diff --git a/lib/ftl/Makefile b/lib/ftl/Makefile
index 2ade690dd..e0972204e 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/Makefile
+++ b/lib/ftl/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ C_SRCS = ftl_core.c ftl_init.c ftl_layout.c ftl_debug.c ftl_io.c ftl_sb.c ftl_l2
 C_SRCS += ftl_nv_cache.c ftl_band.c
 C_SRCS += mngt/ftl_mngt.c mngt/ftl_mngt_bdev.c mngt/ftl_mngt_shutdown.c mngt/ftl_mngt_startup.c
 C_SRCS += mngt/ftl_mngt_md.c mngt/ftl_mngt_misc.c mngt/ftl_mngt_ioch.c mngt/ftl_mngt_l2p.c
+C_SRCS += mngt/ftl_mngt_band.c
 C_SRCS += utils/ftl_conf.c utils/ftl_md.c utils/ftl_mempool.c
 
 SPDK_MAP_FILE = $(abspath $(CURDIR)/spdk_ftl.map)
diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_band.c b/lib/ftl/ftl_band.c
index e6b9e25c9..c7b265485 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_band.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_band.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ ftl_band_user_blocks(const struct ftl_band *band)
 struct ftl_band *
 ftl_band_from_addr(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, ftl_addr addr)
 {
-	size_t band_id = ftl_addr_get_band(dev, addr);
+	uint64_t band_id = ftl_addr_get_band(dev, addr);
 
 	assert(band_id < ftl_get_num_bands(dev));
 	return &dev->bands[band_id];
diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
index c5b4db087..dee909ede 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ ftl_get_limit(const struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, int type)
 static bool
 ftl_shutdown_complete(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
 {
+	uint64_t i;
+
 	if (dev->num_inflight) {
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -58,6 +60,13 @@ ftl_shutdown_complete(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	for (i = 0; i < ftl_get_num_bands(dev); ++i) {
+		if (dev->bands[i].queue_depth ||
+		    dev->bands[i].md->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_CLOSING) {
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (!ftl_l2p_is_halted(dev)) {
 		ftl_l2p_halt(dev);
 		return false;
diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.h b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.h
index a3b0a39c5..4b9a71800 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.h
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.h
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ ftl_get_core_thread(const struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
 	return dev->core_thread;
 }
 
-static inline size_t
+static inline uint64_t
 ftl_get_num_bands(const struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
 {
 	return dev->num_bands;
diff --git a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_band.c b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_band.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6eaae625e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_band.c
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+/*   SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ *   Copyright (c) Intel Corporation.
+ *   All rights reserved.
+ */
+
+#include "ftl_core.h"
+#include "ftl_mngt_steps.h"
+#include "ftl_band.h"
+#include "ftl_internal.h"
+
+static int
+ftl_band_init_md(struct ftl_band *band)
+{
+	struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev = band->dev;
+	struct ftl_md *band_info_md = dev->layout.md[FTL_LAYOUT_REGION_TYPE_BAND_MD];
+	struct ftl_band_md *band_md = ftl_md_get_buffer(band_info_md);
+
+	band->md = &band_md[band->id];
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+ftl_dev_init_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct ftl_band *band;
+	uint64_t i;
+
+	TAILQ_INIT(&dev->free_bands);
+	TAILQ_INIT(&dev->shut_bands);
+
+	dev->num_free = 0;
+	dev->bands = calloc(ftl_get_num_bands(dev), sizeof(*dev->bands));
+	if (!dev->bands) {
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ftl_get_num_bands(dev); ++i) {
+		band = &dev->bands[i];
+		band->id = i;
+		band->dev = dev;
+
+		/* Adding to shut_bands is necessary - see ftl_restore_band_close_cb() */
+		TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&dev->shut_bands, band, queue_entry);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+ftl_dev_init_bands_md(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
+{
+	uint64_t i;
+	int rc = 0;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ftl_get_num_bands(dev); ++i) {
+		rc = ftl_band_init_md(&dev->bands[i]);
+		if (rc) {
+			FTL_ERRLOG(dev, "Failed to initialize metadata structures for band [%lu]\n", i);
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return rc;
+}
+
+static void
+ftl_dev_deinit_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
+{
+	free(dev->bands);
+}
+
+void
+ftl_mngt_init_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	if (ftl_dev_init_bands(dev)) {
+		ftl_mngt_fail_step(mngt);
+	} else {
+		ftl_mngt_next_step(mngt);
+	}
+}
+
+void
+ftl_mngt_init_bands_md(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	if (ftl_dev_init_bands_md(dev)) {
+		ftl_mngt_fail_step(mngt);
+	} else {
+		ftl_mngt_next_step(mngt);
+	}
+}
+
+void
+ftl_mngt_deinit_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	ftl_dev_deinit_bands(dev);
+	ftl_mngt_next_step(mngt);
+}
+
+/*
+ * For grouping multiple logical bands (1GiB) to make any IOs more sequential from the drive's
+ * perspective. Improves WAF.
+ */
+#define BASE_BDEV_RECLAIM_UNIT_SIZE (72 * GiB)
+
+static void
+decorate_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct ftl_band *band;
+	uint64_t i, num_to_drop, phys_id = 0;
+	uint64_t num_blocks, num_bands;
+	uint64_t num_blocks_in_band = ftl_get_num_blocks_in_band(dev);
+	uint64_t reclaim_unit_num_blocks = BASE_BDEV_RECLAIM_UNIT_SIZE / FTL_BLOCK_SIZE;
+	uint32_t num_logical_in_phys = 2;
+
+	assert(reclaim_unit_num_blocks % num_blocks_in_band == 0);
+
+	num_blocks = spdk_bdev_get_num_blocks(spdk_bdev_desc_get_bdev(dev->base_bdev_desc));
+
+	/* For base bdev bigger than 1TB take reclaim uint size for grouping GC bands */
+	if (num_blocks > (TiB / FTL_BLOCK_SIZE)) {
+		assert(reclaim_unit_num_blocks < num_blocks);
+		num_logical_in_phys = reclaim_unit_num_blocks / num_blocks_in_band;
+	}
+
+	num_to_drop = ftl_get_num_bands(dev) % num_logical_in_phys;
+
+	i = 0;
+	while (i < ftl_get_num_bands(dev) - num_to_drop) {
+		band = &dev->bands[i];
+		band->start_addr = i * dev->num_blocks_in_band;
+		band->tail_md_addr = ftl_band_tail_md_addr(band);
+
+		band->phys_id = phys_id;
+		i++;
+		if (i % num_logical_in_phys == 0) {
+			phys_id++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Mark not aligned logical bands as broken */
+	num_bands = ftl_get_num_bands(dev);
+	while (i < num_bands) {
+		band = &dev->bands[i];
+		dev->num_bands--;
+		TAILQ_REMOVE(&dev->shut_bands, band, queue_entry);
+		i++;
+	}
+}
+
+void
+ftl_mngt_decorate_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	decorate_bands(dev);
+	ftl_mngt_next_step(mngt);
+}
+
+void
+ftl_mngt_finalize_init_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	struct ftl_band *band, *temp_band;
+	uint64_t num_open = 0, num_shut = 0;
+
+	TAILQ_FOREACH_SAFE(band, &dev->shut_bands, queue_entry, temp_band) {
+		if (band->md->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_OPEN ||
+		    band->md->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_FULL) {
+			TAILQ_REMOVE(&dev->shut_bands, band, queue_entry);
+			num_open++;
+			assert(num_open <= FTL_MAX_OPEN_BANDS);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (dev->conf.mode & SPDK_FTL_MODE_CREATE) {
+			TAILQ_REMOVE(&dev->shut_bands, band, queue_entry);
+			assert(band->md->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_FREE);
+			band->md->state = FTL_BAND_STATE_CLOSED;
+			ftl_band_set_state(band, FTL_BAND_STATE_FREE);
+		} else {
+			num_shut++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Recalculate number of free bands */
+	dev->num_free = 0;
+	TAILQ_FOREACH(band, &dev->free_bands, queue_entry) {
+		assert(band->md->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_FREE);
+		dev->num_free++;
+	}
+	ftl_apply_limits(dev);
+
+	if ((num_shut + num_open + dev->num_free) != ftl_get_num_bands(dev)) {
+		FTL_ERRLOG(dev, "ERROR, band list inconsistent state\n");
+		ftl_mngt_fail_step(mngt);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	ftl_mngt_next_step(mngt);
+}
diff --git a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_md.c b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_md.c
index 2cb5c70b9..ffbd836b0 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_md.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_md.c
@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ ftl_mngt_persist_nv_cache_metadata(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_pro
 	persist(dev, mngt, FTL_LAYOUT_REGION_TYPE_NVC_MD);
 }
 
+void
+ftl_mngt_persist_band_info_metadata(
+	struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
+{
+	persist(dev, mngt, FTL_LAYOUT_REGION_TYPE_BAND_MD);
+}
+
 static uint32_t
 get_sb_crc(struct ftl_superblock *sb)
 {
diff --git a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_startup.c b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_startup.c
index 602e35e5b..0a604bc02 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_startup.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_startup.c
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ static const struct ftl_mngt_process_desc desc_startup = {
 			.action = ftl_mngt_init_mem_pools,
 			.cleanup = ftl_mngt_deinit_mem_pools
 		},
+		{
+			.name = "Initialize bands",
+			.action = ftl_mngt_init_bands,
+			.cleanup = ftl_mngt_deinit_bands
+		},
 		{
 			.name = "Register IO device",
 			.action = ftl_mngt_register_io_device,
@@ -69,6 +74,10 @@ static const struct ftl_mngt_process_desc desc_startup = {
 			.action = ftl_mngt_init_io_channel,
 			.cleanup = ftl_mngt_deinit_io_channel
 		},
+		{
+			.name = "Decorate bands",
+			.action = ftl_mngt_decorate_bands
+		},
 		{
 			.name = "Initialize layout",
 			.action = ftl_mngt_init_layout
@@ -83,6 +92,10 @@ static const struct ftl_mngt_process_desc desc_startup = {
 			.action = ftl_mngt_init_nv_cache,
 			.cleanup = ftl_mngt_deinit_nv_cache
 		},
+		{
+			.name = "Initialize bands metadata",
+			.action = ftl_mngt_init_bands_md
+		},
 		{
 			.name = "Select startup mode",
 			.action = ftl_mngt_select_startup_mode
@@ -113,6 +126,14 @@ static const struct ftl_mngt_process_desc desc_first_start = {
 			.name = "Scrub NV cache",
 			.action = ftl_mngt_scrub_nv_cache,
 		},
+		{
+			.name = "Finalize band initialization",
+			.action = ftl_mngt_finalize_init_bands,
+		},
+		{
+			.name = "Save initial band info metadata",
+			.action = ftl_mngt_persist_band_info_metadata,
+		},
 		{
 			.name = "Save initial chunk info metadata",
 			.action = ftl_mngt_persist_nv_cache_metadata,
diff --git a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_steps.h b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_steps.h
index c89d544c2..d8549c1e1 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_steps.h
+++ b/lib/ftl/mngt/ftl_mngt_steps.h
@@ -36,10 +36,18 @@ void ftl_mngt_init_mem_pools(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *
 
 void ftl_mngt_deinit_mem_pools(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
+void ftl_mngt_init_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
+void ftl_mngt_init_bands_md(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
+void ftl_mngt_deinit_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
 void ftl_mngt_init_io_channel(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
 void ftl_mngt_deinit_io_channel(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
+void ftl_mngt_decorate_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
 void ftl_mngt_init_nv_cache(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
 void ftl_mngt_deinit_nv_cache(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
@@ -52,6 +60,8 @@ void ftl_mngt_clear_l2p(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt)
 
 void ftl_mngt_scrub_nv_cache(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
+void ftl_mngt_finalize_init_bands(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
 void ftl_mngt_finalize_startup(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
 void ftl_mngt_start_core_poller(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
@@ -72,6 +82,8 @@ void ftl_mngt_init_default_sb(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process
 
 void ftl_mngt_set_dirty(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
+void ftl_mngt_persist_band_info_metadata(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
+
 void ftl_mngt_persist_nv_cache_metadata(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev, struct ftl_mngt_process *mngt);
 
 #endif /* FTL_MNGT_STEPS_H */