Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Division of Banking, Insurance and

Financial Regulation



#5049 Kongens Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI 00802-6487 @ (340) 774-7166 @ Fax (340) 774-9458

1131 King Street, Suite 101, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 00820 @ (340) 773-6459 @ Fax (340) 719-3801

Ity.gov.vi



BULLETIN 2019-05



TO: All Banks in the Territory Regulated by the U.S. Virgin Islands Banking Board and

the Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulation



RE: Implementation of Bank’s Written Catastrophe Response Plan



As you are aware, the 2019 Hurricane Season is here. Hurricane preparedness is critically

important for the 2019 hurricane season, just as it is every year. In June 2018, the Chairman of

the Virgin Islands Banking Board (“Board”) issued Bulletin No. 2018-02, requiring all banks to

maintain a Catastrophe Response plan for the benefit of its customers in the event of a disaster or

emergency. This Bulletin is to remind all local banks licensed and regulated by the Board, that

the Hurricane Season began June 1‘ and expires on November 31* and that all banks should take

actions necessary, incidental or appropriate for the implementation of their Catastrophe Response

plan (“Plan”) in case a disaster occurs.



This Bulletin seeks to maintain continuity in banking services after a disaster and to ensure

that each bank is prepared for and can respond to emergencies and disasters that may affect its

customers. If you have not already tested your Plan, we request that you immediately do so and

make any necessary adjustments. Also, you may be required to perform more than one practice

run. It is imperative that all employees become familiar with the Plan and participate in the testing

so that everyone knows what to do during a real disaster.



Essential components of your plan should include:



e Emergency contact information of the bank (i.e., electronic mail address, phone

number(s), etc.) to be provided to the public by the Division;



e Emergency contact information of key or essential bank management officials located

in this Territory;



e Alternative office location(s) or worksite(s);

Having sufficient cash reserves in the Territory and available after a disaster;

¢ Procedures for back-up, storage, and retrieval of records and data, including

accessibility to and security of such records and data;

e Procedures for communication with customers in the immediate aftermath of a

catastrophe;

Procedures for branch openings and closings in the aftermath of a catastrophe;

Procedures for the manual processing of customers’ requests for products and services;

Loan payment moratorium procedures (for each type of loan offered);

Procedures for training of bank staff, on the implementation of the bank’s written

catastrophe plan; and any other information that may be useful to the customer and the

Division; and

e Emergency contact information for your bank’s security company.



Lastly, during times of crisis, catastrophe, or natural disaster, the Government of the Virgin

Islands may choose to enact emergency curfews that set restrictions for all citizens. Curfew Pass

request forms are now available from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management

Agency (VITEMA) website at www. VITEMA.gov. The deadline to submit curfew pass

applications is August 31, 2019.



If there are questions regarding this Bulletin, please contact the Division of Banking,

Insurance and Financial Regulation by calling (340) 774-7166 on St. Thomas or (340) 773-6459

on St. Croix.



Dated this / 7 day of June, 2019 on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.



gy ot



Tregpti A Roach, Esq.

Lieutefant Governor/

Chairman, Virgin Islands Banking Board