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Regulators (NYDFS, OCC, CFPB, state DFSs, FCA, MAS) eventually visit. They issue Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs) or Matters Requiring Immediate Attention (MRIAs). The CISO + compliance officer who has met regulators before an incident handles them dramatically better than one meeting them during. Pre-engagement matters: voluntary briefings, attending industry working groups, responding to consultation papers.
Recommendation: introduce your CISO to your primary regulator within Year 1. Send a quarterly status update (4 pages, voluntary). Attend the regulator's industry days. When something goes wrong, you have a relationship + a goodwill bank to draw from. Cost is small (~10 hours/quarter); the alternative is meeting regulators only during an incident.
Use these three in order. Each builds on the one before.
In one paragraph, describe the regulator-fintech relationship.
Walk me through preparing for a regulator visit.
Design the regulator-relationship strategy for an early-stage fintech.