The BBA is now integrated into UK Finance. Please go to www.ukfinance.org.uk for new content and updates from UK Finance.
Material published by BBA prior to 1st July 2017 is still available on this website.
From 1 July 2017, the finance and banking industry operating in the UK will be represented by a new trade association, UK Finance. It will represent around 300 firms in the UK providing credit, banking, markets and payment-related services. The new organisation will take on most of the activities previously carried out by the Asset Based Finance Association, the British Bankers’ Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Financial Fraud Action UK, Payments UK and the UK Cards Association.
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The cross industry good practice guidance note on mortgage fraud, developed by the BBA, CML, BSA and IMLA, has been updated in Jan 2017. If members would like to obtain Read More
SIM Swap fraud occurs when a criminal registers an existing phone number of a victim on a new SIM card by impersonating the victim to the mobile phone provider. Once Read More
Call centre fraud within UK financial institutions is growing at an extremely alarming rate. In fact Pindrop’s State of Fraud report revealed that 1 in 700 calls to call centres Read More
Pindrop’s recent State of Fraud report highlighted the extent of fraud in the UK. It found that one in 700 calls to UK financial institutions are fraudulent which, when calculated Read More
For financial institutions, fraud loss can be damaging – both in terms of cost and customer confidence. It’s a crime that has affected many institutions to the extent that fraud Read More
Recent research by the Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK) found that five million frauds occur every year across England and Wales, costing the UK around £24 billion. The extent Read More
Commenting on the launch of the Joint Fraud Taskforce announced by the Home Secretary at Mansion House today, the BBA’s Chief Executive Anthony Browne said: “Tackling fraud is a top Read More
There is a curious contradiction in this year’s Global Fraud Survey statistics: the proportion of respondents reporting at least one fraud in their company in the past year has risen Read More
Firms may need to adjust the ways they tackle financial crime after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued fresh guidance to help them more effectively prevent offences such as bribery, Read More
This leaflet was put together by the BBA alongside UK retail banks, law enforcement and consumer groups. It provides vital tips on how to tell the difference between an approach Read More
A pioneering financial crime alert system will see 12 government and law enforcement agencies warn banks of the latest threats in a bid to safeguard the accounts of millions of Read More
Millions of people in the UK regularly use the internet to access their bank accounts or to shop online, with an increasing number of adults doing both. The internet remains Read More
Payment card fraud involves criminals stealing your payment cards, or obtaining your card or account details in order to steal money from your account or run up credit in your Read More
The terms ‘identity theft’ and ‘identity fraud’ are often used very loosely to describe any situation where personal details are stolen for criminal gain. Identity fraud Identity fraud happens when fraudsters use a Read More
1. Always shield your PIN and don’t ever send it over the internet or disclose it to anyone. Your bank or the police will never phone or email you to Read More
Helping you to protect yourself against fraud There is now compelling evidence to show that fraudsters are targeting high net worth customers. When it comes to fraud, prevention is always Read More
Please read the full response via the link below.
City Minister and FCA CEO speak at BBA Retail Banking Conference City Minister Stephen Barclay said that the government is committed to, “support the industry as it adapts to open Read More
BBA – 30 banking app transactions per second The BBA’s latest Way We Bank Now report has found that more customers are using banking apps to manage their money than Read More
Bank of England revises stress tests and capital requirements The Bank of England has asked lenders to set aside a total of £11.4bn of extra capital in the next 18 Read More
Bank of England votes against interest rate rise The Bank of England has voted to leave interest rates unchanged although yesterday’s decision split the MPC by three votes to five, Read More
Chancellor to set out Brexit priorities Chancellor Philip Hammond will set out his priorities for Brexit negotiations in a speech at Mansion House tonight, noting that jobs and the economy Read More
Election candidates discuss Brexit Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn faced questions on Brexit during a live TV debate last night, with Theresa May confirming she will not settle if Read More
EU agencies lay out plans for post-Brexit reform The European Commission is to propose a Eurozone-wide fiscal union, supported by a Eurozone Treasury and unemployment fund to help combat future Read More
Business reaction to Conservative manifesto The Times (£, p41) writes that business groups have criticised a number of measures in the Conservative party’s general election manifesto, raising fears that they Read More
Labour to propose financial transaction tax and executive pay reforms The Labour party will publish its manifesto today including a financial transaction tax of 0.5% on trading in bond and Read More
European Banks could face extra capital costs of €40 billion European banks have warned that they may relocate staff and operations to the EU after Brexit if the Bank of Read More
Banks set out Brexit contingency plans More than a quarter of financial services firms are planning to move some of their staff or operations out of the UK after Brexit, Read More
Judicial Review of PPI time bar City AM (p15) reports that a claims management firm will bring a judicial review against the Financial Conduct Authority, following the regulator’s decision to Read More
Mortgage approvals fall in March Mortgage approvals fell to 66,837 in March, the lowest level since September 2016 according to data published by the Bank of England (Sky News, online). Read More
Tyrie stands down from Parliament Conservative MP and Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee Andrew Tyrie has announced he will not stand for Parliament in the upcoming election. Tyrie reflected Read More
Eurozone ‘pop-up branches’ It could take up to a year to secure a license that will allow UK banks to operate in the eurozone post-Brexit, the ECB has warned, prompting Read More
Government scraps probate plans Government plans to replace the existing probate scheme with a ‘sliding scale’ based on estate value have been scrapped due to time constraints before the general Read More
Breaking news: election announcement UK Prime Minister Theresa May has called for a snap election on June 8 2017 to secure ‘strong and stable leadership’ to see the UK through Read More
Firms consider alternatives to secure EU access The Financial Times (£, p3) writes that financial services firms are investigating whether volunteering to adhere to EU regulations would allow them to Read More
With Spring finally in the air, it’s been another busy month at the BBA – and there’s certainly no sign that the pace of political and policy changes shaping the Read More
Women overlooked for senior finance jobs Men in senior banking positions outnumber women by three to one, according to analysis by the Financial Times (£, p1). Commenting on the findings, Read More
European Council issues Brexit blueprint Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, has set out details on how the EU intends to negotiate the UK’s departure from the bloc to Read More
PM triggers Article 50 The Prime Minister has triggered Article 50, which formerly starts the two year period for the UK’s exit from the EU. Reuters (online only) reports that Read More
BBA’s latest high street banking data Reuters (online only) reports on the BBA’s latest high street banking data, which shows that banks approved the fewest mortgages in three months in Read More
Germany to make concessions on Basel III The Financial Times (£, online) writes that German officials have signalled that “real progress” has been made in discussions around the introduction of Read More
Banks ‘at risk’ of leaving UK unless transition plan in place London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for the Government to prioritise an early deal on interim arrangements for Brexit, Read More
Article 50 ’could be triggered tomorrow’ The Bill that allows the Government to trigger Article 50 could be agreed today, with MPs expected to reject changes made to the Brexit Read More
BBA high street lending data show rise in mortgage approvals Reuters (online) reports BBA data showing 44,657 mortgages were approved last month, the highest level of house purchase approvals in Read More
French Senate sets out red lines for Brexit deal A cross-party report by the French Senate has concluded that no deal with the UK is preferential to the UK securing Read More
FCA consults on changes to listing rules The FCA has proposed changes that would allow overseas companies to list in London without meeting the requirements on ownership and control required Read More
FTSE 100 companies consider measures to curb executive pay One in ten FTSE 100 companies may replace long-term incentive schemes with share-based bonuses or extend vesting dates in response to Read More
City calls for clarity on post-Brexit arrangements as Article 50 judgement expected on Tuesday The Sunday Times (£, p5) reports on banks’ preparations to change their operating models following Brexit. Read More
Greater clarity over Brexit prompts rise in Sterling Prime Minister Theresa May set out her priorities for Brexit in a speech yesterday, confirming that the UK will withdraw from the Read More
Theresa May to set out further detail on Brexit negotiating approach next week Bloomberg (online) reports that Prime Minister Theresa May is to set out her, “vision for Brexit Read More
Theresa May agrees to clarity on Brexit plans Most papers report that the Prime Minister Theresa May will reveal her strategy for Brexit prior to triggering Article 50 (City AM, Read More
One in five over-55s is target for fraud The Telegraph (p10, print only) reports that according to research from the Financial Conduct Authority, more than one in five over-55s and Read More
UK Government could pay for access to single market The FT (£, p1) reports that the UK Government has acknowledged the possibility of the UK continuing to make a contribution Read More
Bank of England publishes stress tests results Sky News, BBC and the Guardian (online only), report on the Bank of England’s results of its annual test of banks’ resilience in Read More
ECB argues Europe should not weaken the Single Market for the UK’s benefit City AM (p4) reports that Mario Draghi, the ECB President, has argued that Europe should not weaken Read More
Prime Minister hints at corporation tax cuts The Daily Telegraph (p1) reports that the Prime Minister will today pledge to cut Britain’s corporation tax to the lowest in the G20. In Read More
Carney highlights banks’ Brexit contingency plans Reuters reports that Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has stated that banks based in the UK could start to relocate activities to other Read More
BBA raises concerns over Brexit and tax ahead of Autumn Statement The Sunday Telegraph (B2) reports that the BBA’s Autumn Statement submission has called for clarity on possible “transitional arrangements” Read More
Trump wins US election Donald Trump has been declared as the winner of the US presidential election, defeating his Democrat rival Hilary Clinton (BBC News). Mr Trump’s victory came despite Read More
Theresa May expected to reveal more Brexit detail within weeks The FT (£, p2) reports that the Prime Minister is likely to announce further details of her Brexit plans for Read More
In a research paper with Cisco, BT pooled its extensive expertise and devised a list of ways that any organisation can use to improve its cyber security, the importance of Read More
Chancellor highlights importance of financial services in Brexit negotiations Reuters reports that Philip Hammond has stated that the Government will put the needs of financial services businesses “at the heart Read More
Chancellor appears before Treasury Select Committee Phillip Hammond has insisted that the Bank of England will retain its independence to set monetary policy (BBC News). Appearing before MPs on the Read More
Critics target Chancellor over Brexit The FT (£, p3) reports that Eurosceptic ministers are seeking to “isolate” Philip Hammond due to his stance on Brexit. The newspaper cites “friends of Read More
Prime Minister defends Brexit planning Theresa May has defended the Government against an accusation from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that they are presiding over a “shambolic Tory Brexit” (BBC News). Read More
Government waters down foreign workers plan The FT (£, p2) reports that the Government has backtracked on plans to force companies to publish how many foreign workers they employ after Read More
Banks play an important part in people’s lives, but how relevant are they to consumers in 2016? Well, EY set out to find the answer! We surveyed over 55,000 consumers Read More
Oliver Wyman report shows potential Brexit impact A report from consultancy Oliver Wyman has suggested that £10 billion in direct tax revenues and 71,000 direct jobs could be lost in Read More
Banks are often ahead of the pack when it comes to adopting new technology to drive operational efficiencies. Frequently, it’s a case of economics. Many banks have such a large Read More
Welcome to my newsletter. As the weather turns cooler, a number of major issues facing the banking sector are hotting up. Brexit continues to dominate the political agenda but party Read More
Prime Minister announces Brexit timetable The FT (£, p1) reports that Theresa May yesterday announced that she plans to trigger Article 50 “no later than the end of March”. Speaking Read More
Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme to close The Chancellor Phillip Hammond has stated that the Government’s help-to-buy mortgage guarantee scheme designed to help first time buyers will close at Read More
Call for inquiry into how banks treat scam victims The Guardian (p8) reports that Which? has called on banks to do more to protect customers who are tricked into transferring Read More
Surveys show mixed Brexit economic impact The Guardian (p1) reports that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has revised its growth forecasts for the UK in 2016 up slightly Read More
New campaign launched to fight financial crime Financial Fraud Action UK have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the techniques used by scammers, as new data shows that Read More
Bundesbank President warns Brexit could hit City The Guardian (p1) reports that Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has warned that London’s position as a financial centre would be damaged if the Read More
Cabinet Minister outlines risk of leaving EU without trade deal The Guardian (p5) reports that David Davis has acknowledged that the UK could have to revert to World Trade Organisation Read More
New ‘plastic’ £5 notes issued The Bank of England has begun issuing the new plastic £5 note in England and Wales today (BBC News). ATMs in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Read More
Government to launch crackdown on white collar crime The Times (£, p1) reports that the Government is set to announce a crackdown on white collar crime. Company boards could face Read More
Chancellor provides reassurance on potential free movement restrictions The Chancellor has stated that any possible restrictions on the freedom of movement following the Brexit negotiations will not prevent financial institutions Read More
Chancellor to meet with bank leaders City AM (p2) reports that members of the newly-created trade body European Financial Services Chairman’s Advisory Committee will meet with Chancellor Philip Hammond today Read More
Investment banks face falling revenues Revenues at the world’s largest investment banks dropped by 15 per cent in the first half of 2016 – the biggest drop since the financial Read More
BBA publishes new Way We Bank Now report The latest BBA Way We Bank Now report – Help at Hand – has been published today. BBC News leads on how Read More
EU urges Basel Committee to avoid disproportionate costs for banks Reuters reports that European Union Finance Ministers will issue a statement at their meeting next week urging the Basel Committee to Read More
Bank of England highlights financial stability risks The Bank of England has outlined a number of risks to the UK economy following the European Union referendum vote (BBC News). Governor Read More
MPs call for fines for cyber-security failures The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has recommended companies should be fined if they fail to guard against cyber-attacks (Sky News). The Read More
CMA retail banking investigation criticised The Times (£, p35) reports that big banks have criticised the Competition and Markets Authority retail banking market investigation, claiming that the inclusion of vouchers Read More
Sir John Vickers criticises Bank of England reforms Sir John Vickers has claimed that the Bank of England’s faith in new bank failure rules may leave the financial system short Read More
Eurozone banks face additional scrutiny Daniele Nouy, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank, has warned that Eurozone banks may face added scrutiny and supervisory measures if Read More
Investment banking employees shift to other sectors The Daily Telegraph (B4) reports that an increasing number of investment bankers are moving across to other sectors in the wake of recent Read More
Banks consider options amid negative interest rates The FT (£, p1) writes that Eurozone and Japanese banks are rebelling against negative interest rates imposed by their respective central banks. One Read More
CMA urged to shift focus from bank account switching Caroline Barr, a Member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, has said that the Competition and Markets Authority should drop its Read More
Fraudsters shift focus from banks to other organisations The number of ‘phishing’ scam emails from fake banking websites has declined as fraudsters increasingly seek to mimic a wider range of Read More
Bank of England defends regulatory regime Martin Taylor, an external member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee, has insisted that the regulatory regime for banks has not been Read More
Investment banks reduce staff numbers as revenues take a hit The Telegraph (B1) reports the world’s biggest investment banks have drastically reduced the number of traders and top dealmakers in Read More
CMA comes under criticism Labour MP Rachel Reeves has criticised the Competition Markets Authority for falling “drastically short” on its review into banking reform and overdraft charges, the Daily Mail Read More
Mixed reaction to CMA provisional remedies for retail banking market There is widespread coverage of the Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional remedies for the retail banking market. Gillian Guy, Chief Read More
CMA publishes provisional remedies for retail banking market The Competition and Markets Authority has this morning published its provisional decision on remedies for the retail banking market. The report states Read More
BBC looks at UK bank branch closures Research carried out by BBC News has found that more than 600 bank branches have closed across the UK in the last year. Read More
PM to announce corporate liability reforms The Times (£, p1) reports that banks and multinationals will be held criminally responsible for employees found to have embezzled funds, laundered money, and Read More
Huge interest in the .BANK secure web-address since it was launched in June last year is expected to grow further in the next few weeks when its similarly restricted sister Read More
New anti-corruption unit to be announced The Times (£, p14) reports that the UK will provide specialist fraud and money-laundering investigators to an international anti-corruption unit to find and seize Read More
ECB scraps €500 banknote The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to stop production of the €500 note amid concerns it could facilitate illegal activities (BBC News). The ECB will Read More
British banks recovery slower than European rivals The FT (£, p18) reports that UK banks have fallen behind their European rivals in their recovery since the financial crisis. Analysis by Read More
Crackdown on offshore owners of UK property The Prime Minister is expected to today announce a new public register of offshore companies that own property (Times, £, p1). Only foreign Read More
MPs secure veto over FCA Chief Executive The Treasury Select Committee has secured new powers over future appointments to the position of Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (Telegraph, Read More
European nations launch tax crackdown Five leading European nations have agreed to work together to identify the ultimate “beneficial owners” of companies and trusts in response to the Panama Papers Read More
The European Commission published its framework for Simple, Transparent and Standardised (STS) Securitisation in September 2015 as part of its wide ranging capital markets union action plan. This remains an Read More
Banks introduce innovative security measures A feature from BBC News explores how banks are developing new security measures to protect customers from fraudsters. Biometric technology such as voice recognition and Read More
Fintech firms raise funds to challenge banks Technology companies raised almost $1 billion of investment last year to compete with UK banks, according to a report from Accenture (FT, £, Read More
Banks to help ease burden on grieving families The Daily Mail (p50) reports that new guidance published today will help customers to report a death. The new code of practice Read More
Financial services faces ‘perfect storm’ The UK’s financial services sector has reported its first downturn in business confidence since 2012, according to a new report from the CBI and PwC Read More
BBA publishes membership survey on EU referendum The BBA has today published the results of its membership survey of on the EU referendum. Almost 60 per cent of banks that Read More
Women in Finance review published There is widespread coverage of the publication of a review of women in finance. The Times (£, p2) reports that the review recommends that financial Read More
Bonuses could be linked to gender diversity targets The Sunday Times (£, B1) reports that a new gender equality review will recommend that senior executive have their bonuses cut if Read More
Chancellor “running out of wriggle room” on surplus target The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the Chancellor has just a 50 per cent chance of meeting his £10 Read More
Budget fallout dominates headlines The Chancellor described his eighth Budget yesterday as putting “the next generation first”, with most newspapers splashing on a new ‘sugar tax’ on fizzy drinks (Sun, Read More
Chancellor prepares to deliver Budget There is widespread speculation about the measures that the Chancellor will announce in the Budget later today. The FT (£, p1) states that George Osborne Read More
New regulatory regimes come into force There is widespread coverage of the Senior Managers and Certification Regimes both coming into effect today. The Guardian (p20) reports that Tracey McDermott, the Read More
Welcome to my newsletter The UK’s relationship with Europe The UK’s membership of the European Union has been dominating the headlines since the Prime Minister came back from Brussels with Read More
Bank of England highlights potential impact of digital currencies The shift towards bitcoin-style digital currencies could have a significant impact on banks, investment and growth (Telegraph, B5). In a speech Read More
European Commission reviews bonus cap rules for smaller banks Lord Hill has stated that the European Commission has launched a review on whether smaller banks should be exempted from bonus Read More
Currently, according to our industry research, only just over half of firms surveyed have a clear policy for dealing with vulnerable customers. Ultimately, success in this important area isn’t just Read More
Mortgage borrowing rises ahead of tax changes Gross mortgage borrowing by high street banks climbed to £13.6bn in January, the highest level since mid-2008 (BBC News). The number of mortgages Read More
A major challenge for companies working to eliminate bribery and corruption is third party risk. Growing regulatory and enforcement activity has led companies to plough vast resources into maintaining high ethical standards and establish policies, infrastructure and processes Read More
PPI deadline could face judicial review A claims management company is threatening to launch a judicial review of the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposed deadline for payment protection insurance (PPI) claims Read More
Banks playing increasing role in peer-to-peer lending Banks now account for a quarter of the lending on peer-to-peer websites, according to a new report the University of Cambridge and innovation Read More
Bank of England defends capital requirement proposals The Bank of England has rejected criticism from Sir John Vickers that it has watered down recommended minimum capital levels for Britain’s biggest Read More
Sir John Vickers criticises Bank of England capital proposals Sir John Vickers, who led the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) has warned that the Bank of England’s reforms are not Read More
Ten years ago, the UK moved over to a Chip & PIN-based card payments system to combat the rising levels of fraud on counterfeit and stolen cards. Although the rollout Read More
New Joint Fraud Taskforce launched The Home Secretary, Theresa May, launched a new Joint Fraud Taskforce at Mansion House this morning (BBC News). Banks will join forces with law enforcement Read More
Tyrie urges Chancellor to clarify bank tax rules Andrew Tyrie MP, Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, has written to the Chancellor George Osborne to ask him to clarify rules Read More
Draft reform deal for the UK’s EU membership published Draft proposals on a deal to change the UK’s relationship with the EU were published yesterday by Donald Tusk, President of Read More
The last 12 months have been an exiting period for technology in the financial sector. 2015 saw big advances in the way consumers use technology for banking and the way Read More
Andrew Bailey named new FCA CEO The Financial Conduct Authority has announced this morning that the head of the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority, Andrew Bailey, as its new Read More
Big business set to back PM in fight against Brexit Several papers cover the news from Davos that some of Britain’s biggest businesses have informally agreed to back Prime Minister Read More
Bitcoin technology could revolutionise welfare A new government report suggests that people could pay their taxes, receive welfare payments and even vote through the technology behind Bitcoin (Times, £, p17). Read More
Chancellor pushing ahead to connect the British and Chinese stock exchanges Chancellor George Osborne is pressing ahead with plans to connect the British and Chinese stock exchanges, writes City AM Read More
During 2015 we saw increased regulatory scrutiny as supervisory bodies looked to reform the banking industry and a new culture of supervision and best practice continued to be set by Read More
Please note that this is the final BBA Brief of 2015. The service will resume in January. Basel Committee drops plans on use of ratings in capital calculations The Basel Read More
Cyber Security on Radio 4 BBC’s radio 4 Today Programme (beginning at 23 minutes) discusses the costs of cyber crime to the economy both financially and in terms of companies’ Read More
Central banks urged to hold firm on rate rises There is widespread coverage today of comments made by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) that central banks should press ahead Read More
Former Bank of England adviser counsels consumers to hold two bank accounts The papers report on comments by Peter Hahn, a former Bank of England adviser, who has recommended that Read More
In a significant development, HSBC has joined the BBA Confirmations network, an industry-wide audit confirmations solution for the UK. BBA Confirmations is a unique partnership formed between BBA Enterprises and Read More
Chancellor to focus on housebuilding in Autumn Statement The FT (£, p1) reports that the Chancellor will today announce the biggest housebuilding drive since the 1970s in the Autumn Statement. Read More
Banks should foot bill for fraud A senior commander from the City of London police has demanded that banks help pay for the fight against fraud (Times, £, p2). Commander Read More
Investors spoiled for choice as European lenders seek capital As ABN-AMRO prepares to float, the FT (£, p18) reports how European banks in the UK, the Netherlands and Greece have Read More
Prime Minister rules out Norwegian model for UK membership of EU Several newspapers including the FT (£, p2) report that Prime Minister, David Cameron is today expected to rule out Read More
Concerns over TalkTalk customer data continue The cyber-attack on TalkTalk and its impact on customers was widely covered in the weekend papers. The Times (Saturday, £, p1) states that consumers Read More
Banking beyond borders Senior executives from the banking industry gathered in London yesterday for the BBA’s Annual International Banking Conference, “Banking behond borders”. The FT (£, p3) reports that in Read More
When you think about glamorous locations to work in banking, which places spring to mind? London? New York? Frankfurt? What about Tunbridge Wells? The town has seen a staggering 1,016% Read More
Newspapers speculate on CMA review findings The provisional findings of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into personal current accounts and SME banking services – due to be published on Read More
Bank of England provide further clarity on “ringfencing” rules There is broad coverage of yesterday’s announcement by the Bank of England that banks will be able to transfer capital from Read More
Changes made to Senior Managers Regime The Treasury is to abandon the “reversal of burden of proof” principle that would have applied to the Senior Managers’ Regime, the FT (£, Read More
China to issue government debt in London The FT (£, p1) reports that China will choose London as the first foreign financial centre in which to open a sovereign debt Read More
HM Treasury announces Lloyds public share sale The Government has unveiled plans to exit its holding in Lloyds Banking Group by selling shares worth at least £2bn to private investors Read More
FCA to consult on PPI time barring BBC news and other online outlets widely report the announcement this morning by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to consult by the end Read More
EU’s CMU proposals welcomed by UK businesses British businesses and business groups welcomed the Capital Markets Union action plan launched by Lord Hill yesterday. The proposals, which are aimed at Read More
Commission to publish Capital Markets Union Action Plan today The FT (£, p6) previews the publication of the European Commission’s Capital Markets Union Action Plan today, describing Lord Hill as Read More
McDonnell sets out plans to reform the BoE and HMT Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell used his speech to the Labour Party conference yesterday to set out plans to reform the Read More
Mortgage lending growing at fastest rate for seven years BBA High Street Banking statistics published this morning show that gross mortgage lending in August was 14% higher than a year Read More
Carney raises concerns about “People’s QE” The Governor of the Bank of England has suggested that one of Jeremy Corbyn’s flagship economic policies risks “imperilling price stability” and could “hurt” Read More
Banks hit capital targets ahead of schedule Global banks have nearly reached their 2019 capital targets already, according to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Telegraph, B5). The report found Read More
Corbyn appoints John McDonnell as Shadow Chancellor There is widespread coverage over the weekend and today (BBC News) as the new leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn puts the Read More
Bank tax could raise up to double Treasury estimates The Times and several other papers have reported widely that George Osborne’s proposed 8% bank surcharge tax is expected to raise Read More
Growing challenges for the Government on the proposed corporation tax surcharge The FT (£, p22) writes that some challenger banks are warning that the surcharge could mean payday lenders and Read More
Banks challenge Treasury over profit surcharge Chief executives of the UK’s largest challenger banks will meet with Treasury officials this week to discuss concerns over the impact of the corporation Read More
The ONS survey data released this week on internet access in Great Britain confirmed once again thatthe digital revolution continues to change the way people go about their day-to-day lives. Read More
Prime Minister calls for action to fight corruption In a speech later today Prime Minister David Cameron will promise a crackdown on corruption to prevent the UK from becoming “a Read More
After years of consideration, the European Council released its General Approach on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation in June, following on from the European Parliament’s agreed text being finalised Read More
Discussions over ringfencing details rumble on The Sunday Times (£, B1) reported that the Bank of England and the Treasury are looking at relaxing restrictions around the independence of new Read More
BBA begins work on new service for grieving families The BBA is working with the Building Societies Association and the Daily Mail to investigate how to set up a new Read More
Tyrie: Cut in protection for savers is “absurd” Saturday’s Times (£, p2) reported that the Prudential Regulation Authority has reduced the amount of protection that savers will have in the Read More
Vickers defends the ringfence Sir John Vickers yesterday told parliament that the need to implement his ring-fencing reforms is as strong as ever. He told a Lords committee: “In my Read More
ATM skimming remains big business for organized crime rings. According to a recent article in ATMMarketplace.com, card skimming accounted for more than $2 billion in losses. One new approach that Read More
Property market buoyant as mortgage approvals increase High Street Banking Statistics published by the BBA today show that mortgage approvals rose again in May for the fifth month in a Read More
Regulators to “reject ban on bonus buyouts” The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority will today announce that they will not block banks from buying out employees’ bonuses when Read More
FEMR: policy makers want cultural change Martin Wheatley, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, has described the recommendations set out in the Fair and Effective Markets Review as an Read More
Mansion House speech speculation The Independent (p6) writes that the Chancellor will not “retreat” over the levy, but will instead announce that there will be no “further increases”, arguing that Read More
British businesses and consumers put their foot on the gas The BBA’s latest High Street Banking statistics out this morning show an increase in business borrowing, mortgage approvals and unsecured Read More
Banks consider issues of EU referendum and competitiveness Deutsche Bank has set up a working group to investigate the benefits of moving some activities to the eurozone in the event Read More
Despite the noise and activity around the General Election last week – and the raft of new policies we expect after – the BBA’s financial crime team has been have Read More
IFS warning over bank tax increases The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned that rising taxes for the banking industry could put City investment at risk, the Telegraph (B4) Read More
Competition “hots up” in current account market CityAM (p1) writes that competition in high street banking is “intensifying” following the introduction of the seven-day switching service, citing Barclays’ decision to Read More
The way we bank is being radically changed by technology. This is great news for customers and businesses who now have more ways to do their banking than ever before. The Read More
Last week the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) published a “Statement of Practice”, which its members will adopt for their residential buy-to-let (BTL) lending business. The statement sets out the responsibilities Read More
IMF urges stress tests for asset managers The IMF uses its Global Financial Stability Report to call for increased regulation of the asset management industry, including suggesting that the sector Read More
Labour to ask banks to invest in housing Last week Ed Miliband announced plans to make banks and building societies invest £5 billion to build 125,000 homes (Times, £). He Read More
Banking standards body line-up announced Members of the new Banking Standards Board – a new professional body set up to improve values in the banking industry – will include a Read More
Member States push for more discretion on EU bank structural reform The Times (£, p41) reports that Latvia, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, is facing pressure to water down Read More
History was made last week when the very first parliamentary Act specifically relating to smaller businesses was passed by Parliament. The measures in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act Read More
It’s time to wave goodbye to this parliament as the general election on 7 May draws closer. Even though the pollsters cannot agree on the election outcome, whoever forms the Read More
Final deal on clearing means business will remain in the UK The Bank of England and the European Central Bank have agreed a deal which the FT (£, p8) sees Read More
Consumers take advantage of mortgage deals The BBA’s High Street Banking Statistics were released this morning, revealing an increase in mortgage approvals and more growth in unsecured lending like loans Read More
Bank Levy causes fears for UK industry The FT (£, p3) writes that figures published by ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) have raised doubts about George Osborne’s assertion that Read More
Osborne hikes Bank Levy and offers help to savers in pre-election Budget George Osborne’s final Budget before the General Election dominates the news agenda, with support for a package of Read More
The banking industry isn’t just about finance, there are a truly diverse range of careers within it. From bank staff who help us detect fraud and stamp out financial crime, Read More
Rumours of TSB takeover talks Sky News reports that Banco de Sabadell is planning to make a formal offer for TSB Banking Group plc. The Spanish bank is reported to Read More
European Parliament legislates to cap interchange fees Yesterday MEPs voted in favour of a bill to cap the fees retailers pay to process debt and credit card transactions (City AM, Read More
Should investment banking be like Wimbledon? The FT (£, p19) looks at whether the decline in the size of British investment banks matters, or whether the “Wimbledon model” is right Read More
European judgment good for UK-EU relationship Writing in the Telegraph (B2) BBA Chief Executive Anthony Browne considers the banking industry’s relationship with the EU in the wake of the judgment Read More
Bonus rules could reach more companies The European Banking Authority has said that rules that limit City bonuses should apply to more firms. It has put forward new restrictions on Read More
Politicians call for higher bank taxes Danny Alexander, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has outlined plans for a new £1 billion a year tax on banks in the Read More
The financial crime threats we face are changing. Current geo-political events have altered the risks posed to banks. Organised crime groups are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to evade detection and Read More
Nouy warns of need for more capital and new rules Danièle Nouy, President of the Supervisory Council at the European Central Bank, has told the FT (£, p1) that eurozone Read More
Capital Markets Union proposals announced today Lord Hill, the EU Commissioner for Financial Services, will today outline the European Commission’s proposals for Capital Markets Union and its proposals for reform Read More
Greek bailout talks collapse Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis yesterday rejected calls from eurozone finance ministers to sign abailout extension proposal, describing it as “absurd” and “unacceptable” (FT, £, p1). Read More
BNP chairman warns against undermining European banking markets In an interview with the FT (£, p17) BNP Paribas Chairman Jean Lemierre warns European politicians not to put the “the horse Read More
Eurozone talks over Greece break down Negotiations between eurozone finance ministers over the Greek bailout programme broke down last night after a six hour session which did not even come Read More
Recovery “on track,” Chancellor says The FT (£, p1) leads with news that Britain’s economy grew at 2.6 per cent in 2014, its fastest in a calendar year since the Read More
Millions of “silver surfers” harness mobile and internet banking Nearly 2.3 million people aged between 70 and over 100 years old are now using internet banking, new industry figures compiled Read More
ECB bond-buying “exceeds expectations” The FT (£, p1) reports that the bond-buying programme revealed by ECB president Mario Draghi yesterday was “far bigger than investors had expected”, with the bank Read More
Concerns grow ahead of ECB announcement Ahead of the European Central Bank’s expected announcement on quantitative easing tomorrow investors have been buying up peripheral eurozone debt, with countries such as Read More
US and UK cyber-attack simulation plan During his tour to Washington, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that US and UK security forces will carry out mock cyber-attacks on Read More
Osborne: Government “close” to recouping RBS investment George Osborne has said that a decision will be made soon after the May general election about the timing of selling off the Read More
ECB bond-buying programme ruled legal The European Court of Justice has this morning ruled that the European Central Bank’s bond-buying programme is legal, provided certain conditions are met (Guardian). This Read More
US banks voice concern over clearing houses US banks have urged the US Treasury to take action after concerns were raised that should a clearing house fail, it could cause Read More
Bonus pools set to be smaller but still likely to cause political headache The FT (£, p17) reports that bonus pools are set to be smaller on both sides of Read More
Record numbers borrowing on interest-free cards The Mail (p13) and CityAM (p10) reported the BBA’s credit card statistics, which showed that interest-free credit card borrowing hit a record high of Read More
BBA credit card statistics for November 2014 Today’s BBA credit card statistics for November show that the proportion of balances incurring no interest rose to 43% – the highest percentage Read More
Influential MEP calls for changes to bank structural reform proposals Reuters reports that Gunnar Hökmark, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on forthcoming rules to change the structures of larger European banks, Read More
BoE to scrutinise banks’ risk models According to the Times (£, p43), the Bank of England will set out measures to increase the examination of the way banks calculate risk Read More
City jobs boom There was an 18% increase in the number of new jobs in the City last year, the Independent reports (p52). Citing research carried out by recruiter Astbury Read More
Young adults are more likely than their parents and grandparents to transfer money to a fraudster Young adults under the age of 25 could be much more vulnerable to scams Read More
Ahead of the New Year, the BBA have put together a “must do” list of banking tips to keep your finances in good health in 2015. A BBA spokesman said: Read More
Manipulation of benchmarks to be a criminal offence Chancellor George Osborne has extended legislation covering LIBOR to seven UK-based fixed income, commodity and currency benchmarks meaning that those found guilty Read More
New rules on current accounts for illegal immigrants come into force Banks and building societies will face fines or criminal sanctions if they open current accounts for known illegal immigrants, Read More
Police call for new law on fraud reporting In an interview with the Evening Standard on Friday City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard said that the scale of cyber Read More
BBA raises concerns over Senior Managers Regime Anthony Browne, the BBA’s Chief Executive, appears on today’s FT Banking Weekly podcast to discuss the Senior Managers Regime and Britain’s future in Read More
Once considered a cost of doing business, the sophistication and impact of fraud and financial crimes has surged in recent years. No longer just a potential financial loss, fraud impacts Read More
De-risking in the banking industry The FT’s ‘Big Read’ (£, p13) focuses on the phenomenon of ‘de-risking’. It warns that as “regulators have cracked down on money laundering and terrorist Read More
Banking fines for forex manipulation It was announced yesterday that banks will be fined a total of £2.7 billion as regulators from the UK, US and Switzlerland impose fines for Read More
Carney hails end of “too big to fail” Ahead of the G20 meeting in Australia next weekend Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has hailed proposals on total loss absorbing capacity Read More
Welcome to my newsletter As the unseasonably warm autumn gives way to the nip of winter, the climate is also changing in Brussels. Last weekend the new European Commission took Read More
CMA announce full market investigation The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that the personal current account market and small business banking will face a full investigation. Alex Chisholm, Read More
BBA calls for changes to Senior Managers Regime proposals Sky News reported that the BBA and AFME have called for changes to the proposed new Senior Managers Regime as it Read More
The European Commission is considering plans to introduce a cap on multilateral interchange fees (MIFs), charges paid for card transactions between the merchant and the buyer’s bank. Under the plans, Read More
The Fed announces the end of QE All the main papers reports that on Wednesday the Federal Reserve voted 9-1 to stop itslong running bond-purchase program at the end of Read More
Cable steps in on branch closures Following Lloyds Banking Group’s announcement yesterday that it was to close 150 branches, Business Secretary Vince Cable said that he would write to the Read More
Lending stats show housing market slowdown The BBA’s High Street Banking Stats for September – which show a cooling in the housing market – were reported in many of the Read More
European bank resolution fund plan unveiled France’s banks will pay the biggest bill for Europe’s banking union, and expect to contribute up to €2 billion (£1.6 million) more than Germany’s Read More
Recent scam The BBA does not sell products or services to the public and will never make unsolicited telephone calls or send unsolicited emails to members of the public except Read More
Need for greater cooperation to fight cyber crime The rising threat of cyber crime for banks is featured in a spread in the Sunday Telegraph (B6). It notes that banks Read More
The Lending Code, which sets out important protections for consumers, has undergone an important update. From this month debt collection agencies and debt purchase firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Read More
BBA Annual Banking Conference Speakers at the BBA’s Annual Banking Conference yesterday have featured heavily in today’s news. Ross McEwan’s remarks that a rise in interest rates could threaten banks’ Read More
Bankers gather for BBA Annual Conference Senior bankers are gathering today for the BBA Annual Conference to discuss how to build an industry that fuels economic growth, lends to businesses Read More
Financial fraud in the public eye Money Mail (p39) features a “fight the fraudsters special” which describes online fraud as the “21st century’s biggest crimewave”. The nine page spread gives Read More
The launch of Apple Pay is a step in a different direction for the tech giant, which highlights how increasingly important the mobile payment sector is becoming worldwide. Consumers continuing Read More
BBA launches Know Fraud, No Fraud campaign Yesterday the BBA launched a new campaign to help members of the public identify when they’re being scammed. Chief Executive Anthony Browne announced Read More
The BBA is launching a fraud awareness campaign as YouGov polling reveals that millions of people in Great Britain are unwittingly leaving themselves vulnerable to scams perpetrated by fraudsters posing Read More
The dodgy investment fraud What to look out for: brochures through the post and cold calls from “investment brokers” you don’t know offering big money deals Fraudsters pressure would-be victims Read More
Cold calls, ‘vishing’ and couriers What to look out for: Suspicious calls from your bank or the police, with offers to visit your home In these cases a fraudster will Read More
Relationship tricksters What to look out for: Online contacts with a keen interest in you, your personal circumstances and information. Criminals trawl the internet and send “phishing” emails to obtain Read More
Compensation, Con artists What to look out for: Calls or texts asking for upfront payment in return for big money compensation Criminals call or text to say the customer is Read More
Bank of England proposals for structural reform A number of the papers report on yesterday’s announcement from the Bank of England which published proposals “to improve the resilience and resolvability Read More
Private banks contribute £3 billion to UK plc Britain’s private banking and wealth management industry (PBWM) now oversees more than half a trillion pounds, according to the BBA’s new in-depth Read More
FCA reveals fall in complaints to banks and other financial services firms The number of complaints received by the Financial Conduct Authority concerning financial services companies was 5% lower in Read More
Miliband pledges to “break up the banks” and close tax loopholes The Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, renewed promises to “break up the banks” to promote competition and said Read More
BBA raises concerns over leverage ratio proposals The BBA has argued that the Bank of England’s new leverage ratio proposals are “too complex and potentially damaging”. In an article on Read More
Hike in UK interest rates could shake market Speaking to the BBA Donald Kohn, a former vice-chairman of the US Federal Reserve’s Board and current member of the Bank of Read More
ECB cuts rates and introduces stimulus Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, announced measures yesterday to cut the central bank’s benchmark interest rate to 0.05% in combination with Read More
*Please note that this will be the last BBA brief until Monday, 1st September* Nearly 40,000 people use help to buy Housing minister, Brandon Lewis said that via Help Read More
The notorious GameOver Zeus malware and associated CryptoLocker ransomware are suspected to have made a return in an as of yet undetermined form. But as experts try to detangle their codes, there is Read More
ResPublica calls for bankers’ oath A new report by the think-tank ResPublica, Virtuous Banking, calls on the banking industry to mimic the medical profession by introducing an oath for bankers Read More
UK economy grows by 0.8% The Office of National Statistics have released GDP figures showing that the economy is now 0.2% ahead of its pre-crisis peak, growing by 0.8% in Read More
PPI complaints halve as FOS claims “worst is over” The number of new complaints relating to mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) declined by 57% Read More
BBA warns that UK is losing influence in Brussels as number of key officials declines The FT (£, p2) and the Times (£, p2) write up a research note from Read More
FPC looks at toughening up the leverage ratio The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has today released a consultation paper on a review of the leverage ratio. The Read More
BBA report highlights the changing nature of retail banking BBA CEO Anthony Browne writes in the Sunday Telegraph (p6) that the age of “Captain Mainwaring-style banking” has been superseded by Read More
Evolution is one of the wonders of human nature. For thousands of years we have been adapting to survive and innovating to improve our lot. This is what sets us Read More
The world has changed over the last few years, especially within banking. Its processes – from retail transactions to market operations – have been transformed by technology and continue to Read More
Doubts over BBC’s PPI figures CityAM (p15) reports that both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the BBA “do not recognise” the £1 billion worth of PPI compensation that the Read More
BBA response to the PRA’s clawback consultation process In a response to proposals from the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority to clawback bonuses up to 11 years after they Read More
Concern over tax collection plans Many papers – including the Telegraph (p1), Guardian and Independent – report that the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) has expressed concern about HM Treasury debt Read More
EU tax ruling imminent The European Court of Justice is to announce a decision on the Financial Transaction Tax next Wednesday, 30th April, according to the FT (£, p2). The Read More
Lending to SMEs and spending confidence grow The Telegraph (pB4) reports that the Bank of England’s Bankstats for February 2014 show “an encouraging improvement in the small and medium-sized business Read More
Bank of England proposes tougher bonus rules A number of papers discuss the Bank of England’s plan to make banks clawback the bonuses of bankers who have made reckless decisions, Read More
Bonuses under the spotlight Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney has written a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, announcing that the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) will start Read More
RBS sets out plans to deliver “real change” Ross McEwan, chief executive of RBS, delivered a major speech on results day to set out how he intends to restructure the Read More
Utter the words “cyber crime” and many minds will conjure up an image of an awkward teenager tapping away in their bedroom well into the early hours. But cyber crime Read More
Agreement reached with British Bankers’ Association after success in preventing theft of £170 million of customers’ cash. The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) and City of London Police have announced plans Read More
It might be for a car, a holiday… in fact, when it comes to withdrawing cash from your account, it might be for almost anything. And when you drop into Read More
Cheques are written orders from account holders instructing their banks to pay specified sums of money to named beneficiaries. They are not legal tender but are legal documents and their Read More
Banks are committed to helping you make financial decisions that best suit your circumstances. As responsible lenders, banks take into account your personal circumstances to try to establish the appropriate Read More
What is a lost account? Banks, building societies and NS&I wherever possible seek to keep in touch with their customers. If, however, an account has been inactive for an extended Read More
Accessing free advice If you suspect someone else has used your personal details fraudulently, you can access free assistance through the Credit Reference Agencies’ Victims of Fraud Service. For more Read More
Few recipes deliver satisfaction first time. The array of banking reforms assembled in response to the financial crisis have many of the ingredients needed to allow firms to offer the Read More
Have you ever changed your bank? Probably not because, as is often said, you are more likely to get divorced than change your account. With energy, water, and mobile phone providers, Read More
People who need to manage a bank or building society account for someone else as a result of that person’s lack of physical or mental capacity will now be supported Read More
The UK now has the most comprehensive anti-bribery legislation in the world, enhancing its reputation as a safe commercial environment in which to do business. The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) Read More
Operational risk in market-related activities can arise from many sources Operational risk in market-related activities can arise from many sources, such as poor or inefficient systems and processes, as well Read More
An explanation of the processes banks use to assess applications made by SMEs and other corporate customers for loans. Credit Ratings for Business Customers The European Capital Requirements Directive requires Read More
We have one of the largest sources of detailed consumer and business data in the UK, which means we can give insight into the behaviours and drivers behind the economy Read More
Callcredit Information Group (CIG) is expert in managing consumer data for financial services. The Group is focused on developing innovative products and services to help banks make smarter, more informed Read More
Online audit confirmation solution Confirmation.com is the global leader in online audit confirmations. External auditors send millions of letters to banks each year by post asking them to confirm their Read More