
- Is core banking system recovery tested and proven achievable within defined RTO?
- Are redundant communication systems in place and tested for alternate site activation?
- Are cloud service provider recovery capabilities assessed and aligned with bank's RTO/RPO requirements?
BCP Testing and Exercise Program
Verify testing per FFIEC guidance.
- Is annual BCP test completed covering critical systems and business functions per FFIEC requirements?
- Have technology failover tests been conducted with documented results and issues tracked?
- Has executive tabletop exercise been conducted testing decision-making under simulated disaster scenario?
- Are deficiencies identified in prior tests remediated before next annual test?
- Are critical vendor recovery capabilities verified through participation in joint BCP tests?
Notification and Employee Communication
Verify notification procedures.
- Is emergency employee notification system tested with contact information verified annually?
- Is regulatory notification procedure in place for major operational disruptions per OCC/FDIC requirements?
- Is customer communication plan in place for notifying customers of service disruptions?
- Is crisis communications protocol in place with designated spokesperson for media inquiries?
Related Financial Services Banking Checklists
- Model Risk Management Validation Checklist
- Bank Branch Physical Security Audit Checklist
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance Program Audit Checklist
- Know Your Customer (KYC) Verification Procedures Checklist
Why Use This Bank Business Continuity Plan Testing and Readiness Checklist?
This bank business continuity plan testing and readiness checklist helps financial services & banking teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for compliance officer / branch manager professionals, this checklist covers 19 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: monthly / quarterly.
Ensures compliance with FFIEC, OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC Bulletin 2019-37. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bank Business Continuity Plan Testing and Readiness Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 19 inspection items across 4 sections: BCP Governance and Documentation, Recovery Site and Technology Capabilities, BCP Testing and Exercise Program, Notification and Employee Communication. It is designed for financial services & banking operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed monthly / quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 50 minutes.
Who should use this Bank Business Continuity Plan Testing and Readiness Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Compliance Officer / Branch Manager professionals in the financial services & banking industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.