|


ÔTRANSACTION/OPERATIONS RISK
ÔCREDIT RISK
ÔLIQUIDITY, INTEREST RATE, PRICE/MARKET RISKS
ÔCOMPLIANCE/LEGAL RISK
ÔSTRATEGIC RISK
ÔREPUTATION RISK
ÔADVANTAGES OF E-BANKING
 





Transaction/Operations risk arises from fraud, processing errors, system disruptions,

or other unanticipated events resulting in the institution͛s inability to deliver
products or services.
ÔThe level of transaction risk is affected by the structure of the institution͛s
processing environment, including the types of services offered and the complexity
of the processes and supporting technology.
Ôe-banking activities will increase the complexity of the institution͛s activities and the
quantity of its transaction/operations risk, especially if the institution is offering
innovative services that have not been standardized.
ÔSince customers expect e-banking services to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, financial institutions should ensure their e-banking infrastructures contain
sufficient capacity and redundancy to ensure reliable service availability.
ÔThe key to controlling transaction risk lies in adapting effective polices, procedures,
and controls to meet the new risk exposures introduced by e-banking. Basic internal
controls including segregation of duties, dual controls, and reconcilements remain
important. Information security controls, in particular, become more significant
requiring additional processes, tools, expertise, and testing.
 CREDIT RISK

management should consider additional precautions when originating and approving

loans electronically, including assuring management information systems effectively
track the performance of portfolios originated through e-banking channels.
If not properly managed, these aspects can significantly increase credit risk.
Ô(erifying the customer͛s identity for on-line credit applications and executing an
enforceable contract;
ÔMonitoring and controlling the growth, pricing, underwriting standards, and ongoing
credit quality of loans originated through e-banking channels;
ÔMonitoring and oversight of third-parties doing business as agents or on behalf of the
financial institution (for example, an Internet loan origination site or electronic
payments processor);
Ô(aluing collateral and perfecting liens over a potentially wider geographic area;
ÔCollecting loans from individuals over a potentially wider geographic area; and
ÔMonitoring any increased volume of, and possible concentration in, out-of-area
lending.
 žIQUIDITY, INTEREST RATE, PRICE/MARKET RISKS

The Internet provides institutions with the ability to market their products and services
globally. Internet-based advertising programs can effectively match yield-focused
investors with potentially high-yielding deposits. But Internet-originated deposits have
the potential to attract customers who focus exclusively on rates and may provide a
funding source with risk characteristics similar to brokered deposits.
ÔPotential increase in dependence on brokered funds or other highly rate-sensitive
deposits
ÔPotential acquisition of funds from markets where the institution is not licensed to
engage in banking, particularly if the institution does not establish, disclose, and
enforce geographic restrictions;
ÔPotential impact of loan or deposit growth from an expanded Internet market,
including the impact of such growth on capital ratios; and
ÔPotential increase in volatility of funds should e-banking security problems negatively
impact customer confidence or the market͛s perception of the institution.
 COMPLIANCE/LEGAL RISK

E-banking is a new delivery channel where the laws and rules governing the electronic
delivery of certain financial institution products or services may be ambiguous or still
evolving. Specific regulatory and legal challenges include:
ÔUncertainty over legal jurisdictions and which state͛s or country͛s laws govern a specific
e-banking transaction,
ÔDelivery of credit and deposit-related disclosures/notices as required by law or
regulation,
ÔRetention of required compliance documentation for on-line advertising, applications,
statements, disclosures and notices; and
ÔEstablishment of legally binding electronic agreements.
 STRATEGIC RISK
Poor e-banking planning and investment decisions can increase a financial institution͛s
strategic risk. Early adopters of new e-banking services can establish themselves as
innovators who anticipate the needs of their customers, but may do so by incurring
higher costs and increased complexity in their operations. Conversely, late adopters
may be able to avoid the higher expense and added complexity, but do so at the risk
of not meeting customer demand for additional products and services.
financial institutions should pay attention to the following
ÔAdequacy of management information systems (MIS) to track e-banking usage and
profitability;
ÔCosts involved in monitoring e-banking activities or costs involved in overseeing e-
banking vendors and technology service providers;
ÔDesign, delivery, and pricing of services adequate to generate sufficient customer
demand;
ÔRetention of electronic loan agreements and other electronic contracts in a format
that will be admissible and enforceable in litigation;
ÔCosts and availability of staff to provide technical support for interchanges involving
multiple operating systems, web browsers, and communication devices;
ÔCompetition from other e-banking providers; and
ÔAdequacy of technical, operational, compliance, or marketing support for e-banking
products and services.
 REPUTATION RISK

An institution͛s decision to offer e-banking services, especially the more complex

transactional services, significantly increases its level of reputation risk. Some of the ways
in which e-banking can influence an institution͛s reputation include:
Ԟoss of trust due to unauthorized activity on customer accounts
ÔDisclosure or theft of confidential customer information to unauthorized parties (e.g.,
hackers)
ÔFailure to deliver on marketing claims
ÔFailure to provide reliable service due to the frequency or duration of service disruptions
ÔCustomer complaints about the difficulty in using e-banking services and the inability of
the institution͛s help desk to resolve problems
ÔConfusion between services provided by the financial institution and services provided
by other businesses linked from the website.
 Advantages of E-Banking

Ԟower operating costs

ÔGreater geographic diversification,
ÔImproved or sustained competitive position
ÔIncreased customer demand for services
ÔNew revenue opportunities
ÔAvailability of inquiry and transaction services around the clock;
ÔWorldwide connectivity;
ÔEasy access to transaction data, both recent and historical; and
ÔDirect customer control of international movement of funds without
intermediation of financial institutions in customer͛s jurisdiction.