Compliance - Complyport UK Consultancy Service

FCA Focus on Payments Firms’ Use of Agents and Distributors

As part of its ongoing scrutiny of compliance standards among payment and e-money institutions, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues to refine its supervisory expectations in priority areas. These include financial crime controls, safeguarding customer funds, operational resilience, governance and the Consumer Duty. A particular area of focus is the use of [...]

New Year, New Regulation for EMIs

With effect from 1 January 2026 the UK formally adopts the latest version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Common Reporting Standards (CRS) (often referred as “CRS 2.0”) under HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)’s recently updated International Tax Compliance (Amendment) Regulations 2025. This update is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the UK’s implementation of the existing CRS [...]

The Change in Control Regime: A Practical Guide for Firms and Investors

The UK’s Change in Control (CiC) regime has been the subject of many articles over the years, and that’s just from myself! But, if something is worth saying, it’s worth repeating. In this context, it concerns the continued attraction of the CiC process as a route to obtaining regulatory authorisation in the UK. This is particularly relevant [...]

Creating a Provisional Licences Authorisation Regime: An Update Worthy of the Name?

His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) has published a Policy Update following its commitment in the Regulatory Action Plan of March 2025 to introduce a “provisional licence regime”, aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for firms seeking authorisation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The March announcement did not attract significant attention, so [...]

FCA Review: Data Quality in MIFIDPRU Reporting

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently published the Prudential regulatory reporting by MIFIDPRU investment firms – data quality review and this has highlighted both areas of strong practice and aspects requiring improvement. Between January 2024 and March 2025, data submitted by approximately 3,800 firms revealed that, while most firms have a solid understanding of reporting requirements, persistent issues in data quality could impact the accuracy [...]

FCA Review of the UK Pure Protection Insurance Market

The UK pure protection market, covering products like term assurance, critical illness cover, income protection and whole of life insurance, plays a vital role in safeguarding households against financial shocks from death, illness, or incapacity. According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s MS24/1.3: Structure of the UK pure protection market for retail [...]

Key Insights from Industry Survey on AI and Financial Crime

On 11 November 2025, SymphonyAI and AML Intelligence, in collaboration, published the FinCrime Frontier 2025-26 Report. This publication stands as a pivotal guide for financial institutions, drawing on insights from over 250 financial crime professionals across the banking and insurance sectors in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Americas. The Report depicts an industry on the brink of transformation, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transitioning from an experimental tool to [...]

FCA Multi-Firm Review of Consolidation in the Financial Advice and Wealth Management Sector

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its findings into a multi-firm review that it conducted into consolidation trends within the financial advice and wealth management sector. This review is relevant to firms operating in this sector, those considering growth through acquisition and professional advisers, investors and funders involved in such activities. Its purpose was to evaluate how consolidation [...]

Consumer Duty Focus Areas for 2025 and 2026

The FCA has published its latest statement of priorities under the Consumer Duty, highlighting how it expects firms to embed the Duty through to 2025/26. The document sets out thematic, multifirm and marketwide workstreams that will shape the regulator’s supervisory and policy agenda. Consumer Duty remains central to the FCA’s [...]

ESG Ratings Providers Brought Under FCA Oversight

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has welcomed new UK Government legislation that formally brings Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings providers within its regulatory remit. This development represents a major step toward enhancing transparency, reliability and trust across the rapidly growing ESG ecosystem. ESG ratings play an increasingly significant role [...]

Strengthening Cyber Resilience: Why Now is the Time for a Cybersecurity Health Check

The UK Government has recently unveiled plans for tougher cybersecurity laws, aimed at bolstering the nation’s defences against rising cyber threats. While the primary focus is on critical sectors such as energy, healthcare and transport, the broader message is clear: cyber resilience is now a regulatory and operational priority for [...]

Crypto Regulatory Compliance: HMRC Warnings, MiCA Licences and Regulation

The UK is enhancing its regulatory scrutiny on the crypto sector with the HMRC issuing nearly 65,000 warning letters to UK investors in the 2024-25 tax year. This represents a 134% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, in the EU, Revolut and Relai have secured MiCA licences, signalling readiness to [...]

The Central Bank Takes Enforcement Action Against Coinbase Europe Limited for Anti-Money Laundering Failures

On November 6th the Central Bank of Ireland announced an enforcement action against Coinbase Europe Limited, imposing a fine of €21,464,734 for breaches of Anti-Money Laundering (“AML’’) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (“CFT’’) obligations. More specifically Coinbase was found to have significant failures in its transaction monitoring framework between 23 April 2021 [...]

Preventing Romance Fraud with Compassion and Control

Online relationships have become part of modern life, allowing people to connect across geographies, cultures and platforms. Yet, as trust and connection grow, so too can the risk of exploitation. Romance fraud is one of the fastest-growing forms of financial crime, with criminals preying not only on emotions but also [...]

UK Government Confirms FCA as Single Professional Services Supervisor for AML/CTF Oversight

In a decisive policy shift announced in October 2025, HM Treasury confirmed that the FCA will become the Single Professional Services Supervisor (“SPSS”) for the United Kingdom’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (“AML”/ “CTF”) framework. This significant reform follows extensive consultation and marks a critical step in simplifying the UK’s [...]

Rise in Fraud: Impact, Strategies and Solutions

Impact of Fraud and Money Laundering Published in October, the CIFAS Annual Report 2025 highlights the escalating fraud crisis in England and Wales. Fraud costs the UK an estimated £219 billion annually, with £81 billion impacting public services and £11.4 billion lost to consumer scams. The national surge of 4.2 [...]

Regulation, Growth and Trust: The FCA’s 2025 Focus

When Lucy Castledine, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Director of Consumer Investments, addressed the 2025 Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association (PIMFA) Compliance Conference, she outlined a clear vision for the future which balances ambition with accountability. The FCA is signalling for a new era for growth, technology, consumer outcomes, [...]

The FCA Warns Firms to Tighten Oversight of Off-Channel Communications and Vendor Risks

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has urged firms to strengthen their oversight of off-channel communications and related vendor risks, following its recent review of practices across eleven wholesale banks. The review identified key weaknesses in systems, processes and staff behaviours that could undermine firms’ ability to detect misconduct, protect consumers [...]

Adapting FCA Market Watch 84 for Stronger Reporting and Compliance

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest Market Watch 84 is more than a routine regulatory bulletin. It signals intensifying scrutiny of data quality, vendor oversight, change-management and omissions in derivative reporting. If your firm is active in derivatives, trade reporting or UK European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) or the Markets [...]

Tackling Money Laundering Risks in Cryptoasset Services

EBA 2025 Report Overview The crypto-asset sector has experienced explosive growth, driven by technological innovation and increasing mainstream adoption. However, this dynamism also exposes it to significant Money Laundering (“ML”) and Terrorist Financing (“TF”) vulnerabilities. According to the European Banking Authority’s (“EBA”) October 2025 report, Crypto-Asset Service Providers (“CASP”s) remain [...]

Tag: Compliance

FCA Focus on Payments Firms’ Use of Agents and Distributors

New Year, New Regulation for EMIs

The Change in Control Regime: A Practical Guide for Firms and Investors

Creating a Provisional Licences Authorisation Regime: An Update Worthy of the Name?

FCA Review: Data Quality in MIFIDPRU Reporting

FCA Review of the UK Pure Protection Insurance Market

Key Insights from Industry Survey on AI and Financial Crime

FCA Multi-Firm Review of Consolidation in the Financial Advice and Wealth Management Sector

Consumer Duty Focus Areas for 2025 and 2026

ESG Ratings Providers Brought Under FCA Oversight

Strengthening Cyber Resilience: Why Now is the Time for a Cybersecurity Health Check

Crypto Regulatory Compliance: HMRC Warnings, MiCA Licences and Regulation

The Central Bank Takes Enforcement Action Against Coinbase Europe Limited for Anti-Money Laundering Failures

Preventing Romance Fraud with Compassion and Control

UK Government Confirms FCA as Single Professional Services Supervisor for AML/CTF Oversight

Rise in Fraud: Impact, Strategies and Solutions

Regulation, Growth and Trust: The FCA’s 2025 Focus

The FCA Warns Firms to Tighten Oversight of Off-Channel Communications and Vendor Risks

Adapting FCA Market Watch 84 for Stronger Reporting and Compliance

Tackling Money Laundering Risks in Cryptoasset Services

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