Why Banks Need Their IT and Audit Teams to Collaborate—Now More Than Ever

In financial services, the stakes are sky-high. Banks and credit unions are facing increasing pressure to stay compliant, combat evolving cyber threats, and maintain operational excellence—all while navigating tighter margins and faster change. For many, the real challenge isn’t just keeping up. It’s working together.

One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) ways to stay ahead of risk? Building tighter collaboration between IT and audit.

A Shared Mandate with Fragmented Execution

IT and audit teams share the same mission: protect the organization. But too often, they operate in silos. That separation creates gaps—in risk mitigation, in compliance alignment, and in communication.

For example:

IT might roll out a new control without audit visibility.
Audit might identify risk areas that IT isn’t equipped to act on.
Both teams may train in isolation, without shared metrics or goals.

This fractured approach doesn’t just slow teams down. It increases exposure.

In Banking, the Risks Are Too Big to Ignore

According to the ABA Banking Journal, nearly 60% of regional bank leaders say they lack sufficient internal training for emerging IT risks. And as technology continues to reshape banking—from cloud adoption to AI-powered fraud detection—the complexity of compliance and oversight only grows.

Add in the fact that financial institutions are among the top targets for cybercriminals, and the message is clear: alignment between IT and audit isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Collaboration Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s a Business Strategy.

When IT and audit work in tandem—especially around training, compliance, and risk management—they stop reacting and start leading.

ACI Learning’s guide, A Practical Guide for IT and Audit Teams Navigating Compliance and Risk in Financial Services, breaks this down into actionable strategies:

Align on business risk (not just technical risk)
Integrate training into your governance framework
Establish shared metrics for success
Create feedback loops between audit and tech
Use shared platforms to upskill with purpose

Organizations following this blueprint don’t just become more compliant—they become more agile, efficient, and resilient.

Want to see real-world examples? Check out:

📖 5 Ways IT and Audit Teams Can Collaborate for Organizational Success

Other Industries Feel It Too — But Banks Lead the Way

While banks are a prime example of where audit and IT intersect regularly (and increasingly), they’re not alone. Highly regulated industries like healthcare, insurance, and utilities are also grappling with this convergence.

That’s why we created Securing the Enterprise: 10 Essentials Every IT, Audit, and Cybersecurity Leader Should Know—a resource that outlines strategies like:

Zero Trust frameworks
AI-powered threat detection
Audit-integrated risk management tools
Collaborative threat intelligence
A continuous commitment to skills development

📘 Download the cheat sheet to explore all 10: from real-time audit readiness to simulation-based cyber training.

Get the Tour That Turns Strategy Into Action

If your bank (or credit union or fintech) is ready to bridge the gap between audit, IT, and cyber—ACI Learning is ready to show you how.

👀 Book your 15-minute tour here

In just 15 minutes, you’ll get:

A preview of NASBA-certified CPE courses for your audit team
A look at IT and cybersecurity training paths that prep for 2026 and beyond
A walkthrough of the platform to see how bite-sized training, labs, and analytics work together to keep your institution ahead

"Train like it matters—because it does."