Reform of the appointed representatives (ARs) regime has been on the cards for some time, with an HM Treasury (HMT) call for evidence having been published as far back as December 2021. HMT has now published a policy...more
As part of the FCA's ongoing commitment to share more information on how firms are embedding the Consumer Duty, it has recently published the results of its multi-firm review of digital design in customers' online journeys....more
The FCA has finalised the changes that were proposed in May this year to make it easier for customers to engage with mortgage providers and make reductions to mortgage terms and remortgaging easier. This includes removing the...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK government's communications in connection with the Chancellor's annual Mansion House speech, and the launch of its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness...more
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has delivered her second Mansion House speech and announced the “Leeds Reforms” in conjunction with publication of the awaited Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy and related...more
The FCA has recently published the results of its multi-firm review of payments and e-money firms' risk management frameworks and wind-down plans. It once again highlights the need to develop frameworks and plans in-line with...more
Following the FCA’s May 2025 ‘first steps’ consultation on proposals to simplify its mortgage framework via a Mortgage Rule Review (MRR), it has now published a discussion paper on the future of the mortgage market. The...more
On 6 June 2025, the FCA announced in a press release its proposal to lift the ban on selling crypto exchange traded notes (cETNs) to retail investors. If adopted, cETNs could be made available to individuals, provided the...more
As with the European Parliament’s April 2024 adopted texts, the Council of the EU’s proposed amendments to the European Commission’s June 2023 legislative proposals touch on some significant areas of interest for payment...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: draft legislation to regulate BNPL credit in the UK (in contrast to the de-prioritising of enforcement of BNPL regulatory breaches in the US); final confirmation of UK...more
5/22/2025
/ Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) ,
CFTC ,
Cryptoassets ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
HM Treasury ,
Payment Systems ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Stablecoins ,
UK
Following a March 2025 press release and letter to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury announcing plans to improve access to mortgages to support the government’s economic growth mission, the FCA has published a ‘first...more
While recent announcements have focussed on the government’s growth agenda, HM Treasury (HMT) has also now pressed ahead with publishing final draft regulations limiting the rights for banks and other payment service...more
The FCA has published the findings from its review of firms’ approach to pricing transparency when offering UK customers international money remittance and cross border payments. It highlights proactive and clear disclosure...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the Central Bank of Somalia announcing the launch of the Somalia Instant Payment System (SIPS), the country’s first nationwide instant payments infrastructure; the...more
4/28/2025
/ Australia ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
Payment Systems ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
UK
Outcomes testing and monitoring under the Consumer Duty, and senior management engagement with these areas, remain key focus areas for the FCA. Whilst the review in question focuses specifically on the treatment of customers...more
The PRA has published its Business Plan for 2025/26, setting out the workplan for each of its strategic priorities and strategy to advance its primary and secondary objectives. The PRA comments that, alongside its continual...more
There are over 80 million people with disabilities in the EU. The European Accessibility Act 2019 (EAA) (Directive (EU) 2019/882) implements the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and aims at...more
Motor finance, mortgage rule review work and Consumer Duty feature prominently in the work plans for this strategic priority. Firms should note that the FCA includes a warning in relation to the Duty that, where necessary, it...more
4/14/2025
/ Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
Mortgages ,
Open Banking ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Reform ,
UK
Proposed increases in the deposit protection limit from £85,000 to £110,000 and in the temporary high balance limit from £1 million to £1.4 million would take effect from 1 December 2025. There would be a transitional period...more
Following feedback to its July 2024 Call for Input (CfI) on placing greater reliance on the Consumer Duty instead of specific rules and guidance, the FCA won’t be carrying out a wholesale Handbook review. It has instead...more
The government has published a policy paper containing an Action Plan for “A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth”. The Action Plan shows a shift in approach towards regulation (including, but not...more
The FCA has published a Strategy Paper, outlining its strategy for the next five years. The FCA says it will focus on four priorities: (i) being a smarter regulator; (ii) supporting sustained economic growth; (iii) helping...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK government publishing a pro-growth Action Plan for regulators and regulation, including pledges from the FCA of relevance to payments and digital assets firms;...more
3/25/2025
/ BaFin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
HM Treasury ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
UK
The government has published a policy paper containing an Action Plan for “A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth”. The Action Plan shows a shift in approach towards regulation (including, but not...more
Following the FCA’s January 2025 response to the government’s request for ideas to support its growth mission for the UK economy, the regulator has now written to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and released other...more