Blog
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
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
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
Brexit: All roads lead to…Paris?!
In my blog about Brexit earlier this month, I outlined some of the key factors for firms to take on board when considering their EU
Open Banking; not just for banks
How is your business preparing for Open Banking? According to a HM Treasury paper published earlier this month, Open Banking has the potential to ‘boost UK
“Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest (regulator) of them all?”
For some, Brexit may still seem like something out of a fairy tale but, whether you are for or against, it will become a reality
ESMA’s temporary product intervention decisions: NDFs
The implementation of MiFID II in January triggered a significant change in the blanket treatment of FX forwards in the UK and, as a result, non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) became
Request for data deletion: is it for legitimate reasons?
At what point does empowering individuals to be ‘masters of their own personal data destiny’ encroach on a payment service provider’s legal responsibility to prevent
What the FCA really wants from e-money and payment institutions
With the vast majority of e-money and payment institutions successfully re-authorised, let’s take a look at how the FCA intends to monitor this growing population
Got a complaint about a payment service?
With all the excitement around re-authorisation, the ban on credit card surcharges and the new payment services activities, the less headline grabbing regulatory changes introduced by the second payment
Alison Donnelly Scoops Top AML and Payments Services Awards
We are delighted to announce that Alison Donnelly, Director and Head of Advisory at fscom, has recently been awarded not only one, but two top
Introducing the New Payment Systems Operator
In a previous blog post, I took a look at the upcoming access changes to the UK’s RTGS system (the Clearing House Automated Payment System) and,
How Will PSD2 Affect Charities – The Forgotten Sector
There has been a lot of talk in the financial sector surrounding the topic of PSD2; flagging deadlines, the implications of non-compliance and the opportunities
GDPR: separating fact from fiction
GDPR Fines! GDPR Fines! GDPR Fines! The war cry of solicitors and tech consultants across Europe for the past year has become so loud that
PSD2 – further inside the regulator
Drawing on my experience of heading up the Payment Services Authorisations Team at the FCA for many years, I spoke last week about the FCA’s expectations
Bringing Cryptocurrency To The Front Line: Who, What, Why & How?
When we hear the word ‘cryptocurrencies’, three fixations tend to pop up; price volatility, anonymity and, perhaps most of all, its enduring association with the
How are the third party providers (TPPs) faring under PSD2?
It’s been five months since the FCA’s doors opened to applications from the new payment service providers, often referred to as third party providers (TPPs),
fscom Appoints New Head of Marketing
fscom is delighted to announce its appointment of Elaine Tighe as our new Head of Marketing. Elaine brings with her over 17 years of marketing
Comply or Die: How compliance audits can help FinTechs survive
‘Compliance’ is the watchword in financial services, perhaps more now than ever. With new rules and regulations being introduced across Europe, most notably 4MLD, MiFID
A new year; a new payments landscape?
To some, 13 January and the implementation of the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) will be a significant milestone in their business’s path. They will
MiFID II: stay focussed and keep perspective
The second Markets in Financial Infrastructure Directive (MiFID II), and its accompanying regulation the Markets in Financial Infrastructure Regulation (MiFIR), are set to take effect
PSD2 spells the end of surcharges
When does a great deal turn out to be not such a great deal? When a credit card surcharge is added right at the end.
