On 22 May 2026, Sukate & Bezeboh Ltd (SB Remit) entered administration. Charles Turner and Frank Ofonagoro were appointed as joint administrators. SB Remit is a small payment institution authorised by the FCA to provide payment services.On 13 May 2026, SB Remit agreed to a voluntary undertaking, which restricted the activities it could undertake. These measures included restrictions preventing the firm from accepting new customer funds.On 22 May 2026, Charles Turner and Frank Ofonagoro of Opu...
Firms that approve financial promotions should be doing more to protect consumers, an FCA review has found. The FCA found that the strongest firms were applying the Consumer Duty from the start of their processes. They were able to make sure that every promotion approved was accurate, clear and reached the right audience.However, the FCA also found that some firms approved adverts with unsubstantiated claims or allowed retail investors to see promotions intended for professional clients. In s...
We’re inviting applications from senior practitioners at smaller regulated firms in the general insurance and consumer credit sectors to join the panel. The Smaller Business Practitioner Panel provides independent advice and challenge from the perspective of smaller firms, helping to shape our work at a time of significant change in UK financial services regulation.Its key remit is to provide input to the FCA from the industry to help us meet our strategic and operational objectives from a sm...
We’re pleased to announce that our Annual Public Meeting (APM) will be held in Edinburgh for the first time on 6 October 2026, marking an important milestone for us a UK-wide regulator. The announcement coincides with a visit to Edinburgh on 26 May by our chair Ashley Alder, who was there to open a new office space, demonstrating our commitment to growing our presence in Scotland, and expanding our workforce of more than 350 colleagues.Edinburgh continues to strengthen its position in global ...
Fast‑growing and innovative financial services businesses can now apply for more support to help them grow. The FCA’s Scale-up Unit provides tailored support to firms, helping them navigate regulation so they can scale sustainably. The unit is now open to solo-regulated firms to apply.The unit offers a dedicated point of contact and practical support to help navigate regulatory processes, develop innovative products and understand the impact of policy changes.Jessica Rusu, FCA chief data, inf...
Half (49%) of young drivers have bought insurance through social media or messaging apps, new research reveals. With 4 in 10 (39%) unconfident in spotting the signs of a fake policy, thousands could be paying for cover that doesn’t exist. The FCA is warning 17-to 25-year-old drivers about 'ghost broking' scams where criminals sell bogus insurance policies through social media and messaging platforms.Ghost brokers pose as legitimate insurance sellers but offer cheap rates. The policies they se...
When consumers are wronged, many rightly seek fair compensation. Some complain directly, without paying a penny using free Ombudsman services. Others turn to claims management companies (CMCs) or law firms.They can provide a valuable service and support access to justice.However, we’ve seen firsthand from the way some claims firms have handled car finance complaints that, all too often, they make a difficult situation worse.Poor practices include unwanted texts or emails sent to people who ne...
The Treasury has published its policy statement today on reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA). Reform of the CCA is an important step towards a more flexible regime that supports effective competition and innovation, while maintaining appropriate consumer protection both now and in the future. The proposals set out a framework that places greater emphasis on FCA rules and guidance rather than prescriptive requirements set out in legislation.We intend to consult on the key elements of ...
AI Analysis
HM Treasury has issued a policy statement on reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA), signalling a strategic shift from prescriptive, statute-based requirements towards an FCA rulebook-led regime for consumer credit. The FCA’s response confirms it will consult on moving key CCA elements into FCA rules and guidance, anchored in the Consumer Duty, which will materially reshape documentation, processes and conduct standards across the consumer credit lifecycle.
What Changed
- The UK Government has confirmed a programme to reform the Consumer Credit Act 1974, moving away from detailed prescriptive legislative requirements towards a more flexible framework based on FCA...
The FCA has stated its intention to consult on “key elements” of the consumer credit framework that are currently in primary or secondary legislation, where it has the power to do so, covering the...
The Consumer Duty (Principle 12, PRIN 2A) is explicitly confirmed as the overarching framework for the future consumer credit regime, meaning consumer credit firms will be expected to demonstrate...
The FCA has signalled that existing consumer rights and protections under the CCA (including cancellation and withdrawal rights, termination, and early settlement rights) will be reviewed and...
Any new FCA rules arising from CCA reform will be supported by a formal cost–benefit analysis and shaped through stakeholder engagement, implying a structured consultation process (likely one or more...
Suggested Considerations
Establish an internal CCA reform working group (legal, compliance, product, operations) to track HM Treasury and FCA publications on Consumer Credit Act reform and prepare coordinated responses.
Map all existing product lines and customer journeys against current CCA and CONC requirements to identify areas most likely to be affected if obligations move from legislation into FCA rules (e.g. pre‑contract disclosure, notices of sums in arrears, default notices, early settlement calculations).
Review your Consumer Duty implementation for consumer credit products (especially outcomes testing, fair value assessments and customer support processes) to ensure it can absorb additional or re‑framed requirements that may migrate from the CCA into the FCA Handbook.
Compile an inventory of CCA‑dependent documentation (agreements, pre‑contract information, statutory notices, arrears and default letters, early settlement communications) and assess the effort required to update them if the form or content requirements are recast in FCA rules.
Enhance regulatory horizon‑scanning processes to include systematic monitoring of HM Treasury CCA reform material and FCA consultations, ensuring early awareness of consultation questions and proposed Handbook text.
Key Dates
TBD
– HM Treasury’s policy statement has been published, but no specific implementation dates for CCA reform or FCA rule changes are given in the FCA response
TBD
– FCA consultation(s) on key elements of the consumer credit framework are announced as forthcoming; exact dates are not yet specified
TBD
– Future milestones such as FCA Policy Statements, Handbook changes and statutory amendments will follow, but no indicative timetable is provided in the FCA response
Compliance Impact
Non‑compliance with the eventual FCA rules replacing or supplementing CCA provisions will expose firms to supervisory intervention, enforcement action, consumer redress and potentially large remediation exercises under the Consumer Duty. Given the centrality of consumer credit to many business models and the likely breadth of changes, firms that do not prepare early may face significant operational, conduct and litigation risk.
UK financial firms can adopt tokenisation and distributed ledger technology (DLT) with greater confidence, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England set out a shared vision and seek industry views on the future of UK wholesale markets. Tokenisation is the process of creating a digital representation of a real-world asset – such as a share, bond or unit of currency – on a digital ledger. It has the potential to streamline wholesale markets, making everything from issuing...
Why frontier AI matters for firmsArtificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve rapidly. Frontier AI models represent a step-change in capability, with significant implications for cyber security and operational resilience.The cyber capabilities of current frontier AI models are already exceeding what a skilled practitioner could achieve, and at a significantly higher speed, greater scale, and lower cost. These capabilities, if used maliciously, amplify cyber threats to firms’ safety and so...
The conflict in the Middle East means cost of living pressures remain top of mind – with people facing increased costs for utility bills, food and fuel. We want to remind you about our clear expectations on the support you should offer consumers in challenging times, through the Consumer Duty and our rules on protections for borrowers in difficulty.
Speech by Nikhil Rathi, FCA chief executive at the FCA's financial crime conference. A new threat landscapeFinancial crime is changing – fast.It’s more technologically enabled. More organised than ever before. And moving at speed.Which is why the fight against financial crime sits at the heart of our 5-year strategy.But it’s not just the volume that’s changed; it’s who is behind it.Organised criminal groups running professional networks that operate across borders.Take investment fraud.A pers...
The FCA has announced 2 permanent appointments to its executive team, strengthening leadership at a pivotal time for UK and global financial markets. Simon Walls appointed executive director, marketsSimon Walls has been appointed permanent executive director, markets. Having taken on this role on a temporary basis since 2024, his appointment provides continuity at a vital and volatile time for the UK and global economy. Simon will be able to drive forward work he has already started to streng...
The FCA is reviewing how consumer investment firms support bereaved customers and whether they're getting it right. Fewer than half of bereaved customers (47%) felt they received the support they needed from financial firms, according to research (PDF).What the FCA is looking atThe review will focus on firms that advise, manage, or administer investments - including platforms, advisers and wealth managers. The FCA will examine the experience customers have from the moment the firm is told abo...
The FCA has banned Frank Breuer from working in UK financial services and fined him £755,000 for repeatedly acting without integrity and putting customers at risk for personal financial gain. Mr Breuer was the joint owner and sole director of Bluesky Wealth Management Limited (Bluesky), which provided advice on investments and pensions. Although authorised to advise on defined benefit (DB) pension transfers, the firm did not have the appropriate professional insurance in place from April 2019...
Speech by Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive, at the Investment Association's Private Markets Summit 2026. Headlines are always a tough read when funds run into difficulty.And lately, the language has been stark.Some have even asked if private credit has a canary in the coal mine.That’ll make you sit up a bit straighter, won’t it?But in this moment, it’s important to remember that stress in markets is normal – and okay, as long as the system stays resilient.Private markets, done well, ca...
Kingscrown Finance Limited (Kingscrown) has stopped onboarding new customers or undertaking new business with existing customers – including extending existing credit. Kingscrown, which was incorporated in 2014, provides lending for business and investment purposes, including property investment, buy-to-let and house in multiple occupation (HMO) finance.The voluntary restrictions on Kingscrown’s business came into effect on 21 April 2026. Kingscrown has never been authorised by or registered ...
A convicted money launderer has been sentenced to an additional 499 daysin prison for failing to fully pay the money owed under a Confiscation Order. In 2021,RichardFaithfull,now36,wassentenced to5 years and 10 monthsin prisonfor laundering £2.5 million, following a prosecution brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).He was part of a trans-national organised crime group which laundered the proceeds of at least 7 overseas investment frauds.Mr Faithfullis required topay back £529,961,b...
Following the legal challenges to our motor finance compensation scheme, we are setting out further advice for firms and consumers. Our priorities remain to secure fair compensation for consumers as quickly as possible and ensure a healthy motor finance market.Our industry-wide scheme is the quickest, fairest and most cost-effective way to do this. As we have said, we welcome the commitment of most lenders to implement the scheme and will defend it robustly.We have summarised below the ground...
On 6 May 2026, Kanda Products and Services Ltd (Kanda) entered liquidation. Philip Harris and Neville Side of FRP Advisory Trading Limited have been appointed as Joint Liquidators. Kanda is authorised by the FCA as a credit broker. It operated a network of around 700 introducer appointed representatives, mainly tradespeople who introduced consumers to finance for home improvement and other goods and services.On 16 February 2026, Kanda agreed to a voluntary requirement with the FCA which restr...
Following the publication of financial reporting by PayPal Holdings Inc, we can confirm we are investigating Mastercard, PayPal and Visa under Chapter I in the Competition Act 1998, and Mastercard and Visa under Chapter II in the Competition Act 1998, for suspected anti-competitive conduct linked to thefunding and usage of PayPal’s digital wallet.The FCA has reached no conclusions nor made any findings with regard to competition law having been broken.Notes to editorsThe Competition Act 1998 ...
We are launching a review of the claims management market, following concerns that consumers are being failed by some claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms. The review will look at the root causes of poor practices across the market, like aggressive marketing, misleading advertising and unfair exit fees. Other concerns include consumers being signed up without their consent - without clear, upfront explanations of the implications of signing up or ticking a box, for example on soci...
Three people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on suspected illegal financial promotions. Two homes in the Chelmsford and Romford areas were searched, as part of an operation led by the FCA and the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), a specialist policing unit that tackles serious and organised crime.Adverts from firms that aren't FCA-regulated can be a warning sign of a scam. If something goes wrong, these firms aren't covered by the rules that protect people's money – ...
Our objective has been, and remains, to ensure consumers receive fair compensation as quickly as possible and to maintain a healthy motor finance market. An industry-wide scheme is the fastest, simplest route for consumers and the most efficient way for firms to put things right and give certainty to their investors. Alternative approaches would be slower and much more costly for firms.We engaged widely in designing the scheme. While being clear not everyone would get everything they would li...
The FCA has charged Shaun Lawrence for operating as a mortgage broker without authorisation. Mr Lawrence, who also goes by the names Shaun Lawrence-Bright and Shaun Bright, was previously authorised to give mortgage advice.However, in 2008 he had his permissions revoked and was fined. He was also banned from working in financial services.The FCA alleges that Mr Lawrence has breached the Financial Services and Markets Act by continuing to provide mortgage broking services when already banned.M...
From 11 May 2026, cryptoasset firms preparing for the new FSMA regime will be able to request a pre-application meeting with us via our Pre-Application Support Service (PASS). Pre-application meetings are free of charge and give firms the opportunity to discuss their plans with us and ask questions before submitting an application for authorisation or variation of existing permissions.This comes ahead of the new regime for cryptoasset regulation, where firms wanting to undertake the new regul...
Speech by Nikhil Rathi, FCA chief executive, at the Association of Foreign Banks (AFB) luncheon. When I saw that a boxing ring had been temporarily installed in this room last autumn, I wasn’t quite sure whether it was a warning to us regulators…Or some kind of art installation commenting on the past few years in financial markets.At some points it has felt bruising, to say the least.Some pressures have been sharp and immediate – geopolitical shocks, sudden market events.Others slower but no ...
Asset managers will find it easier to unlock the benefits of fund tokenisation, following the publication of new guidance by the FCA. The guidance sets out how firms can use distributed ledger technology (DLT) within the regulator’s existing rules.New rules will also make fund dealing more efficient, including an optional Direct to Fund (D2F) model. This enables investors to deal directly with the fund, whether traditional or tokenised.Tokenisation is a way of representing an asset, or owners...
We have written to people who complained about how we handled Wellesley & Co Ltd (WCL). Complainants raised concerns about our actions in relation to the wider Wellesley Group. WCL was the only FCA-regulated company in the Group and was responsible for approving financial promotions marketed to investors.We carefully reviewed all the complaints that were made and upheld one about how part of WCL's authorisation process was handled at the time. However, we found this did not cause investors' l...
The FCA is reviewing whether Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) help consumers understand borrowing costs andis seeking views on whetherit should changehow these are communicated in credit advertising. APRsindicatethe yearly cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. A representative APR means at least half of consumers receive that rate or better. Current rules require representative APRs in most credit advertising.Research, published today, shows APRs are useful for comparing products, but...
On 28 April 2026, LCM Family Limited (LCM) went into administration. Louise Longley and Gary Shankland of BTG Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP were appointed as joint administrators of the firm. The joint administrators are responsible for managing the affairs of the firm during the administration process.LCM (previously known as LCM Wealth Management Limited) is authorised by the FCA and provided financial advice and related investment services. LCM is also regulated by the Solicitors Regulatio...
Speech by Sarah Pritchard, FCA deputy chief executive, at the BSA Annual Conference, Edinburgh. As a history lover, it’s thrilling to be in a city like Edinburgh – called a ‘hot-bed of genius’ during the Scottish Enlightenment.What defined the Enlightenment spirit was the refusal to settle, and a determination to make things better for the future.It’s the kind of approach I’m taking to this moment of regulatory reform.Working with others to solve difficult problems, protecting trust and good ...
Help us develop a proportionate reporting regime for ESG ratings. Register your interest by 13 May 2026. We're inviting ESG rating providers to join a pilot to inform future regulatory reporting once the regime is live.Our aim is to avoid unnecessary reporting burden for firms over time.The pilot aims to help us assess whether the proposed metrics for ESG ratings reporting are:clearfeasibleproportionate across different business modelsuseful for supervisory purposesParticipants will have a di...
Open finance has vast potential. It promises to transform financial services for millions of people through firms using customers’ data in bigger and better ways. But to make that promise a reality, we need to look at how it works in practice. How does sharing data solve real problems for people and businesses?That’s the question we want to answer with our Smart Data Accelerator, which enables firms to showcase open finance solutions in a digital testing environment to help shape policy makin...
Our scheme is the quickest, fairest and most efficient way to compensate consumers. It is disappointing that some have decided to challenge it and delay consumers getting their money back, when for many the payouts would be very welcome this year as they face rising household bills. This also prolongs the uncertainty for all involved, which is not good for investment or a healthy motor finance market.We are considering our approach and will set out more later this week.
The FCA is seeking views on proposals to change rules that govern the publication of research during the initial public offering (IPO) process. The FCA is consulting on removing the requirement for a 7-day delay before connected research on an IPO can be published. It also consults on removing rules that require firms to provide independent analysts with the same information as their own research analysts.These rules were introduced in 2018 to encourage the production of unconnected research,...
The FCA Board appoints new members to decision-making committee. The Board of the FCA has appointed Jonathan Peddie and Raymond Cox KC as new members of the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC).The RDC is responsible for taking certain regulatory decisions on behalf of the FCA relating to contested enforcement action. Committee members bring a broad range of professional experience to support fair, independent and evidence-based decision-making.Alison Potter, the chair of the RDC, said:...
The FCA has led international action to stop illegal finfluencers putting consumers' money at risk. Seventeen regulators worldwide took part in the 'week of action' which included enforcement activity, consumer awareness campaigns, and educational programmes for finfluencers who want to act responsibly. Activity started on 20 April 2026.In the UK, the FCA:Secured a guilty plea from Geordie Shore’s Aaron Chalmers for illegal promotions on social media. Criminal proceedings have been commenced ...
Sapia has agreed to make a voluntary payment of £19,637,950 to WealthTek clients and the FCA has censured the firm. Sapia began working with WealthTek in 2013 and later appointed it as one of its appointed representatives. This resulted in Sapia holding and being responsible for protecting client money resulting from WealthTek’s activities.The FCA found Sapia did not put enough safeguards in place to protect this money.Sapia has admitted that it failed to properly separate key roles within it...
We’ve no vested interest in setting up a motor finance redress scheme. What matters to us is getting fair compensation for consumers as quickly as possible and supporting a healthy motor finance market for the future.That's what our scheme will do, and it's free for consumers to use.Learn more about our motor finance redress scheme.Any law firm or claims management company (CMC) involved in a potential challenge against the scheme that also has clients making motor finance claims should consi...
We have published findings from our Financial Adviser Survey. The findings provide an updated picture of how the UK financial advice market is evolving and what this means for firms, consumers and future growth. The survey brings together responses from more than 4,100 financial advice firms; alongside analysis of data we already hold on around 31,000 advisers.Overall, it shows a market that remains broadly stable and continues to support millions of clients, even as firms adapt to consolidat...
The FCA is looking for expressions of interest from market participants to join our advisory committee. The committee was established in 2022, and we are renewing the membership in line with our terms of reference.The purpose of the committee is to support our work in wholesale secondary markets for equities, derivatives, fixed income and commodity derivatives.The committee’s task is to:help develop reforms that improve market competition, increase consumer protection and enhance the integrit...
Speech by Sheree Howard at the APCC Spring Conference 2026. This weekend, tens of thousands of runners will line up in Greenwich Park for the start of the London Marathon.Well done to them – a Netflix marathon is much more my speed.Unlike what’s needed to prepare for a Netflix marathon – opening a bag of sweet and salty popcorn – Sunday’s runners will have been training for months. Many even years.And nearly all will have had support along the way, whether from a coach, physio or friend at a ...
Firms willbenefitfromreduced costs andgreater flexibility, andfind it easier tocomply with the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR),following reformsset outon 22 April by theFCA and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). The changes, which come as the first phase of a multi-stage package of reform from the Government and regulators, will maintain the core principle of senior leader accountability, and will benefit firms by:Giving more time to submit senior manager applications whe...
The FCA has carried out its first operation with partners to disrupt illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading across multiple London locations. Working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), the FCA targeted 8 premises suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading. The FCA issued cease and desist letters at each site, notifying traders to stop illegal activity immediately. Evidence obtained during the on-site inspections is supporting a numbe...
Speaking at UK FinTech Week, Jessica Rusu, chief data, information and intelligence officer at the FCA, has confirmed the second group of firms selected to join AI Live Testing. Eight new firms, including Barclays, Experian, Lloyds Banking Group (Scottish Widows), and UBS, have been chosen by the FCA to live test AI applications to support safe and responsible deployment.The FCA is working with its technical partner Advai, a London-based specialist in automated AI assurance, to provide AI Liv...
Speech by Jessica Rusu, FCA chief data, information and intelligence officer at IFGS. Key pointsAgentic commerce will change how financial decisions and transactions are made, demanding a fundamentally new approach.We are expanding practical support for firms through the next phase of our AI Lab.Open Finance will provide the foundations of a more intelligent financial system.We are supporting solo-regulated firms scale, with our Scale-Up unit open for expressions of interest.
Help shape financial regulation from the perspective of consumers. We are recruiting 2 new members to the Financial Services Consumer Panel, an independent statutory panel that represents the interests of consumers of financial services to the FCA.Panel members provide constructive challenge and expert advice to help ensure the consumer perspective is fully embedded in the FCA’s policy development and implementation. Members engage regularly with senior FCA colleagues, including the chair, ch...
On 16 April 2026, HDH Investment Services Limited (HDH), which advised on and arranged deals in investments, entered Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL). Dina Devalia and Tom Parish of Quantuma Advisory Limited (Quantuma) have been appointed as joint liquidators.On 20 January 2026, HDH agreed to stop carrying out any regulated activity. This was because we were concerned that HDH may have given unsuitable financial advice to some of its customers, potentially leading to financial loss.HDH ...
Under the Consumer Duty, firms must report annually on what their monitoring found about customer outcomes, and what actions they’ll take as a result.Good Consumer Duty Board reports provide clear evidence about outcomes – helping to turn governance into real change. Boards can ask better questions, hold people to account, and act quickly to make sure they aren’t causing harm or offering poor value. We’ve seen this lead firms to design better products, communicate more clearly and support the...
The FCA has finalised a simpler UK short selling regime that reduces reporting burdens for firms, while maintaining regulatory oversight. Short selling plays an important role in financial markets by supporting price formation, providing liquidity, and facilitating risk management.The new rules follow legislative changes under the Government’s repeal and replace programme, which imply that the FCA will publish aggregated data showing the overall size of net short positions in each company rat...
Crypto will be regulated in the UK from October 2027. The FCA is finalising the wider cryptoasset regime, with rules to be published this summer. Parliament has now confirmed which cryptoasset activities will fall within the scope of regulation. Building on that, the FCA is consulting on new guidance to help firms understand how they might be affected by the regulatory regime for cryptoassets.The FCA is seeking feedback on its interpretation of the following regulated cryptoasset activities:i...
The FCA has set out plans to take action against Hartley Pensions Limited and an individual involved at the firm. Hartley was a Self-Invested Personal Pension operator, which went into administration in July 2022. The FCA alleges that Hartley provided it with false and misleading information and improperly withdrew and invested substantial amounts of customers’ pension funds, without their consent, to benefit an individual at the firm.The FCA alleges that the individual dishonestly used the p...
Adverts which used edited, unauthorised clips of Martin Lewis to make misleading claims about average motor finance compensation and used the FCA logo without permission, have been banned by the FCA. Conclusive Financial Ltd (Conclusive), a claims management company (CMC), which also trades as PCP Refunds, was required to remove its advertising and update or take down its website until it complied with the FCA's rules. Conclusive has since removed the banned adverts.The FCA was also concerned...
Consumers and businesses could be given greater control over their financial data to help secure better deals, under a vision for open finance published by the FCA. Open finance will unlock the potential for people and businesses to share their financial data securely with a range of financial services providers, helping them access mortgages, investments, savings and pensions. This will give financial services firms a more complete picture of consumers’ and businesses’ finances, enabling mor...
How we're investing in data and analytics in consumer financeOur goal is regulation that is evidence-based, targeted, and achieves good outcomes for consumers. That’s why we’ve been using richer datasets and sharper data science to drive better outcomes in the consumer finance market, widen financial inclusion, and support economic growth.This blog post explains one way we've been doing that, in a proof-of-concept undertaken by the team of Isabela Barra, Daniel Bogiatzis-Gibbons, Lawrence Cha...
On 21 November 2025, we imposed restrictions on Bazar Money Transfer Limited (BMTL), preventing it from providing regulated payment services. BMTL is registered with the FCA to provide money remittance services to retail and corporate customers.As BMTL was no longer meeting the conditions for registration as a small payment institution, we acted to impose restrictions to protect consumers, preventing BMTL from carrying out any regulated payment services.Following representations made by BMTL,...
The FCA and Bank of England (Bank) invite expressions of interest from market participants to join a new taskforce. The purpose of this taskforce is to inform the design of our long-term approach to harmonising transaction and post-trade reporting requirements.The taskforce will be comprised of three separate working groups: a main Policy group, supported by a Strategy group and an Architecture group. The working groups will have the following individual objectives: Policy group:Identifying a...
We are going ahead with a scheme to compensate motor finance customers who were treated unfairly. Courts have found that firms broke the law by failing to disclose important information to customers. An industry-wide scheme is the quickest and most cost effective way to deliver fair compensation.We had over 1,000 consultation responses and engaged extensively with consumer groups, professional representatives, firms, manufacturers, investors and industry bodies. While most respondents support...
AI Analysis
The FCA has confirmed an industry-wide redress scheme to compensate motor finance customers for unfair treatment due to inadequate disclosure of commissions and ties between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, following court rulings on law-breaking practices. This matters as it imposes up to £9.1 billion in costs on lenders, mandates proactive customer identification and payouts, and aims for rapid resolution while providing finality for firms and market stability.
What Changed
- Tightened eligibility: Excludes minimal commission agreements (£120 or less pre-1 April 2014; £150 or less post), zero APRs, unused DCAs, and contractual ties where lenders prove visible...
Two schemes: Separate for 6 April 2007-31 March 2014 and 1 April 2014-1 November 2024 to mitigate legal challenges on pre-2014 powers.
Compensation adjustments: Reflects higher 2007-2014 losses; capped in ~1/3 cases to avoid over-compensation.
Streamlined operations: Lenders contact only complainants or eligible non-complainants; no recorded delivery required, cutting delivery costs >40%.
Scope expansion: Covers DCAs, high commissions, and contractual ties under Consumer Credit Act 1974 ss.140A-C; includes deceased consumers.
Suggested Considerations
Identify all in-scope agreements (2007-2024 with broker commissions); assess eligibility against tightened criteria (e.g., undisclosed DCA/high commission/tie).
Contact complainants within 3 months post-implementation; eligible non-complainants within 6 months; invite scheme participation (6-month consumer response window).
Calculate redress per formula (commission-based, capped, with interest); pay promptly, allowing set-off against customer debts where applicable.
Gather records now (FCA expectation pre-rules); handle exclusions/exceptions with explanations; prepare for FOS challenges on time-bars.
Brokers: Respond to lender information requests.
Key Dates
6 April 2007
1 November 2024; Scope of agreements eligible for compensation
26 March 2020DEADLINE
Cut-off for excluding high commission cases if clearly disclosed (firms must explain and allow FOS challenge)
2026 (this year)
Millions compensated
30 June 2026
End of implementation for 1 April 2014+ loans; lenders then have 3 months to notify complainants of redress
31 August 2026
End of implementation for 6 April 2007-31 March 2014 loans; lenders then have 3 months to notify complainants and 6 months for eligible non-complainants
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Critical – Firms face immediate preparation needs (e.g., data gathering) ahead of mid-2026 implementation, with £9.1bn costs, mass customer outreach, and legal risks from dual schemes/challenges. Non-compliance risks enforcement, as FCA expects prompt action for market finality; delays could exceed £6bn in alternative complaint/court costs.
Millions of motor finance customers will receive compensation this year under an FCA scheme for those treated unfairly by firms who broke the law by failing to disclose important information. Consumers were denied the chance to seek a better deal and, in some instances, paid more for their loan.The FCA has made several changes to the free to use scheme in response to conflicting feedback from consumers, their representatives, firms, manufacturers and industry bodies.This ensures it is fair fo...
Shojin Financial Services Limited (Shojin) is a crowdfunding platform authorised and regulated by the FCA. Shojin allowed customers to make investments that were used to fund loans toward property developments. On 23 March 2026, Shojin went into administration. Simon Carvill-Biggs and Ian Corfield of FRP Trading Advisory Limited were appointed as Joint Administrators.The Joint Administrators are responsible for acting in the best interests of the people who are owed money by Shojin, and they ...
A new taskforce will tackle poor handling of motor finance claims by some claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms, after the FCA, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) agreed to join up their efforts. The announcement comes as the FCA prepares to set out its final compensation scheme for motor finance customers.The regulators will step up efforts to share intelligence and continue to take co-ordinated ...
On 3 March 2026, we said we’d bring forward our planned review of the UK Listing Rules for Investment entities, including how they apply to board independence and related party provisions.Since then, there has been substantial debate over our role in relation to investment trusts, including calls for us to ‘get to grips’ with voting rules ‘that allow a minority shareholder to repeatedly attack an investment trust’.Much of this debate suggests there are misunderstandings about how investment t...
AI Analysis
This FCA blog post announces an accelerated review of UK Listing Rules for investment entities, focusing on board independence, related party provisions, conflicts of interest, and shareholder rights amid debates over activist minority shareholders targeting investment trusts. It matters because it clarifies the FCA's limited role (rules apply to issuers, not shareholders), reinforces Companies Act protections, and signals upcoming proposals to ensure rules fit novel scenarios like concentrated ownership, potentially impacting governance and listing compliance for investment trusts.[FCA blog]
What Changed
No immediate regulatory changes or new requirements are introduced; this is a consultation precursor outlining a planned review. The review will assess:
Application of Listing Rules to board independence and related party transactions for investment entities.
How rules, alongside company law, support shareholder rights, engagement, and conflict management (e.g., protecting against "back door takeovers" by minority activists like Saba).
Proposals will be...
Suggested Considerations
Monitor and engage: Investment trust boards/managers should track the upcoming consultation (expected end-2026) and consider submitting responses on board independence, conflicts, and shareholder protections.[FCA blog]
Review governance: Assess articles of association for voting enhancements (e.g., electronic voting, opt-ins) and ensure boards understand powers to challenge vexatious requisitions under Companies Act.[FCA blog]
Enhance shareholder engagement: Platforms and intermediaries to digitize voting processes; firms to promote high turnout (recently >80%) and clear information on director nominations.[FCA blog]
Conflict checks: Proactively manage related party issues and concentrated ownership risks in line with current Listing Rules, anticipating review focus.
Key Dates
End of 2026
- FCA to complete review and publish consultation paper with proposals.[FCA blog]
3 March 2026
- FCA announces acceleration of planned Listing Rules review for investment entities.[FCA blog]
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium. This signals future changes via consultation but imposes no immediate obligations; however, it heightens scrutiny on investment trust governance amid activist pressures, risking enforcement if conflicts or independence lapses occur pre-review. Matters for compliance teams to audit current setups against Listing Rules and Companies Act, avoiding missteps in high-profile cases like Saba campaigns, while preparing for end-2026 proposals that could tighten related party and board rules.[FCA blog]
The FCA has fined Dinosaur Merchant Bank Limited (DMBL) £338,000 for failing to put in place effective systems and controls to detect and report suspicious trading in its contracts for difference (CFD) business. CFDs are sophisticated financial products that are used to speculate on various assets going up or down in value. Given their high-risk nature, firms must have strong and reliable surveillance arrangements to prevent insider dealing and market manipulation.In June 2024, DMBL introduce...
As part of ongoing improvements to My FCA, and following the successful removal of RegData sign in at the end of last year, we have now removed direct access to Connect and the Online Invoicing System. Firms do not need to take any action. All existing RegData, Connect and Online Invoicing links and bookmarked pages will now automatically redirect to My FCA, where you can access all systems from a single homepage without signing in again. This makes managing your regulatory tasks quicker and ...
We sympathise with former members of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) who lost money after they were given unsuitable advice from people they trusted. Complaints are a valuable source of feedback which help us improve and learn. There have also been 4 independent reports into the BSPS since 2018, which have helped us learn lessons. We have accepted several of their recommendations and implemented improvements, including those below.We now have much closer collaboration between the FCA,...
AI Analysis
The FCA's response to the Complaint Commissioner's report on the British Steel Pension Scheme addresses systemic failures in pension transfer advice that affected approximately 7,700 members, with 47% receiving unsuitable advice. This statement demonstrates the FCA's acknowledgment of regulatory shortcomings and outlines remedial measures implemented to prevent similar harm, including enhanced inter-agency collaboration, stricter product governance rules, and a £106 million redress scheme now benefiting 1,870 affected members.
What Changed
The FCA has implemented the following regulatory and operational changes in response to BSPS failures:
Enhanced inter-agency collaboration: Closer coordination between the FCA, The Pensions Regulator, Pension Protection Fund, and Money and Pensions Service to improve intelligence sharing on defined...
Data collection and monitoring: Expanded collection of pension transfer data from advisory firms to proactively identify emerging risks and market trends
Contingent charging ban: Prohibition of contingent charging arrangements for DB pension transfers to eliminate conflicts of interest where adviser compensation depends on transfer completion
Consumer transparency tool: Development of a self-assessment mechanism enabling consumers to identify whether they may have received unsuitable DB pension transfer advice
Suggested Considerations
*For firms that provided DB pension transfer advice:
*Conduct retrospective suitability reviews of all DB pension transfer advice provided, particularly during 2015-2018, identifying unsuitable recommendations
*Calculate and pay redress to affected customers to restore them to their pre-transfer financial position, with reference to the FSCS redress methodology
*Implement enhanced governance for DB pension transfer advice, including:
Documented suitability assessments with clear rationale
Key Dates
Late 2017
- FCA received initial intelligence about poor pension transfer advice quality
December 2018
- FCA published initial findings showing less than 50% of reviewed advice was suitable
May 2020
- FCA directed 45 firms to conduct suitability assessments (Past Business Reviews)
April 2022
- FCA imposed asset retention rules for DB pension transfers
April 2023
- BSPS redress scheme formally introduced, requiring firms to review advice suitability and pay redress
On 25 March 2026, following a petition filed by the FCA, the High Court ordered that Equity for Growth (Securities) Limited (EFG) be wound up. EFG is a corporate finance firm. EFG was also a principal for a number of appointed representatives between 2015 and 2020, including Amyma Ltd and Osborne Baldwin Ltd, which traded as Hunter Jones.An appointed representative carries on regulated activity under the responsibility of an authorised firm, known as 'the principal'. Find more information on ...
We have set out plans for using AI to speed up authorisations, testing new tools to identify key risks earlier, with our people remaining at the heart of decision-making. The new authorisation tool is being developed internally and will be integrated into existing FCA systems.It forms part of our annual work programme 2026/27, which lays out how we’re accelerating our ambition to be a smarter, more data-driven regulator.We will also use generative AI to support our efforts to modernise regula...
More people could access financial advice, under proposals set out by FCA. The FCA is consulting on how to make it easier for firms to give more simplified forms of individualised financial advice to consumers.Simplified forms of advice can help consumers with more straightforward needs and do not require a full assessment of all their financial circumstances, making it more accessible and affordable.Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive of the FCA, said:'For too long the support people nee...
We will set out our approach on motor finance redress shortly after markets close on Monday 30 March, having consulted on a compensation scheme in October 2025.
AI Analysis
The FCA is scheduling its announcement on a proposed motor finance redress scheme—addressing historical commission disclosure failures in car loans—for shortly after markets close on Monday, 30 March 2026, following a consultation launched in October 2025. This matters because it signals imminent final rules that could impose up to GBP11 billion in costs on lenders, affecting millions of consumers and requiring urgent operational preparations to ensure timely payouts in 2026.
What Changed
- Introduction of a 3-month implementation period for most firms, extendable to 5 months for older motor finance agreements, to handle the scheme's scale and complexity.
Streamlined consumer journey: Pre-scheme complainants no longer need to opt out; lenders must notify them of owed compensation within 3 months post-implementation, with immediate acceptance options...
Removal of mandatory recorded delivery for customer communications, allowing flexible channels with fraud safeguards.
No final decision yet on proceeding, but likely modifications based on over 1,000 consultation responses, including backlash from lenders.
Suggested Considerations
Review and prepare systems: Firms must gear up for redress calculations, notifications, and payouts within the 3-5 month implementation window; voluntary early processing encouraged.
Monitor complaints: Advise customers to complain directly (avoiding CMCs to prevent 30%+ fee losses); process pre-scheme complaints under forthcoming rules.
Assess provisions: Quantify exposure (e.g., GBP11 billion industry-wide estimate) and update financial reserves, as done by Santander/Lloyds.
Compliance checks: Ensure communication channels meet fraud safeguards; cease non-compliant practices per FCA interventions.
Stakeholder engagement: Track the 30 March announcement (confirmed date forthcoming) and respond to any residual consultation feedback.
Key Dates
October 2025
Consultation on compensation scheme launched
~June 2026 (3 months post
announcement) - End of standard implementation period; lenders notify consumers of redress
~August 2026 (5 months for older agreements)DEADLINE
Extended implementation deadline
~September 2026 (3 months post
implementation) - Consumers informed of compensation amounts
30 March 2026 (shortly after markets close)
FCA to publish final rules/approach on motor finance redress
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – With the announcement just 6 days away (as of 24 March 2026), firms have minimal time to finalize preparations amid GBP11 billion cost risks, market disruption warnings, and lender pushback; delays could amplify redress delays, fines, or consumer harm claims.
We are reminding regulated firms they need to undertake proper checks when dealing with unregulated lenders, safe custody providers, money brokers and financial leasing companies – also known as 'Annex 1' firms. There are around 1,200 of these firms registered with us for solely anti-money laundering purposes. Our powers are currently limited to looking at how these firms are meeting their anti-money laundering obligations and they are not subject to our wider rulebook. This regime is based o...
AI Analysis
The FCA statement reminds regulated firms to perform robust due diligence on 'Annex 1' firms—unregulated lenders, safe custody providers, money brokers, and financial leasing companies registered solely for AML purposes—due to their limited oversight and heightened financial crime risks. This matters because Annex 1 firms (approx. 1,200) are not subject to FCA's full rulebook, conduct rules, or protections like the Financial Ombudsman Service, exposing regulated firms to contagion risks if they fail to manage interactions properly. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory scrutiny, enforcement, or reputational damage amid FCA's ongoing AML focus.
What Changed
No new rules or legislative changes are introduced; this is a supervisory reminder reinforcing existing obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs). It emphasizes enhanced due diligence on Annex 1 firms, referencing the 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA) for risk management. The FCA highlights proactive engagement, including a 2024 letter to CEOs and follow-up with 300 firms in late 2025, signaling intensified supervision without altering the registration-only regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act.
Suggested Considerations
Verify Annex 1 registration status directly from the firm and via independent checks (e.g., FCA Register).
Understand the Annex 1 firm's business model, products, and risks, aligning with MLRs and 2025 NRA.
Manage identified risks, such as AML deficiencies or consumer encouragement into limited company structures for unregulated lending.
Document due diligence to demonstrate compliance, integrating into broader financial crime frameworks (e.g., BWRA/CRA per FCA findings).
Key Dates
2024
FCA letter to CEOs of Annex 1 firms raising AML concerns.; - **Late 2025 - FCA follow-up engagement with 300 Annex 1 firms.**
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – This amplifies existing AML due diligence requirements amid FCA's 2025-30 financial crime strategy, with evidence of supervisory action (2024 letter, 2025 follow-ups). Failure risks enforcement, as Annex 1 interactions could facilitate financial crime or consumer harm without FOS protections; firms should audit exposures immediately to align with BWRA/CRA expectations and avoid findings like those in FCA's risk assessment review.
We have opened an enforcement investigation into Market Financial Solutions Limited (MFS). MFS is an Annex 1 business, which is solely registered with and supervised by us for its compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.Annex 1 registered firms are not authorised or subject to wider FCA regulation.MFS entered administration on 25 February 2026.
AI Analysis
The FCA has opened an enforcement investigation into Market Financial Solutions Limited (MFS) following the firm's entry into administration on 25 February 2026, amid allegations of serious financial irregularities, fraud, and double-pledging of collateral. This investigation is significant because it represents regulatory scrutiny of an Annex 1 business—a firm with limited FCA oversight—whose collapse exposed structural weaknesses in private credit markets and raised questions about due diligence practices across the financial sector.
What Changed
The FCA's enforcement investigation does not introduce new regulatory requirements but rather represents the regulator's response to alleged breaches of existing obligations.
Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017: MFS's primary regulatory obligation as an Annex 1 registered firm.
Suggested Considerations
*For MFS and its Administrators:
Cooperate fully with the FCA enforcement investigation
Preserve all documentation related to AML/CTF compliance, customer due diligence, and transaction monitoring
Provide access to bank accounts, transaction records, and compliance files to investigators
Respond to FCA information requests within specified timeframes
Key Dates
25 February 2026
- MFS entered administration
20 March 2026
- FCA enforcement investigation opened (current date context)
No specific deadline providedDEADLINE
for investigation completion or enforcement action
Speech by Nikhil Rathi, FCA chief executive, at the JP Morgan Pensions and Savings Symposium 2026. Last year, I spoke about the importance of getting on the right track.That if we want better consumer outcomes – as well as stronger capital markets to support growth – we need to think beyond individual products and look at the whole financial journey.How pensions interact with housing wealth…How savings interact with advice…And how all these decisions evolve across a lifetime.Over the past yea...
We have restricted Beauforce Corporation Limited from carrying out any regulated activities. This means it cannot provide regulated debt advice or debt management services to consumers. We have also ordered the firm to return money held in its bank accounts to its clients.We’ve taken this action following concerns about the suitability of the firm’s senior management and its conduct in dealing with us. Read the full Notice (PDF)
We’ve confirmed new rules to make existing incident and third party reporting clearer, more consistent, and easier for firms to follow. These new rules will help us respond quickly to disruption such as a cyber attack or power outage, give firms greater certainty on what to report and when and strengthen firm resilience to better protect consumers and markets.Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, and firms are increasingly reliant on third party providers. In 2025, ...
We’ve reached a significant milestone in our joint work with the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Government to modernise the redress systemso that consumers get fair outcomes quicker and firms have greater clarity about how issues will be handled.We’re delivering change at speed by acting now within our current powers, with a focus on improving how the system works in practice. This includes a new registration stage for complaints, updated dismissal grounds and clearer guidance on the fai...
AI Analysis
The FCA, in collaboration with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and the Government, has announced modernization of the UK's financial redress system to accelerate consumer compensation and provide firms with greater regulatory clarity. This initiative represents a fundamental shift in how complaints are registered, assessed, and resolved, with immediate implementation underway within existing FCA powers and broader legislative reforms planned.
What Changed
The redress system modernization introduces several structural and procedural reforms:
Registration Stage for Complaints
A new formal registration stage has been introduced to standardize how complaints enter the system, improving tracking and early identification of systemic issues across firms and markets.
Updated Dismissal Grounds
The FCA has revised the criteria for dismissing complaints, providing clearer standards that should reduce disputes about complaint admissibility and improve consistency in decision-making.
Enhanced Fair and Reasonable Test Guidance
Clearer guidance on how the...
Suggested Considerations
*Immediate Operational Priorities (Pre-May 2026):
*Governance and Accountability
Appoint senior managers with explicit accountability for complaints handling and redress programmes
Establish board-level oversight structures with regular reporting on complaints volumes, redress calculations, and regulatory compliance
Document decision-making frameworks for complaint eligibility and dismissal grounds
Key Dates
Before end of 2026
- Consumers expected to begin receiving compensation under motor finance scheme
End of March 2026
- FCA expected to publish final rules and guidance for motor finance redress scheme, confirming scope, calculation methodologies, and timescales
31 May 2026DEADLINE
- Complaints pause lifts for DCA-related motor finance complaints; standard 8-week response deadline resumes
Mid
2026 onwards; - Motor finance compensation payments anticipated to commence
KasimGaripoglu has been banned from working in UK financial services. The FCA found he is not fit and proper because of his lack of honesty and integrity. Mr Garipoglu is the owner of a firm that provided online trading of foreign exchange and contracts.Between April 2012 and December 2022, including when Mr Garipoglu was the chief executive and director at the firm and an approved person, he repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for regulatory requirements, undermined compliance and anti‑money...
On 9 March 2026, the High Court placed Concept Capital Group (CCG) into administration. BTG are the administrators of the company. In July 2025, the FCA announced High Court proceedings against CCG and others over an alleged unauthorised investment scheme. CCG has been under a court order that temporarily froze its assets since then.CCG had promoted investments in static homes. CCG claimed these would be let to social housing tenants placed by local councils. Investors were promised fixed ret...
Lenders and brokers in thesecond charge mortgagemarket need toconsiderhow theyadvise customers, assess affordability and charge fees. An FCA review has found that weaknesses in some firms’ practices could put borrowers, particularly those consolidating debt, at increased risk of financial harm.Second charge mortgages are often used by customers with high existing levels of debt and low financial resilience. The FCA’s review found examples of good practice across the sector but also issues tha...
On 23 January 2026, the FCA imposed requirements on Sendsii Ltd which prevent them from carrying out any regulated activity. The FCA has issued a First Supervisory Notice to Sendsii Ltd after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) suspended the firm’s registration on 9 October 2025. The suspension means that Sendsii Ltd no longer met the conditions required for its FCA authorisation under the Payment Services Regulations 2017.These requirements prevent Sendsii Ltd from carrying out any regulated activ...
Rajinder Gill and accomplices have been sentenced for their involvement in a sale-and-rent-back scheme. Mr Gill has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for running a sale-and-rent-back scheme without being authorised and illegally providing credit agreements and mortgages. As accomplices in the scheme, Amandeep Heer received a community order for 2 years with a condition of 250 hours of unpaid work, and Jetinder Sandhu has completed 100 hours' unpaid work over 12 months (as a con...
Speech by David Geale, executive director, payments and digital finance, and PSR managing director at the MoneyLIVE Summit 2026, London. ConsolidationRule 1 is ‘Out of clutter, find simplicity.’The Government announced its intention to consolidate the PSR into the FCA about a year ago. It was a decision we welcomed.Our work has always been complementary, and we made it work.As an economic regulator, the PSR is focused on getting the foundations right – the payment systems and infrastructure t...
We have appointed 2 new senior leaders, further strengthening our capability across key areas of our remit. Chris Knight will join us in July 2026 as director of insurance within our Supervision, Policy and Competition (SPC) division. He joins the FCA from Legal & General, where he has been the group chief risk officer for the last 5 years and member of the Group management committee. Prior to this, he was CEO of Legal & General Retail Retirement for 3 years.David Lymburn joined the Payment S...
We're concerned that HDH Investment Services Limited may have given unsuitable financial advice to some of its customers, potentially leading to financial loss. We recently placed restrictions on HDH Investment Services Limited (HDH). From 20 January 2026, HDH agreed to stop carrying out all regulated activities. This now means the firm can't give investment advice.HDH also agreed to write to all customers to explain what these restrictions mean for them. What customers should do nowIf you th...
Speech by Lucy Castledine, director of consumer investments, at the TISA Inclusive Investing Conference 2026. Speaker: Lucy Castledine, director, consumer investmentsEvent: TISA Inclusive Investing Conference 2026Delivered: 4 March 2026Note: this is the speech as drafted and may differ from the delivered version.Reading time: 11 minutesKey points:Consumer investments are a cornerstone of the UK economy, with over 5,000 authorised firms and their representatives, serving 19 million adults – ar...
John Wood Group PLC (Wood Group) has been fined £12,993,700 for publishing inaccurate information in its financial results. Following the poor performance of certain projects, Wood Group’s accounting judgements were inappropriately influenced by its desire to maintain previously stated financial results. Wood Group did not have adequate systems, controls or procedures to prevent this from happening.This resulted in Wood Group publishing inaccurate information in its full-year 2022 and 2023 fi...
We'd also streamline the scheme, so millions get compensation in 2026. We're considering over 1,000 responses to our proposals for a compensation scheme for motor finance customers who were treated unfairly.If we proceed with a scheme, we are likely to make several changes. If we do go ahead, we expect to publish final rules in late March. The timing of publication will be outside market hours and we'll confirm the date in advance. Final decisions on the scheme have not yet been made. But to ...
AI Analysis
The FCA is implementing a **streamlined motor finance compensation scheme** to address unfair commission disclosure practices, with final rules expected in late March 2026 and scheme launch in early 2026. This represents a major regulatory intervention affecting approximately 14 million motor finance agreements with estimated total redress costs of £8.2 billion, requiring immediate operational preparation by all lenders and finance providers.
What Changed
The FCA's streamlined approach introduces several material modifications to the original compensation scheme proposal:
Process Streamlining
Automatic opt-in for prior complainants: Customers who complained before scheme launch will no longer be asked to opt out.
Immediate acceptance of offers: Consumers can accept redress offers immediately rather than waiting for final determinations.
Flexible communication channels: Firms are no longer required to use recorded delivery; alternative channels with fraud safeguards are permitted.
Implementation Timeline
Three-month standard implementation period from scheme launch, with up to five months for older agreements to allow adequate data review and calculation accuracy.
Suggested Considerations
*Immediate Priorities (Q1 2026):
*Data Integrity Assessment: Conduct comprehensive audit of historic motor finance agreements to identify eligible customers and validate transactional data completeness, particularly for older agreements.
The latest report from the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) finds there is still room for improvement. The anti-money laundering supervisors of professional services firms are more effective than at any time since 2018. However, OPBAS remains concerned that their enforcement lacks the teeth to deter firms from falling short of minimum standards.OPBAS’s latest report found Professional Body Supervisors (PBSs) generally continue to demonstrate good levels o...
We are bringing forward a review of some aspects of the UK Listing Rules to consider how they apply to specific types of investment entities. As part of the Primary Markets EffectivenessReviewwe explored which types of investment entities could be eligible to be listed. Since introducing the new listingruleswe have heard from stakeholders that these eligibility criteria, particularlyregardingrisk-spreading, may be unduly restrictive. We will use this review to assess if changes should be made...
AI Analysis
The FCA is conducting a targeted review of UK Listing Rules applicable to investment entities, with particular focus on whether current risk-spreading eligibility criteria are unduly restrictive and how rules support shareholder rights and conflict management. This review represents a potential material shift in listing accessibility for alternative investment funds and closed-ended investment vehicles, with final proposals expected by end-2026.
What Changed
The FCA's review addresses three primary areas:
Risk-Spreading Eligibility Criteria
Stakeholders have flagged that current risk-spreading requirements in the new listing rules may be overly restrictive for certain investment entity types. The FCA will assess whether modifications are warranted to broaden eligibility for investment entities seeking primary market access.
Shareholder Rights and Board Governance
The review will examine how listing rules, in conjunction with company law, ensure boards adequately support shareholder rights, facilitate shareholder engagement, and manage conflicts...
Suggested Considerations
*Immediate (Q1 2026):
*Monitor FCA consultation announcements for publication of the consultation paper on listing rules modifications
*Assess current compliance posture against existing risk-spreading criteria to identify potential gaps or restrictive elements
*Document shareholder engagement frameworks and conflict-of-interest management procedures to prepare for governance review
*During consultation period:
Key Dates
End of 2026
- FCA to complete review and issue final rules
Q2 2026 (estimated)
- Consultation paper publication (FCA indicates "proposals in a consultation paper" without specific date, but typical FCA consultation windows are 8-12 weeks)
H2 2026
- Final rules expected following consultation period
Firms can now apply for permission to provide targeted support. Targeted support is a once in a generation change that will help millions navigate their financial lives. From 6 April 2026, people’s banks, pension providers, or other financial firms that are authorised for targeted support can provide suggestions designed for groups of consumers with common characteristics. This will help them make important decisions across their pensions and investments.We want authorised firms to be ready t...
Speech by Nikhil Rathi, FCA chief executive, at the Goldman Sachs EMEA Head of Trading conference 2026. And as we roll with the punches, we also shouldn’t sell ourselves short.We gained ground last year - London just one point behind New York in the latest Global Financial Centres Index.There is understandable focus on equities market share and listings, where we have delivered far-reaching regulatory reforms.But on FX trading, international debt issuance, OTC derivatives, parts of commoditie...
The Payments Vision Delivery Committee (the Committee) has published the Payments Forward Plan (the Plan). Read the Plan on GOV.UKThe Committee comprises:HM TreasuryBank of EnglandFinancial Conduct AuthorityPayment Systems RegulatorThe Plan sets out upcoming initiatives across retail and wholesale payments, including elements of digital assets. Recent publications on open banking, stablecoins and contactless limits, alongside the initiatives in the Plan, show the high level of activity across...
AI Analysis
The Payments Vision Delivery Committee—comprising HM Treasury, Bank of England, FCA, and Payment Systems Regulator—has published the **Payments Forward Plan**, a three-year regulatory roadmap for retail, wholesale payments, and digital assets, aligning with the UK's National Payments Vision for a trusted, innovative ecosystem. This matters for compliance teams as it provides sequencing and milestones for multiple initiatives, enabling proactive planning amid high regulatory activity, including PSR consolidation into FCA and infrastructure upgrades. It signals coordinated efforts to boost competition, resilience, and innovation while minimizing sector capacity strain.[FCA publication]
What Changed
No immediate binding regulatory changes are imposed by the Plan itself; it is a forward-looking roadmap outlining planned initiatives rather than new rules. Key elements include:
Modernisation of payments framework: Consolidation of PSR into FCA, with HMT consultation response in Q1 2026; data/operational enhancements to Faster Payments and Bacs by end-2026.
Infrastructure upgrades: Short-term resilience improvements to Faster Payments and Bacs (end-2026); exploration of regulated stablecoins for on-chain settlement (H1 2026).
Safeguarding enhancements: FCA Supplementary Regime effective May 2026, with engagement Jan-Apr 2026.
Standards and open banking: Industry input on standards body (Feb-Mar 2026 assessment); HMT Data (Use and Access) Act SI in Q4 2026.
Suggested Considerations
Review the full Plan on GOV.UK (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/699f2bc6c497bac082bc76bc/Payments_Forward_Plan_.pdf) and map initiatives to your firm's operations, prioritizing safeguarding, infrastructure, and stablecoins.
Engage proactively: Provide FCA views on standards body (by Feb 2026); participate in Jan-Apr 2026 safeguarding engagement; prepare for VRP rollout (live payments expected Q1 2026).
Stablecoin firms: Submit sandbox applications by 18 Jan 2026.
Monitor and plan: Track Regulatory Initiatives Grid for 2027; assess capacity for sequenced initiatives; ensure compliance readiness for May 2026 safeguarding rules and end-2026 infrastructure changes.
Internal audit: Evaluate current adherence to PSRs/EMRs, especially safeguarding, ahead of consolidation.
Key Dates
Q1 2026
HMT consultation response on PSR consolidation into FCA
Spring 2026
HMT update on Consumer Credit Act reform
18 January 2026DEADLINE
Deadline for stablecoin issuers to apply to FCA regulatory sandbox; (related push for innovation)
May 2026
FCA Supplementary Regime for safeguarding comes into force
H1 2026
Bank/FCA exploration of regulated stablecoins for on-chain settlement
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium. This is a planning document, not enforceable rules, but its milestones trigger near-term actions (e.g., Q1 2026 engagements, May 2026 safeguarding). It matters because it coordinates high-activity areas like PSR-FCA merger and stablecoins, reducing surprises but demanding resource allocation for innovation/resilience amid sector capacity constraints. Firms delaying review risk missing input opportunities or readiness gaps, especially with VRP/stablecoin momentum.
The FCA has chosen 4 companies to test how their stablecoin services work with proposed regulation in a safe environment. The stablecoins cohort is part of our commitment to supporting growth and innovation in UK financial services. 20 applications were received and the FCA has chosen the following firms:Monee Financial TechnologiesReStabiliseRevolutVVTXThe Regulatory Sandbox programme allows firms to trial stablecoin products in real world conditions with appropriate safeguards. It will help...
Lenders could have access to more comprehensive information to support lending decisions, under new proposals by the FCA. The FCA is consulting on designating certain credit reference agencies (CRAs). If a lender shares credit information with one designated consumer CRA, it would be required to share it with them all.The changes aim to close gaps in consumers’ credit files and ensure these more accurately reflect people’s financial circumstances.Alison Walters, director of consumer finance a...
We've launched our new Regulatory Priorities reports, starting with the insurance sector. This marks a new approach that will help to transform our supervision and streamline regulation.We expect regulated firms to follow the rules and stay informed about any changes. This is important for maintaining a safe and resilient market. Our mission to be a smarter regulator means reducing burden where we can, so that firms can get the information they need as efficiently as possible.Our Regulatory P...
We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent Football Regulator (IFR). The MoU establishes how the 2 organisations will work together and support effective regulation where football and financial services intersect.It also sets out a high-level framework for principles for cooperation between the IFR and the FCA.Read the MoU (PDF)
AI Analysis
The FCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the newly established Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to define cooperation on regulating intersections between football clubs and financial services, such as ownership suitability, licensing, and financial sustainability. This matters for compliance professionals as it formalizes information sharing and joint oversight, potentially impacting firms involved in football-related financing, investments, or consumer credit products tied to sports. It supports the Football Governance Act 2025 framework, enhancing regulatory alignment where financial misconduct could affect club operations.[https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/mou-independent-football-regulator-fca]
What Changed
- Establishes a high-level framework of principles for cooperation between FCA and IFR, focusing on effective regulation at the football-financial services nexus.
Outlines how the organizations will work together, including information sharing on matters like club owners' financial dealings, licensing compliance, and enforcement where financial services...
Builds on prior MoUs (e.g., FCA-UKGC models) by addressing regulatory overlaps, with IFR gaining powers for investigations, enforcement sanctions, and revenue distribution resolutions under the...
Suggested Considerations
Review and map exposures: Firms should assess football-related client portfolios for IFR overlap (e.g., loans to clubs, owner financing) and prepare for dual FCA-IFR scrutiny.
Enhance information sharing protocols: Update compliance policies to respond promptly to IFR requests for data on regulated activities (e.g., under IFR's clause 65 powers), mirroring FCA's existing MoU frameworks.[https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/mou-independent-football-regulator-fca]
Incorporate IFR factors in due diligence: For owner suitability, align with IFR tests (fit/proper custodians, resource adequacy); flag potential divestment risks in advisory services.
Monitor joint enforcement: Participate in escalation procedures if disputes arise, ensuring internal records of regulatory remit discussions.
Key Dates
2025
Football Governance Act 2025 enactment; Establishes IFR statutory powers, including provisional/full club licensing from this date onward
Ongoing
IFR licensing rollout; Clubs transition from provisional to full licenses once threshold conditions (e.g., financial resources, owner suitability) met; no fixed end-date
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium – This MoU does not impose new binding rules or deadlines but signals heightened cross-regulator focus on football finances post-Football Governance Act 2025, risking enforcement overlaps or info requests. It matters for firms with niche exposures (e.g., sports financing) to avoid gaps in owner due diligence or financial promotions, potentially amplifying AML/conduct risks amid IFR's divestment powers.
Seven social media influencers have been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for their role in the promotion of an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme. Biggs Chris, Jamie Clayton, Lauren Goodger, Rebecca Gormley, Yazmin Oukhellou, Scott Timlin and Eva Zapico all pleaded guilty to one count of issuing unauthorised financial promotions.The outcomes were:Lauren Goodger was fined £3,750 and ordered to pay costs of £5,778.18.Biggs Chris was fined £600 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.Jam...
Our clarification about forbearance following the introduction of the new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations (POATRs) regime. On 19 January 2026, the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations (POATRs) regime and associated changes to our listing processes in the UK Listing Rules (UKLR) came into force. These changes introduced a requirement in the Prospectus Regime Manual (PRM 1.6.4R) for issuers to notify a Regulatory Information Service (RIS) of any admission to t...
AI Analysis
The FCA's statement clarifies forbearance on overlapping notification requirements for admissions to trading under the new POATRs regime effective 19 January 2026, addressing confusion from removed block listing exemptions in UKLR. It matters because it provides temporary relief from duplicative RIS notifications for frequent issuers, preventing unintended supervisory burdens while the FCA consults on rule amendments.
What Changed
- POATRs and UKLR Updates: Effective 19 January 2026, PRM 1.6.4R requires issuers to notify a Regulatory Information Service (RIS) of any admission to trading within 60 days, allowing grouping of...
Overlapping UKLR Rules: Provisions in UKLR 6.4.4R(4), 13.3.20R(4), 14.3.17R(4), 16.3.16R(4), and 22.2.17R(4) require "as soon as possible" RIS notifications for new equity issues or public offers,...
Forbearance Policy: FCA will not take enforcement action for non-compliance with the "as soon as possible" rules for securities under prior block listings (unissued/offered before 19 January 2026,...
Upcoming Consultation: FCA intends to consult "shortly" on removing the conflicting UKLR provisions, aligning solely with PRM 1.6.4R's 60-day requirement.
Suggested Considerations
Review ongoing/future issuances against former block listing criteria: confirm securities unissued pre-19 January 2026 and same purpose to rely on forbearance.
Implement PRM 1.6.4R: Notify RIS within 60 days of any admission to trading, grouping where possible.
Monitor FCA announcements for consultation launch and updates; prepare responses if issuing frequently.
Document reliance on forbearance (e.g., internal memos linking to original block listing) for audit trails.
No immediate "as soon as possible" notifications needed under forbearance for qualifying cases.
Key Dates
19 January 2026
- POATRs regime and UKLR changes effective, including PRM 1.6.4R (60-day RIS notification) and deletion of UKLR 20.6 block listings
19 January 2026DEADLINE
- Cut-off for securities under former block listings to qualify for forbearance (must not have been issued/offered prior)
Shortly after February 2026
- FCA consultation on removing UKLR 6.4.4R(4) and equivalents (no exact date specified)
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium - Forbearance reduces immediate risk of enforcement for qualifying issuers, but ongoing POATRs compliance (60-day notifications) is mandatory. Matters for operational efficiency, as misalignment could lead to duplicative reporting costs; non-qualifying issuances risk breaches until consultation resolves.
The Upper Tribunal has upheld the FCA's decisions to ban Stephen Joseph Burdett and James Paul Goodchild from working in financial services. Mr Burdett and Mr Goodchild previously held senior roles at Synergy Wealth Limited (Synergy) and Westbury Private Clients LLP (Westbury), respectively.The FCA banned the pair from working in regulated financial services for recklessly exposing pension holders to unsuitable investments.The Tribunal also found that it was appropriate for the FCA to impose ...
The FCA has fined Richard Howson £237,700 for his part in misleading statements being issued by Carillion plc. As group chief executive, Mr Howson was aware of serious financial troubles in Carillion’s UK construction business. He failed to reflect this in company announcements or alert its board and audit committee, leading to poor oversight.The fine was imposed after Mr Howson withdrew his challenge to the FCA’s decision.Mr Howson was one of two executive directors on Carillion’s Board. His...
We have signed an Exchange of Letters with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). IFSCA is the unified regulator for financial institutions operating in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s first international financial services centre.This agreement affirms both authorities’ commitment to develop our regulatory relationship.Download our letter (PDF)The letters set out the intention to share regulatory knowledge and best practice to support the ...
AI Analysis
The FCA has signed an Exchange of Letters with India's IFSCA, the regulator for GIFT City, to foster regulatory cooperation, knowledge sharing, and stronger links between UK financial markets and GIFT City. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals expanding cross-border ties, potentially easing market access and harmonizing standards for firms operating between the UK and India, amid the FCA's broader global outreach strategy. No binding rules are imposed, but it sets the stage for future alignment in areas like fintech and financial services.
What Changed
There are no direct regulatory changes or new requirements imposed by this Exchange of Letters. It is a non-binding agreement focused on:
Sharing regulatory knowledge and best practices.
Supporting financial services development in both jurisdictions.
Promoting links between GIFT City and UK markets.
The letters affirm commitment to developing the regulatory relationship, with an additional step of posting an FCA Financial Services Attaché to the...
Suggested Considerations
binding nature. Recommended proactive steps for compliance teams:
Review and download the full Exchange of Letters (PDF available via FCA site) to understand shared priorities.
Assess current India/GIFT City exposures and prepare for potential future information-sharing requests or aligned standards.
Monitor FCA news for follow-up developments, such as joint guidance on fintech or market access https://www.fca.org.uk/news.
Engage with FCA international teams if planning cross-border activities in GIFT City.
Key Dates
Later in 2026
- Posting of FCA Financial Services Attaché to British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai to support regulatory relationship development [FCA publication]
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Low - This is a cooperative MoU-style letter exchange without immediate rules, penalties, or obligations, posing minimal disruption risk. It matters strategically for long-term planning, as it could lead to simplified compliance for UK-India activities (e.g., reduced dual-regulation friction) and aligns with FCA's pattern of global pacts that indirectly shape supervisory expectations. Firms with India exposure should note it for horizon scanning, but no urgent resourcing is needed.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) borrowers will benefit from stronger protections from 15 July 2026, following the Government's decision to bring the sector under the FCA's regulation. BNPL will be subject to the Consumer Duty and consumers will benefit from:Clear information: Consumers will get clear, upfront details about their agreement, including when payments will be due, amounts, and what happens if they miss a payment.Affordability checks: Lenders must carry out proportionate checks to make su...
The FCA has begun legal proceedings against global crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi) for illegally promoting cryptoasset services to UK consumers. Access documents on this claim on the FCA websiteFirms providing crypto products to UK consumers need to comply with rules which protect consumers from unfair and misleading marketing. Advertising cryptoassets on social media or websites without complying with these rules is a criminal offence.Since the rules came into force in October 2023, the...
FCA v Huobi Global S.A. and Others. On 21 October 2025, the FCA commenced proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court against the following parties:HUOBI GLOBAL S.A.(a company incorporated in Panama)PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are the owner of, controller and/or the persons currently in control of all or part of www.htx.com and/or its associated mobile applications (“the HTX Exchange”))PERSONS UNKNOWN (who are the legal and/or natural persons defined as the HTX Operators in the HTX Platfo...
AI Analysis
The FCA has initiated civil proceedings in the High Court against Huobi Global S.A. (HTX, formerly Huobi) and multiple categories of "Persons Unknown" for unlawfully promoting cryptoasset services to UK consumers without authorisation, breaching the financial promotions regime. This action underscores the FCA's aggressive enforcement against unauthorised crypto entities targeting UK retail investors, signaling heightened scrutiny on overseas platforms. Compliance teams must note this as evidence of the regulator's willingness to pursue novel legal strategies like "Persons Unknown" claims to enforce compliance extraterritorially.[https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/htx-huobi-legal-proceedings]
What Changed
This is not a policy change but an enforcement action highlighting existing requirements under the UK's financial promotions regime (effective October 2023 for cryptoassets), which mandates FCA registration under anti-money laundering (AML) rules and compliance with promotion standards for all firms—domestic or foreign—marketing to UK consumers. Key elements include prohibitions on unauthorised promotions, with the FCA now using High Court proceedings to target operators, owners, controllers, and even future controllers up to 31 October 2028.
Suggested Considerations
Immediate audit: Review all crypto-related promotions, websites, apps, and social media for UK targeting (e.g., IP geo-fencing, language, consumer references); cease any unauthorised activity.
Self-identification: If potentially a "Person Unknown," contact FCA at [email protected] for documents (Claim Form, Particulars, etc.).
Compliance checks: Ensure AML registration and promotions regime adherence; authorised firms must verify third-party partnerships.
Social media monitoring: Halt or geoblock UK access for listed platforms; document controls.
Reporting: Disclose to FCA if operating in UK; apply for authorisation via FCA team if intending regulated activities.
- FCA commences proceedings via Claim Form in Chancery Division, High Court
22 October 2025
- Application Notice for service out of jurisdiction/alternative means
4 February 2026
- High Court (Deputy Master Dovar) grants permission to serve proceedings out of jurisdiction and by alternative means
31 October 2028
- Cut-off for "Persons Unknown" category covering new owners/controllers/promoters.[https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/htx-huobi-legal-proceedings]
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - This sets a precedent for extraterritorial enforcement via "Persons Unknown" claims, extending liability to unidentified/future actors, which amplifies risks for non-UK crypto firms. It matters because post-October 2023 rules have seen positive compliance from most, but FCA vows action against outliers, potentially leading to injunctions, fines, or asset freezes; authorised firms face contagion risks via associations.[https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/htx-huobi-legal-proceedings]
The FCA has fined Dipesh Kerai and Bhavesh Hirani for insider dealing in shares of Bidstack Group Plc. Mr Kerai has been fined £52,731, and Mr Hirani has been fined £56,000.In December 2021, Mr Hirani was the interim Chief Financial Officer at Bidstack, a company that placed advertising inside video games. This meant he had access to inside information about a major upcoming deal between Bidstack and a large video game publisher.Before it was announced to the public, Mr Hirani passed this con...
We have published a letter to trade associations to provide an update in the development of a Future Entity (FE) for open banking. The letter confirms the appointment of KPMG to provide an independent assessment of proposals to establish a standards-setting body for UK open banking APIs that is capable of becoming the Future Entity. It explains the purpose and scope of the assessment, the respective roles of the FCA, industry, trade associations and the independent assessor, and how firms can...
AI Analysis
The FCA has appointed KPMG to conduct an independent assessment of proposals for establishing a **Future Entity** – a standards-setting body for UK open banking APIs that will replace Open Banking Limited. This initiative is critical because it establishes the governance framework for open banking ahead of new legislative powers the FCA will receive under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, with a statutory instrument expected by end-2026.
What Changed
The regulatory landscape for UK open banking is undergoing fundamental restructuring:
Transition of regulatory authority: The FCA is becoming the primary regulator for open banking, replacing the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC).
Future Entity establishment: A new standards-setting body will become the primary UK standard-setting organization for open banking APIs, responsible for setting and maintaining common standards for...
Independent assessment process: KPMG will evaluate competing proposals from industry participants to determine which organization should lead the Future Entity establishment.
Legislative framework: HM Treasury will introduce legislation granting the FCA new rulemaking powers for open banking under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Suggested Considerations
*For industry participants and trade associations:
*Engage with the assessment process: Participate in the independent assessment by submitting proposals or supporting existing proposals for Future Entity leadership
*Arrange FCA Q&A sessions: Organizations interested in leading Future Entity establishment should contact the FCA directly to schedule one-hour Q&A sessions ahead of the independent consultancy process launch
*Coalesce behind proposals: Industry should decide which proposal option should lead the next phase of work, with the FCA commissioning assessment of either multiple proposals or a single industry-supported proposal
*Prepare for VRP implementation: Ensure systems and processes are ready for live Variable Recurring Payments transactions expected in Q1 2026
Key Dates
Q1 2026
– Final design of Future Entity expected; live transactions expected through VRP scheme
End of 2026
– FCA expected to consult on Long-Term Regulatory Framework; statutory instrument for Open Banking expected to be laid by HM Treasury
February 2026
– Independent assessment process begins; KPMG commences evaluation of proposals
Before March 2026DEADLINE
– FCA's Open Finance roadmap due for publication
Early April 2026
– KPMG delivers final assessment report; FCA publishes on its website
From 6 April 2026, Gemini is closing all customer accounts in the UK. Gemini Payments UK, Ltd (GPUK) is authorised by the FCA to issue electronic money (e-money) and provide payment services.Gemini Intergalactic UK, Ltd (GIUK) offers cryptoasset products. These activities are not regulated by the FCA, although we oversee compliance in accordance with UK anti-money laundering regulations. On 5 February 2026, GPUK and GIUK confirmed they plan to exit the UK market. Effective 6 April 2026, Gemin...
The FCA has imposed restrictions on independent financial adviser Advantage Wealth Management Ltd (AWM), which means it must not dispose of any assets or conduct any regulated activities without the written consent of the FCA. The action follows concerns that AWM is not being managed in a way that ensures that its affairs are conducted in a sound and prudent manner. We issued a First Supervisory Notice (PDF)on 22 December 2025, outlining further details about our concerns and the basis for im...
The FCA and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have today issued a joint warning to claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms involved in motor finance commission claims to make sure consumers don’t have multiple representatives for the same claim and are not charged excessive termination fees. The regulators are reminding CMCs and law firms that they are expected to have robust checks in place to confirm consumers have not already instructed another representative. The FCA has also...
The FCA and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are warning claims management companies and law firms (representatives) involved in motor finance claims to make sure clients don’t have multiple representatives for the same claim and are not charged excessive termination fees We have seen some clients with up to 4 different representatives for the same claim. They risk being charged termination fees, which could be deemed excessive, should they try to cancel duplicate agreements.
AI Analysis
The FCA and SRA have issued a joint warning to claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms handling motor finance commission claims, addressing multiple client representations (up to 4 per claim observed) and excessive termination fees, which risk unfair consumer treatment. This matters because regulators are intensifying scrutiny amid a paused complaints-handling period (ending May 2026) and a forthcoming redress scheme, with enforcement actions already underway against non-compliant firms.
What Changed
This is a non-binding joint message reinforcing existing obligations under FCA's Consumer Duty, Claims Management Conduct of Business Sourcebook, Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), and SRA standards, rather than introducing new rules. Key emphases include mandatory robust onboarding due diligence to prevent multiple representations, clear upfront disclosure of termination fees, and justification of any fees charged (especially if onboarding was inadequate).
Suggested Considerations
Engaging clients and other representatives to confirm client wishes and establish single representative.
Notifying respondent firms promptly of the sole representative.
Supporting file transfers with client consent and considering no-charge resolutions if onboarding was poor.
Robust onboarding checks (e.g., confirm no prior representation).
Entering new agreements only after prior termination and informed consent.
- Snapshot of SRA's 89 open HVCC investigations and 7 firm closures
5 February 2026
- FCA launches consumer advertising campaign warning of scammers (post-dated relative to publication)
End of March 2026
- FCA to publish final rules on proposed Motor Finance Consumer Redress Scheme (CRS)
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - Immediate risk of enforcement; FCA/SRA using CRA/DMCA 2024 powers (e.g., info requests from 9 law firms), 5 CMCs paused onboarding, 1 under investigation, SRA closed 7 firms. Matters due to paused complaints (ending soon), impending CRS, consumer harm from fees/delays, and proactive monitoring signaling broader crackdown on HVCC misconduct like excessive fees or poor due diligence.
The Upper Tribunal has upheld the FCA’s decision that Rangecourt SA (formerly Banque Havilland), Edmund Rowland, the former London CEO and Vladimir Bolelyy, a former Bank employee, acted without integrity. The Tribunal agreed with the FCA that significant fines should be imposed, deciding that fines of £4m, £352,000 and £14,200 were appropriate for Rangecourt SA, Mr Rowland and Mr Bolelyy respectively. The Tribunal also upheld the FCA’s decision to ban Mr Rowland and Mr Bolelyy from working i...
Speech by Sarah Pritchard, FCA deputy chief executive, at the ABI Annual Conference. IntroductionIt’s hard to think of a more symbolic venue to discuss driving change in the insurance sector than the QEII Centre.Step outside, and you’re in the shadow of both the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. Scrutiny, change and serving citizens on one side. Tradition on the other.That’s where insurance sits, too.As an industry, you have to balance the new with the non-negotiables – finding way...
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have announced the first cohort of banks and building societies to benefit from their joint Scale-up Unit. The Scale-up Unit announced last year is designed to build stronger ties and provide tailored support for fast-growing and innovative financial firms, helping them to grow sustainably at pace.The 6 firms that expressed interest and have been accepted to the first cohort are:Allica BankClearBankMonument BankNo...
People who pay monthly for their insurance are saving around £157m a year, with over half the firms the FCA reviewed as part of a market study lowering the cost of premium finance. Interest rates for premium finance have fallen by an average 4.1 percentage points since 2022, saving consumers £8 on a typical motor policy and £3 on a typical home policy per year. The changes result from regulatory attention, fair value assessments and base rate reductions. The FCA has seen even more significant...
What does 'fair value' mean in financial services? It might sound like dry regulator speak, but it’s really asking a simple question – are customers paying a reasonable price for a product, compared to the benefits they get in return?This is not us setting a particular price or level of profit which firms can make. But it's a challenge to firms – can they provide evidence that their customers are getting a fair deal? If they can’t, then they need to look again.This applies across financial se...
AI Analysis
This FCA blog post clarifies the 'fair value' concept under Consumer Duty, emphasizing that firms must evidence a reasonable price-to-benefits relationship without the FCA dictating prices or profits. It matters because it signals ongoing FCA scrutiny and enforcement in sectors like cash savings, investment platforms, and premium finance, with demonstrated consumer savings of £167m annually from interventions. Compliance professionals must prioritize robust fair value assessments to avoid challenges, remedial actions, or enforcement.
What Changed
No new rules are introduced; this reinforces existing Consumer Duty requirements (effective July 2023 for new products, July 2024 for closed books) on fair value as one of four outcomes...
Firms must demonstrate evidence of fair value, assessing price against benefits, costs, and services delivered.
Ongoing reviews required throughout product lifecycle, with actions if fair value fails (e.g., improve, withdraw).
FCA rejects prescriptive interventions like 0% APR in premium finance to avoid market harm, favoring firm-led assessments.[FCA blog]
Suggested Considerations
Conduct and evidence fair value assessments: Use frameworks considering product nature/benefits, limitations, total lifetime costs (fees/charges), relative to benefits; benchmark internally/externally; segment by consumer groups including vulnerables.
Review and act on failures: If no fair value, implement mitigations (e.g., price adjustments, process improvements, product withdrawal); evidence processes and implementation.[FCA blog]
Monitor markets/products ongoing: Assess at firm/market level, including intangible benefits (e.g., scam protection, support channels); prepare for FCA challenges/enforcement.
Premium finance specific: All firms review offerings; outliers demonstrate workings or improve (e.g., APR reductions).[FCA blog]
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – FCA is actively intervening (e.g., £157m savings in premium finance, £10m in platforms), with threats of enforcement for poor processes/evidence. Matters due to cultural shift under Consumer Duty; weak assessments risk fines, remediation, or product halts, especially in high-complaint areas like savings/insurance. Firms without frameworks face immediate exposure in supervisory reviews.
Speech by David Geale, executive director, payments and digital finance and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) managing director, at the Payments Regulation and Innovation Summit 2026. A payments system that works for everyoneJust before Christmas I was in Billericay for the opening of the 200th banking hub.I got to chat to local people and business owners about the difference the hub will make to their everyday lives. It was great.Although if I’m honest, the biggest talking point was probably t...
Speech by Sheldon Mills, at the FCA's Supercharged Sandbox Showcase event. Before we begin, take a look around this room. This is the Supercharged Sandbox. 23 firms at the frontier of retail financial services, chosen from 132 applications. If anyone still doubts the pace of AI change in our sector, this room is the answer.The Board has asked me to lead the long-term review into AI and retail financial services. I will report to the FCA Board in the summer, setting out recommendations to help...
AI Live Testing now open for applicationsAt the FCA, we’re providing a structured but flexible space where firms can test AI-driven services in real-world conditions, all with our regulatory support and oversight and help from our technical partner, Advai. Collaboration and communication is at the heart of what we are doing.The first cohort joined AI Live Testing in October last year. We opened a second application window on 19 January 2026 and are now inviting applications.Moving on from 'PO...
AI Analysis
The FCA's AI Live Testing initiative provides a voluntary, structured program for firms with mature AI proofs-of-concept (POCs) to test AI-driven services in controlled real-world environments under regulatory oversight and support from technical partner Advai. This matters because it enables safe progression from 'POC paralysis' to deployment, while helping the FCA gather insights on translating AI principles into consumer and market protections, informing future regulation. Participation enhances firms' governance, risk management, and evaluation frameworks for responsible AI use in financial services.
What Changed
This is not a mandatory regulatory change but a voluntary testing service launched by the FCA; no new enforceable requirements are imposed. Key elements include a holistic focus on the AI system (model + deployment context, risks, governance, human-in-the-loop, evaluation, input/output controls) rather than isolated foundation models. The program features three phases: Discovery, Framework validation, and AI system testing (quantitative/qualitative), emphasizing live monitoring, governance, and risk management. It complements the FCA's Supercharged Sandbox for earlier-stage AI exploration.
Suggested Considerations
Review FCA's Terms of Reference (PDF) for eligibility, focusing on mature POCs and enterprise-level AI systems.
Submit application form via FCA portal by 2 March 2026 if ready for live testing; contact suptech@ fca.org.uk for queries.
Prepare documentation on AI system components (model, context/risks, governance, human oversight, evaluation, controls) for three-phase process.
Assess internal governance, data, risk frameworks, and monitoring for AI readiness; consider non-participation but monitor for future FCA expectations.
Firms not selected should use insights from first cohort (e.g., evaluation frameworks) to strengthen internal AI practices.
Key Dates
October 2025
- First cohort began testing (historical reference)
19 January 2026
- Second application window opens
2 March 2026DEADLINE
- Application deadline for second cohort
April 2026
- Testing starts for second cohort
Mid
March 2026; - Notification of successful applicants
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium - Voluntary program, but signals FCA's proactive stance on AI oversight; non-participation risks lagging in best practices for Consumer Protection / Conduct and Operational Resilience / Outsourcing as regulator builds evidence for potential rules. Matters for competitive edge in AI deployment and demonstrating alignment with principles-based regulation amid 'POC paralysis'. Early movers gain tailored support, intelligence-sharing on risks, and influence on FCA's evolving AI approach.
FCA stunt launches new Firm Checker tool as around 700,000 people lose money to investment scams. Morning commuters at London Waterloo got more than their usual caffeine hit today when a mysterious 'ATM' promising to 'give away a fortune' stopped them in their tracks – and revealed an unexpected surprise.As curious passers-by approached the machine, the screen slid open to unveil Emil the Seal, the FCA's finance-friendly mascot, delivering a blunt message about the dangers of investment scams...
The FCA has called on the insurance industry to help more consumers access products that support them and their families if they become critically ill or die. The interim findings of its competition review of pure protection products found that, for those consumers that have taken out protection insurance, the market mostly works well. There are a wide range of products, most consumers can claim when they need to, and the costs of cover have remained stable in the last few years.But 58% of ad...
We’re working closely with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), UK law enforcement, and our regulatory partners to tackle the abuse of cryptoassets and associated money‑laundering activities. Read the full blog on the OFSI’s website.
We have signed a contract with Etrading Software (ETS) to deliver the UK bond consolidated tape. A high-quality tape will provide investors with a comprehensive overview of the bond market and support price formation and liquidity. It will help maintain the UK’s position as a highly competitive and compelling place to invest and grow.ETS has now launched a website that sets out key milestones and provides technical information for data contributors and users. We will continue to support ETS a...
The FCA has launched a review into the implications of advanced AI on consumers, retail financial markets and regulators. The Review will be led by Sheldon Mills and builds on the FCA’s existing work on AI. This includes its AI Discussion Paper, AI Sprint, and AI Lab including AI Live Testing and its groundbreaking Supercharged Sandbox supported by NVIDIA.AI is already embedded across financial services. Rapid advances in generative, agentic and emerging forms of AI mean the next phase of cha...
On 21 January 2026, Guavapay Limited entered compulsory liquidation. The Official Receiver, an officer of the Insolvency Service, is its liquidator. Guavapay is authorised by the FCA to issue E-money and provide payment services to its customers.On 17 September 2025, Guavapay agreed to a voluntary requirement with the FCA, restricting the activities it can undertake. See details on the Financial Services Register.As liquidator, The Official Receiver is responsible for:Managing customer claims...
The latest Accelerated Settlement Taskforce (AST) report updates on the significant progress made towards the move to T+1. Read the AST report.Jamie Bell, head of capital markets at the FCA, said:'T+1 marks a major milestone in our drive to support growth and innovation. Faster settlement cycles will reduce risk, free up capital for faster reinvestment and align with other major markets.'We are delighted to see the great progress made last year highlighted in the AST’s report. By the end of t...
GC25/1 within Primary Market Bulletin No. 55 consults on targeted amendments to FCA Knowledge Base technical notes to align with UK Listing Rules (UKLR) changes effective 29 July 2024 and a new ESEF taxonomy for digital reporting. This matters for listed issuers and advisors as it updates formal guidance on periodic reporting, inside information handling, and position disclosures, ensuring compliance with post-reform listing regime requirements.
What Changed
- Amendments to five technical notes: FCA/TN/506.2 (Periodic financial information and inside information), Primary Market/TN/507.1 (Structured digital reporting for IFRS annual statements,...
Broader PMB 55 finalises 44 notes (e.g., TN/209.4 on Listing Principle 2 notifications, TN/305.3 on hostile takeovers, TN/307.2 on aggregating transactions for closed-ended funds) from prior...
Changes are non-substantive, focusing on updating references to UKLR (PS24/6), removing outdated content, and maintaining guidance status under UK Listing Rules, Prospectus Regulation Rules, and...
Suggested Considerations
Review blacklined amendments in GC25/1 and PMB 55; submit feedback by 15 May 2025 if impacted.
Update internal policies, training, and procedures to reflect finalised notes (e.g., enhanced notification under Listing Principle 2, ESEF taxonomy for DTR 4.1 reporting) once published by July 2025.
Until finalised, interpret existing guidance in light of UKLR; monitor for TN/710 update in future PMB.
For digital reporting, prepare for new ESEF taxonomy in annual IFRS statements.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium – Past consultation deadline (15 May 2025) as of January 2026, but finalisation expected by July 2025 requires proactive policy reviews to avoid non-compliance with updated listing guidance. Matters for market integrity and operational alignment with UKLR reforms, with low immediate risk but potential enforcement exposure post-finalisation.
The FCA's guidance outlines good and poor practices in communicating costs for international money remittance and cross-border payments involving currency conversion, emphasizing transparency under the Consumer Duty to enable informed consumer decisions. It matters because non-compliance risks supervisory action, as the FCA plans future reviews to assess improvements, raising the bar on pricing clarity amid ongoing Duty enforcement.
What Changed
This is not new rulemaking but illustrative guidance applying existing Consumer Duty rules from FG 22/5 and PRIN 2A.5.3R, which mandate communications that are clear, fair, not misleading, meet retail customers' information needs, are understandable, and support effective decisions. Key emphases include pre-transaction disclosure of: amount remitted (GBP), applied exchange rate (explaining markups as consumer costs), recipient amount (local currency), variable/fixed fees, total fees, and intermediary/recipient bank fees where applicable.
Suggested Considerations
Review and update pre-transaction communications (e.g., websites) to prominently display all required pricing elements before commitment: GBP amount, exchange rate/markup, recipient amount, fees (fixed/variable/total), and intermediary warnings.
Ensure markups are framed as consumer costs, not obscured (e.g., avoid "zero cost" claims despite markups).
Monitor communication effectiveness regularly under Consumer Duty to confirm good outcomes, enabling cost comparisons and informed choices.
Apply principles to all channels; proactively disclose fee variability and third-party impacts.
Key Dates
31 July 2023
- Consumer Duty effective date for new and existing products/services
1 May 2025
- FCA publication date of this good/poor practice guidance
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – Consumer Duty is live since 2023, but this 2025 guidance signals intensified FCA scrutiny on payments transparency, with planned follow-up work and engagement to enforce improvements. Firms risk remediation demands or enforcement if disclosures remain inadequate, especially as it targets common weaknesses like hidden fees amid broader Duty portfolio reviews.
FCA PS25/19 finalizes rules to streamline complaints reporting by replacing multiple existing returns with a single consolidated return, enhancing data quality, consistency, and vulnerability identification while reducing burdens. This matters for compliance teams as it mandates system and process updates to improve regulatory oversight and consumer protection, with implementation required within 12 months.
Permission-based reporting: Firms report only sections relevant to their regulated permissions, targeting reporting to specific activities.
Simplified nil returns: Proportionate approach allows upfront selection for firms with no complaints.
Removal of group reporting: Shifts to individual legal entity-level reporting for greater transparency and oversight.
Updated complaints taxonomy: Revised categories reflect modern products/services, reducing use of 'Other' and improving categorization.
Suggested Considerations
Review and update internal complaints recording, categorization, and reporting systems to align with new consolidated return, taxonomy, permission-based sections, and vulnerability data points.
Integrate FCA Vulnerability Guidance into complaints processes for identification and reporting.
Test and prepare for fixed 6-monthly submissions via FCA systems; complete nil return simplifications where applicable.
For Retail Banking, Insurance, Payment Services, and CMCs: Retain and adapt contextualised data capture.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – With publication on 3 Dec 2025 and a 12-month implementation window (to ~Dec 2026), firms must prioritize system changes now, as the first period starts 1 Jan 2027; non-compliance risks enforcement, especially on vulnerability reporting and transparency, amid FCA's focus on consumer protection data quality.
CP25/15 proposes prudential rules and guidance for UK firms issuing **qualifying stablecoins** and safeguarding **qualifying cryptoassets**, aiming to foster a safe, competitive crypto sector while prioritizing consumer protection and market integrity. This matters for compliance professionals as it introduces tailored prudential sourcebooks (COREPRU and CRYPTOPRU) to mitigate firm failure risks, aligning with the FCA's crypto roadmap and Treasury's statutory plans.
What Changed
- Prudential Sourcebooks: Introduces COREPRU (core requirements across sectors) and CRYPTOPRU (crypto-specific calibrations) for "CRYPTOPRU firms" handling regulated crypto activities, covering own...
Own Funds and Capital Rules: Firms must hold financial resources adequate in amount and quality, including adjustments for valuation uncertainty, stress realizable values, and interim profits in CET1...
Risk Management and Outcomes: Targets prevention of firm failures, disorderly wind-downs, and consumer harm; measures success via reduced failure rates, market confidence, and prudential assessments.
Sector-Specific Rules: Calibrated for stablecoin issuance and cryptoasset safeguarding, with future consultations on broader applications (e.g., trading venues, staking).
Suggested Considerations
Respond to Consultation: Firms, advisers, and stakeholders must submit comments by 31/07/2025 using the online form, email, or post to influence final rules.
Assess Applicability: Crypto firms evaluate if they qualify as CRYPTOPRU firms; conduct gap analyses against proposed COREPRU/CRYPTOPRU rules on own funds, capital adequacy, and stress testing.
Prepare Prudential Frameworks: Develop internal capital adequacy processes reflecting stress events, valuation adjustments, and ongoing prudential assessments; review threshold conditions and business principles.
Engage on Related CPs: Monitor and respond to CP25/14 (stablecoin issuance/custody) and future CPs (e.g., CP2, Q3 2025 Conduct Standards).
Data and Reporting Readiness: Prepare to provide firm/market data for FCA evaluations on adherence and outcomes.
Key Dates
28/05/2025
- Consultation opens and CP first published
31/07/2025
- Consultation closes; submit feedback via online form, email ([email protected]), or post
Q3 2025
- Upcoming Conduct and Firm Standards CP affecting all cryptoasset firms, including QS issuers and custodians
Post
31/07/2025; - FCA considers feedback and publishes final rules (no specific date given)
Future (CP2 per Roadmap)
- Consultation on remaining prudential sourcebook requirements
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – As of January 2026, the consultation closed over five months ago, signaling imminent final rules that could reshape prudential requirements for crypto firms; non-compliance risks authorization barriers, enforcement, or market exclusion in a regime prioritizing stability amid global crypto growth. This elevates risks for firm failures and consumer harm, demanding immediate gap assessments to align with proportionate standards supporting innovation.
The FCA's GC25/2: Primary Market Bulletin No. 57 (PMB 57), published 25 July 2025, consults on amendments to Technical Note 710.1 ('Sponsor Services: Principles for Sponsors') and a new Technical Note 638.1 on complex financial history and significant financial commitment rules for prospectuses. This matters as it updates the Knowledge Base to align with the new UK Listing Regime (UKLR) and Prospectus Rules, providing clarity for sponsors and issuers ahead of the PRM sourcebook effective January 2026, reducing compliance risks in primary markets.
What Changed
- Amendments to TN 710.1 (Sponsor Services: Principles for Sponsors): Revisions clarify the scope of 'preparatory work' and sponsor obligations under UKLR 4, building on feedback from PMB 48, 53, and...
New TN 638.1 (Guidance on complex financial history and significant financial commitment rules): Updated draft provides detailed guidance for prospectus applications by companies with complex...
Other updates: Finalises five technical notes from PMB 55 (e.g., TN 506.3 on periodic financial information, TN 521.4 on inside information); National Storage Mechanism changes effective 3 November...
Suggested Considerations
Review and respond: Analyse draft TN 710.1 and TN 638.1; submit feedback by 12/09/2025, focusing on sponsor obligations, complex history scenarios, and examples (e.g., AFME suggested clarifying 'significant acquisition' thresholds).
Update policies/processes: Sponsors to align with clarified UKLR 4 principles; issuers to incorporate TN 638.1 guidance into prospectus preparation, especially for acquisitive businesses.
Monitor finalisation: Track FG25/5 or subsequent PMBs for final notes; interpret existing Listing Rules in light of UKLR until all updates complete.
Implement NSM changes: By 03/11/2025 for relevant disclosures.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium – Consultation closed 12/09/2025 (past deadline as of January 2026), but final notes (e.g., TN 710 by end-2025) and PRM effective 19/01/2026 require immediate policy reviews to avoid prospectus rejections or sponsor breaches. Matters for primary market competitiveness and investor protection under evolving UKLR/PRM, with no material CBA changes from CP23/31/CP24/12.
The FCA's updated Statement of Policy outlines its approach to statutory investigations into possible regulatory failures under Part 5 of the Financial Services Act 2012, including criteria for triggering investigations and producing reports for HM Treasury. It matters because it clarifies when the FCA must self-scrutinize serious lapses in regulation, helping firms anticipate rare but high-profile probes into systemic issues affecting consumer protection, market integrity, or competition. The primary update adjusts inflation-linked monetary thresholds for assessing "significant" consumer detriment, ensuring the policy remains relevant.
What Changed
- Inflation-adjusted monetary thresholds for consumer detriment: Detriment exceeding £210 million is more likely deemed "significant," while below £45 million is unlikely to meet the threshold unless...
No other substantive changes from the 2013 policy; refinements emphasize internal "lessons learned" reviews for non-statutory cases to avoid resource duplication in formal probes.
Clarified two-part statutory test: (1) Events indicating significant failure in consumer protection or adverse effects on integrity/competition objectives; (2) Events might not have occurred (or...
Suggested Considerations
Monitor for triggering events: Firms should self-assess operations against the two-part test, particularly potential consumer detriment exceeding £45m/£210m thresholds or impacts on FCA objectives.
Enhance internal reviews: Conduct "lessons learned" exercises post-incident to align with FCA's non-statutory approach, reducing escalation risk to formal probes.
No direct firm obligations: This is FCA policy on self-investigation; firms face no new reporting or compliance mandates but should prepare for FCA enquiries if events suggest regulatory system failures.
Document qualitative factors (e.g., vulnerability) in risk assessments to contextualize detriment.
Key Dates
14 November 2025
- Publication date of updated Statement of Policy
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium. This update signals FCA's commitment to accountability without imposing new firm-level rules, but it heightens focus on significant failures (£45m+ detriment), potentially leading to public reports exposing industry-wide gaps. Firms with high consumer exposure (e.g., retail-facing) should prioritize as probes, though rare, amplify reputational and remedial risks via Treasury publication.
The FCA's CP25/31 proposes a regulatory framework for introducing a UK equity Consolidated Tape (CT), operated by a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP), to collate and distribute comprehensive post-trade data (prices and volumes) across trading venues and OTC trades in equities, including shares, ETFs, depository receipts, and similar instruments. This matters for compliance as it imposes new data contribution obligations on trading venues and APAs, aims to enhance market transparency and competitiveness under the FCA's 2025-2030 Strategy, and builds on FSMA 2023 powers for Data Reporting Services Providers (DRSPs). Firms must engage now to shape rules via consultation, with potential operations targeted for 2027.
What Changed
- CTP Obligations: Proposed rules establish core regulatory requirements for CTPs, including governance, operational resiliency, data collation/distribution, competitive pricing, and simple licensing...
Data Contributor Obligations: Trading venues and Approved Publication Arrangements (APAs) must provide trade data (e.g., prices, volumes) to the CTP, covering trades across venues and OTC equity...
Scope and Outcomes: CT focuses on post-trade data initially (with trade-offs on pre-trade inclusion); seeks to increase UK equity data usage, improve liquidity visibility, support innovation, and...
Authorisation and Procurement: Streamlined process for CTP authorisation; FCA to run procurement for operator selection, balancing speed with robustness.
Evidence-Based Design: Addresses complexities like number of CTPs, revenue sharing, resiliency standards; follows prior feedback from CP23/15 and Europe Economics report.
Suggested Considerations
Respond to Consultation: Submit feedback by 13/02/2026 via FCA online form, email (equityct@fca.org.uk), post, or phone (020 7066 9758); focus on design trade-offs like pre-trade data, CTP numbers, revenue sharing, resiliency.
Data Readiness: Trading venues/APAs assess internal systems for mandatory data provision to CTP (e.g., trade prices/volumes); prepare for authorisation/procurement processes if pursuing CTP status.
Monitor Updates: Review full CP PDF (https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/consultation/cp25/31.pdf), January 2026 CBA methodology note, and linked docs like CP23/15, Europe Economics report, CP25/20.
Engage Stakeholders: Potential CTPs express interest via FCA opportunities; data users provide input on accessibility/pricing.
Compliance Mapping: Map proposals to existing DRSP/venue rules under FSMA 2023 and repealed DRSRs.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – While still in consultation (closes 13/02/2026), proposals mandate data contributions from trading venues/APAs and CTP setup, with 2027 operations targeted; non-engagement risks misaligned systems or missed CTP opportunities. Matters due to FSMA 2023 empowerment, links to equity transparency reforms (CP25/20), and strategic push for UK market competitiveness – firms face new reporting/resiliency burdens but gain liquidity/transparency benefits.
The FCA's PS25/22 establishes a new regulatory framework for **targeted support**—a form of financial guidance that allows authorised firms to provide ready-made suggestions to consumer segments without conducting individualised suitability assessments. This framework addresses the UK's "advice gap" by enabling firms to deliver affordable, scalable financial support to an estimated 18 million consumers within a decade, fundamentally shifting how retail investors and pension savers access guidance on investment and retirement decisions.
What Changed
The framework introduces several material regulatory changes:
New Specified Activity Status
Targeted support will be designated as a new specified activity under the Regulated Activities Order, meaning only FCA-authorised firms can provide this service. This creates a regulatory boundary distinct from both unregulated guidance and regulated investment advice.
Purpose Statement Refinement
The FCA amended its original purpose statement from "better outcomes" to "better position" to clarify policy intent and avoid confusion with the Consumer Duty requirement for "good outcomes." This...
Suggested Considerations
*Immediate (January–February 2026):
*Pre-Implementation (March 2026):
Consumer segment definitions with supporting rationale
Ready-made suggestion frameworks
Communication templates explaining the nature of targeted support
Key Dates
29/08/2025
- Consultation period closed (CP25/17 and CP25/26)
11/12/2025
- Policy Statement PS25/22 published with near-final rules
March 2026
- Firms may begin applying for targeted support permission
06/04/2026
- New rules expected to come into force (subject to Government legislation making targeted support a specified activity)
The FCA's PS25/23 finalizes guidance on tackling **non-financial misconduct (NFM)** in financial services, amending the COCON sourcebook to clarify how serious NFM breaches conduct rules and integrating it into FIT assessments for fitness and propriety. This matters because it aligns rules across banks and non-banks, enhances accountability, deters harmful workplace cultures, and supports FCA objectives like consumer protection and market integrity by ensuring consistent handling of issues like bullying or harassment.
What Changed
- COCON amendments: Expands scope to non-banks for work-related serious NFM involving financial services personnel; provides flowcharts, examples, and factors (e.g., seriousness, pattern, dishonesty,...
FIT sourcebook updates: Integrates NFM into fit and proper tests for employees/senior personnel; firms assess case-by-case without investigating implausible claims or breaching privacy; removes...
Managerial accountability: Relative to knowledge/authority under ICR2; no expansion into purely private life.
Minor tweaks from CP25/18 feedback: New diagrams, employment law alignment, withdrawn burdensome factors.
Suggested Considerations
Review and update policies/handbooks to incorporate COCON/FIT guidance on NFM assessment, including flowcharts and factors for breaches/fitness.
Train HR, compliance, and managers on applying rules consistently, emphasizing seriousness thresholds, case-by-case judgement, and alignment with employment law/privacy.
Enhance regulatory reference processes to disclose past NFM; ensure reporting of serious breaches to FCA.
Assess current NFM handling for gaps (e.g., non-bank alignment); document decision-making to demonstrate fairness/decisiveness.
Firms not to investigate trivial/improbable allegations or overstep privacy laws.
Key Dates
1 September 2026
- New COCON rules and guidance come into force (non-retrospective)
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – With rules effective 1 September 2026 (9+ months from today), firms have preparation time, but PS25/23 closes FCA's NFM policy work, shifting to supervision/enforcement focus; non-compliance risks enforcement, FIT failures, and reputational damage amid trust-building priorities in FCA Strategy 2025-2030.
The FCA and PRA are consulting on setting the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) Management Expenses Levy Limit (MELL) at £113 million for 2026/27, comprising a £108 million management expenses budget (up £4.4 million from 2025/26, broadly in line with inflation) and a £5 million unlevied reserve. This matters because it caps the operating costs (e.g., IT, staff, legal, claims handling) that FCA- and PRA-authorised firms must fund via levies, excluding separate compensation payments, ensuring FSCS efficiency while controlling firm burdens.
What Changed
- Proposed MELL of £113 million for 2026/27: £108 million budget + £5 million unlevied reserve.
Budget increase of £4.4 million (4%) from 2025/26, aligned with inflation; excluding new revolving credit facility (RCF) enhancement costs, it reflects a £6.6 million nominal and £11 million...
Budget allocated across PRA and FCA fee blocks based on firms' regulated business volume, with smaller firms contributing less.
No changes to compensation levies, which remain separate and forecast at £342 million total levy including compensation.
Suggested Considerations
Review CP26/2 (FCA) and CP1/26 (PRA) alongside FSCS January 2026 Budget Update for allocation details.
Submit feedback on proposed MELL by 10 February 2026 to PRA (email or 20 Moorgate, London EC2R 6DA).
Budget for potential levy payments starting 1 April 2026, based on firm's share of PRA/FCA classes (see Appendix 4 in CP).
Monitor post-consultation Policy Statement/Handbook Notice for final MELL confirmation.
Key Dates
13 January 2026
- Consultation opens (CP26/2 FCA; CP1/26 PRA)
10 February 2026
- Consultation closes; submit comments via email or post to PRA (accepted on behalf of both regulators, shared anonymously with FSCS)
1 April 2026
- Final rules effective (start of FSCS financial year); PRA Policy Statement and FCA Handbook Notice expected post-consultation
31 March 2027
- MELL period ends
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium - Firms face predictable levy increases aligned with inflation, with levies allocated by business volume (minimal for small firms), but must act on consultation feedback by 10 February 2026 (today is 25 January 2026, leaving ~2 weeks). Matters for financial planning and budgeting, as MELL ensures FSCS operational funding without covering volatile compensation costs; failure to engage risks unaddressed cost concerns in final rules.
We urge consumers thinking of investing in high-risk securities, such as mini-bonds and loan notes, to continue to be cautious. On 19 January 2026, the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading regime came into force. The regime sets new rules and standards about when an offer of securities to the public can be made.A security is a financial instrument that represents some type of financial value (for example, shares, bonds and stock) that can be traded on a financial exchange.The types of secu...
We are seeking views on further rules for cryptoasset firms as the final step in our consultations on our crypto rules. We have made significant progress in delivering our crypto roadmap and are helping firms to meet our standards and get ready for when the gateway opens in September 2026.We have set out our proposals on how the Consumer Duty, conduct standards, redress and safeguarding will apply to cryptoasset firms. We are also seeking feedback on our proposed approach to international cry...
Speech by Sheree Howard at the FCA's Gateway to growth, Chicago Booth London Conference Centre. The first time I flew was in my teenage years, and like many of my generation, that was a flight to Europe for a family holiday. I didn’t make it further afield until I was in my mid to late twenties.Today, most, if not all of us, would think of international travel as the norm – especially given the global nature of our business.It is amazing, therefore, to think that right around this time in 197...
We have issued a joint statement with the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) giving clarity on open banking pricing models. We and the PSR have issued the following statement (PDF).This confirms we will not, at this stage, prioritise a Competition Act 1998 (CA98) investigation into the centralised ‘access fee’ pricing model being developed by the UK Payments Initiative (UKPI) for commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs). cVRPs are an emerging open banking technology that allow consumers to...
AI Analysis
The FCA and PSR have jointly confirmed they will not prioritize a Competition Act 1998 investigation into the UK Payments Initiative's (UKPI) centralized access fee pricing model for commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs), with the CMA's concurrent agreement. This regulatory clarity provides temporary certainty for cVRP development ahead of anticipated legislation by end-2026, creating a critical window for firms to develop compliant commercial models in this emerging open banking technology.
What Changed
The regulatory statement establishes the following key positions:
Non-prioritization of CA98 investigation: The FCA, PSR, and CMA have jointly confirmed they will not prioritize competition law enforcement against UKPI's centralized access fee model for Phase...
Scope limitation: The regulatory clarity applies only to Phase 1/Wave 1 of UKPI's cVRP scheme, specifically addressing lower-risk payment use cases including regulated financial services, utilities,...
Temporary framework: This is explicitly a temporary measure pending legislative implementation under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 or other relevant legislation.
Regulatory monitoring obligations: During the interim period, the FCA and PSR will monitor market developments, review pricing methodology changes, and require UKPI to submit finalized governance...
Suggested Considerations
*For UKPI and participating firms:
*Governance documentation: Submit finalized governance documents to FCA/PSR as required during the interim period
*Pricing methodology transparency: Maintain detailed records of access fee pricing methodology and be prepared to demonstrate compliance with the agreed model; notify regulators of any material changes
*Phase 1/Wave 1 compliance: Ensure all cVRP offerings remain within the defined scope of lower-risk use cases during Phase 1/Wave 1
*Market engagement: Participate in FCA industry consultations throughout 2026 regarding progress, service delivery, and identified blockers
Key Dates
Q1 2026
- Expected first live UKPI cVRP payments
End of 2026
- Government anticipated to introduce legislative framework granting FCA new open banking powers
15 January 2026
- FCA and PSR wrote to CMA setting out their non-prioritization position
16 January 2026
- CMA confirmed alignment with FCA/PSR position on CA98 prioritization
20 January 2026
- Joint FCA/PSR statement issued on open banking pricing models
The FCA and PSR have issued a joint statement providing clarity on open banking pricing models, specifically regarding the centralised 'access fee' pricing model for commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs). This statement confirms that they will not prioritize a Competition Act 1998 investigation into this model at this stage. The goal is to support the development of cVRPs, giving consumers more control over their payments and lowering processing fees for businesses.
What Changed
The FCA and PSR have clarified their enforcement position on the UKPI's proposal for a commercial model for cVRPs, indicating they will not prioritize a Competition Act 1998 investigation at this stage.
Suggested Considerations
Monitor market developments and updates on the legislative framework for open banking
Review and understand the implications of the centralised 'access fee' pricing model for cVRPs on your business operations
Ensure compliance with existing competition laws and regulations
Key Dates
31 Dec 2026DEADLINE
Expected implementation of the government's legislative framework for open banking
1 Jul 2027DEADLINE
End of the temporary measure if the legislative framework is not implemented
Potential Consequences
Enforcement action, fines, or other regulatory penalties for non-compliance with competition laws and regulations
We have opened applications for the second cohort of our AI Live Testing service. AI Live Testing is the first of its kind in the financial sector to help firms who are ready to use AI in UK financial markets. Participating firms receive tailored support from our regulatory team and our technical partner Advai to develop, assess and deploy safe and responsible AI.The service helps firms to consider key questions around evaluating AI including governance, risk management and monitoring to help...
The FCA's decision to ban Darren Antony Reynolds from working in financial services and fine him £2,037,892 has been upheld by the Upper Tribunal. The FCA's decision to ban Darren Antony Reynolds from working in financial services and fine him £2,037,892 has been upheld by the Upper Tribunal.Mr Reynolds was dishonest when he gave pension transfer advice and investment recommendations to his customers, causing them significant harm.Mr Reynolds showed a clear disregard for his customers’ intere...
On 16 January 2026, Logic Investments Ltd (Logic Investments) entered special administration. Alex Watkins and Ed Boyle of Interpath Ltd were appointed as joint special administrators. Logic Investments is FCA authorised and regulated to provide wealth management services. On 16 December 2025, Logic Investments agreed to an FCA requirement preventing it from accepting new clients, client money or assets; or moving existing client money or assets without FCA consent. This was done because of c...
On 19 December 2025 the High Court approved the FCA’s proposals to distribute funds to Asset Land investors. The Court has directed the FCA to pay funds to investors in the Asset Land schemes who provide valid bank account details to the FCA on or before 20 February 2026.Investors who have not received previous communications from the FCA or who have not updated their contact information are requested to immediately contact the FCA using the details below.Please ensure this is completed no la...
The FCA has fined Russel Gerrity £309,843 for using inside information to net himself £128,765. As a consultant, Mr Gerrity had access to information about whether oil and gas had been discovered during the drilling of wells. Between October 2018 and January 2022, he took advantage of this and used inside information to buy shares in Chariot Oil & Gas Limited and Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Plc ahead of announcements that increased their price. On another occasion, he used inside information t...
The FCA, Bank of England and Prudential Regulation Authority have together signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Supervisory Authorities to enhance cooperation and oversight of critical third parties (CTPs) that fall under the UK’s CTP regime.The MoU establishes a framework for coordinating and sharing information on the oversight of CTPs under the UK regime and critical third party providers (CTPPs) under the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), including du...
AI Analysis
The FCA, Bank of England (BoE), and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to coordinate oversight of critical third parties (CTPs) under the UK's CTP regime and critical third party providers (CTPPs) under the EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). This matters because it enhances cross-border information sharing and cooperation during incidents like cyber-attacks, reducing regulatory duplication while bolstering financial stability and operational resilience for firms reliant on these providers.
What Changed
- Establishes a framework for timely information sharing, coordination of oversight activities, and joint responses to incidents affecting CTPs/CTPPs, including power outages or cyber-attacks.
Defines principles for cooperation on mutually designated CTPs/CTPPs, including notifications of investigations and best endeavors to share material information where legally and operationally...
Complements the UK's CTP regime (effective 1 January 2025), which requires designated CTPs to provide regular assurance, conduct resilience testing, and report major incidents, without altering...
Supported by a tripartite MoU among UK regulators for coordinated oversight via a joint CTP Consultation and Coordination Forum (CCF).
Suggested Considerations
For CTPs/CTPPs: Once designated, implement regular assurance reporting to regulators, conduct resilience testing (e.g., scenario testing), and report major incidents promptly; prepare for cross-border information requests under the MoU.
For financial firms/FMIs: Continue managing operational resilience and third-party risks per existing outsourcing rules (e.g., identify dependencies on potential CTPs); monitor HMT designations and enhance incident response coordination with regulators.
Regulators' internal actions: Use CCF for coordination; notify counterparts of investigations or material developments per MoU Article 3 and 12.
Firms should review contracts with third parties for compliance alignment and conduct gap analyses against CTP requirements.
Key Dates
1 January 2025
UK CTP rules came into effect, applying to CTPs designated by HMT
Ongoing (process begun pre
2025); HMT designation process for CTPs, with regulators recommending based on concentration and materiality criteria; no fixed end date specified
DORA effective date (prior context)
EU CTPPs oversight under DORA aligns with UK regime; MoU signed to ensure compatibility (exact DORA timeline not in publication but supports post-2024 implementation)
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – The MoU operationalizes the live UK CTP regime (effective January 2025), with designations underway, amplifying risks of non-compliance for firms using critical ICT providers amid rising cyber and resilience threats. It matters for cross-border firms as it enables regulator-to-regulator data sharing, potentially exposing gaps in outsourcing arrangements and increasing enforcement scrutiny without fines on CTPs yet possible future powers.
We reviewed how firms sell complex exchange traded products (ETPs) to retail consumers. Complex ETPs are a subset of the wider ETP market and include high-risk investment strategies that can be difficult for retail consumers to understand.We assessed how firms of different sizes and business models evaluate these products, communicate key risks and monitor outcomes under the Consumer Duty.Given the complexity and risk profile of ETPs, it is essential firms make sure investors have the knowled...
The FCA has secured a confiscation order of £265,523.96 against Andrew Currie. Mr Currie was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 2 years 6 months imprisonment for defrauding investors through the collapsed peer-to-peer lending platform Collateral (UK) Ltd.He diverted funds from Collateral investors and used them for personal gain, including the purchase of a property in Spain.At a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 9 January 2026, Mr Currie was ordered to pay £265,523.96. This amount represen...
Pension schemes must now publish transparent data on their performance, costs, and service quality, according to new proposals from the FCA, DWP, and TPR. Pension schemes will need to publish clear data on their performance, costs and quality of service, under proposals announced today by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR). If a pension offers poor value, firms and trustees must then fix it by moving savers to bet...
This page contains information about fines published during 2026. The total amount of fines so far is £371,700. Firm or individual finedDateAmountReasonRichard Adam07/01/2026£232,800The Final Notice refers to knowing concern in breaches of Article 15 of the Market Abuse Regulations, Listing Rule 1.3.3R, Listing Principle 1 and Premium Listing Principle 2.Zafar Khan07/01/2026£138,900The Final Notice refers to knowing concern in breaches of Article 15 of the Market Abuse Regulations, Listing Ru...
The FCA has fined 2 former finance directors for their part in misleading statements being issued by Carillion plc. Richard Adam and Zafar Khan were both aware of serious financial troubles in Carillion’s UK construction business but failed to reflect this in company announcements or alert the Board and audit committee, leading to poor oversight.Mr Adam and Mr Khan have been fined £232,800 and £138,900, respectively. The fines were imposed after Mr Adam and Mr Khan withdrew their challenges t...
The FCA has opened an enforcement investigation into The Claims Protection Agency Limited (TCPA) following concerns about its advertising and sales tactics in relation to potential motor finance claims. The FCA is investigating what customers were told about the amount of redress they might obtain, whether they were told they could make a claim for free, and whether they were pressurised to sign up.Announcing the investigation allows TCPA customers to consider their options.The FCA has not re...