The Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) is very committed to ensuring the consumer is at the very heart of the delivery of the roadmap and its implementation of open banking in the UK. It has an established Consumer Representative role to support and represent the interests of consumers on the Implementation Entity Steering Group (IESG). Francis McGee will be joining The OBIE on 5 July to take up the role of Consumer Representative and will be responsible for advising on, and contributing to, the development of Open Banking, the CMA roadmap, governance, policy, practice and communications to deliver positive consumer outcomes as outlined in the CMA’s Retail Banking market review. The Consumer Representative role works closely with the SME Representative and is supported by a dedicated secretariat. The role is resourced by the OBIE, however, it is an independent position and the Representative’s priority is to ensure there is a strong consumer voice within the entity as it develops and evaluates policy and practice. Commenting on his new appointment, Francis said: “Open banking will transform people’s finances: where they keep their funds, how they pay for things, and how they keep track. It offers greater speed, choice, value and convenience, but it will need to earn and keep people’s trust if it is to realise its full potential. We must take the opportunity to build this new world with real consumer needs and experiences at the very centre. I’m really excited to help the OBIE with the next phase of its crucial work.” Prior to joining the OBIE, Francis worked at HM Treasury, the Association of British Insurers, Aegon, and Stepchange – a debt charity, across strategy, regulation and corporate affairs before setting up his own consultancy working with the Money and Pensions Service and Legal & General. Imran Gulamhuseinwala OBE, Trustee of the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), commented: “I am delighted to welcome Francis as the OBIE’s Consumer Representative. Francis brings a wealth of experience that will add real value to OBIE’s ongoing work. This is critical role, one that provides us with a considered consumer perspective and provides insight to ensure we implement open banking in a way that delivers tangible benefits for the end user. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Faith Reynolds, Francis’s predecessor, for her commitment and dedication to the role during her tenure.” ENDS Notes to Editors: *OBIE was set up by the CMA and funded by the UK’s nine largest banks and building societies: Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, RBS Group and Santander. Contact: OpenBankingMedia@cicero-group.com, 0207 297 5971 About The Open Banking Implementation Entity: The Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) is the entity set up by the CMA in 2016 to deliver Open Banking. Our trading name is Open Banking Limited. We are governed by the CMA and funded by the UK’s nine largest banks and building societies: Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, RBS Group and Santander. We work with the UK’s largest banks and building societies as well as challenger banks, financial technology companies, third party providers and consumer groups. Our role is to: 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