Treasury Rolls Out First AI Advice For Banks

The US Treasury has published the first elements of a new suite of advice designed to help financial services firms deploy artificial intelligence (AI) securely and in line with regulation.

The release marks the start of a six-part set of resources developed with industry groups and state and federal regulators, aimed at promoting new technologies while strengthening resilience across the US financial system. All six resources are due for publication in February.

Two documents were issued in this release. The first is an AI lexicon, which defines commonly used technical terms, particularly those with specific relevance to financial services. The second is a financial services-focused version of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework. It includes a self-assessment questionnaire to gauge firms’ AI maturity, a matrix mapping AI-related risks to potential security controls, and practical guidance on implementing those controls.

“These resources are designed to help institutions, particularly small and mid-sized institutions, harness the power of AI to strengthen cyber defenses and deploy AI more securely,” said Cory Wilson, the Treasury Department’s deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

The Treasury said the initiative is part of the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen AI resilience across critical sectors. It emphasized that the resources focus on practical implementation rather than prescriptive rules, giving institutions clearer pathways to adopt AI technologies securely.

“It is imperative that the United States take the lead on developing innovative uses for artificial intelligence, and nowhere is that more important than in the financial sector,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.