AUSTRALIA

Enforcement

ASIC’s Year Ahead to Focus on Conduct, Culture, Consumer Trust

By Garima Chitkara | 11/09/2018

ASIC Commissioner John Price laid out the regulator’s priorities regarding conduct and culture risk in the financial industry in the coming year.

Enforcement

ASIC Begins Civil Proceedings Against NAB Entities

By Garima Chitkara | 10/09/2018

Two wealth management divisions of NAB are the subject of civil proceedings in an Australian Federal Court for charging over half a million customers fees for no services.

Capital / Liquidity

ASIC Releases New Rules on Responsible Credit Card Lending

By Manesh Samtani | 06/09/2018

Credit card providers will need to assess the suitability of new cards and credit limit increases based on consumers’ ability to repay in full within a three year period.

Enforcement

Westpac to Pay Record A$35mn for ‘Responsible Lending’ Breach

By Manesh Samtani | 05/09/2018

Westpac Bank’s automated credit assessment system approved 10,500 home loans between 2011 and 2015 which should not have been automatically approved; the system has since been upgraded.

Market Infrastructure

ASX Defers CHESS Replacement by Six Months to Ensure Readiness

By Manesh Samtani | 05/09/2018

ASX deferred the earliest go-live date for new DLT-based system to target March-April 2021; will provide additional six months for user development and testing, industry testing and accreditation.

AML / KYC

Convicted Finance Director Sentenced in New Zealand For AML Breaches

By Garima Chitkara | 04/09/2018

New Zealand-based finance director sentenced to six months of community detention after being found negligent in following AML laws and reportedly laundering NZ$500,000 to conceal a major drug trade.

Market Infrastructure

Aussie Banks Move to Reform Mortgage Broking Sector

By Manesh Samtani | 30/08/2018

Volumed-based bonus payments for mortgage brokers and other incentives to be abolished; new industry code of conduct prioritising customers’ interests expected by year-end.

Fintech / Regtech

Nikko Set to Enter New Zealand’s Robo Advice Market

By Manesh Samtani | 29/08/2018

New Zealand’s FMA has granted an exemption allowing Nikko to enter the robo-advice market; new digital platform to be launched later this year.

Enforcement

NAB, CBA Could Face Criminal Charges: Australian Royal Commission

By Garima Chitkara | 27/08/2018

Misconduct findings by the Australian Royal Commission spanned the financial sector, notably singling out ASIC and APRA as lacking authority and questioning if they were up to the job of protecting customers.