Financial Services Authority meaning

FCA and PRA senior management arrangements, systems and controls requirements The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) expectations for senior management arrangements, systems and controls are outlined in the Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls sourcebook (SYSC) within the FCA Handbook, as set out in SYSC. For the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), equivalent obligations appear across sections of the PRA Rulebook and in PRA Supervisory Statements (SSs). This checklist offers a mapping of the requirements in the various SYSC chapters alongside the corresponding senior management arrangements, systems and controls provisions contained in the PRA Rulebook and SSs. The mapping links each SYSC chapter to the parallel PRA materials. Details of the entities within the scope of SYSC are summarised in SYSC 1.1A.1G, and set out in full in SYSC 1 Annex 1 and in the relevant SYSC chapter...

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and is no longer maintained This tracker outlines the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation papers issued in 2023, together with any subsequent rules and guidance. For FCA consultation papers from other years, see: FCA consultation paper trackers. For Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) papers from 2017 and Financial Services Authority (FSA) papers from 2008 to 2013, see: PRA consultation paper tracker [Archived] FSA consultation paper tracker [Archived] Regulation of capital markets CP23/33: Payments to data providers and forms for Data Reporting Services Providers, including Policy Statement for the framework for UK consolidated tape (CP23/15) The FCA has released consultation paper CP23/33. Responses are invited by 9 February 2024. Publication date: 20 December 2023. End of consultation: 9 February 2024. Policy Statement/Handbook Notice: Handbook Notice 117 (5 April 2024). CP23/32: Improving transparency for bond and derivatives markets The FCA has published consultation paper CP23/32, Improving...

2026 This timeline highlights significant developments relating to the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive 2014/59/EU (EU BRRD) from 2024 onwards. For earlier events, see Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD)-timeline [Archived]. 11 March 2026 - European Commission: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/519 of 10 March 2026, which amends the implementing technical standards set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/622 concerning reporting frequency and the information to be reported, has been published in the Official Journal of the EU and enters into force on 31 March 2026. 9 March 2026 - EBA: Banking Resolution-submission of the final draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1075 with respect to RTS specifying the content of resolution plans and group resolution plans, as well as the operational functioning of the resolution colleges. The European Banking Authority has forwarded these RTS to the European Commission. This overview presents the most...

Aim of this flowchart Under section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, anyone who carries on a regulated activity in the UK in the course of business, without an applicable exclusion or exemption, must hold authorisation from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and/or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This requirement is referred to as the general prohibition. For further detail on the general prohibition and the scope of regulated activities, consult the Practice Notes: The general prohibition and implications of its breach, and What are regulated activities? This flowchart is intended to assist in deciding whether a person is undertaking the regulated activities of effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance as principal, pursuant to article 10(1) and (2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (SI 2001/544) (RAO). Any references here to PERG are to the FCA’s Perimeter Guidance Manual, which provides regulatory guidance within the FCA Handbook. It serves as a guide to the FCA Handbook...

The defined terms in the flowchart shall have the following meaning: Appointed Representative Regulations — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Appointed Representatives) Regulations 2001, SI 2001/1217 Business Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) Order 2001, SI 2001/1177 Exemption Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) Order 2001, SI 2001/1201 Non-Exempt Activities Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Professions) (Non-Exempt Activities) Order 2001, SI 2001/1227 PRA-regulated activities — denotes regulated activities designated as PRA‑regulated activities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (PRA‑regulated Activities) Order 2013, SI 2013/556 RAO — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001, SI 2001/544 UCITS qualifier — carries the meaning attributed to it in the Glossary of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook To determine whether an activity is regulated, follow the flowchart below. Click below to view or print...

On 6 March 2025, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published a consultation paper setting out draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS). These draft RTS were issued following the European Commission’s (Commission) Call for Advice. They constitute a component of the European Union’s (EU) Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CTF) package, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 19 June 2024...

Financial services adviser Broadstone reported its review of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s most recent Financial Lives Survey, released on 16 May 2025, indicated that one in three savers who moved were dissatisfied with the result. Around 12% of members with a DB pension are thinking of moving to a DC arrangement, Broadstone added, citing the FCA figures, which drew on responses from 17,950 people questioned between February and June 2024...

Incoming legislation will bring stricter rules to the crypto sector, requiring CASPs to carry out customer checks and to report suspicious activities whenever transactions total €1,000 euros or more. Controls will be even more rigorous for CASPs’ cross-border transactions. ‘We have ensured that the crypto sector will operate under the same rules and bear the same obligations as the traditional financial sector’, said Eero Heinäluoma, on this matter...

This Practice Note examines core aspects of the UK framework for money market funds (MMFs) that stems from Regulation (EU) 2017/1131 (the EU MMF Regulation). It also looks at suggested changes to the framework, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE) working jointly to bolster its resilience and align it with post‑Brexit regulatory objectives. For background on the EU MMF Regulation, see Practice Note: EU MMF Regulation—essentials. What is an MMF? Money market funds (MMFs) are investment funds that invest in short‑term debt instruments and so play a significant role in the short‑term financing of the economy. In particular, MMFs are open‑ended, liquid investment funds that invest in fixed income through short‑term debt, for example money market instruments issued by banks, governments or companies (including treasury bills, commercial paper and certificates of deposit) which pay interest. They therefore form an important connection between demand for, and the supply of, short‑term debt. Further information on the eligible assets of an MMF is...

Scope of this Practice Note This Practice Note addresses matters linked to technology used to help firms comply with their regulatory duties—often referred to as ‘regtech’. It reviews how the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England (BoE) (including the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)) engage with regtech, highlights industry activity, and records both the proposal and subsequent withdrawal of an FCA ‘Robo Handbook’. It examines these facets of what has come to be known as ‘regtech’: what is regtech? the FCA’s approach FCA TechSprints digital sandbox other regulator-side developments towards a Robo Handbook industry-side developments other initiatives What is regtech? Regtech is a broad label for the use of technology to help firms discharge regulatory requirements more efficiently and effectively than legacy systems allow—and, at times, for the use of technology by regulators to support their own supervisory responsibilities. The expression is used either in contrast to, or as a subset of, fintech....

The extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime for packaging and packaging waste The extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime for packaging and packaging waste shifts the entire cost of managing household packaging waste from households to packaging producers, placing on them accountability for their packaging costs throughout its lifecycle. Lower charges apply to sustainable packaging, incentivising designs that use fewer materials and are easier to recycle. Under EPR, Local Authorities (LAs) receive producer-funded payments covering the net costs of collecting, managing, recycling and disposing of this household packaging waste. EPR is governed by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/1332 (as amended). These regulations define a range of persons and bodies with specific functions within the regime. These are: producers—these are the principal duty holders compliance schemes the Scheme Administrator (SA) (PackUK) ‘relevant authorities’ which are LAs as household waste collection and disposal authorities responsible for household waste services reprocessors and exporters the ‘appropriate agency’—in England, the Environment...

We are now at a point in your matter where, in our view, it is in your best interests to purchase [ insert type of insurance ]. We recommend arranging this cover through [ state name of insurance provider to whom you have introduced the client for insurance or who has given you delegated authority to issue a policy ]. We have already spoken about this and you have confirmed that we will [ state what you will do to arrange the insurance, eg complete and submit a proposal form on your behalf or issue the policy under delegated authority ]. You have also authorised us to share the relevant personal data and information with [ state name of insurance provider ] for this purpose... Fees, charges and commission Insurance premium The [ insert type of insurance ] insurance policy is priced at £[ insert amount or where it is not possible to give a specific amount, the basis for the calculation of the premium ]. This...

This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ] Parties [ Insert name of party ], a company incorporated in England and Wales (company number [ insert registered number ]) with its registered office at [ insert registered address ] (the Service Provider); and [ Insert name of party ], a company incorporated in England and Wales (company number [ insert registered number ]) with its registered office at [ insert registered address ] (the Firm). Each of the Service Provider and the Firm is a Party, and together they are the Parties. Recitals (A) The Firm is an [ insert, eg investment management and advisory firm ] and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). (B) The Firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Service Provider. (C) The Parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement to record the operational functions outsourced to the Service Provider which, in the Firm’s...

[ On headed notepaper of company ][ insert shareholder name ][ insert shareholder address ] Dear [ [ shareholder name ] OR Sir/Madam ], Request to send or supply documents in electronic form and to making documents available on a website This letter is significant and requires your prompt attention. If you are unsure about its contents, or what steps to take, please seek your own financial advice from: your stockbroker your solicitor your accountant another independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 The purpose of this correspondence is for [ insert name of company ] PLC (the Company) to obtain your consent to receive [ documents and information OR [ insert details of specific document or information ] ] in electronic format, including through publication on a website. In addition to your individual consent to communications via website publication, the Company must either secure the authority of members by ordinary resolution, or rely...

The regulation of consumer credit Under section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000), no one may perform a regulated activity, or even hold themselves out as doing so, within the UK unless they are an authorised person—authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and/or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)—or an exempt person, for example as an appointed representative. For a high-level outline of the UK regulated activities regime, see Practice Note: What are regulated activities? An activity is regulated where it is of a ‘specified kind’—that is, specified in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO), SI 2001/544—and is carried on by way of business...

What is the regulatory regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000) Under section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the general prohibition applies: a person must not carry on a regulated activity in the UK, or even purport to do so, unless they are within one of the permitted categories below. An authorised person (that is, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and/or the Financial Conduct Authority) An exempt person (for example, an appointed representative) For an outline of the UK regime governing regulated activities, see Practice Note: What are regulated activities? An activity is regulated if it is of a ‘specified kind’—as listed in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO 2001), SI 2001/544—and it is carried on by way of business. For further detail on what amounts to carrying on a regulated activity ‘by way of business’ in the UK, refer to Practice Notes: What does ‘by...

This Q&A focuses on public procurement under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), SI 2015/102 As a general principle, the PCR 2015, SI 2015/102 affords bidders considerable latitude to shape bid partnerships and supply chain models to suit their approach. Under PCR 2015, SI 2015/102, reg 63(1), tenderers can draw upon the resources of other organisations to satisfy selection requirements covering economic and financial standing, along with technical and professional capability. A limited carve-out appears at PCR 2015, SI 2015/102, reg 63(7), which permits contracting authorities to stipulate that specified ‘critical tasks’ in a public services or public works contract must be carried out by the prime contractor, or by one from a consortium of primes. Put differently, suppliers are, in most cases, free to deploy their chosen subcontractors when delivering a public contract. That said, this is subject to any express exclusion within the tender documents that rules out the use of third parties for particular functions...