Top risks and controls for Investment Banking

From the Doorstep International risk register, curated by Ahmer Nehal. Last updated 17 Oct 2026.

The Investment Banking register lists 37 key risks and 93 best-practice controls across 7 units: Corporate Finance, Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Financial Institutions Group (FIG), Research, Sales and Trading, Structured Finance. Use it to identify risks, benchmark your existing controls or start a risk and control self-assessment (RCSA).

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A bank's investment banking division plays a key role in a variety of tasks, including handling large-scale investments, advising customers on mergers and acquisitions, and underwriting securities.

Great financial opportunities can, however, also come with great financial hazards.

Risk evaluations should be carried out by the investment banking department of a bank to detect potential risks and their effects on the institution's stability, reputation, and financial standing.

This is particularly crucial given the unpredictable and uncertain economic climate of today, when risks can materialise swiftly and result in large losses for the bank and its stakeholders.

Investment banking may increase transparency and accountability to clients while ensuring that the bank's operations are in line with its risk appetite and regulatory requirements by conducting regular risk assessments.

Corporate Finance: key risks and controls

Responsible for offering firms financial advising services, such as capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic financial planning.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Credit risk	Credit risk is the risk that a borrower may default on a loan or other financial obligation. Commercial banks may be exposed to credit risk when they extend credit to their investment banking clients or when they underwrite securities offerings.	Credit Analysis and Scoring: The bank can conduct a thorough credit analysis and scoring of the borrower's financial position, credit history, and other factors to determine the borrower's ability to repay the loan. This will help the bank avoid lending to high-risk borrowers. Collateral Requirements: Banks can require the borrower to provide collateral, such as property or other assets, to secure the loan. This reduces the credit risk because the bank can seize and sell the collateral if the borrower defaults on the loan.
Legal and regulatory risk	Legal and regulatory risk is the risk of losses due to non-compliance with laws and regulations, such as securities laws, anti-money laundering laws, or data privacy laws. Commercial banks may be exposed to legal and regulatory risk when they engage in investment banking activities that are subject to complex regulatory requirements.	Establish a compliance program: Develop a comprehensive compliance program that covers all applicable regulations and laws related to investment banking activities. Ensure that the program is regularly reviewed, updated and audited. Implement internal controls: Establish internal controls to ensure that all investment banking activities are conducted in accordance with the bank's policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. This should include segregating duties and implementing oversight procedures.
Market risk	Market risk is the risk of losses due to changes in market prices, interest rates, exchange rates, or other market variables. Commercial banks may be exposed to market risk when they engage in trading activities, underwrite securities offerings, or provide hedging services to their clients.	Risk Management Policies and Procedures: Establishing comprehensive risk management policies and procedures is essential for effectively mitigating market risk. This includes defining risk tolerance limits, establishing guidelines for trading activities, underwriting securities, and providing hedging services. Clear and well-communicated policies help ensure that all employees understand and adhere to risk mitigation measures. Diversification of Investments: Diversifying investments is a crucial control to mitigate market risk. By spreading investments across different asset classes, sectors, geographic regions, and financial instruments, banks can reduce their exposure to individual market variables.
Operational risk	Operational risk is the risk of losses due to internal failures, such as errors, system failures, fraud, or misconduct. Commercial banks may be exposed to operational risk when they engage in complex investment banking activities or when they rely on third-party service providers.	Robust Internal Controls and Processes: Implementing strong internal controls and processes is crucial to mitigate operational risk. This includes establishing clear policies and procedures for different operational activities, segregating duties to prevent fraud and errors, conducting regular internal audits, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Risk-Based Due Diligence on Third-Party Service Providers: Commercial banks should perform thorough due diligence on third-party service providers to assess their operational capabilities, security measures, and adherence to regulatory standards.
Reputational risk	Reputational risk is the risk of damage to a bank's reputation due to negative publicity, customer complaints, or other factors. Commercial banks may be exposed to reputational risk when they engage in investment banking activities that are perceived as risky or unethical.	Robust Risk Management Framework: Implementing a comprehensive risk management framework is essential to identify, assess, and mitigate reputational risks. This includes establishing clear policies and procedures, conducting regular risk assessments, and ensuring proper oversight and governance. Effective risk management enables proactive identification and mitigation of potential issues, reducing the likelihood of negative publicity or customer complaints. Ethical and Responsible Business Practices: Maintaining a strong commitment to ethical conduct and responsible business practices is crucial for mitigating reputational risk. Banks should establish and enforce a code of ethics that guides employees' behavior.

Debt Capital Markets: key risks and controls

Accountable for assisting businesses in raising funds by releasing financial instruments like bonds or commercial paper.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Credit risk	Commercial banks face credit risk when they issue debt securities, as the creditworthiness of the issuer is a key factor in determining the pricing and demand for the securities. Banks must carefully manage their credit risk exposure and maintain high credit ratings in order to attract investors.	Rigorous Credit Assessment and Underwriting Processes: Implementing a robust credit assessment and underwriting process is crucial for evaluating the creditworthiness of potential issuers. This involves conducting thorough due diligence on the financial health, repayment capacity, and credit history of the issuer. By ensuring only creditworthy entities are allowed to issue debt securities, banks can significantly reduce the likelihood of default and mitigate credit risk. Diversification of Credit Portfolio: Banks should aim to diversify their credit portfolio by spreading their exposure across a range of issuers with varying credit profiles. By investing in debt securities issued by a diverse set of companies, industries, and geographies, banks can reduce the impact of any individual issuer defaulting. Diversification helps in balancing risk and potentially limiting losses in case of adverse events affecting a particular sector or company.
Increasing competition	With the growing number of participants in the debt capital markets, commercial banks are facing increased competition from other financial institutions and non-bank lenders. This can lead to lower margins and less profitable deals.	Diversification of Services and Products: Commercial banks can mitigate the risk by diversifying their services and products beyond traditional lending. They can explore new revenue streams such as investment banking, asset management, financial advisory, and other fee-based services. By expanding their offerings, banks can reduce their reliance on interest rate spreads and capture additional sources of revenue. Enhancing Customer Relationships: Commercial banks can focus on building and strengthening relationships with their existing customers.
Interest rate risk	Debt securities typically have fixed interest rates, which can expose banks to interest rate risk if market interest rates rise or fall. Banks must manage this risk through appropriate hedging strategies and by monitoring their exposure to interest rate movements.	Establish a comprehensive interest rate risk management policy that outlines the bank's risk tolerance, hedging strategies, and monitoring processes. Regularly monitor interest rate movements and assess the bank's exposure to changes in market rates. Use financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps, and floors to hedge against interest rate risks. Diversify the bank's portfolio of debt securities to include a mix of fixed and floating rate instruments. Implement stress testing scenarios to assess the impact of different interest rate environments on the bank's portfolio.
Regulatory compliance	The regulatory environment for commercial banks has become increasingly complex and demanding, with a greater focus on risk management and transparency. Banks must ensure that they comply with various regulations related to the issuance and sale of debt securities, such as SEC regulations in the US and MiFID II in Europe.	Regulatory Compliance Framework: Establishing a robust regulatory compliance framework is crucial for banks to navigate the complex regulatory landscape. This includes implementing policies, procedures, and controls to ensure adherence to relevant regulations. Regular monitoring and updating of the framework are essential to keep pace with evolving regulatory requirements. Risk Management Systems: Banks should implement comprehensive risk management systems that identify, assess, and mitigate regulatory risks. These systems should include tools for monitoring and reporting on compliance, internal controls, and risk exposure.
Volatility in the market	The debt capital markets are subject to market volatility, which can have a significant impact on banks' ability to raise funds at favorable rates. Banks must be able to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and adjust their strategies accordingly.	Diversification of funding sources: Banks should not rely solely on one source of funding. Diversification can help reduce the impact of market volatility. Effective risk management framework: Banks should have a comprehensive risk management framework in place, which includes monitoring and measuring market risk exposure. Stress testing: Regular stress testing can help banks to identify potential risks and ensure that they have sufficient capital and liquidity to withstand adverse market conditions. Robust contingency planning: Banks should have contingency plans in place to respond to unexpected events such as market volatility. These plans should be regularly tested and updated.

Equity Capital Markets: key risks and controls

Tasked with assisting businesses in raising finance through the issuance of stocks or other equity instruments, such as preferred shares.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Competition	The equity capital markets are highly competitive, with many players vying for the same business. Commercial banks face competition from other investment banks, private equity firms, and other financial institutions. This competition can lead to pressure on fees and margins.	Diversification: Expand the range of products and services offered to clients to avoid over-reliance on equity capital markets. This could include fixed-income products, asset management, and other investment banking services. Specialization: Develop expertise in a particular market sector or niche area to differentiate from competitors and provide tailored solutions to clients. Relationship management: Foster strong relationships with clients by providing exceptional service, being responsive to their needs, and building trust. Cost control: Implement cost management strategies to maintain profitability even in a highly competitive environment.
Investor sentiment	Investor sentiment can also impact a bank's ability to execute transactions in the equity capital markets. If investors are bearish on the market, they may be less willing to invest in equity offerings, which can make it difficult for banks to raise capital.	Diversify the bank's offerings: Offering a variety of products and services can help the bank to weather market downturns and reduce its reliance on equity offerings. Develop a strong relationship with investors: Banks should maintain a strong relationship with their investors to keep them informed and engaged. This can help build investor confidence and loyalty. Conduct market research: Regular market research can help the bank stay informed about investor sentiment and adjust its strategy accordingly.
Market volatility	Equity markets can be volatile, and this can make it difficult for commercial banks to execute transactions. Market volatility can also affect the value of a bank's equity portfolio, which can impact its financial performance.	Diversification of Equity Portfolio: Commercial banks can reduce their exposure to market volatility by diversifying their equity portfolio. By spreading investments across different sectors, industries, and geographic regions, banks can minimize the impact of volatility on their overall portfolio. Diversification helps to reduce concentration risk and provides a buffer against the adverse effects of market fluctuations on individual stocks or sectors. Risk Management Strategies: Implementing robust risk management strategies is crucial for banks to mitigate the impact of market volatility. This includes setting appropriate risk tolerance levels, regularly monitoring market conditions, and employing risk hedging techniques such as options, futures contracts, or other derivative instruments. By actively managing and hedging their positions, banks can protect their equity portfolio from significant losses during periods of market turbulence. These strategies allow banks to mitigate the risks associated with market volatility and potentially offset any negative impacts on their financial performance.
Regulatory requirements	Commercial banks are subject to various regulations that govern their activities in the equity capital markets. These regulations include capital adequacy requirements, disclosure requirements, and rules on insider trading, among others. Compliance with these regulations can be time-consuming and costly.	Robust Compliance Management System: Implementing a comprehensive compliance management system is essential for ensuring adherence to regulations. This system should include policies, procedures, and controls that address capital adequacy requirements, disclosure requirements, and rules on insider trading. It should also involve regular monitoring, reporting, and auditing to ensure ongoing compliance. Effective Risk Assessment and Internal Controls: Conducting regular risk assessments specific to equity capital markets and implementing strong internal controls is crucial. This involves identifying and assessing potential compliance risks and establishing preventive controls.
Reputation risk	Commercial banks also face reputation risk in the equity capital markets. If a bank is involved in a transaction that is perceived to be unethical or fraudulent, it can damage the bank's reputation and lead to legal and regulatory action.	Risk Assessment Framework: Developing a robust risk assessment framework tailored specifically to equity capital markets is the most effective control. This involves identifying and evaluating potential compliance risks, analyzing their potential impact, and prioritizing them based on their significance. A comprehensive risk assessment framework forms the foundation for implementing strong internal controls. Internal Control Policies and Procedures: Implementing well-defined internal control policies and procedures is crucial for mitigating compliance risks. These policies should cover all key areas of equity capital markets operations.
Technology and innovation	Commercial banks need to keep up with the latest technology and innovation in the equity capital markets. This includes developing new platforms for trading and investing, as well as using data analytics to make better investment decisions.	Robust Technology Infrastructure: A strong and reliable technology infrastructure is crucial for commercial banks to keep up with the latest advancements in the equity capital markets. This includes having scalable and secure platforms for trading and investing. Investing in modern and well-maintained technology systems, networks, and software can enhance the bank's ability to adapt to changing market conditions and reduce the risk of technological disruptions. Continuous Monitoring and Risk Assessment: Regular monitoring and risk assessments are vital to identify potential vulnerabilities and emerging risks. Banks should implement comprehensive monitoring systems that track trading activities, technology performance, and market trends. By closely monitoring the equity capital markets and their technology infrastructure, banks can proactively identify any weaknesses or potential threats. This allows them to take necessary actions promptly, such as implementing additional security measures or updating their technology platforms, to mitigate risks and ensure they remain up-to-date with the latest technology and innovation.

Financial Institutions Group (FIG): key risks and controls

Responsible for offering banks, insurance firms, and other financial institutions (such as asset managers) financial advising services.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Credit risk	Financial institutions group deals with other financial institutions, which can be high-risk clients. FIG must manage its credit risk effectively to minimize losses and maintain profitability.	Robust Due Diligence Process: Implementing a comprehensive due diligence process is crucial to identify and assess the creditworthiness of potential high-risk clients within the financial institutions group. This control involves thoroughly evaluating the financial health, risk management practices, and regulatory compliance of the clients. It may include reviewing financial statements, credit reports, conducting on-site visits, and analyzing historical data. By conducting thorough due diligence, FIG can minimize the chances of dealing with high-risk clients and reduce potential losses. Credit Risk Assessment Models: Utilizing sophisticated credit risk assessment models can greatly enhance FIG's ability to manage credit risk effectively. These models use statistical techniques and historical data to quantify the credit risk associated with each client. By analyzing various parameters such as financial ratios, industry trends, and market conditions, these models provide a quantitative assessment of the creditworthiness and potential default risk of clients. By relying on these models, FIG can make informed decisions regarding credit exposure limits, collateral requirements, and pricing.
Economic conditions	Economic conditions can have a significant impact on the financial institutions group, as the group's clients are often affected by changes in the economy. FIG must monitor economic conditions closely and adjust its strategy accordingly.	Economic Monitoring and Forecasting: Implementing a robust system to monitor and forecast economic conditions is crucial for FIG. This control involves regularly collecting and analyzing economic data, such as GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, employment rates, and industry-specific indicators. By closely monitoring economic conditions, FIG can proactively identify potential risks and adjust its strategy accordingly. Diversification of Client Base: FIG should aim to diversify its client base to reduce the dependency on a single sector or industry. This control involves expanding the range of industries served by FIG, thereby reducing the concentration of risk. By having clients from various sectors, FIG can better withstand economic downturns that may impact specific industries more severely than others.
Increased competition	The banking industry has become highly competitive, with new entrants and non-bank competitors offering financial services. This has made it difficult for FIG to maintain its market share and profitability.	Differentiation Strategy: Implementing a differentiation strategy is crucial to maintaining market share and profitability in a highly competitive environment. This control involves identifying and highlighting unique features, services, or benefits that distinguish your bank from new entrants and non-bank competitors. By offering innovative products, exceptional customer service, personalized experiences, or specialized expertise, you can attract and retain customers who value these differentiators. Embracing technology and fostering innovation within your bank is essential to stay ahead of the competition. Invest in digital transformation initiatives, develop user-friendly online and mobile banking platforms, and explore emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain to streamline processes, enhance customer experience, and provide value-added services. By leveraging technology effectively, you can gain a competitive edge and improve market share and profitability.
Regulatory environment	The regulatory environment is constantly changing, which puts pressure on banks to comply with new regulations and meet regulatory requirements. FIG must stay up-to-date with these changes to avoid penalties and maintain compliance.	Regulatory monitoring: FIG can implement a regulatory monitoring program to keep up-to-date with new regulations and requirements. This program should include monitoring industry trends, reviewing regulatory alerts and updates, and participating in industry forums and associations. Compliance training: FIG can provide regular compliance training to employees, including updates on new regulations and requirements. This training should be tailored to different roles and responsibilities within the organization and should be mandatory for all employees. Regulatory compliance framework: FIG can develop a regulatory compliance framework that outlines its approach to compliance and provides guidance on how to comply with specific regulations.
Talent retention	The financial institutions group requires specialized skills and knowledge, which can be difficult to find and retain. FIG must develop and retain talented employees to remain competitive and provide high-quality services to clients.	Develop an effective recruitment and retention strategy that includes competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement and professional development. Provide ongoing training and development programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of employees, and encourage them to pursue industry certifications and designations. Foster a positive and supportive work culture that values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes and rewards employees for their contributions and achievements. Establish a mentorship or coaching program to help new employees adapt to the organization and industry, and provide guidance and support to advance their careers.
Technology disruption	The rise of financial technology (fintech) companies and the adoption of new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics have disrupted traditional banking models. FIG must adapt to these new technologies to remain competitive.	Controls for this risk are available in the full register. Ask us.

Research: key risks and controls

Conducting research and analysis on financial markets, businesses, and industries in order to provide clients and other business units with knowledge and recommendations.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Data management	Investment banking involves dealing with vast amounts of data. Commercial banks face the challenge of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to provide accurate and timely information to clients.	Data Encryption and Access Controls: Implementing strong encryption techniques and access controls can help protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. This involves encrypting data both at rest and in transit, as well as implementing role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to specific data. Data Governance Framework: Establishing a robust data governance framework is crucial for effectively managing and organizing data. This involves defining data ownership, data quality standards, data classification, and data lifecycle management processes.
Information overload	There is a lot of information available in the investment banking industry, and it can be overwhelming for bankers and clients alike. Commercial banks must provide relevant and timely information to clients to help them make informed investment decisions.	Segmentation: Segment the client base into different categories based on their investment needs, goals, and preferences. This will help to tailor the information provided to each client and avoid overwhelming them with irrelevant data. Personalization: Provide personalized reports and updates based on the client's portfolio, investment history, and preferences. This will help to make the information more relevant and actionable. Streamlining: Streamline the information provided by presenting it in an easy-to-understand format, such as graphs, charts, and infographics.
Regulatory compliance	Investment banking is a highly regulated industry, and commercial banks must comply with various regulations, including anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-corruption laws. Research conducted by banks must adhere to these regulations to ensure compliance.	Robust Compliance Program: Establishing a comprehensive compliance program is crucial to ensure adherence to regulations. This program should include policies, procedures, and internal controls designed to prevent and detect violations of anti-money laundering (AML), anti-bribery, and anti-corruption laws. It should also encompass training programs for employees to raise awareness about their obligations and potential risks. Strong Internal Controls and Risk Management: Implementing internal controls and risk management systems is essential to identify and address potential compliance risks.
Talent management	Commercial banks must attract and retain top talent in the investment banking industry. Research-related challenges include training and developing employees to conduct high-quality research and providing incentives to encourage innovation and creativity.	Competitive Compensation Packages: Offering attractive and competitive compensation packages is a highly effective control to attract and retain top talent. This includes providing competitive base salaries, performance-based bonuses, profit-sharing options, stock options, and other financial incentives. Competitive compensation can serve as a strong motivator for employees and can help the bank stand out among its competitors. Professional Development Programs: Investing in comprehensive professional development programs can enhance employee skills and knowledge, ultimately contributing to high-quality research.
Technology	Investment banking is a rapidly changing industry, and commercial banks must keep up with new technologies and tools to conduct research effectively. The use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics can help banks analyze large volumes of data and provide more accurate investment recommendations to clients.	Regular training: Banks should invest in regular training for their employees to keep them up-to-date with the latest technologies and tools in the investment banking industry. Knowledge sharing: Banks should encourage knowledge sharing among their employees to ensure that everyone is aware of the latest advancements in technology and tools. Technology adoption: Banks should adopt the latest technologies and tools to conduct research effectively, analyze large volumes of data.

Sales and Trading: key risks and controls

Accountable for managing the bank's internal trading activity as well as purchasing and selling assets on clients' behalf.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Competition	Commercial banks face tough competition from other investment banks and financial institutions, which can make it difficult to attract and retain clients.	Improving the overall customer experience can help differentiate the bank from its competitors. This can be achieved by offering personalized services, streamlined processes, and user-friendly digital platforms. Implementing a customer-centric approach and gathering feedback to address pain points and meet evolving customer expectations can significantly enhance client satisfaction and loyalty. Staying ahead of the competition requires continuous innovation and leveraging technology to provide cutting-edge financial products and services.
Market volatility	Investment banking is sensitive to market conditions, and volatility can impact deal flow and revenue. Banks need to be prepared to navigate changing market conditions and adapt their strategies accordingly.	Diversification of Investment Portfolio: By diversifying the investment portfolio across various asset classes, sectors, and geographies, banks can reduce their exposure to specific market conditions. This strategy helps to spread risk and minimize the impact of volatility on deal flow and revenue. A well-diversified portfolio can provide stability and protect against adverse market conditions. Robust Risk Management Framework: Implementing a comprehensive risk management framework is crucial for investment banks. This involves identifying, measuring, monitoring, and mitigating risks associated with market volatility.
Regulation	Investment banking activities are heavily regulated, and banks must comply with a wide range of laws and regulations. This can increase compliance costs and limit the types of transactions that can be executed.	Develop a strong compliance program: Establish a compliance program that includes policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that all investment banking activities comply with applicable laws and regulations. This program should be regularly reviewed and updated to stay current with changing regulations. Conduct regular training: Regular training should be conducted for employees to ensure they are aware of the relevant laws and regulations and understand how to comply with them. The training should be tailored to different roles within the investment bank and should include specific guidance on how to comply with regulations for different types of transactions.
Reputation risk	Investment banking is a high-risk business, and banks need to manage their reputation carefully. Any missteps or negative publicity can damage a bank's brand and lead to loss of business.	Implement strict compliance policies and procedures to ensure all banking activities are ethical and legal. Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential reputation risks and develop mitigation plans to address them. Ensure employees are properly trained on compliance and reputation risk management. Establish a crisis management plan to quickly and effectively respond to any negative publicity. Regularly monitor media and social media channels for any negative news or comments about the bank. Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders such as clients, regulators, and the media to build goodwill and trust. Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders such as clients, regulators, and the media to build goodwill and trust.
Staffing	Investment banking requires a specialized skillset, and it can be difficult to attract and retain top talent. Banks need to invest in training and development to ensure their staff have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.	Comprehensive Training and Development Programs: Establishing robust training and development programs is crucial to equip staff with the necessary skills and knowledge. This control should include initial training for new hires, ongoing professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, and access to industry certifications. By investing in training and development, banks can attract top talent and enhance employee retention. Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Offering competitive compensation packages and attractive benefits is a significant factor in attracting and retaining talented individuals. Investment banks should conduct regular market research to ensure their compensation packages are in line with industry standards.

Structured Finance: key risks and controls

Tasked with constructing sophisticated finance deals, including securitizations, asset-backed securities, and collateralized loan obligations.

Risk	What can go wrong	Best-practice controls
Complex transactions	Structured finance transactions can be very complex and require a high level of expertise to structure and execute. Commercial banks need to have the necessary skills and resources to analyze and structure these transactions effectively.	Develop specialized expertise: Commercial banks should invest in hiring or training personnel who are knowledgeable and experienced in structured finance transactions to help with analysis and structuring. Establish clear guidelines and procedures: Establish clear guidelines and procedures for structuring and executing structured finance transactions. This can include developing standard templates and checklists to ensure consistent and thorough analysis of these transactions. Conduct thorough due diligence: Conduct thorough due diligence on potential transactions, including a detailed analysis of the financial statements, cash flows, and underlying assets.
Credit risk	Structured finance transactions often involve pooling together assets with different credit risk profiles. Commercial banks need to manage and mitigate this risk effectively to ensure that the transaction remains profitable and does not impact their overall risk profile.	Risk Assessment and Due Diligence: Conducting thorough risk assessments and due diligence on the underlying assets is crucial to identify and understand the credit risk profiles involved. This control involves evaluating the quality, diversification, historical performance, and potential vulnerabilities of the assets. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the risk exposure, banks can make informed decisions and design appropriate risk management strategies. Credit Underwriting and Structuring: Implementing rigorous credit underwriting and structuring processes is essential for managing credit risk effectively. Banks should establish clear guidelines and standards for approving and structuring transactions. This control includes analyzing borrower profiles, collateral valuation, loan-to-value ratios, covenants, and other relevant factors. By ensuring prudent underwriting practices, banks can minimize the potential impact of credit risk variations on their structured finance transactions.
Market risk	The value of structured finance securities is influenced by market factors such as interest rates, credit spreads, and liquidity. Commercial banks need to manage their exposure to market risk effectively to avoid losses and maintain a healthy balance sheet.	Diversify the portfolio: The bank can invest in a variety of structured finance securities to spread the risk across multiple asset classes and avoid concentration risk. Monitor market conditions: The bank should keep a close eye on market conditions and identify potential risks that may affect the value of its structured finance securities. This can be achieved through regular market analysis and scenario testing. Set risk limits: The bank should set limits on the amount of exposure it has to different types of structured finance securities and adjust these limits as market conditions change.
Regulatory compliance	The structured finance market is heavily regulated, and commercial banks need to comply with a range of regulations, including Basel III, Dodd-Frank, and other local regulations. This can increase the compliance burden and add costs to structured finance transactions.	Automation and Technology Solutions: Implementing automation and technology solutions can significantly streamline compliance processes, reduce manual errors, and enhance efficiency. Robotic Process Automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) can be utilized to automate regulatory reporting, data management, and compliance monitoring. This reduces the manual workload, improves accuracy, and lowers costs associated with compliance activities. Regulatory Compliance Training and Education: Providing comprehensive training and education to employees regarding the regulations affecting structured finance transactions is crucial. By ensuring that employees have a deep understanding of Basel III, Dodd-Frank, and other local regulations, banks can minimize the risk of non-compliance. Well-informed employees are more likely to identify and address compliance issues proactively, reducing the overall compliance burden.
Reputation risk	The structured finance market has been associated with several high-profile failures and scandals in the past, such as the subprime mortgage crisis. Commercial banks need to manage their reputation risk effectively and ensure that they are transparent and ethical in their structured finance transactions.	Robust Risk Management Framework: Implementing a comprehensive risk management framework is crucial for identifying, assessing, and mitigating reputation risks associated with structured finance transactions. This framework should include rigorous due diligence procedures, risk assessment methodologies, and ongoing monitoring and reporting mechanisms. It should also encompass clear guidelines and policies for ethical conduct, transparency, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Strengthened Compliance and Internal Controls: Establishing strong compliance and internal control mechanisms is essential for ensuring ethical and transparent practices in structured finance transactions.

This register is a starting point for risk identification and benchmarking against international practice. Adapt the risks and controls to your institution's size, products, jurisdiction and regulatory requirements.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the key risks in Investment Banking?

The main risk areas covered are Corporate Finance, Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Financial Institutions Group (FIG), Research, Sales and Trading, Structured Finance. Each unit lists its key risks with a short explanation and the best-practice controls that mitigate them.

How do I use this register for a risk and control self-assessment?

Select the risks that apply to your units, map the listed controls to the controls you actually operate, rate inherent risk and control effectiveness, then agree actions for gaps. The free RCSA workbook on this page has the columns ready.

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