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BaFin Fines Raiffeisenbank-Volksbank Fresena eG

Germany's BaFin has fined Raiffeisenbank-Volksbank Fresena eG €22,500 for failing to implement adequate measures for proper reporting of payment accounts for the BaFin account comparison. The decision became legally binding on February 28, 2026.

BaFin Fines VR Bank Dreieich-Offenbach 18,000 Euros

Germany's BaFin has fined VR Bank Dreieich-Offenbach eG 18,000 Euros for failing to implement adequate measures for proper reporting of payment accounts for the BaFin account comparison. The decision became legally binding on February 12, 2026.

FCA Speech on Payments Regulation and Consolidation

David Geale, FCA executive director, delivered a speech at the MoneyLIVE Summit on March 10, 2026, discussing the consolidation of the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) into the FCA. The speech emphasized a joined-up approach to growth, innovation, and consumer protection, aiming to simplify engagement for firms.

SEC Administrative Proceeding Against Rimar Capital for Fraud

The SEC has issued a notice of a proposed plan of distribution for funds collected in an administrative proceeding against Rimar Capital USA, Inc., Rimar Capital, LLC, Itai Royi Liptz, and Clifford Todd Boro. The proceeding found fraudulent conduct related to SAFE offerings and misrepresentations about an AI trading platform, resulting in penalties and disgorgement orders.

CT Dept of Banking Administrative Orders Added

The Connecticut Department of Banking has added new administrative orders for Milner Legal Services and Buyers Holdings, LLC. These orders, dated February 25 and February 26 respectively, detail enforcement actions taken by the department against these entities.

UK Mortgage Lending Statistics Q4 2025

The Bank of England's Q4 2025 Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Statistics show outstanding mortgage loans increased by 0.8% to £1,734.4 billion. Gross mortgage advances decreased by 1.3% to £79.4 billion, while new commitments fell by 11.9%. The share of lending with high LTV and LTI ratios increased.

BaFin Warns Trade Republic Bank Customers of Social Engineering Fraud

Germany's BaFin has issued a warning to customers of Trade Republic Bank regarding social engineering fraud. Scammers are impersonating the bank to trick customers into transferring funds to external accounts or crypto wallets. BaFin advises customers to ignore such requests and contact the bank's official in-app support.

ECB Fines Nordea Finance Finland €2.26 Million for Reporting Breaches

The European Central Bank (ECB) has imposed a €2.26 million penalty on Nordea Finance Finland Ltd for breaching reporting requirements and the large exposures limit over 13 consecutive quarters. The breaches, classified as severe, stemmed from incorrect reporting of guaranteed receivables and deficiencies in internal controls.

FRC Investigation into Accountants' Conduct re Vistry Group Plc

The UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has opened an investigation into the conduct of two individual accountants concerning the financial reporting of Vistry Group Plc's South Division for the 2023 and 2024 financial years. The investigation is being conducted under the Accountancy Scheme.

SEC Obtains Partial Consent Judgments Against Legacy Cares Defendants

The SEC announced partial consent judgments against defendants in a municipal bond offering fraud case. The judgments enjoin the defendants from future securities law violations. This action stems from an alleged scheme involving fabricated documents to inflate revenue projections for a sports complex, leading to bond defaults.

BaFin Audits Gerresheimer AG Financial Statements

Germany's BaFin has expanded an audit of Gerresheimer AG's 2023/24 financial statements and initiated a new audit of its interim financial statements as of May 31, 2025. The audits are investigating potential misstatements in risk assessments, asset impairment, revenue recognition, lease liabilities, and development costs.

BaFin Warns Consumers About europecapitalmarkets.com

Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, has issued a warning regarding the website europecapitalmarkets.com. The website is suspected of offering banking and/or financial services without the required authorization from BaFin, posing a risk to consumers.

BaFin Warns of alijz(.)com Website and App

Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, has issued a warning regarding the website alijz(.)com, the app alijzspro, and associated WhatsApp groups. These entities are suspected of offering financial services without authorization, potentially misusing the identity of AL Konzept GmbH & Co. KG.

Allianz Global Life Designated Activity Company Address Change

Allianz Global Life Designated Activity Company's German branch has officially changed its business address. The notification, issued by BaFin on March 9, 2026, provides the previous and new addresses in Stuttgart.

FINRA Adopts Amendments to Equity Trade Reporting Rules

FINRA has adopted amendments to its equity trade reporting rules, providing a limited, temporary exception for reporting qualifying overnight transactions executed before 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This exception will be effective from March 30, 2026, and will expire on December 31, 2027, or upon further extension of trade reporting facility operating hours.

TPR: Master trusts prepare for future scale requirements

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published guidance for UK defined contribution (DC) master trusts on preparing for new scale requirements under the Pension Schemes Bill. The guidance encourages trustees to evaluate their growth potential and operational readiness, with a minimum asset threshold of £25bn expected from 2030.

SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Investment Adviser in Cherry-Picking Scheme

The SEC announced it has obtained a final judgment against Matthew J. Werthe, dba HSR Wealth Management, for engaging in a cherry-picking scheme. The judgment orders Werthe to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty totaling over $1.1 million.

Colorado Warns of Online Investment Scams During Consumer Protection Week

The Colorado Division of Securities issued a warning about online investment scams during National Consumer Protection Week. The notice highlights common schemes like unsolicited cryptocurrency fraud and romance scams, referencing FTC data on significant financial losses to these activities.

SEC charges EisnerAmper LLP with improper professional conduct

The SEC has instituted administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against EisnerAmper LLP for improper professional conduct during its 2020 audit of the Infinity Q Diversified Alpha Fund. The firm allegedly failed to obtain sufficient understanding of internal controls, gather adequate evidence, and exercise due professional care, violating PCAOB auditing standards.

SEC Institutes Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Against NYSE

The SEC has instituted cease-and-desist proceedings against the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) LLC. This action stems from a critical systems disruption on January 24, 2023, which caused NYSE to fail to run opening auctions for 2,824 securities, leading to market-wide impacts including thousands of busted trades.

SEC Bars Joel Castellanos for Unregistered Securities Sales

The SEC has barred Joel Castellanos from associating with any broker, dealer, or other regulated entity. Castellanos was found to have solicited and raised at least $25.2 million from over 1,222 investors through unregistered securities sales, acting as a sales agent for MJ Capital Funding, LLC.

SEC v. Zachary Miller - Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings

The SEC has instituted administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against Zachary Miller for acting as an unregistered broker in connection with fraudulent and unregistered securities offerings. Miller allegedly raised approximately $18.3 million from investors.

SEC Institutes Proceedings Against Canaccord Genuity LLC for Failing to File SARs

The SEC has instituted administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against Canaccord Genuity LLC for failing to file approximately 150 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to its equity trading activities between February 2019 and March 2022. The firm allegedly failed to maintain an adequate AML surveillance program.

OSC Investor Warnings: Unregistered Companies

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has issued investor warnings for eight unregistered companies operating in Ontario. These companies are not authorized to deal or advise in securities, posing a potential risk to investors.

OSC, AMF, CIRO Approve Financial Services Platform Test

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), and Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) have approved Project Samara, a financial services platform test in Canada. This experimental project evaluates a distributed ledger technology platform for bond transactions, involving major financial institutions and the Bank of Canada.

CSA Publishes 2025 Systemic Risk Committee Annual Report

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has published its 2025 Systemic Risk Committee Annual Report, analyzing financial market trends, emerging risks, and potential vulnerabilities in Canadian capital markets. The report highlights the rise of AI and stablecoins as key areas of focus for potential financial stability impacts.

Canadian Securities Regulators Strengthen Benchmark Assurance Report Requirements

Canadian securities regulators have adopted final amendments to Multilateral Instrument 25-102, strengthening assurance report requirements for designated benchmarks. These changes clarify the scope, timing, and level of assurance for reports submitted by independent public accountants, aiming to enhance governance and controls over benchmarks. The amendments are set to come into force on May 5, 2026.

Canadian Securities Regulators Disrupt Over 7,500 Fraudulent Investment Websites

Canadian securities regulators announced the disruption of over 7,586 fraudulent investment and crypto scam websites between June 2025 and February 2026. This initiative, part of Fraud Prevention Month, highlights ongoing efforts to protect investors from online fraud.

FINTRAC Supervisory Framework Guidance

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has released its supervisory framework. This guidance outlines the principles, risk framework, and pillars of supervision FINTRAC uses to ensure businesses comply with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

FINTRAC Notices and Advisories for Reporting Entities

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has issued numerous notices and advisories to reporting entities. These updates cover a range of obligations, including guidance on bribery and corruption, politically exposed persons, ministerial directives, and beneficial ownership reporting.

FINTRAC Policy Interpretations for Proceeds of Crime Act

FINTRAC has updated its policy interpretations database concerning the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. Notably, certain policy positions regarding payment processing and merchant servicing activities have been retracted as of April 27, 2022, with affected entities now subject to money services business requirements.

FINTRAC Interpretation Notices on Proceeds of Crime Law

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has issued interpretation notices to clarify provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. These notices provide technical interpretations and plain language explanations for regulated entities, including accountants.

FINTRAC Guidance on Proceeds of Crime Act Obligations

FINTRAC has published updated guidance for reporting entities on their obligations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. The guidance covers various sectors and key compliance areas such as client identification and transaction reporting.

ECB Fines J.P. Morgan for Misreporting Capital Requirements

The European Central Bank (ECB) has imposed two penalties totaling €12.18 million on J.P. Morgan SE for misreporting capital requirements between 2019 and 2024. The bank incorrectly calculated risk-weighted assets due to misclassifications and exclusions in credit risk and credit valuation adjustment risk reporting.

ECB Fines Crédit Agricole €7.5M for Climate Risk Identification Failures

The European Central Bank (ECB) has imposed periodic penalty payments of €7,551,050 on Crédit Agricole for failing to sufficiently assess its climate-related and environmental risks by the deadline of 31 May 2024. This enforcement action highlights the ECB's commitment to ensuring banks adequately identify and manage climate risks.

ECB Appoints Thomas Broeng Jorgensen Director General Specialised Institutions

The European Central Bank (ECB) has appointed Thomas Broeng Jorgensen as Director General for Specialised Institutions and Less Significant Institutions, effective March 1, 2026. He will oversee the direct supervision of specialised banks and the oversight of less significant banks by national supervisors.

ECB Advances Climate and Nature Work

The European Central Bank (ECB) has concluded its 2024-2025 plan for integrating climate and nature-related risks into its core work. The ECB has refined its risk assessments, informed policy decisions, and improved supervision of banks, while also managing its own portfolios and operations.

ECB welcomes Frank Elderson's Vice-Chair term extension

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced the extension of Frank Elderson's term as Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board until December 2028. This decision follows a proposal by the ECB Governing Council and approval from the European Parliament.

AMF Revises Salmon Derivative Contract Position Limits

The AMF has revised the position limits for the salmon derivative contract listed on Euronext Paris Matif. These changes, confirmed by ESMA, lower the limit for the spot contract and increase the limit for other maturities, effective February 12, 2026.

AMF Invites Participation in AMLA Consultations on AML/CFT Standards

The French AMF is inviting financial market participants to engage in AMLA's public consultations on three draft implementing standards for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. The consultations are open for one to three months, seeking stakeholder input on key clarifications for the new EU AML/CFT regulatory package.

AMF Appoints Sophia Bennani Director of Inspections

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has appointed Sophia Bennani as the new Director of Inspections, effective February 16, 2026. This is an internal leadership change within the regulatory body.

AMF Reminds Digital Asset Providers of MiCA Deadline

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) is reminding Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs) that the transitional period allowing them to operate without MiCA authorization ends on July 1, 2026. DASPs wishing to continue providing crypto-asset services must submit an authorization application as soon as possible.

AMF Withdraws APICAP Portfolio Management Authorisation

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has announced the effective withdrawal of the authorisation for portfolio management company APICAP. This action follows a decision on July 4, 2025, and is now effective as of January 9, 2026, after APICAP's funds were transferred to other authorised entities.

EBA Final Report on Reporting Standards for Third-Country Branches

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its final report on harmonised reporting standards for third-country branches under CRD VI. The new framework aims to enhance supervisory oversight by introducing uniform reporting formats and definitions, with the first reporting reference date set for March 31, 2027.

EBA Opinion on Commission Amendments to RTS on Equivalent Legal Mechanism

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published an Opinion responding to the European Commission's proposed amendments to draft technical standards on equivalent legal mechanisms for residential property under construction. The EBA disagrees with two key amendments concerning risk weight caps and the mandate for completion guarantees.

EBA Central Validation of ISDA SIMM Begins March 1, 2026

The European Banking Authority (EBA) announced the commencement of its central validation function for the ISDA SIMM on March 1, 2026. This new function, established under EMIR, aims to ensure consistent oversight of initial margin models for non-centrally cleared derivatives across the EU.

EBA Concludes Legacy Instruments Monitoring Work

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has concluded its dedicated monitoring of legacy instruments, which are financial instruments benefiting from grandfathering provisions under CRR1 and CRR2. The EBA will no longer prioritize this specific monitoring, trusting competent authorities to handle remaining cases based on existing guidance.

EBA Final Guidelines on Capital Endowment for Third-Country Branches

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published final Guidelines specifying eligible instruments for the capital endowment requirement for third-country branches. These guidelines clarify which financial instruments can be used and the operational conditions required to protect local depositors and creditors.

BaFin Capital Markets Conference 2026 Details

The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has announced details for its Capital Markets Conference 2026, scheduled for June 23, 2026, in Frankfurt. Registration is now open for issuers and capital market representatives interested in topics such as the EU's Listing Act and private retirement provisions.

BaFin Warns of Unauthorized Richmond365 Finance Limited Website

Germany's BaFin has issued a warning regarding the website richmond365(.)com, which is offering financial and crypto asset services without authorization. The purported entity, Richmond365 Finance Limited, does not exist in the UK's company register, indicating a potential scam targeting German consumers.