Bank & Credit Union Technology Risk Advisory

The challenge

A generic IT review checks security. Not what an examiner will ask for.

Stale due diligence

Due-diligence files that haven't been touched since the contract was signed.

Inconsistent tiers

Vendor criticality applied unevenly, or not in the way examiners expect.

Missing provisions

Contracts lacking breach-notification, audit-right or subcontracting language.

Costs beyond the incident

Examiner scrutiny, customer notification and reputational damage.

Our approach

Find the gaps before the exam does.

01
Inventory
Every vendor contract and oversight document in one place.
02
Tier
Rank vendors by criticality the way an examiner expects.
03
Benchmark
Compare vendor pricing against market rates.
04
Flag Gaps
Identify specific documentation and contract gaps.
05
Report
Deliver prioritized findings mapped to FFIEC guidance.

How MALA helps

An exam-ready third-party risk program.

Pre-exam review

Vendor contracts and documentation checked ahead of examination.

Criticality tiering

Risk tiers proportional to each vendor's criticality.

Contract provisions

Audit rights, breach notification and subcontracting disclosure.

Fourth-party visibility

Subcontracting relationships documented and disclosed.

Pricing benchmarks

Vendor costs compared against market rates.

Board-level reporting

Oversight documentation in the form examiners expect.

Most community banks and credit unions don't have a dedicated third-party risk team. A defensible program doesn't require one.

By the numbers

Why this matters now.

5areas examiners most often cite: diligence, tiering, contracts, monitoring, board reportingFFIEC Exam Findings

3contract provisions to verify: audit rights, breach notice, subcontractingExaminer Expectations

23%average overpayment against market ratesMALA Engagement Data

$0for your initial assessment. No obligation to move forwardNo-Fee Initial Assessment

Who it's for

Built for the people who own the decision.

CIOA vendor portfolio documented and tiered before the exam.
CISOThird-party security risk tied to examiner expectations.
Compliance OfficerFindings mapped to FFIEC guidance, not generic audits.
BoardClear, defensible reporting on vendor oversight.
Post-exam teamsInstitutions recovering from exam findings.

The MALA model

Independent. Paid by providers, never by you.

Our services are sponsored through strategic referral agreements with 430+ technology solutions providers, never billed to you.

Unbiased recommendationsProviders in each category have similar compensation models, so your requirements drive the answer.
Paid only if you move forwardThe selected vendor compensates MALA, and only when you choose a recommended vendor.
No obligationYou are never required to move forward with any recommended vendor.

Common questions

What clients ask first.

What does the assessment include?

A full vendor and document inventory, examiner-style criticality tiers, market pricing benchmarks and specific documentation gaps.

What do examiners prioritize?

Pre-contract diligence, risk tiering, key contract provisions, ongoing monitoring and board-level reporting.

Why isn't a generic IT review enough?

It checks security. It doesn't check what an examiner will ask for.

Do we need a dedicated TPRM team?

No. You need a consistent inventory, criticality tiers and a review cadence.

Engagement at a glance

Framework: FFIEC vendor-management and third-party risk guidance
Deliverable: Prioritized findings mapped to FFIEC guidance
Institutions: Community banks and credit unions
Cost to you: No-fee initial assessment. Paid by providers, no obligation

No-fee initial assessment

Request your no-fee Banking Technology Risk Assessment. No obligation.

We review your vendor-management documentation, criticality tiers and key contract provisions, and show you the gaps before an examiner does.

Book a 30-minute call

No fee to you: MALA is paid by the provider only if you move forward with a provider we recommend. No obligation to do so.

Technology Risk Advisory for Banks and Credit Unions Technology Risk Advisory, Before the Examiner Calls.