Series 7: 13.3.6. Business Continuity Plan And Emergency Contact

13.3.6. Business Continuity Plan and Emergency Contact

Member firms must create and maintain a business continuity plan identifying procedures that must be followed in an emergency or business disruption to protect their obligations to customers. This plan does not need to be filed with FINRA, but it must be available upon request and maintained at a secure, off-site facility.

When opening an account, each broker-dealer must inform its customers in writing how its business continuity plan addresses the possibility of a natural disaster or other significant business disruption. This written disclosure must also be posted on the member’s website and mailed to customers upon request.

Among the elements to be addressed in a business continuity plan are:

• Data back-up and recovery

• Alternate communications between custo