Regulators target motor finance CMCs amid redress costs concern October 6, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority is teaming up with a fleet of regulators to crackdown on misleading claims firms in the motor finance saga – even as the sector’s displeasure on the redress scheme rumbles on. The City watchdog will join the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Information Commissioner’s Office and the Advertising Standards Authority to tackle [...]
Close Brothers looks to ‘accelerate’ after ‘messy’ year October 1, 2025 Close Brothers is hoping to switch gears and “accelerate” after the motor finance scandal had the bank stuck in a rut. The specialist lender’s share price has swerved between a low of 185.00 and peak of 555.00 over the last 12 months. The car misselling saga has been the driving force of stock woes, sending [...]
UK fintechs send rallying cry as industry slips in global ranking September 25, 2025 UK fintech leaders have sent a rallying call to policymakers after the sector slipped in global rankings. A host of industry bigwigs have told City AM the government must be bolder in growth-orientated reforms to bolster the sector’s standing against rivals. It comes after Z/Yen’s 38th Global Financial Centres Index showed the UK’s fintech sector [...]
Exclusive: FCA licence approvals slump September 15, 2025 As few as six e-money licence applications have been granted by the UK’s financial regulator over the past 9 months, City AM can reveal, underscoring the scale of the regulatory obstacles faced by Britain’s fintech startups. Data obtained by City AM via Freedom of Information request showed that not a single authorised electronic money institution (AEMI) licence [...]
FCA hires influencers to raise awareness of motor finance compensation scheme September 12, 2025 In its attempt to stop people using claims management companies or law firms to access the motor finance compensation scheme, the City watchdog has kicked off a £1m media campaign. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is launching a £1m campaign to inform people that they don’t need to use a CMC or law firm to [...]
Two in five financial services firms lack safe AI controls September 11, 2025 As the financial services industry piles billions of pounds into artificial intelligence (AI), firms are lacking adequate measures to maintain safe usage, according to new figures. Fresh data from Big Four accountancy giant EY reveal 26 per cent of companies have no or limited controls in place to ensure AI systems adhere to laws and [...]
FCA plans to allow contactless payment limits above £100 September 10, 2025 Card providers are set to be given the powers to set their own limits on contactless payments, which are currently set at £100, under proposals set out by the City regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that it will consult industry on whether the rules should be relaxed as part of its task [...]
FCA: ‘Large number of consumers’ wronged in motor finance deals September 9, 2025 The UK’s financial watchdog is gearing up for an industry-wide redress scheme on the historic motor finance scandal where huge swathes of customers could be eligible for compensation. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, said there was “evidence that there have been unfair relationships between lenders and their consumers” and that a [...]
Firms are needlessly ‘gold plating’ Consumer Duty rules, FCA policy director says September 9, 2025 Scores of wholesale financial services firms are needlessly “gold plating” their compliance with Consumer Duty rules, the financial watchdog’s policy chief has claimed, as the regulator pushes back over concerns the rules have become too burdensome for businesses. Charlotte Clark, director of cross-cutting policy and strategy at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), admonished companies who [...]
Nigel Farage: City regulator ‘is a disaster’ September 5, 2025 Nigel Farage has branded the Financial Conduct Authority a “disaster” as he promised his party would overhaul the City’s regulatory landscape. The Reform UK leader – who is hosting the party’s annual conference this weekend – is a strong contender to take the keys to 10 Downing Street in the next general election. Allies of [...]