CMA

The Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendations on the future arrangements for open banking and the Joint Regulatory Statement

25 March 2022
press-release

The CMA has today published its response on the next steps for open banking across several key areas including monitoring, regulatory oversight, resourcing, sustainability, leadership and representation. Alongside the CMA’s consultation response, HMT, FCA, PSR and CMA have published a Joint Regulatory Statement providing further clarity to the open banking ecosystem on the government’s and regulators’ ambition for open banking and its extension into open finance and other sectors.

Commenting on the announcements, the OBIE’s Trustee and Chair, Charlotte Crosswell, said: “We welcome the announcements by the government and regulators, and the endorsement it gives for the future of open banking to our thriving ecosystem. There has been significant collaboration in developing the infrastructure, standards and ecosystem that we have in place today. We now need to drive forward competition and adoption to realise the benefits of innovation for consumers and businesses across the UK.

“Today’s announcement underlines government and regulators’ commitment to the future success of open banking, and the foundations for open finance and beyond. We will look forward to working with the new Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee over the course of this year.”

Crosswell took the opportunity to reflect on the public good aspect of the CMA’s Retail Banking Market Investigation Order 2017, and highlight why the UK leads the world in open banking implementation and growth. 

“Four years ago, open banking was a concept in name only. Today, more than five million consumers and small businesses are benefiting from open banking-enabled products, and this is only the start. We did not make so much progress by accident, it was by design. The UK’s leadership in open banking was enabled by our pro-competition approach and the ambition of our regulators and government. This forward looking leadership provided the confidence and the means through which innovation has flourished. I look forward to working in close collaboration with all stakeholders in taking open banking into the future and strengthening the UK’s leadership in this field.”

Henk Van Hulle, the OBIE’s CEO, said the organisation was already in planning and preparation mode. “We have already made positive organisational, governance and operational changes to ensure we are best placed to take these arrangements forward. We will consult with key stakeholders and develop a detailed plan for transition, and I am confident that we are in a strong position to deliver what is needed to drive progress and maintain momentum in open banking.” 

Ends.

Notes to editors.  

For further enquiries, or to arrange an interview with an OBIE spokesperson, please contact Adam Taylor, adam.taylor@cicero-group.com.

Open Banking Ltd is the entity set up by the CMA9 as ordered by the CMA in 2016 to deliver open banking. Its trading name is Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE).

The OBIE is funded by the CMA9 (Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest Group and Santander). The OBIE works with the CMA9, as well as challenger banks, financial technology companies, third party providers and consumer groups.

The OBIE’s role is to:

  • Enforce the obligations on the CMA9 under the CMA Order.
  • Design the specifications for the Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) that banks and building societies use to securely provide open banking.
  • Support regulated third party providers and banks and building societies to use the Open Banking standards.
  • Create security and messaging standards.
  • Manage the Open Banking Directory which allows regulated participants like banks, building societies and third-party providers to enrol in open banking.
  • Produce guidelines for participants in the open banking ecosystem.
  • Set out the process for managing disputes and complaints.