Connect vs. ONA

A reminder to firms that the FCA’s Online Notifications and Applications system (ONA), under which applications for Approved Persons, Variations of Permission etc. are submitted, will be largely replaced by a new online system – ‘Connect’ – from 1 October (although passport applications will remain on ONA). For the avoidance of doubt, paper based submissions such as a Change in Control will remain on paper.

The FCA has produced a one-page overview of Connect (see link) which advises that firms will need to register to make use of the system, although at the time of this article the process to achieve this is not clear.