financial services

FFIEC Updates Interagency Guidance on Pandemic Planning

 

On March 6, the member agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) issued updated guidance specifying that financial institutions’ business continuity plans should address the threat of a pandemic outbreak and its potential impact on the delivery of critical financial services. The guidance identifies actions that banks should take to minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. FFIEC Guidance.

European Commission TTIP Advisory Group Report Considers Financial Services Under TTIP

 

On October 17, 2016, the European Commission published a report documenting the meeting of the Commission’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Advisory Group on September 6, 2016.

Financial services are considered at section 4 of the report in the context of TTIP. The group notes that the EU tabled its offer on financial services market access in July 2016 (see Legal update, European Commission releases EU financial services offer for 14th round of TTIP negotiations: July 2016) . Discussions relating to this offer will continue during the next round of TTIP negotiations in October 2016.

The report also refers to the new joint EU-U.S. Financial Regulatory Forum, which was launched in July 2016 with the aim of making continued efforts to improve EU-U.S. regulatory coherence (see Legal update, EU and US establish joint financial regulatory forum ). The EU would like to see the work of the forum “linked into” the final TTIP agreement because, for the EU, the real issue for the financial services sector in the transatlantic context is regulatory transparency and cooperation. Diverging regulation may have negative implications on trade in financial services, financial stability, and consumer protection.

At the meeting, the group also discussed transparency (members expressed an interest in seeing documents related to financial services regulatory cooperation), domestic and international legislation (neither the U.S. nor the EU is seeking, through the forum, to revise the other’s legislation), the TTIP market access offer in financial services (prudential measures, such as capital requirements for banks, are not covered as these are out of scope) and measures to help consumers navigate transatlantic financial services (such as reduced charges for international transfers and simpler opening of bank accounts).

House of Lords EU Committee Launches Inquiry into Brexit and Financial Services

 

On August 31, 2016, the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Financial Affairs published a webpage announcing the launch of an inquiry into Brexit and financial services in the UK. The Sub-Committee will begin its inquiry with two evidence sessions concentrating on the consequences of the referendum result for financial services and potential future arrangements.

The issues to be considered by the inquiry are as follows:

  • The reaction of financial services firms to the outcome of the EU referendum result
  • The possibility of the relocation of financial services firms from the UK
  • Priorities for the UK financial services sector in the withdrawal negotiations and in negotiating a future relationship for the UK with the EU
  • Equivalence rights to access the EU single market for the UK
  • Financial regulatory co-operation between the UK and the EU under different models of EU membership
  • A potential free trade agreement and the UK’s financial sector
  • Potential transitional arrangements
  • The importance of passporting rights for firms operating in the UK
  • Risks for retail customers and investors
  • Considerations for non-EU firms wishing to gain access to the EU through the EU’s equivalence regime

EC Summary of Contributions of the Green Paper on Retail Financial Services

On July 14, 2016 the European Commission published a summary of responses to the public consultation launched on December 10, 2015 relating to the Green Paper on retail financial services prepared by the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.

The summary report sets out the broad content of responses received. Firms highlighted a number of obstacles to offering services cross-border, including local financial regulation, tax laws, access to data and information, local network for insurance claims handling, and divergent national interpretations of the anti-money laundering directive (2015/849/EU).

The report states that work is ongoing in the Commission services on a follow-up initiative, which might take the form of an action plan.

Brexit – What Now For Your Business

So, the UK has voted to leave the EU. Everyone has their own opinion and we’ve all seen the news reports and various viewpoints but what does this result mean for you in practical terms and where do we go from here? Orrick’s EU-UK Working Group is ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have (see contact details at the end of this alert) and in the meantime, here’s our overview of the key issues for your business. READ MORE

Fed Issues a Report on Mobile Financial Services

On March 25, the Fed issued a report on the use of mobile phones to obtain financial services. Last year, 33 percent of all mobile phone users and 51 percent of smartphone users had used mobile banking. The most common mobile banking activities continue to be reviewing account balances, monitoring recent transactions and transferring money between accounts.  Press ReleaseReport.