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For community banks in the Midwest, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for IT compliance. With more attention from regulators like the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), banks are being pushed to tighten up on things like cybersecurity, vendor due diligence, and data governance.
This means banks need to really think about whether they’re ready to keep up. One key question banks should be asking of themselves: Is our IT partner living up to the same standards we are? If the answer is no, or if you’re not totally sure, it’s time to dig deeper. A lot of community banks are still working with IT vendors who aren’t ready for the level of scrutiny regulators are bringing. That leaves them open to cyber risks and expensive compliance issues. In 2025, that’s a gamble no bank can afford to take.
To help banks prepare, here’s a breakdown of what regulators are laser-focused on this year:
Cyber threats continue to evolve, and regulators expect your defenses to keep up. Banks must show they can detect threats quickly, apply critical patches in a timely manner, and respond effectively to incidents. The framework of the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) has been the guiding standard for many banks, but with that tool being sunsetted this year, community banks need to be ready to utilize a new framework.
Examiners are putting more weight on third-party oversight. Banks are now responsible for proving their vendors follow the same standards, especially for critical IT functions. That includes documented vendor due diligence, SOC 2 Type 2 reports, and clear evidence of vendor controls.
When it comes to disaster recovery, expect tougher questions about your recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO). Regulators are asking for documented tabletop exercises, immutable backups, and full resilience strategies - not just dusty plans sitting in a binder.
Regulators want to see strong identity and access management in place. That includes role-based access controls, Multi-Factor Authentication (which is now considered mandatory through the FTC Safeguards Rule), and regular audits to ensure sensitive data is encrypted and only accessible to the right people.
If you can’t show auditable, repeatable IT processes, your exam could be at risk. Plus, regulators are not just looking at your internal controls - they’re evaluating whether your vendors are also maintaining compliance-grade IT practices.
There’s a clear difference between checking boxes and building real trust with your examiner. Forward-thinking risk management, like testing your incident response plan proactively or using AI-powered threat detection, shows that your financial institution is serious about security.
Your IT provider should always be exam ready. If they can’t produce documentation or fail to demonstrate security best practices, it reflects directly on your bank. That’s why working with vendors who are SOC 2 Type 2 audited and FFIEC examined is crucial.
In today’s environment, secure IT infrastructure is not optional. That means centralized monitoring, multi-layered security, and a team that understands financial sector risks. Partnering with a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) that specializes in banking IT compliance gives you a strategic edge along with peace of mind.
Community banks across the Midwest trust Locknet because we’re designed to address the unique regulatory challenges they encounter. Our services are built to not only meet but exceed compliance standards, ensuring confidence through even the most rigorous reviews.
Here’s why community banks trust Locknet:
Reactive compliance no longer meets the mark in 2025. Banks that proactively address IT risk are not only better protected, but also more efficient, more trusted by customers, and more confident in front of regulators. IT compliance for community banks shouldn’t be a scramble - it should be part of your strategic plan.
When you choose a partner like Locknet, you're not just checking boxes. You’re building a resilient, secure foundation for your bank’s future. Are you ready to raise the bar on compliance? Let’s start a conversation.
