These manuals are intended to provide guidance to supervisory personnel in planning and conducting inspections and are to be used in conjunction with other supervisory guidance and manuals. They should not be considered a legal reference to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and federal banking laws.
A User's Guide for the Bank Holding Company Performance Report
Last update: December 2021
Serves as an aid in using the Bank Holding Company Performance Report (BHCPR). Provides definitions of the financial ratios and items presented on each page of the BHCPR.
Online: Entire manual (1.27 MB PDF)
Bank Holding Company Supervision Manual
Last update: February 2023
Provides guidance for conducting inspections of bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries. The supervisory objectives of the inspection program are to ascertain whether the financial strength of the bank holding company is being maintained on an ongoing basis and to determine the effects or consequences of transactions between a holding company or its nonbanking subsidiaries and its subsidiary banks.
Online: Manual by section | Entire manual (8.11 MB PDF)
Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual
Last update: August 2023
Provides guidance to examiners for carrying out BSA/AML and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) examinations. Also provides guidance to the banking industry on identifying and controlling risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. The manual contains an overview of BSA/AML compliance program requirements, BSA/AML risks and risk management expectations, industry sound practices, and examination procedures.
Online: Manual (on FFIEC's website)
Commercial Bank Examination Manual
Last update: October 2023
Presents examination objectives and procedures that Federal Reserve System examiners follow in evaluating the safety and soundness of state member banks. Intended as guidance for planning and conducting bank examinations.
Online: Manual by section | Entire manual (7.9 MB PDF) | Examination Documentation (ED) Modules
Consumer Compliance Handbook
Last update: December 2016
Contains examination objectives, procedures, and other instructions for planning and conducting consumer compliance and Community Reinvestment Act examinations and for preparing and distributing examination findings. The handbook is intended as guidance for Federal Reserve examiners and other supervisory personnel and should not be considered a legal reference to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board or to federal banking laws.
Online: Manual by section | Summary of changes: December 2016 | Summary of changes: July 2016
Print: Order Form | Entire manual (4.06 MB PDF)
Examination Manual for U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banking Organizations
Describes general policies and procedures to be used in conducting examinations of the U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banking organizations. Intended to provide a comprehensive overview of banking activities that may be conducted in a wide variety of branches. Updated periodically to reflect changes in examination policies and procedures.
Online: Manual by sections | Entire manual (1.7 MB PDF)
FFIEC Information Technology (IT) Examination Handbook
Presents examination objectives and procedures that FFIEC member agency examiners follow in evaluating the information technology environments within supervised financial institutions and technology service providers (TSP). It is intended as guidance to Federal Reserve supervisory personnel in planning and conducting financial institution and TSP examinations and is to be used in concert with other supervisory guidance and manuals. It should not be considered a legal reference to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and federal banking laws.
Online: FFIEC IT Handbook InfoBase
Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee Program Manual
Last update: February 2023
Describes the structure, governance, supervisory process, and communication methods the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System undertakes when supervising large, systemically important firms.
Online: Manual | Entire manual (1.7 MB PDF)
Trading and Capital-Markets Activities Manual
Last update: July 2011
Provides guidance on trading operations and related capital-markets banking activities. Details sound management practices and key examination and review considerations for trading and capital-markets activities. Includes discussions of a wide range of risk management issues encountered in trading and dealer operations, including market risk, counterparty credit risk, legal risk, financial reporting, accounting, and ethics. Profiles thirty-five specific financial instruments commonly encountered in trading and capital-markets-related activities.
Online: Manual by section Print: Order Form | Entire manual (2.49 MB PDF)