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🇬🇧 FCA News medium

FCA seeks views on how to help close the protection gap

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...

Insurance
🇬🇧 FCA Guidance high

PS25/19: Improving the complaints reporting process

Consultation papers

AI Analysis

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. #

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🇬🇧 FCA Guidance medium

Statement of Policy on statutory investigations into regulatory failure and producing reports [PDF]

Policy and guidance

AI Analysis

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. #

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🇬🇧 FCA Guidance high

PS25/22: Supporting consumers’ pensions and investment decisions: rules for targeted support

Policy statements

AI Analysis

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.

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🇬🇧 FCA Guidance high

PS25/23: Tackling non-financial misconduct in financial services

Policy statements

AI Analysis

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. #

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🇬🇧 FCA Guidance medium

CP26/2: Financial Services Compensation Scheme – Management Expenses Levy Limit 2026/27

Consultation papers

AI Analysis

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. #

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🇬🇧 BoE News medium

PRA to streamline supervision as part of 2026 priorities

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has today published its supervisory priorities for 2026, outlining in a letter its sector-specific priorities for the coming year to all banks, building societies, insurers and other PRA-regulated firms.

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🇱🇺 CSSF Guidance low

Circular CSSF 19/708 - Annex (Updated)

Electronic transmission of documents to the CSSF

AI Analysis

Circular CSSF 19/708 mandates the electronic transmission of specified documents to the CSSF via secure platforms like e-file or SOFiE, effective from February 1, 2019, replacing prior paper or other methods. This updated annex (as amended by Circular CSSF 21/790 and further revisions up to April 1, 2025) standardizes submissions for investment funds and related entities, reducing administrative burdens while ensuring document integrity and CSSF accessibility. Compliance professionals must monitor the dynamic annex list on the CSSF website to avoid nullified submissions. #

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🇬🇧 PRA Consultation high

CP1/26 – Financial Services Compensation Scheme – Management Expenses Levy Limit (MELL) 2026/27

Consultation paper 1/26

AI Analysis

The PRA and FCA have jointly issued consultation paper CP1/26 proposing to set the **Management Expenses Levy Limit (MELL) for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) at £113 million for 2026/27**, comprising a £108 million management expenses budget and a £5 million unlevied reserve. This consultation determines the maximum amount the FSCS can levy on authorised financial services firms to fund its statutory compensation scheme operations, directly affecting compliance costs for all regulated entities.

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🇪🇺 ESMA Consultation medium

ESAs publish joint Guidelines on ESG stress testing

ESAs publish joint Guidelines on ESG stress testing 08 January 2026 Guidelines and Technical standards Joint Committee The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA - the ESAs) published today their Joint Guidelines on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) stress testing . These Guidelines provide national insurance and banking supervisors with clear guidance on how to integrate ESG risks into supervisory stress tests, both when using established frameworks and when conducti...

AI Analysis

The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs)—EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA—published final Joint Guidelines on 8 January 2026 to standardize how national competent authorities (NCAs) integrate ESG risks into supervisory stress testing frameworks for banking and insurance sectors, without mandating new ESG-specific tests. These guidelines promote consistency, long-term methodologies, and common standards across the EU, initially prioritizing climate and environmental risks (physical and transition) before expanding to social and governance factors. They matter for compliance professionals as they shape future supervisory expectations, enhancing resilience assessments and aligning with CRD (Article 100(4)) and Solvency II (Article 304c(3)) mandates, potentially influencing firm-level stress testing preparations. #

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🇬🇧 FCA News medium

Pension value to be put under the spotlight

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...

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🇪🇺 ESMA News medium

ESAs’ Joint Board of Appeal rules on reimbursement of costs in an appeal brought by NOVIS Insurance Company against the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)

ESAs’ Joint Board of Appeal rules on reimbursement of costs in an appeal brought by NOVIS Insurance Company against the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) 05 January 2026 Board of Appeal Joint Committee The Joint Board of Appeal (“The Board”) of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) – the EBA, ESMA, EIOPA – has issued its decision on costs arising in the appeal brought by NOVIS Insurance Company, NOVIS Versicherungsgesellschaft, NOVIS Compagnia di Assicurazio...

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA News medium

Berne Financial Services Agreement (BFSA) Operational Direction and Guidelines for UK Insurers’ Section IV Notifications

The Berne Financial Services Agreement (BFSA) is a mutual recognition agreement between the UK and Switzerland, effective from 1 January 2026. This agreement enhances cross-border market access for financial services between the two countries.

Effective Date: 1 January 2026
Insurance
🇬🇧 FCA News medium

Michael Pettifer Insurance Brokers Limited enters liquidation

On 21 November 2025, Michael Pettifer Insurance Brokers Limited, trading as MPI Brokers, entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation. Robert Cooksey of Bridgestones Limited has been appointed as liquidator. MPI Brokers was authorised and regulated by the FCA to sell and arrange insurance policies. The firm specialised in travel insurance.If you need to contact the liquidator, please contact Bridgestones using the details below:Email: mail@bridgestones.co.ukIn writing: MPI Brokers (In Liquidation...

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Guidance high

SS2/25: Prudential considerations for insurance and reinsurance undertakings when transferring risk to Special Purpose Vehicles

Supervisory statement 2/25

AI Analysis

Supervisory Statement SS2/25 from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) provides guidance on prudential considerations for UK insurance and reinsurance undertakings transferring risk to Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). It clarifies expectations for ensuring such transfers comply with Solvency II requirements, focusing on risk transfer validity, capital relief recognition, and supervisory approval processes. This matters because it aims to enhance transparency and risk management in reinsurance arrangements, reducing potential regulatory arbitrage while supporting efficient risk mitigation for insurers amid evolving market dynamics. #

Insurance
🇬🇧 FCA Policy high

FCA expands insurance work in response to Which? super complaint

We're expanding the significant work we had planned to improve standards in the home and travel insurance markets, following Which?’s super complaint. Read our response to Which? (PDF)While 79% of consumers who make an insurance claim are satisfied with how it was handled, our work shows there's room for improvement - with 3 in 10 (31%) saying there isn’t enough information to judge the quality of different policies. Over the next year, we will do more to: Improve claims handling, by reviewin...

AI Analysis

The FCA is expanding its planned supervisory work in home and travel insurance markets in response to a Which? super complaint, focusing on improving claims handling, information provision, and overall standards. This matters for compliance professionals as it intensifies scrutiny under Consumer Duty, requiring firms to demonstrate better consumer outcomes amid ongoing simplification of insurance rules. It signals heightened FCA expectations for evidence-based improvements in customer satisfaction and transparency. #

Insurance
🇬🇧 FCA Enforcement medium

Using our full toolkit to help consumers

With over 20 years’ experience and responsibility for supervising 5,000 firms, I know that when an issue arises, the first question is often: 'What action will you take?'That’s a fair question – enforcement is one of the most visible ways we act. It often grabs headlines with big fines and publicity.But our role as supervisors is to exercise judgement - selecting the right tool to achieve the best and fastest outcomes for consumers and markets.While enforcement is a vital part of the kit, it’...

AI Analysis

This FCA blog post outlines the regulator's supervisory "toolkit" for addressing consumer harm, emphasizing proactive supervision over enforcement to achieve faster outcomes like redress and market-wide improvements. It matters because it signals FCA's preference for swift, non-enforcement interventions (e.g., skilled person reviews, voluntary requirements), urging firms to respond promptly to supervisory feedback to avoid escalation. Compliance teams should view this as a reminder to prioritize Consumer Duty compliance, as supervision tools are increasingly tied to it for rapid harm prevention. #

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🇮🇪 CBI Enforcement high

Public statement relating to Enforcement Action between Central Bank of Ireland and Philip Smith

Mr Philip Smith, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of RSA Insurance Ireland DAC disqualified for 13 years by the Central Bank of Ireland for his admitted participation in a breach of financial services law by RSAII On 1 December 2025 the Central Bank of Ireland reprimanded Mr Smith and disqualified him for 13 years from being a person concerned in the management of a regulated financial service provider for his participation in a breach by RSA Insurance Ireland DAC (...

AI Analysis

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) reprimanded and disqualified former RSA Insurance Ireland DAC (RSAII) CEO Philip Smith for 13 years from management roles in regulated financial service providers due to his admitted role in under-reserving large loss claims, breaching Article 13(1)(a) of the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 359/1994). This enforcement action underscores CBI's commitment to individual accountability for senior executives who circumvent controls, risking policyholder protection and firm solvency, as evidenced by RSAII's subsequent need for a major capital injection. It matters for compliance professionals as it demonstrates CBI's use of prolonged disqualifications and inquiries under the Administrative Sanctions Procedure (ASP) to deter governance failures in insurance firms. #

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🇮🇪 CBI Enforcement high

Central Bank of Ireland publishes roadmap to deliver a more effective and efficient regulatory framework

New report outlines the Central Bank’s approach to more effective and efficient regulatory and supervisory framework, reducing complexity and improving clarity while maintaining resilience and important protections in the system. This work builds on the Central Bank’s strategy to transform regulation and supervision, including the introduction of our new integrated supervisory approach and the improvements made in our gatekeeping processes in recent years. The roadmap sets out a comprehensive...

AI Analysis

The Central Bank of Ireland published a comprehensive multi-year roadmap on December 10, 2025, aimed at streamlining its regulatory and supervisory framework across four pillars: supervision, regulation, gatekeeping, and reporting. This initiative represents a strategic shift toward more effective and efficient oversight while explicitly maintaining resilience standards and consumer protections, responding to EU calls for regulatory reform to enhance competitiveness.

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Hedwig Ulmer Busenhart joins FINMA’s Executive Board

The Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has appointed Hedwig Ulmer Busenhart as the new Head of the Insurance division. The qualified mathematician and actuary has over 25 years of management experience in the insurance sector and will take up her position on 1 April 2026. She succeeds Birgit Rutishauser, who left FINMA in April 2025.

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Consultation high

CP22/25 – UK Solvency II reporting and disclosure: Post-implementation amendments

Consultation paper

AI Analysis

CP22/25 is a consultation paper on post-implementation amendments to UK Solvency II reporting and disclosure requirements, published by the PRA on 4 December 2025. The consultation addresses feedback and queries from insurance firms following the substantial reduction in reporting templates implemented at the end of 2024, clarifying expectations for compliance with the revised Reporting Part of the PRA Rulebook across multiple technical areas including accident/underwriting year reporting, annuity reporting by currency, and internal model governance disclosures.

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Policy high

PS25/25 – Enhancing banks’ and insurers’ approaches to managing climate-related risks – Update to SS3/19

Policy statement 25/25

AI Analysis

PS25/25 is the PRA's policy statement providing feedback on CP10/25 and issuing updated Supervisory Statement SS5/25, which replaces SS3/19 to enhance banks' and insurers' management of climate-related financial risks through strengthened governance, risk management, scenario analysis, data quality, and disclosures. It matters because it sets a higher regulatory bar for embedding climate risks proportionately into core processes like ICAAP, ILAAP, ORSA, and financial reporting, promoting resilience and strategic decision-making amid evolving climate threats. #

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🇬🇧 PRA Guidance high

SS5/25 – Enhancing banks’ and insurers’ approaches to managing climate-related risks

Supervisory statement 5/25

AI Analysis

SS5/25 is the PRA's updated supervisory statement, published on 3 December 2025, replacing SS3/19 and setting enhanced expectations for banks and insurers to manage climate-related risks through governance, risk management, scenario analysis, data quality, and disclosures. It matters because it represents a step change from awareness-raising to embedding robust, proportionate practices that integrate climate risks into core prudential processes like ICAAP, ILAAP, ORSA, and capital planning, aligning with the PRA's objectives for firm safety and soundness amid evolving physical and transition risks. #

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🇬🇧 PRA Consultation high

DP2/25 – Alternative Life Capital: Supporting innovation in the life insurance sector

Discussion paper 2/25

AI Analysis

The PRA's Discussion Paper 2/25 (published November 14, 2025) invites UK life insurers to provide feedback on potential regulatory reforms that would enable them to access **alternative forms of capital through risk transfer to capital markets**, outside traditional equity and debt issuance. This initiative aims to address capital constraints in the UK life insurance sector while maintaining policyholder protection and supporting long-term economic growth.

Insurance
🇨🇭 FINMA News medium

Insurance intermediary certificates unlawfully obtained due to manipulation

An investigation by the Insurance Industry Vocational Training Association (VBV) has revealed that VBV intermediary certificates were wrongly issued in around 100 cases as a result of manipulation. The VBV is not supervised by FINMA. The association acts on behalf of the insurance and intermediary industry and will restore compliance with the law for these certificates. It has also filed a criminal complaint. Untied intermediaries are subject to direct supervision by FINMA. If there is eviden...

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Policy high

PS17/25 – Matching Adjustment Investment Accelerator

Policy statement 17/25

AI Analysis

PS17/25 establishes the **Matching Adjustment Investment Accelerator (MAIA) framework**, enabling PRA-regulated insurers to regularize and expand their use of matching adjustment (MA) in calculating capital requirements for certain long-duration insurance liabilities. This framework is significant because it provides a structured pathway for firms to optimize capital efficiency while maintaining prudential safeguards through exposure limits, eligibility assessments, and breach remediation mechanisms.

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Consultation low

LIAC02/25 – Low Impact Amendments Consultation October 2025

The PRA has published LIAC02/25, a consultation on proposed low impact amendments to rules and policy.

AI Analysis

The PRA's LIAC02/25 consultation, published on 16 October 2025, proposes low-impact amendments to its Rulebook and policy materials, including technical fixes, conditional disapplications, and miscellaneous corrections to enhance accuracy and align with prior policies. These changes matter for PRA-regulated firms as they ensure regulatory consistency with minimal operational burden, with most taking effect in late 2025 or early 2026 following the consultation period. #

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🇬🇧 PRA Policy high

PS15/25 – Closing liquidity reporting gaps and streamlining Standard Formula reporting

Policy statement 15/25

AI Analysis

PS15/25 introduces **new liquidity risk reporting requirements for major UK insurance firms**, closing data gaps identified during the March 2020 "dash for cash" and September 2022 LDI crisis. The policy mandates four new reporting templates for firms with significant derivatives or securities lending exposure, with implementation deferred to **30 September 2026** to allow adequate preparation time.

Insurance
🇬🇧 PRA Guidance high

SS15/16 – Solvency II: Monitoring model drift and standard formula SCR reporting for firms with permission to use an internal model

Supervisory Statement 15/16

AI Analysis

SS15/16 establishes the PRA's expectations for UK insurance firms using approved internal models to calculate their Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR), requiring them to maintain the ability to calculate SCR using the standard formula and submit standard formula SCR calculations for regulatory monitoring purposes. This guidance is critical because it ensures capital requirements remain reflective of actual firm risks and protects policyholder security by preventing model drift—where internal models diverge from underlying risk realities over time.

Insurance

FINMA and the UK supervisory authorities strengthen cooperation in financial services

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and the UK Financial Conduct Authority FCA and Prudential Regulation Authority PRA today signed a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum sets out details of the co-operation under the Berne Financial Services Agreement and opens up new cross-border opportunities in insurance and investment services.

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🇬🇧 PRA Consultation high

CP20/25 – Insurance third-country branches: policy implementation and other updates

Consultation paper 20/25

AI Analysis

CP20/25 is a PRA consultation paper published on 16 September 2025 that proposes targeted updates to the regulatory framework governing third-country insurance branches operating in the UK. The consultation addresses inconsistencies introduced during the Solvency II review, clarifies supervisory expectations, and increases the subsidiarisation threshold—matters that directly affect the operational and compliance costs of non-UK insurers seeking to maintain branch operations rather than establish subsidiaries in the UK market.

Insurance

Swiss insurance sector posts mixed results in the 2024 financial year

The 2024 insurance market report, which was published today by FINMA, offers an overview of the Swiss insurance market last year. Swiss insurance companies achieved aggregate annual profits of CHF 10.4 billion in 2024, which represents a 24% decrease over the previous year. While life and non-life insurers were able to increase their profits, reinsurers recorded a significant decline.

Insurance

The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment has published its 2024 Annual Report

Annual report Savings protection Marketing Retail investors Journalists The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment has published its 2024 Annual Report

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🇫🇷 AMF Guidance high

Corporate Sustainability Reporting directive (CSRD): EFRAG and the European Commission publish implementation guidance and FAQs

Sustainable Finance Periodic & ongoing disclosures Corporate Sustainability Reporting directive (CSRD): EFRAG and the European Commission publish implementation guidance and FAQs

AI Analysis

The AMF publication announces implementation guidance and FAQs on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) released by EFRAG and the European Commission, aimed at clarifying reporting standards under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). This matters for compliance professionals as it provides actionable tools to meet expanded sustainability disclosure requirements, ensuring audit-ready reporting amid phased rollouts and third-party assurance mandates. It supports harmonized EU-wide compliance for nearly 50,000 companies, enhancing data comparability and investor transparency. #

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The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment has published its 2023 Annual Report

Annual report Savings protection Marketing Retail investors Journalists The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment has published its 2023 Annual Report

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The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment publishes its 2022 annual report

Annual report Savings protection Marketing Financial products Retail investors Journalists The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment publishes its 2022 annual report

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🇫🇷 AMF Enforcement critical

The AMF has requested the suspension of ORPEA's financial instruments

Markets Periodic & ongoing disclosures The AMF has requested the suspension of ORPEA's financial instruments

AI Analysis

On October 24, 2022, France's Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) suspended all financial instruments (shares, debt securities, and related instruments) issued by ORPEA S.A., a major European care homes operator, pending disclosure of material information under the European Market Abuse Regulation. This enforcement action reflects serious governance and disclosure failures at a publicly listed company facing allegations of operational malpractice and undisclosed financial difficulties.

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🇫🇷 AMF Consultation medium

AMF's response to the EFRAG consultation on the draft European sustainability reporting standards

Regulatory developments Europe & international Sustainable Finance Periodic & ongoing disclosures AMF's response to the EFRAG consultation on the draft European sustainability reporting standards

AI Analysis

The AMF's position paper responds to EFRAG's 2022 public consultation on the first set of draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the CSRD, welcoming their ambition on ESG topics and double materiality while urging proportionality, international interoperability, materiality focus, and alignment with EU laws like SFDR. This matters for compliance professionals as it shapes final ESRS, influencing mandatory sustainability disclosures for EU firms and financial market participants from 2024 onward, with potential simplifications affecting reporting burdens. https://www.amf-france.org/en/news-publications/news/amfs-response-efrag-consultation-draft-european-sustainability-reporting-standards #

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The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment publishes its 2021 annual report

Annual report Savings protection Journalists Investment services providers Investment management companies Listed companies and issuers The ACPR and AMF Joint Unit for Insurance, Banking and Retail Investment publishes its 2021 annual report

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🇫🇷 AMF Consultation high

The AMF invites providers, users and rated entities to respond to ESMA's Call for evidence on the ESG rating market in Europe

Europe & international Sustainable Finance Asset management The AMF invites providers, users and rated entities to respond to ESMA's Call for evidence on the ESG rating market in Europe

AI Analysis

The AMF is urging French stakeholders—ESG rating providers, users, and rated entities—to respond to ESMA's 2022 Call for Evidence on the EU ESG rating market to inform European Commission efforts on improving transparency and reliability. This matters as it contributes to the foundational data driving the ESG Ratings Regulation (EU 2024/3005), which imposes authorization, disclosure, and conflict-of-interest rules on providers, affecting sustainable finance compliance across the EU. With the regulation applying from 2 July 2026, early engagement helps shape final rules amid ongoing ESMA consultations on technical standards. #

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