Key developments of interest over the last month include: the Central Bank of Somalia announcing the launch of the Somalia Instant Payment System (SIPS), the country’s first nationwide instant payments infrastructure; the...more
Outcomes testing and monitoring under the Consumer Duty, and senior management engagement with these areas, remain key focus areas for the FCA. Whilst the review in question focuses specifically on the treatment of customers...more
The PRA has published its Business Plan for 2025/26, setting out the workplan for each of its strategic priorities and strategy to advance its primary and secondary objectives. The PRA comments that, alongside its continual...more
There are over 80 million people with disabilities in the EU. The European Accessibility Act 2019 (EAA) (Directive (EU) 2019/882) implements the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and aims at...more
Motor finance, mortgage rule review work and Consumer Duty feature prominently in the work plans for this strategic priority. Firms should note that the FCA includes a warning in relation to the Duty that, where necessary, it...more
4/14/2025
/ Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
Mortgages ,
Open Banking ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Reform ,
UK
Proposed increases in the deposit protection limit from £85,000 to £110,000 and in the temporary high balance limit from £1 million to £1.4 million would take effect from 1 December 2025. There would be a transitional period...more
Following feedback to its July 2024 Call for Input (CfI) on placing greater reliance on the Consumer Duty instead of specific rules and guidance, the FCA won’t be carrying out a wholesale Handbook review. It has instead...more
The government has published a policy paper containing an Action Plan for “A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth”. The Action Plan shows a shift in approach towards regulation (including, but not...more
The FCA has published a Strategy Paper, outlining its strategy for the next five years. The FCA says it will focus on four priorities: (i) being a smarter regulator; (ii) supporting sustained economic growth; (iii) helping...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK government publishing a pro-growth Action Plan for regulators and regulation, including pledges from the FCA of relevance to payments and digital assets firms;...more
3/25/2025
/ BaFin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
HM Treasury ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
UK
The government has published a policy paper containing an Action Plan for “A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth”. The Action Plan shows a shift in approach towards regulation (including, but not...more
Following the FCA’s January 2025 response to the government’s request for ideas to support its growth mission for the UK economy, the regulator has now written to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and released other...more
Following the FCA’s January 2025 response to the government’s request for ideas to support its growth mission for the UK economy, the FCA has now published an engagement paper seeking feedback on the different ways that it...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: a new Bill containing detailed new information and account direct deduction obligations for banks and EMIs being introduced to the UK Parliament; the issuing of a...more
Potential issues identified from stakeholder feedback to the FCA and PSR call for information include insufficient competition between digital wallets and between payment systems within digital wallets. The majority of...more
In a recent response to an EBA Q&A and with reference to existing ECJ case law, the European Commission has stated that the condition of acceptance in the definition of e-money in the second E-Money Directive (2009/110/EC)...more
Banks and EMIs will need to consider the impacts of proposed new requirements to comply with information notices and account direct deduction orders on their policies, procedures and controls. For information notices, this...more
On 14 January 2025, the Bank of England ("BoE") published a design note outlining its current thinking relating to the design of a digital pound (the "Design Note") and a progress update summarising the BoE’s work on...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau looking at digital payment privacy and consumer protections; the UK FCA publishing a discussion paper on admissions and...more
1/23/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Data Privacy ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishing a final rule on federal supervision of Big Tech and other widely used digital payment apps; the UK FCA...more
On 26 November 2024, the FCA published a number of communications relating to its approach to developing the future cryptoassets regime for the UK, including a roadmap for the development and introduction of the UK’s...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer makes her first Mansion House speech and HM Treasury publishes the National Payments Vision, indicating a focus on economic growth...more
At her inaugural Mansion House speech on 14 November 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined a number of key policy initiatives for the UK financial services sector. This note sets out the main initiatives, which...more
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is turning its thoughts to the year ahead in publishing a series of portfolio letters focusing on its 2025 supervisory priorities for retail banks, building societies, non-bank mortgage...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: the UK FCA publishing a consultation on two-stage reforms to the payments and e-money safeguarding regime; the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announcing a...more