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: November 2024

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 (7.6 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 Financial Institution (LFI) Supervision Operating Manual

The Large Financial Institution (LFI) Supervision Operating Manual describes the governance and roles and responsibilities of the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee Program and Large and Foreign Banking Organizations Program participants, as well as the manner in which LFI supervisory events are executed.

Online: Manual


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)


LISCC Capital Program Operating Manual

The LISCC Capital Program Operating Manual describes the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders under the Capital Program organizational structure in their assessment of the capital adequacy and capital planning practices of Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) firms.

Online: Manual


LISCC Liquidity Program Operating Manual

The LISCC Liquidity Program Operating Manual describes the roles and responsibilities of Liquidity Program participants in their assessment of the adequacy of Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) firms' liquidity position and liquidity risk-management practices.

Online: Manual


LISCC Monitoring and Analysis Program Operating Manual

The LISCC Monitoring and Analysis Program Operating Manual describes the roles and responsibilities of the Monitoring and Analysis Program, which informs the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) supervisory planning process through identification of emerging risks and analysis of risks.

Online: Manual


LISCC Program Office of the Operating Committee Operating Manual

The LISCC Program Office of the Operating Committee Operating Manual describes the governance and roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Operating Committee, which provides infrastructure for and oversight of the operational and strategic functions of the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) Program.

Online: Manual


LISCC Program Operating Manual

The LISCC Program Operating Manual describes the expectations and standards for Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) Program supervisory examination activities and provides guidelines on LISCC Program governance, supervisory life cycle, and oversight and controls.

Online: Manual


LISCC Recovery and Resolution Preparedness Program Title I Processes and Protocols

The LISCC Recovery and Resolution Preparedness Program Title I Processes and Protocols manual describes the processes and protocols for reviewing the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) firms' resolution plan submissions, consistent with both targeted and full plan review cycles.

Online: Manual


LISCC Supervisory Program Enforcement Actions Operating Manual

The LISCC Supervisory Program Enforcement Actions Operating Manual sets forth the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) Program operational expectations for supervisory activities related to the issuance and termination of enforcement actions, as well as monitoring of firms' enforcement action remediation between issuance and termination.

Online: Manual


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)

Back to Top
Last Update: January 30, 2026