The Problem
Manual Tracking Created Bottlenecks in CRI and BSA Compliance
A U.S.-based regional bank with over $16 billion in assets relied on Excel spreadsheets and manual coordination to manage both its Cyber Risk Institute (CRI) profile and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance requirements.
This approach led to:
- Inefficient evidence collection and reporting
- Limited visibility into compliance readiness
- High operational burden on CRI and BSA teams
- Lack of scalability for future compliance needs
The upcoming sunset of the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) added further urgency for the CRI program to modernize, while BSA compliance operations were already reaching unsustainable workload levels.
The Solution
One Platform for Two Critical Compliance Functions
CRI-Aligned Compliance Framework
SmartSuite provided a pre-configured CRI structure that mirrored the bank’s existing workflows, enabling a rapid transition from spreadsheets to an automated environment.
Centralized BSA Operations
The platform was extended to manage BSA workflows, giving the compliance team a unified, searchable, and auditable system for monitoring activities and reporting status.
Ease of Use and Low Overhead
SmartSuite’s user-friendly interface allowed for configuration without external developers or heavy IT involvement, reducing deployment time and cost.
Cross-Functional Dashboards
Both CRI and BSA teams gained role-based dashboards for real-time tracking of progress, deadlines, and evidence collection, improving oversight and audit readiness.
Future-Ready GRC Expansion
The bank implemented SmartSuite as a foundation for broader governance, risk, and compliance management, with the flexibility to adapt as regulatory frameworks evolve.
The Result
Immediate Efficiency Gains and a Scalable Compliance Hub
With 40 users onboarded across two compliance programs, the bank replaced fragmented systems with a centralized, cloud-based solution.
Outcomes include:
- Streamlined CRI and BSA management in one platform
- Reduced time spent on manual reporting and evidence collection
- Real-time visibility for leadership and compliance managers
- A scalable GRC framework for future needs