Cybersecurity

All entities and persons regulated or licensed by the Department of Financial Services are required to file various cybersecurity notices to the Superintendent. Visit the Cybersecurity Resource Center and Producers Cybersecurity FAQs to learn more.

Exemption from Enforcement of Money Judgments

Pursuant to Subparagraph (iii) of Subdivision (l) of Section 5205 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, the Superintendent of Financial Services is required at three year intervals to update the current dollar amount of exemption from enforcement of judgments under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Sections 5205(l), 5222(e), 5222(h), 5230(a) and 5232(e).

• Exemption from Enforcement of Money Judgments

Bank Holiday Schedules

• 2026 Bank Holiday Schedule
• 2025 Bank Holiday Schedule
• Authority for Banks to Close Absent Governor's Declaration of Bank Holiday

Fingerprinting Procedures

DFS uses IdentoGO for live scan fingerprinting services.

• Learn more about DFS fingerprinting procedures.

In accordance with Section 206 of the New York State Financial Services Law, entities regulated under the Banking and Insurance Laws are assessed by the Superintendent for the operating expenses of the department. These operating expenses include regulation and supervision (including examination) of regulated entities. Section 206 was amended in 2022 to include entities that engage in “virtual currency business activity."

• Learn more about annual assessments

Refer to the Department's Application Fee Schedule to determine the fee for an application being filed with the Department.

• Commercial Banks & Trusts
• Community & Regional Bank Filings
• Credit Unions
• Foreign Banking Corporations
• Holding Company Merger, Consolidation, or Purchase of Assets
• Investment Companies (Article XII)
• Private Bankers
• Safe Deposit Companies
• Savings Banks and Savings & Loans
• Shelf Charter
• Trust activities in New York State (Out-of-State Trust Company)

Other Applications and Forms

1. Change of Control Application (bank/trust company/stock-form savings bank/stock-form S&L)
2. Permission to Open and Occupy a Branch Office (PDF) (bank/trust company/savings bank/S&L)
3. Application for a Change of Location; Application for a Change of Designation of Principal Office (PDF)
4. Change of Location (Temporary)
5. Permission to Establish, Maintain and Operate a Public Accommodation Office (PDF)
6. Branch Closing Report
7. Notice of Intent to Establish or Share an Electronic Facility
8. Application for Trust Powers (Savings Banks/Savings & Loan Associations)
9. Issuance of Subordinated Securities (Savings Banks/Savings & Loan Associations)
10. Conversion of Savings Bank from Mutual to Stock Form (PDF)
11. Formation of a Mutual Holding Company by a Mutual Savings Bank
12. Conversion of Savings & Loan Association into Savings Bank
13. Application to Convert from Federal to State Charter (Savings & Loan Association)
14. Merger of a Savings Bank or Savings & Loan Association into a Savings Bank
15. Merger of a Savings Bank or Savings & Loan Association into a Savings and Loan Association
16. Change in By-Laws (Savings & Loan Association)
17. Domestic Representative Office Registration
18. Investment in Subsidiary
19. Application to Convert from Federal to State Charter (Bank/Trust Company)
20. Amended/Restated Organization Certificate
21. Approval of Stock Option Plan
22. Permission for Interlocking Directors and Officers
23. Capital Notes and Debentures Approval
24. Alternative to Basic Banking Account Application
25. Excess Deposits Permission (Bank/Trust Company)
26. Real Estate Equity Investments in Community Development Projects
27. Restricted Word in a Corporate Name or Title
28. Trust activities in New York State (Out-of-State Trust Company)
29. Notice of Intent to Establish and Maintain a Trust Office (New York Bank/Trust Company) (PDF)
30. Notice of Intent to Establish and Maintain a Trust Office in New York (Out-of-State Bank/Trust Company)
31. Initial Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (PDF)
32. Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (PDF)

Transaction Monitoring Certification (504)

Regulated institutions must maintain programs to monitor and filter transactions for potential Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) violations, prevent transactions with sanctioned entities, and certify compliance with the regulation annually to DFS. Regulated institutions must submit the required certification covering the prior calendar year by April 15 of each year via the DFS Portal.

Please note that a regulated institution must file a certification even when, under 3 NYCRR 504.3(d), the regulated institution has documented the identification of, and the remedial efforts planned and underway to address, areas, systems, or processes that require material improvement, updating, or redesign.

Additional Documentation

A regulated institution should not submit any documents or records along with its certification – only the certification form itself should be submitted to DFS.

However, 3 NYCRR 504.4 provides that the regulated institution shall maintain all documents and records necessary to support the certification, and the Department may request such information at any time.

For example, 3 NYCRR 504.3(d) provides that, to the extent a regulated institution has identified areas, systems, or processes that require material improvement, updating or redesign, the regulated institution must document such identification and remedial efforts planned and underway and maintain such schedules and documentation for inspection by the Department.

Submit your Certification of Compliance

The certification of compliance is submitted online through the DFS secure Portal. If you don’t already have a DFS portal account, you will need to create one. Instructions can be found on the Portal.

DFS Portal

Questions related to Transaction Monitoring filings should be directed to your supervisory point of contact.

Section 12-a of the Banking Law, commonly referred to as the “Wild Card” section, is intended to maintain and enhance the appeal of the New York State banking charter. It authorizes the Superintendent of Financial Services to permit state-chartered banking organizations to exercise powers available to corresponding federally-chartered institutions, but not expressly authorized by the Banking Law.

In order for the New York State Department of Financial Services to consider a request filed pursuant to New York State Banking Law Section 12-a(3) (Wild Card), the following information should be submitted in a letter application:

1. The name of the institution.
2. The name, position, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address for the individual(s) designated as the main contact person(s) for the purposes of the application.
3. The legal entity in which the activity will be conducted.
4. The location where the activity will be conducted (address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, website address).
5. The officer(s) responsible for said activities.
6. Description in detail of the particular federal power that your institution wishes to exercise. To the extent relevant:
7. Describe the activity/product to be engaged in.
8. Provide a copy of your business plan for such activity.
9. Has this activity/product been reviewed by your new product/activity committee? If yes, please provide a copy of this committee’s report. Alternatively, provide description of the due diligence performed as it relates to the existence of supporting control, risk management, and financial environment.
10. Provide a copy of your new product/activity approval policies and procedures.
11. Description in detail of the source or sources of legal authority indicating that such power has been federally permitted for your type of institution.
12. Description in detail of any conditions, qualifications or restrictions imposed by federal laws or regulations, or otherwise by federal regulatory agencies, on the exercise of the power and provide supporting documentation as to how your institution would comply with them.

Visit the Wild Card Activities page to see recent actions DFS has taken under Section 12-a of the Banking Law.

Wild Card Reports

• Annual Wild Card Reports

The ATM Safety Act is applicable to all Federal and State chartered banking institutions, including trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions that operate ATM facilities in New York State. Recognizing that ATMs are used daily by millions of New Yorkers, the Act requires certain ATM facilities to meet standards to ensure they are safe to use. For example, the Act established minimum standards for exterior lighting at and around ATM facilities and required the installation of videotape surveillance and monitoring systems and door locks.

The Department is authorized to enforce these provisions, as well as, the Superintendent's Regulation Part 301. In addition, the Superintendent can assess fines for violations of the Act and can approve variances or exemptions to the required safety measures.

The Act applies only to ATM facilities owned by banking institutions and available to customers both during and after regular banking hours. It excludes machines located in buildings or space where the primary purpose is unrelated to banking, and is thus available only during the regular business hours of that building or space. Each bank with ATM facilities covered by the Act is required to file a semi-annual report with the Department of Financial Services, by January 15th and July 15th of each year, certifying its facilities are in compliance, noting any variances or exemptions granted. For non-compliant facilities, the bank must list non-compliant ATMs, describe the condition and its reason, and provide a plan to remedy the condition.

ATM Certification Filings

To access the ATM Safety Act Certification app, you must have a Portal account. To get started please visit our secure Portal and log in or create an account:

ATM Certification

Questions?

For assistance, call (800) 342-3736 or contact us at [email protected].

The Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, is both a state and federal law that encourages banks to meet the credit needs of all communities, including low and moderate-income areas. New York State is one of only a small number of states with its own CRA. New York CRA largely mirrors the federal CRA and was adopted in 1978, one year after the 1977 federal CRA law, largely in response to concerns about the existence of redlining of poor and minority communities by banking institutions during the 1960s and 1970s.

• Learn more about CRA
• CRA Exam Reports
• Summary of CRA Opinion Letters
• FAQs about CRA

The Banking Development District or BDD program is a program designed to encourage the establishment of banking branches in areas across New York State where there is a demonstrated need for banking services, in recognition of the fact that banking institutions can play an important role in promoting individual wealth, community development, and revitalization.

• About the Banking Development District program
• Existing Banking Development Districts
• Application Forms & Instructions

The Community Bank Deposit Program deposits State funds in banks that have a history of meeting local business needs as demonstrated by their small business, small farm, community development and home mortgage lending. The program’s deposits enable participating banks to provide more capital to small businesses.

Article 2-C of New York State Banking Law provides for the creation of the Community Deposit Program (CBDP). Both the New York State Comptroller (Comptroller) and the New York State Department of Tax and Finance are authorized to provide these programs.

The New York State Department of Financial Services (Department) serves in an advisory role to each of these two agencies with respect to the implementation of their programs.

• Learn more about the The Community Bank Deposit Program.