Australia

Enforcement

New Zealand FMA Work Plan to Focus on Conduct, Culture

By Garima Chitkara | 16/08/2018

New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority expects firms to put customer interests first; work plan to focus on conduct, culture, governance.

Market Infrastructure

ASIC Asks Banks to Take Steps to Mitigate Financial Adviser Fraud

By Garima Chitkara | 16/08/2018

ASIC has asked 5 banks to put in place measures to monitor, review and better explain to customers the potential risks of providing account access to third parties like financial advisers.

Enforcement

Royal Commission Hears Full Extent of NAB ‘Fees-for-no-service’ Failings

By Manesh Samtani | 15/08/2018

NAB reportedly misled ASIC about expected compensation payments for customers it charged for services not rendered; the bank also charged advice fees to more than 4000 dead customers.

Fintech / Regtech

Commonwealth Bank to Arrange First Blockchain Bond

By Garima Chitkara | 14/08/2018

Developed by the World Bank, a A$100 million kangaroo bond, issued and distributed through blockchain, will open to investors later this month in Washington and Sydney.

Enforcement

ASIC Gets A$70mn, New Powers to Boost Enforcement Capabilities

By Garima Chitkara | 13/08/2018

Australia’s corporate regulator will embed supervisors in large financial institutions to monitor banks’ actions and decision making.

AML / KYC

Former Macquarie Consultant Jailed for Money Laundering, Tax Evasion

By Manesh Samtani | 13/08/2018

Anthony Castagna and his accountant cousin Robert Agius conspired to have money paid by Macquarie for consulting funneled through offshore entities in Vanuatu to evade tax in Australia.

Enforcement

Fees-for-no-service Remediation to Top A$850mn – ASIC

By Manesh Samtani | 09/08/2018

CBA has paid or offered compensation over A$118 million so far, with over A$25 million more provisioned for future compensation.

Fintech / Regtech

Financial Regulators Consult on ‘Global Sandbox’ Approach

By Manesh Samtani | 09/08/2018

HKMA, MAS, ASIC among 12 regulators seeking views from interested parties on new Global Financial Innovation Network initiative, including its role, tools and where it should prioritise activity.

Market Infrastructure

APRA to Replace Outdated Financial Data Collection Platform

By Garima Chitkara | 07/08/2018

Australia’s prudential regulator says its current data collection system requires a significant overhaul to match current flows of digitised data and regulatory requirements, plans to release tender for new solution by end of month and implement new system by end of 2019.