Much of the content and design of this template closely resembles actual regulatory guidance, specifically the Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management. We have chosen to use this guidance as it has been developed by three financial regulators, the OCC, FDIC, and the Fed. The practices described in the guidance are widely regarded as the "gold standard" for third-party risk management. It’s worth noting that financial regulatory guidance has long influenced what becomes best practices for third-party risk management.