The COVID-19 crisis is creating big financial problems for many corporates, particularly when current government support comes to an end. The banks are insufficiently prepared to deal with those problems, as former banker and restructuring consultant Rob Wijman writes in his book Heavy Weather Banking. ‘Just like a hospital, a bank needs an Intensive Care department with sufficiently skilled staff.’

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The European Banking Authority (EBA) started a public consultation on its proposed Guidelines for the use of remote customer onboarding solutions last week. These Guidelines provide competent authorities with a shared understanding of the steps finance industry operators should take to ensure secure and reliable remote customer onboarding practices in accordance with the relevant anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regulations and the EU’s data protection framework. When implemented, these Guidelines will extend to all financial sector operators covered by the Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD). This consultation will be open until March 10, 2022.

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The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has recently published a Practices Paper on the Execution of Bail-in. Bail-in is at the core of resolution strategies for global systemically important banks (G-SIBs). Set out in the Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for Financial Institutions, it is an important tool enabling an orderly resolution that minimises any impact on financial stability and ensures the continuity of critical functions, without exposing taxpayers to loss. Continue reading…

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed Stephen Braviner Roman as General Counsel and as a member of its Executive Committee following an open competition. Stephen is expected to join the FCA in February next year. Megan Butler has announced she will step down from her role as Executive Director of Transformation in the spring. Megan joined the FCA from the Bank of England in 2016 as Executive Director of Supervision – Investment, Wholesale and Specialist. Emily Shepperd will lead the FCA’s transformation programme, alongside her role as Executive Director of Authorisations, where since March she has spearheaded changes to our approach to the gateway and has been leading a number of transformation workstreams. Continue reading…

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group (RCG) for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met on December 3rd in virtual format. Members discussed global and regional macro-financial vulnerabilities, including those stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, their possible impact on RCG MENA member economies, and potential policy responses. As part of the discussion, members discussed initial lessons learnt from a financial stability perspective, and considered the potential implications for the region of exit measures taken in advanced economies. Continue reading…

The FCA has recently confirmed a series of rule changes to ensure that the UK’s public markets remain a trusted and attractive place to list successful companies, providing opportunities for companies to grow from which investors will benefit. The reforms address, and build on, a number of the recommendations made in the UK Listing Review and the Kalifa Review of UK FinTech, with the FCA seizing the opportunity to update its rules to respond to the changing nature of companies looking to list while maintaining high standards for UK public markets. Continue reading…

Eurojust has provided rapid support to the Romanian, German and French authorities to dismantle an organised crime group (OCG) involved in large-scale cargo thefts from lorries parked in motorway rest areas in Germany and France. During a joint action day, 34 suspects have been charged, of whom 14 were arrested in Romania and Germany. A total of 57 places were searched in Romania and Germany. Eurojust assisted the authorities with the setting up and funding of a joint investigation team (JIT) and enabled cross-border judicial cooperation and coordination. Continue reading…

The 2021 Global Insurance Market Report (GIMAR) reports on the outcome of the 2021 Global Monitoring Exercise (GME), the IAIS’ risk assessment framework to monitor key risks and trends and to detect the potential build-up of systemic risk in the global insurance sector. The report also provides an update on the outcome of the Covid-19 targeted assessment based on year-end 2020 data. The GME builds on data collected from approximately 60 of the largest international insurance groups (individual insurer monitoring or IIM) and aggregate sector-wide data from supervisors across the globe (sector-wide monitoring or SWM), covering over 90% of global written premiums. Continue reading…