The Lending Standards Board has published new research which found that UK ethnic minority-led businesses (EMBs) are three times less likely (19%) than White British-led businesses (58%) to have their lending product...
Category - Conduct
Laura WilesFCA updates guidance and case studies on individual approvals
The FCA has updated its website on applying for SMFs and for approved person status within AR firms and has also shared some new case studies on what it looks for when assessing a senior manager application. It looks at...
Emma RadmoreFCA drops enforcement transparency and DEI proposals
The FCA has confirmed it will not be taking forward its controversial proposals to publicise investigations into regulated firms on a “public interest” basis. Nikhil Rathi confirmed that because of a lack of...
Treasury updates on Women in Finance Charter progress
HM Treasury signed up to the Women in Finance Charter in 2016. Since then, its own female representation in senior management, as at March 2024, had increased from 43% to 50%. Treasury has been prioritising: a long term...
Supreme Court permission to appeal application lodged in Markou case
A permission to appeal application has been lodged at the Supreme Court in the Markou case. The application follows the Court of Appeal granting the FCA’s appeal in December 2024 against an Upper Tribunal decision which...
FCA publishes review of firms’ treatment of vulnerable customers
The FCA has published findings from its review of how firms are responding to the needs of customers in vulnerable circumstances. The FCA also sought to assess whether its existing vulnerability guidance remained...
FCA sets out good practice for the consumer support outcome
The FCA has published findings from its review of firms’ approaches to the consumer support outcome of the Consumer Duty. In May 2024, the FCA conducted a qualitative survey of 407 firms across the retail...
Nearly 300 whistleblowing reports in Q4 2024
The FCA’s latest data on whistleblowing reports shows it received 292 reports in Q4 2024 containing 852 allegations in total. Nearly half the reports were made by reporters using the online form, although...
FCA confirms CD board champion no longer expected
The FCA has updated its resources on the Consumer Duty to confirm that, as of 27 February, it no longer expects firms to have a Duty champion, although of course they are free to have one. In the run up to the...
Commercial Agents Regulations here to stay
In May 2024, the government launched a consultation about the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (CARs), which is assimilated EU law. The then Conservative government was considering bringing forward...
Victoria FergusonCMA reaches settlement with banks over gilt information
The CMA has reached settlement with 5 banks in relation to exchanges of information by traders on buying and selling gilts on specific dates. Individual traders shared competitively sensitive information in one-to-one...
John Dance trial date set
John Dance, the former principal partner in the WealthTek LLP was charged in December 2024 with alleged misappropriation of customer funds totalling around £64m between 2014 and 2023. The trial date has now been listed...
FCA pleased with firm conduct on ongoing advice
The FCA has published the results of a survey of 22 firms, in which it checked whether firms that are charging their clients for ongoing advice and relating services are meeting their regulatory obligations and had been...
FCA publishes skilled persons data for Q2 / Q3 2024
In the quarter ending September 2024, the FCA commissioned 14 skilled persons reports: 6 reports related to consumer investments, 2 to insurance, 2 to wholesale markets (buy-side) and 4 to wholesale markets (sell-side);...
FCA 2024 fin proms data shows increased action against misleading adverts
The FCA’s latest financial promotions data shows 19,766 promotions were amended or withdrawn in 2024, almost doubling the 2023 figure of 10,008. In previous reporting, the FCA acknowledged this sharp increase was...
FCA speaks on culture
Emily Shepperd, FCA chief operating officer, has delivered a speech on culture at the 10th Annual Culture and Conduct in Financial Services Summit. The speech, titled “Culture is contagious” highlights that...
UK Finance sets out principles governing customer vulnerability disclosures in mortgage sector
UK Finance has published a set of principles for information sharing between mortgage intermediary firms and lenders. The FCA has advised that it continues to see vulnerable consumers face challenges when disclosing...
Treasury publishes more responses on strategy recommendations
HM Treasury has published responses from the Prudential Regulation Committee and Financial Policy Committee to its letters setting out recommendations. the Prudential Regulation Committee response notes what the PRA has...
LSB to retire Standards of Lending Practice for personal customers
The LSB is to retire its Standards of Lending Practice for personal customers at the end of March 2025. The standards were first published in 2016, and have been reviewed and updated several times. However, the last...
Clydesdale/FOS appeal to be heard by December
The Civil Appeals case tracker shows that the appeal relating to judicial review of the FOS decision on DCAs is to be heard “by 8 December 2025”. As a reminder, the appeals in relation to the court cases on...
FCA outlines wholesale broker supervision strategy
The FCA has published a Dear CEO letter to wholesale brokers, setting out its new supervision strategy for firms. In the last 2 years, the FCA has engaged with firms on issues including risk management, financial crime...
Motor finance commissions and lender liability: the story so far
Amid reports that now HM Treasury is seeking to intervene in the Supreme Court case, read our article summarising what’s happened so far…..
FCA highlights simplification as means of supporting growth
The FCA’s letter in response to the Prime Minister setting out how the FCA wants to collaborate with the Government to encourage growth highlights the work the FCA has already done in the wholesale markets to...
FOS updates on motor finance complaints
The FOS has updated its website to reflect the High Court judgment on DCAs that went in FOS’ favour. It says it is carefully considering what the judgment means for other similar cases in its current workload. The...
Employment guidance update December 2024
There’s been some new guidance and other interesting papers on employment-related themes over the past month. Acas guidance on sexual harassment – Acas has updated its guidance on sexual harassment to reflect the...
Charlotte BloomfieldFCA successfully appeals Upper Tribunal decision
The Court of Appeal has allowed the FCA’s appeal against an Upper Tribunal decision which asked the regulator to reconsider a proposed ban against an individual and directed that a fine should not be imposed. In...
PRA publishes authorisations performance report for Q3 2024
The PRA has published its report on its authorisations performance during Q3 2024/25, During the relevant period from 1 September to 30 November 2024, the PRA achieved 100% compliance with its service standards across...
FOS updates on reports involving Consumer Duty
The FOS has published information on how the Consumer Duty relates to the complaints it looks at. It notes that the CD is not relevant to all complaints but may be a relevant consideration in complaints about things...
Regulators consult on operational incident and third party reporting
The FCA has published a consultation paper on proposals to require firms to report operational incidents and their material third party arrangements. The requirements will apply to authorised firms and PSPs as well as...
FCA highlights Consumer Duty focus areas
The FCA has set out its priorities under the Consumer Duty for the rest of 2024 and 2025. These are: embedding the Duty and raising standards: within this priority, the FCA wants to understand how firms are improving...
FCA updates perimeter report
The FCA has updated its Perimeter Report. The report highlights the FCA’s remit and powers, including the new Designated Activities Regime, and then lists the key areas of harm linked to the perimeter and some key...
ABI finds diversity improvements
The ABI has found the insurance and long-term savings industry is making progress towards better diversity, but that further development is hindered by a reduction in apprenticeship offerings across the sector.
Regulators consult on bonus restriction reform
The PRA and FCA are consulting on reducing the restrictions surrounding bonuses of senior bankers. As noted in the Mansion House speech, the current UK practice makes it an outlier and may be damaging competition and...
Lords Committee publishes enforcement proposal views
The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee, which took over from its predecessor in gathering evidence on the FCA’s controversial enforcement proposals has published several pieces of written...
FCA fines Wise CEO for failing to notify tax issues
The FCA has fined Kristo Käärmann, CEO of Wise plc and SMF1 and SMF3 of Wise Assets UK, after he failed to consider the significance of tax issues and did not notify the FCA of them. Mr Käärmann had been fined over...
FCA publishes retail banking portfolio letters
The FCA has published its latest portfolio supervision letters for retail banks and building societies. It has set 6 unsurprising priorities: Consumer Duty: looking at institutions to fully embed the Duty to deliver...
FCA publishes culture and non-financial misconduct survey findings
The FCA has published a report setting out key findings from its February 2024 survey on culture and non-financial misconduct. The survey was issued to 1,028 regulated wholesale firms, and enquired about recorded...
FCA publishes Q3 fin proms data
The FCA has published its financial promotions data for Q3 2024 on its actions against firms breaching financial promotion rules, and referrals and investigations into unregulated activity. During the period: 10,593...
HMT adds draft recapitalisation chapter to Banking Act: special resolution regime code
HMT has added a new chapter to the Banking Act 2009: special resolution regime code of practice. The new chapter provides draft details of the recapitalisation payment mechanism introduced in the Bank Resolution...
FCA updates regulatory initiatives grid
The FCA has published an interim update on its Regulatory Initiatives Grid. It had postponed the scheduled 8th edition because of the election and says that the replanning required as a result means that there...
FCA publishes payments Consumer Duty multi-firm review
The FCA has published the results of its multi-firm review into how 23 payments firms have implemented the Consumer Duty. It carried out its survey in January, and included firms from across the payments portfolio. It...
FCA speaks on evolving rules
Sarah Pritchard has spoken of the need for the FCA to adapt its rules as regulation changes – with particular reference to adopting a less prescriptive and more outcomes-focussed approach in the light of the...
LSB to develop code on access to finance for ethnic minority-led business
The LSB is developing a first-of-its-kind code to break down barriers to finance for ethnic minority-led businesses (EMB). As the LSB’s 2023 report highlighted, ethnic minority entrepreneurs contribute an...
Tribunal backs FCA refusal of authorisation application on fit and proper grounds
The Upper Tribunal made its decision on the reference to it in respect of the FCA’s decision that the only proposed financial adviser of a firm did not meet the ‘fit and proper’ test, such that the...
FCA releases latest skilled persons stats
In the quarter to end March 2024, the FCA commissioned 27 skilled persons reports. 10 related to retail investments, 7 to wholesale financial markets and 5 to retail banking and payments. 12 related to controls and risk...
FCA publishes Q2 fin proms data
The FCA has published its financial promotions data for Q2 2024 on its actions against firms breaching financial promotion rules, and referrals and investigations into unregulated activity. During the period: 3,273...
Harry WellsFCA speech: 1 year on from the Consumer Duty
Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers & Competition at the FCA, has delivered a speech reflecting on the Consumer Duty a year on from its implementation. The speech welcomed the improvements demonstrated by...
FCA reports on secondary objective progress
The FCA has published the required metrics on the success of its secondary international competitiveness and growth objective. It has split the metrics into the themes of: authorisations and operational efficiency:...
PRA updates on skilled persons reports
The PRA commissioned 6 skilled persons reports in Q4 2023/24. 5 related to credit institutions and one to insurers, and all but one related to controls and risk management frameworks.
FCA to run Consumer Duty webinar
The FCA is hosting a webinar on 31 July 2024 to mark one year since the implementation of the Consumer Duty. It will focus on: the impact the Duty has had in its first year; examples of good practice and areas for...
FCA updates on Consumer Duty board reports
The FCA has updated its Consumer Duty – information for firms webpage to include further detail around annual board reports. From July the FCA will be reviewing a broad sample of firms’ board reports and...
FCA publishes findings from insurance multi-firm Consumer Duty review
The FCA has published the key findings from its review of 20 larger insurance firms’ approaches to outcomes monitoring under the Consumer Duty. These included general insurers, life insurers, intermediaries and...
IAIS consults on achieving fair treatment for diverse consumers
The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) is consulting on a draft application paper on how to achieve fair treatment for diverse consumers as part of its DEI work. The paper does not introduce any...
FCA bans individuals for mistreatment of customer funds
The FCA has taken action against 3 individuals who were involved in running SVS Securities Plc, a discretionary fund manager. SVS used a complex business model intended to maximise the flow of customer funds into high...
FCA fines and bans individual for incorrect info on client cash
FCA has fined James Lewis, former CEO of Shard Capital Partners, £120,300 and has banned him for providing false information once to auditors and once to a client about the amounts of cash balances the firm held. The...
BoE looks at AI and financial stability
Jonathan Hall of the FPC has spoken on whether increasing use of AI models could have a negative impact on financial stability. He sees two key risks: that deep trading agents could lead to a brittle and highly...
FCA updates Form A
The FCA has made some changes to Form A which it hopes will improve the application experience. Among other things, the new look form: removes duplication of employment history by simply requiring 10 years of employment...
FCA publishes Q1 fin proms data
The FCA has published its financial promotions data for Q1 2024 on its actions against firms breaching financial promotion rules, and referrals and investigations into unregulated activity. During the period: 2,211...
FCA notes good and poor practice for credit broking ARs
The FCA has carried out a review of the key harms and drivers of harm caused by ARs and IARs in the credit broking market. Key areas where some principals could improve are; making sure they undertake criminal or credit...
FCA speaks on women in financial services
Sheree Howard (Executive Director of Risk and Compliance Oversight at the FCA) has delivered a speech at the PIMFA Women’s symposium conference on investing in women in financial services, both as employees and...
FCA highlights common failings in asset management applications
The FCA has provided a list of common errors asset managers are making in applications for authorisation. For context, in the year to 1 April 2024, 18% of applications were withdrawn as a result of the FCA’s...
FCA updates perimeter report
The FCA has updated its Perimeter Report on its website. It was last updated in March 2023. Among the issues discussed are: FCA’s general approach to the perimeter; when it will take action against unauthorised...
FOS publishes plans and budget for next phase
The FOS has published its finalised Plans and Budget for the next phase of its transformation. It expects to receive a greater number of complaints in the coming year, and anticipates 210,000 complaints in its caseload...
FCA makes minor rule changes
The FCA has published its latest Handbook Notice. It has made changes to several parts of the rulebook, but mainly minor changes. The changes include: Removing SUP 1A which no longer reflects the FCA’s approach to...
BoE consults on enforcement changes
The BoE, including the PRA, is consulting on proposed changes to its SOPs and procedures for enforcement, following the additional responsibilities FSMA 2023 has placed on it. The changes relate to enforcement policy...
FCA updates social media guidance
The FCA has published its updated guidance on social media advertising. The guidance applies equally to firms and promotors, including influencers. It does not contain any new obligations, but is a reminder of...
Government sets out third phase of Smarter Regulatory Framework
Following its Smarter Regulatory Framework (SRF) delivery plan, Treasury has published a follow-up paper which sets out the progress made so far and the government’s approach to the next phase of the SRF programme...
FCA publishes Business Plan 2024/2025
The FCA’s 2024/25 Business Plan highlights the work carried out to date, and what it plans to do in the coming year, the final year of its 3 year strategy. The strategy continues a focus on delivery of the...
FCA to review firms’ treatment of vulnerable customers
The FCA has announced a review into how firms are treating and responding to the needs of vulnerable customers. It will look at: firms’ understanding of consumer needs; skills and capability of staff; product and...
FCA Practitioner Panel responds to CTP proposals
The FCA Practitioner Panel has responded to the FCA’s proposals to increase the resilience of critical third parties (CTPs) providing key services to the UK financial services sector. Key points in the...
FCA updates whistleblowing data
FCA has released data showing the number of new whistleblowing reports received, mainly through its online reporting function, in Q3 and Q4 of 2023. Between July and September 2023: There were 280 new whistleblowing...
Treasury Committee publishes Sexism in the City findings
Following its Sexism in the City inquiry into the barriers faced by women in financial services, the Treasury Committee has published a report of its findings. Key findings include: there have been some incremental...
FCA updates on skilled persons reports
The latest statistics for skilled persons reports FCA commissioned in Q3 2023/24 show: 24 reports in total 7 related to the retail banking and payments sector, 6 to retail investments, 5 to wholesale markets and 4 to...
FCA updates on Consumer Duty implementation
The FCA has published the findings of its review of firms’ Consumer Duty implementation. The findings are split into six key areas and include examples of good practice and areas for improvement. Good practice –...
FCA asks advice firms for information on ongoing charges and Consumer Duty
FCA has asked 20 large financial advisory firms for information on whether, and if so how, they have assessed their delivery of ongoing services against the Consumer Duty. The survey follows on from a letter FCA sent to...
FCA intervenes in 10,000 ads in 2023
FCA has published its financial promotions data for the last quarter of 2023 and the entire past year. It has: caused over 10,000 promotions to be withdrawn or changed in 2023 (a 17% increase on the previous year);...
FCA Practitioner Panel responds to access to cash proposals
The Practitioner Panel has responded to the FCA’s access to cash proposals (CP23/29). The Practitioner Panel believes that: the approach is responsive to changes in need which may derive not only from shifts in...
FIN. TeamPRA consults on approach to rule permissions
PRA has proposed a new Statement of Policy setting out its approach to the granting of rule permissions under s.138BA of FSMA – a new power for PRA to enable firms not to apply certain rules, or to apply them in a...
FCA appeal against Tribunal decision allowed
Following the Upper Tribunal’s decision last year in relation to FCA’s decision to fine and ban Markos Markou, when the Tribunal concluded FCA’s decisions were unreasonable, FCA announced its intention...
FCA reports on “flying” and “printing”
FCA has reported on the practices of ‘flying’ and ‘printing’ in Market Watch 76. It has described these practices (which it originally raised in Market Watch 57) as: ‘Flying’ is...
PRA fines for deposit protection failings
PRA has fined 2 entities in the HSBC group £57m for long-lasting historic failure properly to implement its Depositor Protection Rules. The failings occurred in HSBC Bank plc (HBEU) between 2015 and 2022, and in HSBC UK...
PRA reviews ring-fencing rules
PRA has published a report setting out conclusions to its review of its ring-fencing rules. PRA looked at the intents of the ring-fencing regime, its statutory objectives, the legal ring-fencing requirements and...
FCA publishes guidance on motor finance complaints
FCA has published a new page on its website giving guidance to firms on what it expects of them, if they are affected by the DCA review. The guidance covers: keeping customers informed: responding in line with existing...
BoE responds on PRC remit
BoE Governor Andrew Bailey has written to the Chancellor, updating last year’s response to the letter setting out the Chancellor’s recommendations to the Prudential Regulation Committee (PRC). The letter...
FCA speaks on consumer tech
Chief Executive of FCA, Nikhil Rathi, has spoken on how consumer-facing technology helps to keep consumer markets “honest”. The key highlights from his speech were: FCA must use and adapt existing regulatory...
FCA Practitioner Panel responds to D&I proposals
The FCA Practitioner Panel has responded to CP23/20, the consultation paper on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector. Key points in the response include: Mandating that firms collect data across all...
FCA sets expectations on crowdfunders
In two portfolio letters, FCA has set out its expectations for Loan-based Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending platforms and Investment-based crowdfunding platforms. It supervises both types of platform in the Consumer...
PRA consults on FSCS MELL 2024/25
PRA is consulting on the FSCS MELL for 2024/25. Under FSMA, PRA and FCA must set a limit for the total management expenses that the FSCS can levy on financial services firms. The MELL is the maximum amount that the FSCS...
PRA writes to deposit takers on 2024 priorities
David Bailey and Laura Wicks of PRA have written to UK deposit takers about supervisory priorities for 2024. The Dear CEO letter stresses that this sets out the regulator’s thematic priorities, and complements its...
PRA fines former CEO for Conduct Rules breaches
The PRA has fined the former CEO of Wyelands Bank Plc £118,808 for breaching three Conduct Rules between March 2016 and May 2020. Mr Hunter breached Individual Conduct Rule 2 and Senior Manager Conduct Rules 1 and 2 –...
Responses to D&I in the Financial Services Sector
Following UK Finance’s response, several further responses to the PRA and FCA consultation papers (CP 23/20 and PRA’s CP 18/23) share insights into diversity and inclusion in the financial services sector...
FCA reflects on 2023
Nikhil Rathi has reflected on some of FCA’s key achievements and milestones from 2023. He highlighted: the implementation of the Consumer Duty and changes firms have already made as a result; FCA telling GAP...
UK Finance responds on D&I
UK Finance has published its responses to the PRA and FCA papers on D&I in the financial sector. Key points in its response include: that the regulatory approach in terms of transparency and accountability should...
FCA updates on retained EU laws
FCA has updated its website with details of the current state of play in relation to the repeal and replacement of retained EU laws in the financial services sector. Coming up in 2024 will be many changes and papers...
FCA sets out expectations on firms selling client banks
FCA has explained what it will look at and how it will act when firms are selling their client banks. Client banks are key assets of firms, and may include a right to income streams from past clients. While firms may...
FCA makes new rules
FCA has published new rules including amendments to: introduce the requirements on Sustainability Labelling and Disclosure (from 28 November 2023) update SYSC from 8 December in respect of changes to the proportionality...
Regulators consult on critical third party supervision
BoE, PRA and FCA are consulting on how to oversee the resilience of critical third party service providers, where those providers service UK regulated firms and FMIs. The debates leading up to the introduction of the...
FCA speaks on importance of culture and conduct
Emily Shepperd, FCA COO and Executive Director of Authorisations stressed that firms must consider how their own cultures can drive better outcomes. Key highlights of the speech include: How the Consumer Duty has raised...
PRA and FCA consult on reformatted control change guidance
PRA has published a consultation paper containing proposals on how it and FCA plan to replace the EU guidelines on the prudential assessment of acquisitions and increases of qualifying holdings in the financial sector...
UK Finance reports on impact of AI in financial services
UK Finance has published a report that looks at the uses of AI in the financial sector. The report covers: how and where AI is being deployed; where there is promise for the future; how to make more of opportunities;...