FCA has published its finalised guidance to help firms prepare their statements of responsibility and responsibilities maps under the SMCR. The guidance addresses the rules as they apply to each category of SMCR firm...
Category - Regulated Mortgages
Emma RadmoreFCA confirms FOS increase
FCA has issued a policy statement confirming the increase in the FOS award limit. From 1 April, the limit that FOS can award against firms will be £350,000. This amount will apply in relation to complaints about...
FCA makes Directory rules
FCA has made its final rules on its “Directory“. The new public register will enable searches on all directors and senior managers, certification staff and other individuals who require qualifications to...
EU agrees draft directive to enhance consumer protection
The EU has agreed the terms of a draft directive that, if passed, will amend a number of consumer protection directives, including the consumer rights directive (2011/83/EU), to introduce measures such as: harmonised...
Emma RadmoreUp next from FCA
FCA is running behind schedule on some expected publications. Its latest Policy Development Update highlights the following: consultation and discussion on the Investment Platforms Market Study remedies due in March...
BoE and FCA update on Brexit approach
BoE and FCA have updated their respective websites with coordinated information on their approach to a hard Brexit. BoE has published a series of materials setting out its updated plans to its supervisory approach to a...
Court rules that Brexit is not frustrating event for a lease
The High Court has ruled that a European agency cannot terminate the lease of their premises at Canary Wharf on the basis of Brexit being a ‘frustrating event’. Our article provides more detail on this case...
FIN. TeamFinancial Stability Board 2019 work programme published
The Financial Stability Board has published its work programme for the forthcoming year. The areas upon which it intends to focus are: addressing emerging vulnerabilities in the financial system; working with standard...
FCA agrees Brexit MoUs with European securities regulators
As part of the preparation for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, the FCA has agreed MoUs with ESMA and with EU and NCAs, covering supervision, enforcement and information exchange, including in relation to credit rating...
Regulators consult on FSCS MELL
FCA and PRA are consulting on the management expenses levy limit (MELL) for FSCS for the 2019/2020 year. They propose an increase of 2.4% over the current year with a levy for FSCS management expenses of £74.6m and an...
Treasury writes to Treasury Committee on no-deal planning law
The Treasury has written to the Treasury Committee enclosing a draft of secondary legislation that would give temporary transitional powers to the UK financial regulators in the event of a no-deal Brexit that would...
FCA to look at product governance and research unbundling
A set of oral evidence given to the Treasury Committee includes statements from FCA that: it is now content on how to interpret the mortgage affordability test compliantly with the MCD and now plans to consult on...
FCA publishes sector views
FCA has published its “Sector Views” setting out its observations from monitoring its 7 selected sectors of: retail banking retail lending general insurance and protection pensions and retirement income...
Treasury Committee welcomes new move for mortgage prisoners
The Treasury Committee has welcomed FCA’s new commitment to consulting on rule changes which will allow the estimated 120,000 “mortgage prisoners” who are with unregulated firms and 20,000 with firms...
FCA ‘Dear CEO’ letter on misleading financial promotions
The FCA has published a ‘Dear CEO’ letter in which it provides clarity about the communication and approval of financial promotions by regulated and unregulated businesses. The FCA has published the letter...
FCA consults on Brexit contractual continuity provision
At the end of last year, the the Treasury published draft regulations making provision for contractual certainty for firms currently passporting into the UK in the event of a ‘hard’ Brexit. Following this...
Up next from FCA
FCA’s latest Policy Development Update highlights a number of publications due before the end of Q1 2019: a policy statement on general standards and communication rules for payment services and emoney providers;...
FCA opens window for CMCs to register for temporary permission
In December 2018, the FCA confirmed that as part of its take over of the regulation of CMCs from April 2019, it would require CMCs to register for temporary permission in order to continue to operate from April, and...
PRA consults on Brexit measures
As part of its preparation for onshoring EU legislation, the PRA has published CP32/18. This consultation paper contains two consultations: the first sets out the PRA’s proposals regarding the PRA Rulebook and...
CMA announces reforms to loyalty penalty
After investigating a “super-complaint” raised by Citizens Advice that companies were penalising existing customers by charging them higher prices than new customers, the CMA has today published its 8...
FCA publishes final rules on expansion of FOS jurisdiction to SMEs
The FCA has now published final rules confirming the expansion of the jurisdiction of the FOS to include certain SME customers. The new rules will mean that from 1 April 2019, the FOS will be able to hear complaints...
FOS consults on plans for 2019/20
The FOS has published a consultation on its plans and budget for 2019/2020. It notes that from April 2019, its jurisdiction will be expanded by the addition of two significant areas of work: complaints made by SME...
New Corporate Governance Principles published
The Financial Reporting Council has published the final version of new Corporate Governance Principles for large private companies.
We have published an article that summarises and discusses these Principles.
Suzanne GadoPRA and FCA consult on mortgage reporting
PRA and FCA are consulting on new reporting requirements for mortgage lenders and home finance administrators. Both regulators think there are areas in which they need data from firms additional to that which is...
Court finds no MCOB breach by lender on self-certified loan
A Court has found in favour of the lender in a case brought by a couple who entered into a 5 year interest only loan through a broker, which they met repayments on but were ultimately unable to repay the capital. The...
FCA publishes quarterly consultation
FCA’s latest quarterly consultation proposes rules that: amend SUP 16 to address FCA’s concern that it does not always hold accurate “firm details” by requiring an annual accuracy check and...
Provisional political agreement reached on CRD V
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional political agreement on the banking package of reforms that will result in CRD V/ CRR II. Proposed measures include more risk...
Publication of FCA’s findings on long-term mortgage arrears
The FCA has published the outcome of its thematic review into the treatment of customers with long-term mortgage arrears. While in general it found that firms treated such customers appropriately, it did note areas for...
FCA publishes approach to authorisation and feedback statement
Following a consultation last year, the FCA has published the ‘FCA Mission: Approach to Authorisation’ and feedback statement. This document includes reference to the introduction of a new range of tools to...
Call for interest in new payment Standards Advisory Panel
The Bank of England and Pay.UK are inviting expressions of interest from senior stakeholders who could represent the payments industry on a newly created Standards Advisory Panel. The new Panel will focus on the...
FCA Feedback Statement on Digital Regulatory Reporting
The FCA has published a feedback statement on digital regulatory reporting. This follows the FCA’s call for input on smarter regulatory reporting in February 2018. The FCA found that most respondents agreed that...
FCA consults on Statements of Responsibilities and Responsibilities Map guidance
The FCA has published a consultation on proposed guidance to help solo-regulated firms draft their Statements of Responsibilities (SoR) and (for enhanced firms) Responsibilities Maps, in preparation for the SMCR...
FCA publishes Brexit consultations following HMT Guidance
As heralded at the end of last year, the FCA has now published two consultation papers that make provision for operations in the event of a ‘hard’ Brexit next March. The first consultation sets out changes...
Up next from FCA
FCA’s latest policy development update promises various publications before the end of this year, including: policy statement on the approach to the final RTS and EBA guidelines under PSD 2, in December; policy...
CMA calls for evidence in response to ‘loyalty penalty’ super-complaint
Following a super-complaint by the Citizens Advice bureau, the CMA has announced that it is seeking views on concerns about long term customers paying more for goods and services. The CMA has identified four key issues...
PRA reviews risks of climate change to banks
The PRA has published a report examining the impact of climate change on banks in terms of financial risk implications. The report notes that 70% of banks recognise that climate change poses financial risks to their...
FCA consults on applying SM&CR to CMCs
The FCA has opened a consultation that sets out how it will apply the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR) to Claims Management Companies (CMCs), following taking over regulation of them from 1 April...
Law Commission confirms status of electronic signatures
In December 2017 the Law Commission confirmed that one of the projects it would be working on was addressing the absence of explicit case law and legislation that has given rise to uncertainty as to the validity of...
FSB launches peer review of LEIs
The Financial Stability Board has published the Summary Terms of Reference of a thematic peer review of the implementation of the Legal Entity Identifier. The thematic review seeks feedback from a range of stakeholders...
FCA complaints handling review findings
The FCA has published its findings of the review of how Non-deposit Taking Mortgage Lenders (NDTMLs) and Mortgage Third-Party Administrators (MTPAs) handle complaints. In particular the review looked at how NDTMLs and...
All-Party Parliamentary Group calls for full statutory inquiry into business banking sector
The Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking has written to Andrew Bailey of the FCA in the wake of the FCA’s announcement that it was unable to take further action in relation to its...
Mortgage Lenders agree on common standards to help longstanding borrowers
UK Finance has announced that together with the Building Societies Association and the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association, it has agreed common standards to help existing mortgage borrowers on a lender’s...
FCA updated guidance for firms outsourcing IT
The FCA has updated FG 16/5, ‘Guidance for firms outsourcing to the ‘cloud’ and other third party IT services’. This update takes account of the publication of the European Banking...
Corporate governance reporting and the impact on large private companies
We have written an article on the new corporate governance reporting requirements for certain large private companies. The requirements will come into force on 1 January 2019 applying to financial years beginning on or...
FCA publishes intervention approach documents
On a new page on its website, ‘Measuring our impact before we intervene‘, the FCA has published a group of documents that aim to provide an indication of how the FCA assesses the likely impact of its...
FCA and PSR Chair discusses potential future algocracy
Charles Randell, the recently appointed Chair of the FCA and the PSR, has delivered a speech, in which he discussed the increasing dominance of algorithms in our day to day lives, and noted some of the consequent issues...
FCA thinks about price discrimination
FCA has published a paper looking at how it should approach fairness in price discrimination in financial services. It notes that price discrimination is not in itself unfair as practices such as student discounts are...
Discussion Paper on building the financial sector’s operational resilience
The Bank of England, the PRA and FCA have published a joint discussion paper on its approach to improve operational resilience in the financial sector. The regulators envisage that boards and senior managers can achieve...
Themes from thematic reviews
We recently wrote an article for Compliance Monitor setting out themes from recent FCA thematic reviews.
FCA publishes update on Strategic Review of Retail Banking Business Models
The FCA has published a progress report on its ongoing Strategic Review of Retail Banking Business Models. The purpose of the Review is to consider the sources of competitive advantage that may have helped the major...
HMT, Bank of England and FCA set out approach to onshoring financial services legislation
The Treasury, the Bank of England and the FCA have published information about how financial services legislation will be on-shored under the EU (Withdrawal) Act, in particular to ensure the (hopefully unlikely)...
Mansion House 2018: Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury has published a speech by Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, which was delivered at the annual Mansion House dinner. In his speech, Mr Hammond focused on Brexit and financial services. He said that...
Up next from FCA
FCA’s latest Policy Development Update heralds a policy statement on fees and levies rates in July. Otherwise its timetable is quiet, with a policy statement on the MMF Regulation due at some point together with...
FOS Annual Review published
The FOS has published its Annual Review for 2017/2018. Many of the complaints statistics highlight products that are the subject of ongoing regulatory scrutiny and activity: the FOS notes significant increases in...
FCA discusses mortgage enforcement and competition issues in Building Societies speech
The FCA’s Director of Supervision, Jonathan Davidson, has delivered a talk on Building Societies and the Future of Retail Banking at the Building Societies annual conference. In his speech, Jonathan raised the...
FCA consults on consumer contract variations
FCA is consulting on guidance for firms setting out what factors under the Consumer Rights Act they should take into account when they are drafting and reviewing variation terms. The draft guidance sets out a list of...
Up next from FCA
FCA’s latest Policy Development Update promises over the next couple of months the overdue feedback on fees and levies policy proposals with consultation on rates proposals. No dates are set for any other key...
FCA publishes mortgage market interim report
FCA has published its interim report into the mortgage market. Although it is pleased with how competition is working to the benefit of many people, it has made some suggestions for improvement. It found that there are...
Claims Management regulations published for consultation
As part of the proposed process of transferring the regulation of Claims Management Companies to the FCA, HM Treasury is consulting on draft regulations that will form part of a final statutory instrument creating a...
BEIS publishes Green Paper on modernising consumer markets
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is consulting on proposals which, among other issues, seek to to improve the consumer experience in regulated markets for utilities, telecommunications and...
ESAs report on key risks for H2 2017
The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities has published its report for the second half of 2017. This report highlights the following potential sources of instability: repricing of risk premia...
FCA and PRA publish business plans
The FCA and the PRA have both published their business plans for 2018/2019. The FCA’s business plan shines a spotlight on consumer protection, including in relation to pension products and high-cost credit, as an...
FCA and PRA consult on 2018/2019 regulated fee and levy rate proposals
The FCA and PRA have, separately, published consultation papers on regulated fees and levies for 2018/19. In its consultation paper, the FCA sets out the proposed 2018/19 regulatory fees and levies for itself, the...
Court finds for lender on RMC argument
The Court of Appeal has recently upheld the judgements of lower courts in a case where a loan was entered into on the express representation from the borrower that the property would not be used as a residence. When the...
EBA consults on extending complaints-handling guidelines
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a Consultation Paper on the application of the existing Joint Committee Guidelines on complaints-handling to authorities competent for supervising new institutions...
Complaints Commissioner concerned about information sharing between FOS and FCA
In a recent report the Complaints Commissioner expressed concern about the absence of published information about how and in what circumstances information about live ombudsman cases may be shared between the FOS and...
FCA sets out supervision and enforcement approach
FCA has published a draft of its approach to enforcement and supervision. The documents follow its publication of its Mission, in which it committed to publishing a series of documents setting out how it carries out its...
Andrew Bailey speaks on transforming culture in financial services
The FCA has published a speech by Andrew Bailey, FCA Chief Executive, on transforming culture in financial services. Mr Bailey highlights the following issues: work on firm culture is an important priority for the FCA;...
FCA outlines approach to authorisation
Sarah Rapson has spoken of FCA’s approach to authorising firms. She focused on FCA’s use of authorisation as a way to prevent harm, and its focus on using it proportionately. As a result, the information it...
FCA Discussion Paper on transforming culture in financial services
As part of its ongoing work on culture and governance, the FCA has published a discussion paper, comprising a series of essays from academics and industry thought leaders covering: what a ‘good’ culture...
FCA surveys firms passporting into UK
As part of its preparation for Brexit, the Government announced in December 2017 that it would, if necessary, introduce legislation to enable a ‘temporary permission’ scheme for EEA firms and funds which...
FCA updates on service standards
FCA’s new-look update on its service standards shows that it met most of its targets for various regulatory tasks, including authorisations, passport notifications, dealing with queries and customer satisfaction...
FCA explains perimeter to Treasury Committee
Andrew Bailey has written to the Treasury Select Committee setting out a summary of the powers “FCA does not have”. It has been asked many questions in the context of the RBS GRG investigation. The letter...
FCA review of Board Effectiveness
The FCA has published a report of the independent review into the effectiveness of its Board. The review was undertaken by Independent Audit Limited. The review involved interviews with Board members, a review of...
FCA’s thematic review on the fair treatment of existing interest-only mortgage customers
The FCA has published a thematic review (TR18/1) on the fair treatment of existing interest-only mortgage customers. The FCA has been examining the fair treatment of customers with interest-only mortgages and has been...
FCA consults on widening FOS access for small businesses
FCA has opened a consultation on plans to provide more small businesses with access to FOS. The changes proposed would allow FOS complaints redress to approximately 16,000 SMEs, charities and trusts, by changing the...
FSCS PUBLISHES PLAN AND BUDGET FOR 2018/2019
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has published its Plan and Budget for 2018/2019. The Plan and Budget outlines the FSCS’s expected management costs and initial levy forecasts financial services...
FCA INSIGHT ARTICLE: Who is driving consumer credit growth?
The FCA has published an Insight article that considers who is driving consumer credit growth. Although regulators have relied upon aggregate data from larger lenders to monitor which lenders are driving credit growth...
Charles Randell becomes new FCA and PSR chair
Charles Randell CBE has been appointed the new chair of FCA and the PSR with effect from 1 April.
Increase in limit on Building Societies’ maximum currency transaction size
Treasury has published the Building Societies (Restricted Transactions) (Amendment to the Limit on the Trade in Currencies) Order 2017. This Order increases the limit set out in section 9A of the Building Societies Act...
ESMA consults on draft Securitisation Regulation technical standards
The European Securities and Markets Authority has published three consultation papers on draft technical standards implementing the Securitisation Regulation that is expected to be published by the end of this year. The...
Treasury, FCA and EIOPA issue statements regarding continuity of activities and services after Brexit
Along with the PRA’s publication of consultation papers on its intended approach to supervision of third country firms, the Treasury, FCA and ESMA have recently issued statements providing an update on provision...
Payment Services Regulator requires change to Direct Debit rules regarding switching Facilities Management providers
The Payment Services Regulator (PSR) has published its decision to require the operator of the Bacs payment system, of which the Direct Debit scheme is a part, to change its rules to help clients switch Facilities...
Law Commission to address electronic signatures and smart contracts in 13th Programme of Law Reform
The Law Commission has announced the programme of reforms it will be working on over the next 3 years. The projects include: Electronic signatures: there is an absence of explicit case law or legislation confirming...
ESMA clarifies application of MAR to trading in closed periods in updated MAR Questions and Answers
The European Securities and Markets Authority has published 2 new questions relating to the prohibition on dealings by persons discharging managerial responsibilities during a closed period in its updated MAR Questions...
FCA sets out future approach to authorisation and competition
FCA has outlined its approach to authorisation and to competition. It notes it is one of the few financial regulators in the world with an objective that includes promoting competition. It wants to understand, in...
Government to use rental payment data to improve credit scores
Treasury has announced it is to offer financial support for the development of an application to allow those who rent properties to record and share their rent payment data, with a view to this helping them to improve...
IFRS 9 transitional Regulation published
There has been concern about the anticipated regulatory capital impact when International Financial Reporting Standard 9 is implemented from January 2018, resulting from some firms seeing a significant increase in...
FCA consults on fees
FCA has published its annual consultation paper on regulatory fees and levies. Key proposals include: the proposed tariff data FCA will use to calculate insurers’ FCA periodic fees and the FOS levies, building on...
Financial Exclusion: UK government publishes response to Lords Select Committee final report
Following the appointment in 2016 by the House of Lords of a Select Committee to investigate financial exclusion and access to mainstream financial services, the Committee published its final report, ‘Tackling...
Treasury Committee inquiry into household finances
On 8 November, the Treasury Committee announced the launch of a new inquiry that will examine problematic indebtedness, inter-generational issues, lifetime financial planning and the effectiveness of the market in...
Interest Rate rises for the first time in 10 years
For the first time in more than 10 years the Bank of England (BoE) has raised interest rates. At its meeting on 1 November, the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the...
FCA consults on FSCS funding
Following its December 2016 consultation for views on how FSCS funding could be reformed, FCA has published a further consultation paper seeking to ensure FSCS continues to provide the right protections, works...
FCA updates on retail banking model review
FCA has published a paper on the purpose and scope of its review of the business models used in the retail banking sector. It is now considering what evidence it can best gather to understand: the state of competition...
FCA begins debt management sector review
In line with its 2017/18 Business Plan, FCA has begun its thematic review of the debt management sector. FCA has taken a particular interest in this sector, owing to the increased risks faced by (particularly...
FCA’s first Financial Lives Survey: 50% of UK adults potentially vulnerable
After collecting responses from over 13,000 UK consumers, FCA has revealed the results of its largest tracking survey of consumer behaviour and use of retail financial products and services. Aiming to tell the financial...
FCA speaks on the ageing population
Linda Woodall has spoken at an event to launch FCA’s Occasional Paper on the ageing population. FCA has for some years been aware that the financial services needs of older consumers are generally not being met...
Bond Dickinson financial services team ranked in Legal 500
The Bond Dickinson financial services team is delighted to have achieved a Legal 500 ranking. The new directory described the team as providing ‘responsive, practical, commercial and cost-effective’ advice to a wide...
Up next from FCA
FCA’s latest Policy Developments Update lists several key publications due before the end of the year: policy proposals for next year’s fees and levies policy statement on FSCS funding policy statement on...
FCA looks at ageing population
FCA has published an Occasional Paper looking at the ageing population and financial services. FCA’s research has found there is a risk that the financial services needs of older people are not being fully met...