FCA’s diversity requirements go ‘far beyond remit’, report warns October 21, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other public sector diversity initiatives go “far beyond” remits set by legal requirements, a report has warned, prompting Reform UK to vow to reset systems to reward “talent and merit alone”. Analysis in a paper by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has suggested that diversity policies advanced by [...]
Centrica CEO: Regulate energy bosses like top bankers October 16, 2025 The boss of the UK’s largest energy supplier has called for the sector’s chief executives to be regulated like bankers, despite the government’s high-profile drive to slash red tape in a bid to boost the economy. During an evidence session with the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, Centrica’s Chris O’Shea told MPs he was [...]
Lords grill FCA on ‘deep lack of clarity’ in motor finance redress October 15, 2025 A committee of lawmakers has blasted the Financial Conduct Authority over the “deep lack of clarity” it provided over its motor finance redress scheme. Lord Forsyth, the chair of the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation committee, said at an evidence session the City watchdog had “made it considerably more complicated and costly” in its [...]
Close Brothers takes swing at FCA after near-doubling motor finance provisions October 14, 2025 Close Brothers’ frustration at the City watchdog has stepped up a gear after the firm was forced to almost double its provisions for the motor finance scandal. The FTSE 250 lender, which had previously set aside £165m, hiked its provisions by a further £135m following the Financial Conduct Authority outlining details of its industry-wide redress [...]
Lloyds Bank shares edge up despite £800m motor finance hit October 13, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group has taken a swipe at the City watchdog after being forced to hike its provisions for the motor finance scandal to £2bn. The banking giant said the redress scheme was not proportional or reasonable in ensuring customers were rightly compensated and it did not reflect the “actual loss” of borrowers. It added [...]
Close Brothers shares plunge on new ‘material’ motor finance hit October 9, 2025 Shares in FTSE 250 lender Close Brothers sank on Thursday after the firm said it expects to increase its provisions for the motor finance scandal. The bank – which has a £9.5bn loan book with over 20 per cent car finance loans – sunk nearly ten per cent to 472.60p. It follows the Financial Conduct [...]
Lloyds Bank set to increase motor finance provisions October 9, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group said on Thursday morning it would “likely… be required” to hike its motor finance provisions following further updates on the regulatory redress scheme. The FTSE 100 banking titan – which owns the UK’s largest motor finance lender Black Horse – currently leads the pack for £1.2bn in provisions. The Financial Conduct Authority [...]
The FCA’s refusal to regulate AI is pushing the problem onto City firms October 9, 2025 The FCA claims it does not regulate technology, only outcomes, but this line of thinking can only go so far with AI, writes Omar Salem.
Motor finance lenders gear up for ‘forensic test of discipline’ over redress scheme October 8, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority has softened the motor finance blow for lenders but experts say firms won’t be able to shift into a new gear just yet. The City watchdog has priced the cost of its industry-wide redress scheme at £11bn – a hefty sum but far below the eye-watering £44bn previously floated. Just over [...]
Motor finance: Lloyds, Barclays shares jump as FCA softens blow October 8, 2025 Shares in motor finance lenders rallied on Wednesday morning after the Financial Conduct Authority dropped a major update on its industry-wide redress scheme. Lloyds Banking Group – which owns the UK’s largest motor finance provider, Black Horse – was up over two per cent to 85.06p. Meanwhile, Close Brothers, which just last week set aside [...]