Related provisions for FEES 6.5.9B
21 - 40 of 412 items.
For example, a person misrepresents authority or the legal position if they claim to work on instructions from the courts as bailiffs or, in Scotland, sheriff officers or messengers-at-arms, or in Northern Ireland, to work on instructions from the Enforcement of Judgements Office when this is untrue.[Note: paragraph 3.5a of DCG ]
It is an offence under section 17 of the Legal Services Act 2007 to falsely imply that a person is entitled to carry on a reserved legal activity, for example, to conduct litigation or to appear before and address a court, or to take or use any relevant name, title or description, for example, “solicitor”.[Note: paragraph 3.5c (box) of DCG ]
Examples of where a firm is likely to contravene CONC 7.11.6 R include where a firm or a person acting on its behalf:(1) states or implies that bankruptcy or sequestration proceedings may be initiated when the balance of the outstanding debt is too low to qualify for such proceedings;(2) states or implies that steps will be taken to enforce a debt where the customer is making payments under a Debt Payment Programme Arrangement agreed under the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland)
1A firm need not provide an illustration:(1) in relation to a direct deal; (2) if the customer refuses to disclose key information (for example, in a telephone conversation, his name or a communication address) or where the customer is not interested in pursuing the enquiry; or(3) if the firm does not wish to do business with the customer.
The effect of the requirements at MCOB 5.5.1 R(1) and MCOB 5.5.4 R is that a customer will be deemed to be committed to an application if, for example, he pays a product related fee (including a valuation fee) or provides electronic or verbal authority to process an application. It is not necessary for a customer to provide a mortgage lender with a completed application form to submit an application for a regulated mortgage contract.
What constitutes 'materially altered' requires consideration of the facts of each individual case. For example, a change of product such that the underlying terms and conditions of the regulated mortgage contract have changed should normally be regarded as material, as would an additional charge, such as a higher lending charge, applying to the regulated mortgage contract when it did not previously.
A firm may use information that it already holds on the customer for the purpose of producing the illustration (for example, if it already holds the customer's credit record), providing the use of this information does not delay the customer receiving the illustration and the customer's consent is obtained where appropriate.
The illustration provided as part of the offer document in accordance with MCOB 6.4.1 R (1) must meet the requirements of MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations) with the following modifications:(1) the illustration must be suitably adapted and revised to reflect the fact that the firm is making an offer to a customer and updated to reflect changes to, for example, the interest rate, charges, the exchange rate or the APR required by MCOB 10 (Annual Percentage Rate), at the date the
(1) One consequence of MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b) is that the mortgage lender will need to know, for each individual transaction arranged by a mortgage intermediary, whether or not the customer has received advice from that mortgage intermediary.(2) When complying with MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b), mortgage lenders may wish to include a statement after the level of service in Section 2 confirming that the level of service described was given by another firm, and explaining that they, as the mortgage
In adapting and revising the illustration that is part of the offer document in accordance with MCOB 6.4.4 R(1) a firm must:(1) avoid amending the format of the information required by MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations) where possible, since this could result in the illustration in the offer document being difficult to compare with the illustration originally provided to the customer in accordance with MCOB 5.5.1 R;(2) use, where possible, the same headings, ordering of information,
A firm must ensure that the offer document contains a prominent statement:(1) of the period for which the offer is valid;(2) explaining, where the regulated mortgage contract contains features, such as additional unsecured borrowing facilities, which could result in the customer borrowing more money, that where such features are used, the amount of the customer's debt will increase;(3) explaining when any interest rate change on the regulated mortgage contract takes effect. This
In addition to the information required by MCOB 6.4.13 R, a firm may include information about how to complain to any other firm about the services that firm provided to the customer in relation to the regulated mortgage contract. For example, where the customer received advice from another firm, a mortgage lender may include contact details for the firm that provided the advice.
A mandate can take any form and need not state that it is a mandate. For example it could take the form of:333(1) a standalone document containing certain information conferring authority to control a client's assets or liabilities on the firm;3(2) a specific provision within a document or agreement that also relates to other matters; or3(3) an authority provided by a client orally.3
(1) If a firm receives information that puts it in the position described in CASS 8.2.1 R (4) in order to effect transactions immediately on receiving that information, then such information could only amount to a mandate if the firm retained3 it (for example by not destroying the relevant document, electronic record or telephone recording3):3(a) after it uses it to effect those immediate transactions; or(b) because those transactions are not, for whatever reason, effected immediately.(2)
The instructions referred to at CASS 8.2.1 R (4) are all instructions given by a firm to another person who also has a relationship with the firm'sclient. For example, the other person may be the client'sbank, intermediary, custodian or credit card provider. This means, for example, that any means by which a firm can control a client's money or assets for which it is itself responsible to the client (rather than any other person) would not amount to a mandate. This includes where
(1) If a firm obtains the means by which it can give the types of instructions referred to in CASS 8.2.1 R (4), but its use of those means is subject to any limits or conditions, then this does not necessarily prevent those means from being a mandate. For example, a client might require that a firm uses a mandate only in connection with transactions up to a certain value.(2) However, if a firm obtains the means by which it can give the types of instructions referred to in CASS
Different considerations apply when giving advice to a customer with a payment shortfall. For example, the circumstances of the customer may mean that, viewed as a new transaction, a customer should not be advised to enter into a regulated mortgage contract. In those cases, a firm may still be able to give advice to that customer where the regulated mortgage contract concerned is, in the circumstances, a more suitable one than the customer's existing regulated mortgage contra
MCOB 4.7A.5R (3) means that where the advice is not provided on an unlimited range of products from across the relevant market, the assessment of suitability should not be limited to the types of regulated mortgage contracts which the firm offers. A firm cannot recommend the 'least worst' regulated mortgage contract where the firm does not have access to products appropriate to the customer's needs and circumstances. This means, for example, that a firm dealing solely in the credit-impaired
Examples of treating a customer with forbearance would include the firm doing one or more of the following, as may be relevant in the circumstances:(1) considering suspending, reducing, waiving or cancelling any further interest or charges (for example, when a customer provides evidence of financial difficulties and is unable to meet repayments as they fall due or is only able to make token repayments, where in either case the level of debt would continue to rise if interest and
(1) 3If a customer is in default or in arrears difficulties, the firm should, where appropriate:(a) inform the customer that free and impartial debt advice is available from not-for-profit debt advice bodies; and(b) refer the customer to a not-for-profit debt advice body. (2) A firm may refer the customer to a not-for-profit debt advice body by, for example, providing the customer with a copy of the current arrears information sheet under section 86 of the CCA, or with the name
An example of where a firm is likely to contravene Principle 6 and CONC 7.3.4 R is where the firm does not allow for alternative, affordable payment amounts to repay the debt due in full, where the customer is in default or arrears difficulties and the customer makes a reasonable proposal for repaying the debt or a debt counsellor or another person acting on the customer's behalf makes such a proposal.[Note: paragraphs 7.16 of ILG and 3.7j of DCG]
(1) 4An example of behaviour by or on behalf of a firm which is likely to contravene CONC 7.3.10R and Principle 6 is pressurising a customer to raise funds to repay a debt by arranging the receipt of a lump sum from the customer’s pension scheme.(2) Firms are also reminded of PERG 12.6G which contains guidance on the regulated activity of advising on conversion or transfer of pension benefits.
Example 8 |
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Term extends beyond retirement age and policy reconstruction |
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Background |
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45 year old male non-smoker, having taken out a £50,000 loan in 1998 for a term of 25 years. Unsuitable sale identified on the grounds of affordability and complaint raised on 12th policy anniversary. |
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It has always been the intention of the complainant to retire at State retirement age 65. |
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Term from date of sale to retirement is 20 years and the maturity date of the mortgage is 5 years after retirement. |
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Established facts |
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Established premium paid by investor on policy of original term (25 years): |
£81.20 |
Premium that would have been payable on policy with term from sale to retirement (20 years): |
£111.20 |
Actual policy value at time complaint assessed: |
£12,500 |
Value of an equivalent 20-year policy at time complaint assessed: |
£21,300 |
Difference in policy values at time complaint assessed: |
£8,800 |
£4,320 |
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Basis of compensation |
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The policy is reconstructed as if it had been set up originally on a term to mature at retirement age, in this example, a term of 20 years. The difference in the current value of the policy actually sold to the complainant and the current value of the reconstructed policy, as if the premium on the reconstructed policy had been paid from outset, is calculated. The complainant has gained from lower outgoings (lower premiums) of the actual endowment policy to date. In calculating the redress, the gain may be offset against the loss unless the complainant's particular circumstances are such that it would be unreasonable to take account of the gain. |
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Redress generally if it is not unreasonable to take account of the whole of the gain from lower outgoings |
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Loss from current value of reconstructed policy less current value of actual policy: |
(£8,800) |
Gain from total lower outgoings under actual policy: |
£4,320 |
Net loss: |
(£4,480) |
Therefore total redress is: |
£4,480 |
Redress if it is unreasonable to take account of gain from lower outgoings |
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Loss from current value of reconstructed policy less current value of actual policy: |
(£8,800) |
Gain from total lower outgoings under actual policy: |
Ignored |
Therefore total redress is: |
£8,800 |
Additional Information |
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If the policy is capable of reconstruction, the complainant must now fund the higher premiums himself for the remainder of the term of the shortened policy until maturity. In this example the higher premium could be £111.20. However the firm should provide the complainant with a reprojection letter based on the reconstructed policy such that the actual monthly payment required to achieve the target sum could be even higher, say £130. The reprojection letter should set out the range of options facing the complainant to deal with the projected shortfall, if any. |
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Example 9 |
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Term extends beyond retirement age: example of failure to explain investment risks |
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Background |
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45 year old male non-smoker, having taken out a £50,000 loan in 1998 for a term of 25 years. Unsuitable sale identified on the grounds of affordability and complaint raised on 12th anniversary. |
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It has always been the intention of the complainant to retire at state retirement age 65. |
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Term from date of sale to retirement is 20 years and the maturity date of the mortgage is five years after retirement. |
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In addition, an endowment does not meet the complainant's attitude to investment risk and a repayment mortgage would have been taken out if properly advised. |
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Established facts |
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Surrender value (on the 25 year policy) at time complaint assessed: |
£12,500 |
Capital repaid under repayment mortgage of term to retirement date (20 years): |
£21,000 |
Surrender value less capital repaid: |
(£8.500) |
Difference in outgoings (repayment - endowment): |
£5,400 |
Cost of converting from endowment mortgage to repayment mortgage: |
£200 |
Basis of compensation: |
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The surrender value of the (25 year term) endowment policy is compared to the capital that would have been repaid to date under a repayment mortgage arranged to repay the loan at retirement age, in this example, a repayment mortgage for a term of 20 years. The complainant has gained from lower outgoings of the endowment mortgage to date. In calculating the redress, the gain may be offset against the loss unless the complainant's particular circumstances are such that it would be unreasonable to take account of the gain. The conversion costs are also taken into account in calculating the redress. |
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Redress generally |
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Loss from surrender value less capital repaid: |
(£8,500) |
Gain from total lower outgoings under endowment mortgage: |
£5,400 |
Cost of converting to a repayment mortgage: |
(£200) |
Net loss: |
(£3,300) |
Therefore total redress is: |
£3,300 |
Redress if it is unreasonable to take account of gain from lower outgoings |
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Loss from surrender value less capital repaid: |
(£8,500) |
Gain from total lower outgoings under endowment mortgage: |
Ignored |
Cost of converting to a repayment mortgage: |
(£8,700) |
Therefore total redress is: |
£8,700 |
1The FCA recognises that there are good reasons for firms wishing to carry out their own investigations. This might be for, for example, disciplinary purposes, general good management, or operational and risk control. The firm needs to know the extent of any problem, and it may want advice as to what immediate or short-term measures it needs to take to mitigate or correct any problems identified. The FCA encourages this proactive approach and does not wish to interfere with a
1Work done or commissioned by the firm does not fetter the FCA's ability to use its statutory powers, for example to require a skilled person’s report under section 166 of the Act or to carry out a formal enforcement investigation; nor can a report commissioned by the firm be a substitute for formal regulatory action where this is needed or appropriate. But even if formal action is needed, it may be that a report could be used to help the FCA decide on the appropriate action to
1In certain circumstances the FCA may prefer that a firm does not commission its own investigation (whether an internal audit report or a report by external advisers) because action by the firm could itself be damaging to an FCA investigation. This is true in particular of criminal investigations, where alerting the suspects could have adverse consequences. For example, where the FCA suspects that individuals are abusing positions of trust within financial institutions and that
1How the results of an investigation are presented to the FCA may differ from case to case; the FCA acknowledges that different circumstances may call for different approaches. In this sense, one size does not fit all. The FCA will take a pragmatic and flexible approach when deciding how to receive the results of an investigation. However, if the FCA is to rely on a report as the basis for taking action, or not taking action, then it is important that the firm should be prepared
A firm that enters into a lifetime mortgage1 with a customer where interest payments are required (whether or not they will be collected by deduction from the income from an annuity or other linked investment product) must provide the customer with the following information before the customer makes the first payment under the contract:1(1) the amount of the first payment required;(2) the amount of the subsequent payments;(3) the method by which the payments will be collected
A firm that enters into a lifetime mortgage1 which is a drawdown mortgage, with fixed payments to the customer, must provide the customer with the following information before the first payment is drawn down by the customer:1(1) the amount of the first payment to be made;(2) the amount of subsequent payments, if different; (3) the method by which the payment will be made (for example, by transfer to the customer's bank account) and the date of issue of the first and subsequent
Where the lifetime mortgage1 is a drawdown mortgage and the customer can choose the amount and frequency of the payments they receive, or the amount and frequency of payments can vary for other reasons (for example in line with interest rates) the firm must provide the customer with the following information before the first payment is drawn down by the customer:1(1) (a) where the customer can choose the amount and frequency of the payments they receive, details of any limitations
Where thelifetime mortgage1 provides for a lump sum payment to be made to the customer, and all or part of the interest will be rolled up during the life of the mortgage, the firm must provide the customer with the following information before the customer makes the first payment under the contract, or if no payments are required from the customer, within seven days of completion of the mortgage:1(1) if no payments are required from the customer, confirmation that no payments
(1) An example of a situation in which the FCA would consider varying a condition would be a competency-related condition which required a training course to be completed (see, in particular, SUP 10C.12.24G for this type of condition).(2) If the firm later concludes that a different course would be better, the firm may apply for a variation of the condition.
(1) Other examples of where the FCA may agree to removing a condition are where:(a) the approved person's role has changed so that the reason for the condition originally being imposed no longer applies; or(b) new information has come to light that removes any doubt about the approved person's competence so a condition is no longer necessary.(2) For example, the FCA may agree to removing a condition about the scope of the approved person's role of the type described in SUP 10
A firm need not provide an ESIS:(1) in relation to a direct deal; (2) if the consumer refuses to disclose key information (for example, in a telephone conversation, his name or a communication address) or where the consumer is not interested in pursuing the enquiry; or(3) if the firm does not wish to do business with the consumer.
The effect of MCOB 5A.4.1R (1) and MCOB 5A.4.7 R is that a consumer will be deemed to be committed to an application if, for example, they pay a product-related fee (including a valuation fee) or provides electronic or verbal authority to process an application. It is not necessary for a consumer to provide an MCD mortgage lender with a completed application form to submit an application for an MCD regulated mortgage contract.
What constitutes “materially altered” or “different” requires consideration of the facts of each individual case. For example, a change of product such that the underlying terms and conditions of the MCD regulated mortgage contract have changed should normally be regarded as material or different, as would an additional charge, such as a higher lending charge, applying to the MCD regulated mortgage contract when it did not previously.
A firm may use information that it already holds on the consumer for the purpose of producing the ESIS (for example, if it already holds the consumer's credit record), providing the use of this information does not delay the consumer receiving the ESIS and the consumer's consent is obtained, where appropriate.
An issuer will only be able to transfer a listing of its equity shares2 from a premium listing (investment company) to a standard listing (shares)2 if it has ceased to be investment entity (for example if it has become a commercial company) or if it continues to have a premium listing of a class of equity shares.2 This is because LR 14.1.1 R provides that LR 14 does not apply to equity shares of2 an investment entity without a premium listing of equity shares.2
Information required under LR 13.3.1R(1) (Contents of all circulars) to be included in the circular or announcement should include an explanation of:(1) the background and reasons for the proposed transfer;(2) any changes to the issuer's business that have been made or are proposed to be made in connection with the proposal;(3) the effect of the transfer on the issuer's obligations under the listing rules;(4) how the issuer will meet any new eligibility requirements, for example
An issuer may take steps, in connection with a transfer, which require it to consider whether a prospectus is necessary, for example, if the company or its capital is reconstituted in a way that could amount to an offer of transferable securities to the public. The issuer and its advisers should consider whether directive obligations may be triggered.
The records maintained under this section, including the sub-pool disclosure documents, are a record of the firm that must be kept in a durable medium for at least five years following the date on which client money was last held by the firm for a sub-pool to which those records or the sub-pool disclosure document applied.
The statement required by MCOB 7.5.1 R must contain the following information:(1) except in the case of mortgage credit cards, information on the type oflifetime mortgage,3 (for example, fixed rate or variable rate) including a clear statement of how the firm expects the capital, or capital and interest (whichever is applicable) to be repaid (for example, from the proceeds of the sale of the property);3(2) details of the following transactions and information on the lifetime
If a customer requests, or agrees to, a change to a lifetime mortgage3 (other than a change as described in MCOB 7.6.7 R to MCOB 7.6.27 R (as modified by MCOB 9)) that changes the amount of each payment due (where payments are required), a firm must provide the customer with the following information, in a single communication, before the change takes effect:3(1) the amount outstanding on the lifetime mortgage3 at the date the change is requested;3(2) the payment due and the frequency
If a customer requests, or agrees to, a change to a lifetime mortgage.3(other than a change as described in MCOB 7.6.7 R to MCOB 7.6.27 R (as modified by MCOB 9)) that changes the amount paid to the customer under a drawdown mortgage, or the amount that the customer will owe under an interest roll-up mortgage5, or both, a firm must provide the customer with the following information, in a single communication, before the change takes effect:3(1) the amount outstanding on the lifetime
(1) The following example illustrates BIPRU 7.4.8R (2).(2) A firm buys a Traded Average Price Option (TAPO - a type of Asian option) allowing it to deliver 100 tonnes of Grade A copper and receive $1,750 in June. If there were 20 business days in June the short notional positions will each:(a) equal 5 tonnes per day (1/20 of 100 tonnes); and(b) have a maturity equal to one of the business days in June (one for each day).(3) In this example as each business day in June goes by
The following guidance provides an example of BIPRU 7.4.10R. In January, a firm agrees to buy 100 tonnes of copper for the average spot price prevailing during the 20 business days in February, and will settle on 30 June. After entering into this agreement, the firm faces the risk that the average price for February increases relative to that for 30 June. Therefore, as highlighted in the table below:(1) the short positions reflect the fact that this could occur because any one
(1) An example of using BIPRU 7.4.13R and the table in BIPRU 7.4.14R is as follows.(2) A firm is long a three-month commodity index future where the spot level of the index is based on the one, two and three month forward prices of aluminium, copper, tin, lead, zinc and nickel (18 prices in total).(3) Step 1: the firm should decide whether to treat the full quantity underlying the contract as a single notional commodityposition or disaggregate it into notional positions in aluminium,
BIPRU 7.4.30G is an example illustrating the calculation of the commodity PRR on an individual commodity using the commodity maturity ladder approach (BIPRU 7.4.26R). After the firm has carried out the pre-processing required by BIPRU 7.4.26R(2) (that is, step 1), it follows steps 2 to 5 as shown below. Because the firm is using the commodity maturity ladder approach the spread rate is 3%, the carry rate is 0.6% and the outright rate is 15%. The example assumes that the spot price
(1) 9Following the termination of a TTCA14 , where a firm does not immediately return the safe custody assets to the client the firm should consider whether the custody rules apply in respect of the safe custody assets pursuant to CASS 6.1.1R14.(2) Where the custody rules apply to a firm for safe custody assets in these circumstances then the firm is required to comply with those rules and should, for example, update the registration under CASS 6.2(Holding of client assets), update
The custody rules do not apply if a firm temporarily handles a
safe custody asset2
belonging to a client. A firm should temporarily handle a safe custody asset2 for no longer than is reasonably necessary. In most transactions this would be no longer than one business day, but it may be longer or shorter depending upon the transaction in question. For example, when a firm executes an order to sell shares which have not been registered on a de-materialised exchange, handling documents
10(1) The custody rules do not apply to a firm that is managing an AIF or managing a UCITS in relation to excluded custody activities, except where the firm is a small AIFM.10(2) The custody rules can apply to a firm that is managing an AIF or managing a UCITS in relation to activities that are not excluded custody activities. For example, where the firm:10(a) holds financial instruments belonging to a client in the course of its MiFID business (see CASS 6.1.1R (1A)); or(b) is
(1) If a function falls into more than one of the FCA-specified significant-harm functions in the table in SYSC 5.2.30R, all of those FCA-specified significant-harm functions apply to it.(2) For example, if a person's job involves both FCA-specified significant-harm function (5) (functions requiring qualifications) and (7) (material risk takers), the emergency appointments rule (SYSC 5.2.27R) does not apply to that job.(3) Another example is the rule about the territorial scope
A senior manager carrying on the significant management FCA-specified significant-harm function under SYSC 5.2.35R could, for example, be:(1) the head of a unit carrying on the activities of:(a) retail banking;(b) personal lending;(c) corporate lending;(d) salvage or loan recovery; or(e) proprietary trading; or(2) a member of a committee (that is, a person who, together with others, has authority to commit the firm) making decisions in these functions.
For the purposes of the definition of the significant management FCA-specified significant-harm function, the following additional factors about the firm should be considered:(1) the size and significance of the firm's business in the United Kingdom – for example, a firm carrying on designated investment business may have a large number of certification employees (for example, in excess of 100 individuals);(2) the number of regulated activities carried on, or proposed to be carried
3In the examples in SYSC 5.2.56G the algorithm is capable of being used in the generation or acceptance of orders but is not actually generating or accepting them at the moment. However, a firm does not deploy an algorithm if the algorithm is not yet capable of generating or accepting orders because, for example, it is still in development.
A credit union’s systems and controls should be proportionate to the nature, scale and complexity of the activities it undertakes. For instance, a 5small credit union5 will not usually 5be expected to have the same systems and controls as a large one, and a credit union offering only basic savings accounts and loans will not be expected to have the same systems and controls as one offering a wider range of services or more complicated products5.
Responsibilities of connected persons (for example, relatives and other close relationships) should be kept entirely separate. They should not hold key posts at the same time as each other. Where this is unavoidable, a credit union should have a written policy for ensuring complete segregation of duties and responsibilities.
The governing body5should consider the range of possible outcomes in relation to various risks. These risks are increased when a credit union provides ancillary services such as issuing and administering means of payment and money transmission, which result, in particular, in higher liquidity and operational risks.
A credit union should put in place contingency arrangements to ensure that it could continue to operate and meet its regulatory requirements in the event of an unforeseen interruption that may otherwise prevent the credit union from operating normally (for example, if there was a complete failure of IT systems or if the premises were destroyed by fire).
1The FCA considers it generally appropriate to publish details of its successful applications to the court for civil remedies including injunctions or restitution orders. For example, where the court has ordered an injunction to prohibit further illegal regulated activity, the FCA thinks it is appropriate to publicise this to tell consumers of the position and help them avoid dealing with the person who is the subject of the injunction. Similarly, a restitution order may be publicised
Therefore, for example, an approved person performing controlled functions in a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer2 should note that that term includes rights under a contract of insurance, meaning they should also take into account those parts of COCON which provide guidance on individual conduct rules that refer to ‘investments’.