As previously referred to by the FCA (for example in its 2023/24 Business Plan) and following its Borrowers in Financial Difficulty (BiFD) project findings, it has launched a consultation setting out how it plans to...more
HM Treasury has published the text of the awaited draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on UK-EU regulatory co-operation in financial services, which has already been adopted by the European Commission. The focus of the MoU...more
The European Commission has published its long-delayed report to the European Parliament and Council of the EU on the application of the Payment Accounts Directive (PAD). The findings are generally positive and no legislative...more
In a speech marking less than three months until the first Consumer Duty implementation deadline, the FCA has warned that firms can expect swift action if they ignore the Duty or pose the most harm to consumers. As part of...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
The Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC), co-chaired by the FCA and the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and with HM Treasury (HMT) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as the other members, has published its...more
With the entry into force of its new Consumer Duty now only months away, the FCA has taken the opportunity presented by its latest Business Plan to reinforce its message that it’s placing ensuring good consumer outcomes at...more
With the economic and geopolitical environment likely to remain ‘highly uncertain’, the FCA’s latest Business Plan reflects its decision to accelerate work in four areas over the next year: putting consumers’ needs first;...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
The FCA has published its finalised guidance (FG23/2) for firms supporting their existing mortgage borrowers impacted by the rising cost of living. The FCA reiterates that the guidance clarifies the effect of its existing...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
On 3 March 2023, the FCA published its third batch of portfolio letters setting out its expectations for firms implementing the Consumer Duty. We covered the previous two sets of letters in our Engage articles of 9 and 28...more
The eagerly awaited sixth edition of the Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Grid has been published by the Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum. The delay to its publication (originally expected in November...more
Under the new Consumer Understanding Outcome, firms in scope of the Consumer Duty must support retail customer understanding so that all communications meet the information needs of retail customers; are likely to be...more
The outlook for 2023 looks uncertain, following another tumultuous year. The collapse of a number of large cryptocurrency exchanges has shone another spotlight on the digital asset market. The financial system’s resilience...more
The government is consulting on proposed draft legislation that will bring BNPL within the FCA’s regulatory perimeter. Whilst a proportionate approach may be evident in the tailoring of pre-contractual information...more
The Bank of England and HM Treasury are consulting on the model for a UK retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) or ‘digital pound’ that would sit alongside, not replace, cash. On the basis of their work to date, both the...more
The FCA has published its findings from its review of the Consumer Duty implementation plans of around 60 of the largest retail financial services firms who have fixed FCA supervisory teams. It highlights effective...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK Treasury publishing a review and call for evidence on the Payment Services Regulations 2017 and a post-implementation review of the Payment Card Interchange Fee...more
HM Treasury has published a review and call for evidence on the Payment Services Regulations 2017, as well as the outcome of a post-implementation review of the Payment Card Interchange Fee Regulations 2015. Both...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK government announcing a package of financial services regulatory reforms (the “Edinburgh Reforms”) to drive growth and competitiveness in the sector; continued...more
Following a government announcement in June this year of a commitment to 'ambitious long-term reform' to create a consumer credit regulatory regime that fosters innovation but also maintains high levels of consumer...more
As part of the Edinburgh Reforms announced by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 December 2022, HM Treasury is consulting on the customer information requirements in the Payment Accounts Regulations 2015 (PARs) which...more