To better understand the type of operational risks that a bank faces.

It is necessary for all banks to assess what are referred to as its top operational risks through a systematic and comprehensive process that involves several key steps.

Here is an overview of how banks typically assess their top operational risks.

In a process which can sometimes also be called a risk and control self-assessment, or RCSA identification.

The first step is to identify the potential operational risks that are most significant to the bank's operations.

This involves considering various factors such as the nature of the bank's, business activities, industry trends, regulatory requirements, and historical incidents, as well as near misses risk assessments.

Once the potential risks are identified, a bank needs to conduct a detailed risk assessment to evaluate the likelihood of each risk occurring and the potential impact if the risk did occur.

This assessment considers factors such as the frequency and severity of past incidents and effectiveness of existing controls and emerging trends in the industry, risk ranking and prioritization.

Based on the risk assessment, the bank now ranks and prioritizes the top operational risks according to their level of potential impact and likelihood.

This helps in allocating appropriate resources and attention to the most significant risks.

Risk mitigation. After identifying and prioritizing the top operational risks, banks assess existing risk mitigation strategies and controls, and where required develop and implement strategies and controls.

This involves designing and implementing robust policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent, detect, and mitigate the identified risks.

It may also involve deploying technology solutions, conducting training and awareness programs, and establishing risk monitoring and reporting mechanisms, monitoring and review.

Banks continuously monitor and review the effectiveness of their risk mitigation strategies and controls.

This includes ongoing monitoring of key risk indicators, conducting internal audits and assessments, and staying abreast Of changes in the internal and external environment that may impact their top operational risks.

Regular reporting and review processes help ensure that the identified risks are appropriately managed and that any emerging risks are promptly addressed.

By following these steps, banks can effectively assess, manage, and mitigate their top operational risks, enhancing the overall operational resilience of the organization.