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Latest News

19
Nov

FCA’s Scale-Up Unit

November 19, 2025
A New Resource for Growing Financial Firms In October 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), in partnership with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), launched the Scale-Up Unit — a dedicated initiative designed to support fast-growing, innovative regulated firms as they navigate the complexities of scaling in the UK financial services market. What Is the Scale-Up...
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18
Nov

FCA’s Regulatory Sandbox

November 18, 2025
A Strategic Opportunity for Consumer Credit Firms The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s Regulatory Sandbox offers a unique opportunity for firms, including those in the consumer credit sector, to test innovative products, services, or business models in a controlled, real-world environment. This initiative fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection remains a priority. What Is the Regulatory...
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15
Nov

FCA’s Enforcement Trends: What Consumer Credit Firms Should Watch

November 15, 2025
Understanding FCA enforcement trends is critical for consumer credit and secured lending firms aiming to minimise regulatory risk and maintain operational resilience. Recent enforcement actions, public censures, and thematic reviews highlight persistent areas where firms often fall short. For boards, compliance teams, and operational functions, staying ahead of these trends is not just about avoiding...
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14
Nov

Digital Lending and FCA Oversight

November 14, 2025
Key Compliance Considerations for Consumer Credit Firms The rapid rise of digital lending has transformed the consumer credit and secured lending markets. From Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) offerings to AI-driven credit scoring and peer-to-peer lending platforms, technology is enabling faster, more flexible lending. While these innovations present significant business opportunities, they also bring heightened regulatory scrutiny from...
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03
Nov

What is compliance monitoring?

November 3, 2025
Compliance monitoring is the process by which regulated firms, such as banks, credit unions, consumer credit firms, etc, oversee and justify their compliance with the FCAs regulations and standards. This means that companies in FCA-regulated industries must have a structured plan in place that includes quality assurance, internal audits, risk assessments and reporting to prove...
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27
Oct

Vulnerable Customers in Focus

October 27, 2025
Preparing for FCA Thematic Reviews The FCA continues to prioritise consumer vulnerability, with thematic reviews focusing on how firms identify, support, and treat vulnerable customers. This requires strategic oversight and operational readiness. Key Review Areas Customer Identification & Segmentation – Detection, categorisation, and MI reporting. Product and Service Design – Suitability, affordability, transparent fees, and...
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27
Oct

Consumer Credit Crackdown

October 27, 2025
FCA Targets High-Risk Firms With New Threshold Conditions The FCA has turned up the heat on high-risk consumer credit firms—signalling that authorisations will no longer be rubber-stamped. Key Takeaways from the FCA’s Warning Firms must demonstrate clear governance and senior manager accountability. There is a stronger emphasis on the adequacy of financial resources and wind-down...
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23
Oct

Regulatory Reporting and Product Sales Data

October 23, 2025
Why Consumer Credit Firms Can’t Afford to Get It Wrong Ask anyone running a consumer credit firm, a high-cost short-term lender, or a credit broker what keeps them awake at night, and reporting to the FCA is likely to feature high on the list. It’s not glamorous, it rarely feels commercial, but it is one...
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23
Oct

MLRO Requirements Demystified

October 23, 2025
What Brokers and Lenders Must Know FCA authorisation carries obligations around AML compliance. Lenders are typically required to appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), whereas brokers must appoint a registered AML person, even if they do not handle client funds directly. MLRO / Registered Person Responsibilities...
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