Internal Audit (1) Within ninety (90) days, the Board shall adopt, implement, and thereafter ensure Bank adherence to an independent, internal audit program sufficient to:
(a) detect irregularities in the Bank's operations;
(b) determine the Bank's level of compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations;
(c) evaluate the Bank's adherence to established policies and procedures, with particular emphasis directed to the Bank's adherence to its loan policies concerning underwriting standards and problem loan identification and classification;
(d) ensure adequate audit coverage in all areas; and
(e) establish an annual audit plan using a risk based approach sufficient to achieve these objectives.
(2) As part of this audit program, the Board shall evaluate the audit reports of any party providing services to the Bank, and shall assess the impact on the Bank of any audit deficiencies cited in such reports.
(3) The Board shall ensure that the Bank has processes, personnel, and control systems to ensure implementation of and adherence to the program developed pursuant to this Article.
(4) The Board shall ensure that the audit function is supported by an adequately staffed department or outside firm, with respect to both the experience level and number of the individuals employed.
(5) The Board shall ensure that the audit program is independent. The persons responsible for implementing the internal audit program described above shall report directly to the Board, that shall have the sole power to direct their activities. All reports prepared by the audit staff shall be filed directly with the Board and not through any intervening party.
(6) All audit reports shall be in writing. The Board shall ensure that immediate actions are undertaken to remedy deficiencies cited in audit reports, and that auditors maintain a written record describing those actions.
(7) The audit staff shall have access to any records necessary for the proper conduct of its activities. National bank examiners shall have access to all reports and work papers of the audit staff and any other parties working on its behalf.
(8) Upon adoption, a copy of the internal audit program shall be promptly submitted to the Assistant Deputy Comptroller.
External Appeals For appeals of a decision that a prescription drug is not covered because it is not on our formulary, please see the Formulary Exception Process in the Prescription Drug and Diabetic Equipment and Supplies section. When filing a reconsideration or an appeal, please provide the same information listed in the Complaints section above.
Assurance Partnerships work well when departments adopt a proportionate approach to assurance, based on Arm’s Length Bodies’ purpose and a mutual understanding of risk. Arm’s Length Bodies should have robust governance arrangements in place and in turn departments should give Arm’s Length Bodies the autonomy to deliver effectively. Management information should be what is needed to enable departments and Arm’s Length Bodies to provide assurance and assess performance.
Internal Accounting Controls The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient, in the judgment of the Company’s board of directors, to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act) that is effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 1934 Act) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant, Governmental Entity or other Person relating to any potential material weakness or significant deficiency in any part of the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
