In today’s banking world, there is a greater focus than ever before on vendor scrutiny and selection that goes beyond any previous level of due diligence. If a vendor is determined to be a “critical vendor,” the stakes reach new heights for the initial vetting and selection as well as for ongoing risk monitoring and assessment at the board level. Risk-scoring of potential suppliers must also include assessments of the supplier’s third party or subcontractor relationships. This means more relationships to evaluate and track in an age where fewer vendor relationships is the desired state for most financial institutions.