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
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
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: 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
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
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
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
Following the FCA’s January 2025 response to the government’s request for ideas to support its growth mission for the UK economy, the FCA has now published an engagement paper seeking feedback on the different ways that it...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: a new Bill containing detailed new information and account direct deduction obligations for banks and EMIs being introduced to the UK Parliament; the issuing of a...more
Potential issues identified from stakeholder feedback to the FCA and PSR call for information include insufficient competition between digital wallets and between payment systems within digital wallets. The majority of...more
In a recent response to an EBA Q&A and with reference to existing ECJ case law, the European Commission has stated that the condition of acceptance in the definition of e-money in the second E-Money Directive (2009/110/EC)...more
On 14 January 2025, the Bank of England ("BoE") published a design note outlining its current thinking relating to the design of a digital pound (the "Design Note") and a progress update summarising the BoE’s work on...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: Germany’s Ministry of Finance asking industry groups for feedback on the EU PSD3/PSR legislative proposals; the UK Payment Systems Regulator consulting on the consumer...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK FCA’s publication of a portfolio letter to payments and e-money firms; the U.S. Federal Reserve announcing the July 2023 launch of its FedNow Service; and...more
5/4/2023
/ AML/CFT ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Payment Systems ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Transparency
The FCA’s evaluation of its 2019 personal current account (PCA) overdraft rule changes - introduced as part of its High-Cost Credit Review - paints a largely positive picture in terms of good consumer outcomes. However, the...more
As part of the Hogan Lovells FinTech Fundamentals webinar series, on 22 March 2023 Financial Services Regulatory senior associate Jen Staniforth hosted a thought provoking panel discussion on the impact of the cost of living...more
The FCA has published a Portfolio letter setting out its priorities for payments and e-money firms amidst tightening economic conditions and the cost-of-living crisis. Among the three outcomes that it has set for firms in...more
Key developments of interest over the last two months include: the Central Bank of Ireland publishing a Dear CEO letter to the payments industry; the Bank of England and HM Treasury launching a consultation on a model for a...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: UK FCA publishes final Consumer Duty rules and guidance; European Commission adopts Delegated Regulation amending RTS on SCA and CSC under PSD2; and South East Asian...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: Queen's Speech 2022 announces forthcoming Financial Services and Markets Bill; European Commission consultations and calls for evidence on PSD2 review and open...more
5/31/2022
/ Cryptocurrency ,
Electronic Payment Transactions ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
HM Treasury ,
Payment Services Directive ,
PSD2
Key developments of interest over the last month include: HM Treasury announces package of crypto measures including next steps on UK regulatory approach to cryptoassets, stablecoins and DLT in financial markets; Philippines...more
4/28/2022
/ Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
European Commission ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FinTech ,
HM Treasury ,
Popular ,
Stablecoins ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
UK Payment Systems Regulator
HMT has published its response to its January 2021 consultation and call for evidence on the UK regulatory approach to cryptoassets and stablecoins. The consultation response confirms the government’s intention to bring...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: Stop Press: The international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 includes a number of significant economic sanctions measures. See our latest...more
3/1/2022
/ AML/CFT ,
Bitcoin ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Currency ,
E-Commerce ,
Economic Sanctions ,
European Commission ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Payment Systems ,
Russia ,
UK Payment Systems Regulator ,
Ukraine