Blog
Dear CEO: The Principles of being the Principal
In May of this year, the FCA released a ‘Dear CEO’ letter that addressed the failings of principal firms within the investment management sector. The
OFAC Publishes Compliance Guidance on US Sanctions
For the first time, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has reached out to provide guidance to firms on creating and maintaining an
Authorised push payments and the voluntary code
What are you doing to protect your customers from authorised push payment (APP) scams? That is a question payment service providers (PSPs), including payment and
FinTechNI to Host US LendIT Founder & FinTech Leader Brustkern
FinTechNI, a collaboration between stakeholders in the local FinTech community to spearhead, publicise and promote Northern Ireland as a major FinTech hub, today announced it
Standard Chartered Bank: Fined $1.1 billion for Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Violations
Last month Standard Chartered bank agreed to pay a $1.1 billion for both Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions violations. This blog is an overview of the
New Communication Rules for Payment and E-Money Institutions
Back in October last year, fscom director Alison Donnelly wrote a blog on the FCA’s consultation on new rules for payment and e-money institutions. As explained in that blog, due to FCA concern with how
Open banking and strong customer authentication: help!
With only four months to go to the final PSD2 implementation date of 14 September 2019, all payment service providers must make sure they are
EWPN Announces Ambassador for Ireland
fscom is delighted to announce Alison Donnelly has been appointed as the European Women in Payments Network (EWPN) Ambassador for Ireland. EWPN is an exciting,
Becoming an Authorised Payment Institution
Payescape Managing Director, John Borland talks about his recent experience of applying to become an authorised payment institution (API) with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Payment services: making safeguarding work
Safeguarding is both a simple and important concept. Every payment and e-money institution that I have ever worked with wants to protect their customers’ funds
The Current Role of Transaction Monitoring in AML
The cost of global transaction monitoring is expected to grow from $8.29 billion in 2019 to $16.79 billion by 2023. What are the drivers for
fscom announces brand refresh
fscom is proud to announce a refresh of its brand identity. The initiative reflects the firm’s recent changes in its headquarters move to state of
Strong customer authentication: not as simple as just 2FA
In my previous blogs I have given you the basics of strong customer authentication (SCA) and explained how the exemptions could be used to minimise the disruption experienced by
Strong customer authentication: the exemptions explained
In my previous blog, I outlined the basic requirements of the new obligation, brought in under PSD2 (the second Payment Services Directive), for all payment service
Strong customer authentication under PSD2: the basics
Strong customer authentication (SCA) is a valid attempt by the EU to curb electronic payment fraud, including ‘card-not-present’ fraud. From a glance the concept is
Brexit Planning: Understanding The Authorisation Process In EEA Jurisdictions
Deal or No Deal? Despite initial rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons, the ‘deal’ may yet be palatable to a majority
No-deal Brexit – is there a regulatory backstop?
Following another week of inconclusive Brexit debate at Westminster, the prospect of a disorderly, no-deal withdrawal seems, either by accident or design, to be looming
How the “challenger banks” have become the ‘challenged’ banks
Better customer service, cleaner user interfaces, simpler language, spending insights and even gambling blocks…digital banks or ‘challenger banks’ as they are commonly referred to, have
Cryptoassets and FinCrime: Building for the Future
Whether you call them cryptocurrencies, cryptoassets or virtual assets, these tokens and their underlying technology, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), remain at the forefront of regulators
PSD2 – clock ticking for ‘live market’ AIS and PIS providers
As we marked the first anniversary of PSD2 implementation (at least, in the UK!) this week, there will doubtless be numerous conversation pieces and reflections
fscom Welcomes New Addition to Fincrime Team
fscom is delighted to announce its appointment of Tony Brown as our new Senior Manager in Financial Crime. Tony brings with him over 15 years
Be “reassured” of the benefits of external review
Assurance, or the use of auditors to search for problems at firms, can be very useful to the regulated community in all manner of ways,
Stockholm as Post Brexit Destination – a swede choice?
As we embark upon yet another week of uncertainty regarding what Brexit deal, if any, the Prime Minister might secure, the latest in my Q&As
New Rules for Payment and E Money Institutions
New rules for payment and e-money institutions Over the past couple of months, the FCA has been consulting on whether to apply the Principles for Businesses, and
Brexit: Autobahn to Authorisation?
Following on from our successful Brexit workshop last week, and our posts regarding France, Belgium and Lithuania, we now look at Germany as a potential
PwC acquires RegTech solution from FSCom Limited
Pictured: PwC partner, Ian McConnell; PwC partner, Lynne Rainey; Philip Creed, director of fscom and Alex Lee, chairman of fscom Global professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Brexit: A lifeline in Lithuania?
Another week closer to Brexit, and still no real idea of what deal, if any, might be agreed, especially after the Prime Minister’s latest engagements
fscom Announce Recent Promotions
fscom is delighted to announce two recent promotions. Rachel Stevenson has been promoted to Senior Manager within our payment services team. Rachel has worked in
Brexit: Out of the EU…back to Brussels?
Following my well-received blog about the ACPR’s approach to UK payment/e-money institutions applying for authorisation in France as part of their Brexit strategy, it was
Complaints handling – what does good look like?
Back in June, I blogged about the new complaints handling requirements introduced by PSD2. Since then the FCA have completed a comprehensive review of how Non-deposit
