Chatswood serves the life and health insurance sector in New Zealand with market intelligence, data, and bespoke consulting services. Some of these are provided in conjunction with Quality Product Research Limited - a subsidiary that brings you Quotemonster.
We believe that good decisions are more likely to occur when we have good information about the market environment in which we operate. Intuitive leaps and creative decisions are always required, of course, but the more they are based on a firm foundation of observation, the better they tend to be.
Partners Life’s new training module ‘Fair Treatment of Customers’
Partners Life have introduced a new training module ‘Fair treatment of Customers’, to help advisers be better prepared for the new Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regulations coming into effect on 31 March.
Partners Life have introduced a new training module ‘Fair treatment of Customers’, to help advisers be better prepared for the new Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regulations coming into effect on 31 March. The module is worth approximately 0.5 hours of CPD and is available on the Partners Life Academy.
Partners Life developed two different new eLearn modules on the fair treatment of customers – one for staff and one for independent financial advisers. The staff version focuses on how the fair conduct principle applies to daily work and interactions with clients and advisers. The adviser version includes more information on the shared responsibility for customers that is held between Partners Life as the product provider and the adviser who has a deeper understanding of the client’s personal situation and financial circumstances. Partners Life appreciate that advisers are familiar with the new CoFI legislation, however, they wanted to share their expectations in a format that would be easy to read and included a short quiz to test their understanding.
By the end of March, a customer-friendly version of their fair conduct programme and information on how Partners Life apply the fair conduct principle will be available on their website.
More news:
Southern Cross Health Insurance funds pilot for access to The Prostate Clinic
Momentum Life offer customers 20% off online wills in partnership with Public Trust
FMA ad campaign educating consumers about Fair Conduct Programme to launch soon
Experts advocate raising KiwiSaver minimum contributions to 4% from both employees and employers
FSC’s FAP round table breakfast with the FMA
Several of our team attended the Financial Services Council’s FAP round table breakfast with the Financial Markets Authority last month.
Quality Product Research are sponsors of the Financial Services Council’s (FSC's) FAP round table breakfast with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) last month. Several of our team were there, including Aneel Ravji, AdviceTech Lead, Kelly Pulham, National Partnerships Lead, and Russell Hutchinson, Research Director.
The FMA covered how the new regime is working, approaches to enforcement and other initiatives. Attendees were taken through the background and given an overview of the Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime. Other topics included observations on remediations, fair conduct programmes and an overview of the CoFI intermediated distribution guide. Russell Hutchinson facilitated a lively Q&A session.
Here's a few snaps from the day. We highly recommend you attend the FSC round tables if you get the chance, they always make for an interesting and engaging start to the day.
Pictured, from the Financial Markets Authority, from left to right: Michael Hewes, Director, Deposit Taking, Insurance and Advice; Anna Jared, Technical Specialist – Deposit Taking, Insurance & Advice; Kyla Bottriell, Senior Adviser, External Relations; and Romil Ghelani, Head of Financial Advice
Russell Hutchinson, Director at Quality Product Research Ltd, facilitates a Q&A session.
FMA announces more than $215 million returned to customers through remediation
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has released its annual report for the year ended 30 June 2024, including information on the money being returned to customers as a result of remediation activity stemming from the Conduct and Culture review.
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has released its annual report for the year ended 30 June 2024. One of the most interesting findings to come from the annual report was that $215 million has been returned, or is in the process of being returned, to customers as a result of remediation activity stemming from the Conduct and Culture review of banks and life insurers carried out by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) and the FMA between 2018 and 2019. As at June 2024, 1.585 million affected customers had been identified. You can read about some of the filings from this year here.
The FMA achieved six out of nine of its Statement of Performance Expectations. Some key achievements included several penalty decisions for fair dealing provision breaches, opening licensing for the Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime and producing the first Financial Advice Provider Monitoring Insights Report.
The FMA have also released the results of their Ease of Doing Business Survey which reports on stakeholder and industry participants views on the effectiveness of their interactions with the FMA.
94% agree financial markets are effectively regulated
85% agree the FMA supports market integrity
84% agree that FMA communications is relevant to their sector
75% agree the FMA helps raise the standards of market conduct
80% agree that communications help them understand the FMA’s approach to regulation
77% agree communications help them understand the FMA’s expectations of them
53% agree it’s easy doing business with the FMA
More news:
The Banking Ombudsman Scheme has published results from its five-year review
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
Privacy authorities release statement on additional takeaways for industry; APRA release Life Insurance Claims and Disputes statistics; FMA consult on renewal of class exemptions for DIMS licensees from certain financial reporting requirements; ASIC release audit findings; FSC publish spotlights on Life Insurance and KiwiSaver; Government seeks feedback on information sharing agreement between IRD and MBIE; FMA renews notices.
29 Oct 2024 - Global privacy authorities, including the office of the Privacy Commissioner, have engaged with some of the world’s largest social media companies after issuing a joint statement on data scraping last year. As a result of this engagement, they have now issued a follow-up statement laying out additional takeaways for industry. This follow-up joint statement lays out further expectations, including that organisations:
Comply with privacy and data protection laws when using personal information, including from their own platforms, to develop artificial intelligence (AI) large language models.
Deploy a combination of safeguarding measures and regularly review and update them to keep pace with advances in scraping techniques and technologies.
Ensure that permissible data scraping for commercial or socially beneficial purposes is done lawfully and in accordance with strict contractual terms. https://www.privacy.org.nz/publications/statements-media-releases/global-privacy-authorities-issue-follow-up-joint-statement-on-data-scraping-after-industry-engagement/
29 Oct 2024 - APRA has released its Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Statistics publication, covering a rolling 12-month period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-and-asic-publish-latest-data-on-life-insurance-claims-and-disputes-9
30 Oct 2024 - The FMA are consulting on renewal of class exemption for DIMS licensees from certain financial reporting requirements, consultation closes 29 November 2024. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/focus-areas/consultation/consultation-renewal-of-class-exemption-for-dims-licensees-from-certain-financial-reporting-requirements/
30 Oct 2024 - ASIC has released findings from its financial reporting and audit surveillance for the 12 months to 30 June 2024, and announced a proactive surveillance focused on auditors’ compliance with independence and conflicts of interest requirements. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2024-releases/24-240mr-asic-releases-fy-2023-24-financial-reporting-and-audit-report-and-launches-auditor-independence-surveillance/?altTemplate=betanewsroom
30 Oct 2024 - The FSC has published its KiwiSaver Industry Spotlight September 2024. https://blog.fsc.org.nz/kiwisaver-spotlight-september-2024
30 Oct 2024 - The Government is seeking public feedback on a proposed approved information sharing agreement (AISA) between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The AISA would allow Inland Revenue and MBIE to share prescribed information with the other agency for the benefits outlined in the discussion document. https://www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/news/2024/consultation-information-sharing-ir-mbie-aisa
31 Oct 2024 - The FMA has decided to renew the Financial Markets Conduct (Disclosure of Relevant Interests by Directors and Senior Managers) Exemption Notice 2019, and the Financial Markets Conduct (NZCDC Settlement System) Exemption Notice 2019, for a further five years. They are working to finalise new notices to give effect to this decision, which they intend to have in place before the current notices are revoked on the close of 30 November 2024. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/focus-areas/consultation/consultation-class-exemption-renewal-for-disclosure/
30 Oct 2024 - The FSC has published its Life Insurance Industry Spotlight September 2024. https://blog.fsc.org.nz/lifeinsurance-spotlight-september-2024
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
The Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs announces policy decisions on Financial Services Reforms; FMA publish Jane Brown's speech; APRA consultation on minor updates; new appointees to FMA board; ASIC release enforcement and regulatory update; Cabinet exempt buy now, pay later providers from CCCFA provisions; FMA publish research on the use of AI in financial services sector; Finance and Expenditure Committee recommends the Contracts of Insurance Bill move forward; Hon Andrew Bayly's August 2024 diary released; APRA propose changes to the capital framework for banks in relation to hybrid instruments; FMA publish insights from funds that claim to have ethical features.
5 Sep 2024 - The Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs has announced policy decisions on Financial Services Reforms and indicated the Government intends to introduce a bill in December 2024 addressing the proposed reforms.
For consumer credit legislation the decisions are to:
Regulate consumer creditors via a market services licence, to simplify and streamline current regulatory arrangements.
Remove the due diligence duty and attendant personal liability for senior managers and directors.
Retain the consequences for failure to make initial disclosure or disclosure of agreed changes, but only where the borrower or the FMA can show the failure caused harm.
Retain the high-cost credit provisions as they are currently (no changes)
Exempting Buy Now Pay Later providers from the fee requirements in ss 41 and 44A of the CCCFA
For financial services conduct legislation, the decisions are to:
Simplify and clarify minimum requirements for fair conduct programmes.
Retain the current open-ended definition of the fair conduct principle (no changes)
Require the FMA to issue a single licence covering different classes of market services, including for consumer credit where applicable.
Allow the FMA to rely on an assessment made by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) in some circumstances.
Introduce change in control approval requirements.
Introduce on-site inspection powers for the FMA.
For effective dispute resolution, the decisions are to:
Enhance the process for reviewing the schemes (noting further work is underway in relation to key performance indicators, scheme governance arrangements and a single front door web portal). "
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/improving-access-finance-kiwis
5 Sep 2024 - The FMA publish Jane Brown's speech to the New Zealand Insurance Law Association 2024 Conference. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/speech-to-new-zealand-insurance-law-association-2024/
6 Sep 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released for consultation a number of minor updates to the prudential framework for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs), general, life and private health insurers and registrable superannuation entity (RSE) licensees. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-consults-on-minor-updates-to-prudential-framework-for-adis-insurers-and
7 Sep 2024 - Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed to the Financial Markets Authority Board for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member since April 2019, has been reappointed. https://www.goodreturns.co.nz/article/976523586/3-new-fma-board-members.html
9 Sep 2024 - ASIC released its Enforcement and regulatory update (1 January to 30 June 2024), which sets out recent outcomes in enforcement and regulation. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2024-releases/24-199mr-asic-to-target-misconduct-in-banking-and-superannuation-sectors/?altTemplate=betanewsroom
9 Sep 2024 - Cabinet has decided to exempt New Zealand's three surviving fintech buy now, pay later service providers from default fee provisions in the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA). https://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/129607/gareth-vaughan-questions-whether-fintech-buy-now-pay-later-sector-deserves
10 Sep 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority has published research on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New Zealand’s financial services sector. The FMA will host a roundtable on 1 October 2024 with the study participants to further explore how AI and GenAI is being used in New Zealand’s financial services and how firms are managing risks. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/understanding-artificial-intelligence-in-financial-services/
10 Sep 2024 - New Zealand’s Finance and Expenditure Committee has recommended that the Contracts of Insurance Bill move forward and proposed several key amendments aimed at reshaping the insurance landscape. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/nz/news/breaking-news/committee-backs-major-shakeup-of-nz-insurance-laws-504842.aspx
10 Sep 2024 - Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Andrew Bayly August 2024 diary released with the following potential financial services sector related meetings noted:
2 Aug 2024 – FIntech Industry Roundtable (Jason Roberts and Guests)
8 Aug 2024 – MEET: Commerce Commission and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Officials (MBIE and Comm Comm Officials)
9 Aug 2024 – VISIT: TSB Bank (Kerry Boielle and Larissa Vaughan)
15 Aug 2024 – MEET: Payments NZ (Members of the API Centre)
19 Aug 2024 – MEET: Commerce Commission Officials (John Small and Brian)
20 Aug 2024 – CALL : Chair of Commerce Commission (Dr John Small)
21 Aug 2024 – MEET: Retirement Commissioner (Jane Wrightson)
28 Aug 2024 – MEET: Commerce Commission - Monthly Meeting (Commerce Commission Officials)
29 Aug 2024 – MEET: FMA Board Chair and CE (Craig Stobo, Samantha Barrass and Edwin Metson)
10 Sep 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has proposed changes to the capital framework for banks in relation to hybrid instruments to simplify and improve the effectiveness of bank capital in a crisis.
APRA is proposing that banks phase out the use of AT1 capital instruments (often called hybrid bonds) and replace them with cheaper and more reliable forms of capital that would absorb losses more effectively in times of stress. The total amount of regulatory capital that APRA requires banks to hold would remain unchanged and banks would remain ‘unquestionably strong’. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-proposes-update-to-bank-capital-framework-to-strengthen-crisis
11 Sep 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority has published insights from its supervision of funds that claim to have ethical features. The insights are based off findings from reviewing disclosure documents, advertising, reporting on sustainability progress, and whether investments held by funds align with their sector exclusion policies. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/ethical-investing-disclosure-insights-update/
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
APRA release responses to consultations; FMA finds NZer’s agree on what constitutes fairness; FMA seek feedback on proposed info sheet for climate reporting entities; FSC release regulatory forecast for July; FAPs need to submit annual regulatory returns by 30 September; Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ June diary released; FMA launch new podcast series; The Customer and Product data Bill was read a first time; FMA publish guidance on how providers of client money or property services, and custodians, can meet their obligations under the Financial Markets Conduct Act.
17 Jul 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its response to the consultation on proposed enhancements to the content and presentation of its suite of quarterly insurance statistical publications. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-response-on-enhancements-to-quarterly-insurance-publications
17 Jul 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released a response to consultation on proposed minor amendments to the prudential framework for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) and general, life and private health insurers. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-response-to-consultation-on-minor-amendments-to-prudential-1
18 Jul 2024 - FMA research finds the majority of New Zealanders generally agree on what constitutes fairness in financial services. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/understanding-fairness-in-financial-services/
19 Jul 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority is seeking feedback on a proposed information sheet that provides guidance for climate reporting entities (CREs) in relation to the following disclosure documents, in light of the climate-related disclosures (CRD) regime:
• any current or new Product Disclosure Statement for their financial products
• the Other Material Information on the offer register on Disclose for their financial products
• any Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives on the offer register on Disclose
• any annual report."
19 Jul 2024 - The FSC release their regulatory forecast for July 2024. https://members.fsc.org.nz/fsc-corporate-members/regulatory-forecast-july-2024
22 Jul 2024 - All licensed Financial Advice Providers (FAP) are required to complete and submit an annual regulatory return. Licensees will be required to complete an annual regulatory return for the 12-month period ending 30 June and submit it to the FMA by 30 September. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/online-services/
22 Jul 2024 - Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Andrew Bayly June 2024 diary released with the following potential financial services sector related meetings noted:
• 11 Jun 2024 – MEET: NZ and Australian Banking Association Delegation Discussion (Roger Beaumont, Hon Anna Bligh and delegates)
• 20 Jun 2024 – ZOOM: Financial Data and Technology Association (Jamie Leach)
• 26 Jun 2024 – MEET: Commerce Commission (Commerce Commission Officials)
• 26 Jun 2024 – MEET: FMA Board (Craig Stobo & Samantha Barrass)
23 Jul 2023 - The FMA launch a new podcast series ‘Occasional Conversations’. In the first episode, Chief Economist, Stuart Johnson and Senior Adviser, Sophia Scragg discuss a new piece of research around fairness in financial services. https://www.fma.govt.nz/preview/f733d97cfbbf3475/0466832b401b7101/
24 Jul 2024 - The Customer and Product Data Bill was read a first time and referred to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/770a5f4e-2185-4f1f-1395-08dc75512299?Tab=history
24 Jul 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority has published guidance on how providers of client money or property services, and custodians, can meet their obligations under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (FMC Act). It replaces the FMA’s 2014 guidance note for brokers and information sheet on custodians’ obligations to align with the new regulatory regime. It also provides additional guidance for custodians who have specific obligations in addition to those that apply to all client money and property service providers. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/guidance-note-for-providers-of-client-money-or-property-services/
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
The Accident Compensation (Interest on Instalment Plans) Amendment Bill read a third time; FMA hold Q&A sessions on CoFI; FMA hold online session on how to apply for a financial institution licence; FMA publish their Statement of Intent and Statement of Performance Expectations.
25 Jun 2024 - The committee stage of the Accident Compensation (Interest on Instalment Plans) Amendment Bill was completed and The Accident Compensation (Interest on Instalment Plans) Amendment Bill was read a third time. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/00103c69-0b28-4ad1-a702-08dc80370942
26 Jun 2024 - The FMA are holding two Q&A session on CoFI fair conduct programmes on 3 & 9 July. https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/qa-session-on-cofi-fair-conduct-programmes-3444339
26 Jun 2024 - The FMA are holding an online session on how to apply for a financial institution licence on 24 July. https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/how-to-apply-for-a-financial-institution-licence-tickets-929411062507?aff=oddtdtcreator
26 Jun 2024 - The FMA have published their Statement of Intent and Statement of Performance Expectations. The Statement of Intent sets out how they will do their work, what they will deliver, and how they will measure progress over the next four years. The Statement of Performance Expectations sets out their performance targets for the financial year ahead and includes several new measures focused on guidance, engagement, and the delivery of streamlined systems. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/corporate-publications/statement-of-intent/
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
APRA releases prudential practice guide; FMA publishes info for smaller firms on fair conduct programmes and applying for CoFI licence; RBNZ release updated design proposals for their business expectations survey; XRB launch Standards Navigator.
13 Jun 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its finalised prudential practice guide to help banks, insurers and superannuation trustees strengthen their management of operational risk and improve business continuity planning. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-finalises-cross-industry-guidance-on-operational-resilience
14 Jun 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority has published an information sheet specifically for smaller firms to assist in establishing and maintaining a Fair Conduct Programme (FCP) and applying for a Financial Institution (CoFI) licence. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/fma-provides-additional-support-to-smaller-firms-for-cofi-licensing/
17 Jun 2024 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has released Tara-ā-Umanga Business Expectations Survey: Design proposals following consultation and pilot, which outlines lessons learnt and resulting design proposals for their new Business Expectations Survey, BES, Tara-ā-Umanga. Changes include making the survey shorter and quicker for businesses to fill in; questions will focus on inflation expectations, wages, and unemployment; they will survey businesses in the primary industry; and they will not include very small businesses (those with fewer than 6 employees). https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/surveys/expectations-survey-information-for-survey-participants/business-expectations-survey-design-and-development
18 Jun 2024 - The External Reporting Board has launched the XRB Standards Navigator, which takes static PDF versions of XRB standards and presents them in a more accessible, dynamic and user- friendly format. https://standards.xrb.govt.nz/standards-navigator/
Southern Cross cautioned by FMA for neglecting to apply advertised discounts
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has issued warnings to Southern Cross Medical Care Society and Southern Cross pet Insurance for failing to apply advertised discounts to their insurance products.
Both entities have accepted they had breached the fair dealing provisions of the Financial Markets Conduct Act by making false or misleading representations. The FMA determined the cause of each issue was due to poor controls and/or technical errors. The FMA found no evidence of deliberate misconduct.
Southern Cross Pet Insurance initially reported to the FMA in November 2022 some of the contraventions. Further enquiries from the FMA and an internal review in the wider Southern Cross Group established the extant of the contraventions.
SCPI failed to correctly apply the following discounts:
· Additional pet discount
· Direct debit discount
· Southern Cross membership discount.
SCMCS failed to correctly apply the following discounts:
· Free child discount
· Healthy lifestyle rewards discount
· Low claims discount.
The total amount of Southern Cross Pet Insurance premiums overcharged was $424,508, affecting 7,542 customers. Southern Cross Medical Care Society overcharged $161,547 across 1,957 customers.
More daily news:
Changes to Chubb’s eApp requirement for non-residents to provide a copy of their visa
The Insurance Council to reveal the number of complaints lodged against individual companies
Kevin Smee suggests health insurance premiums should be tax deductible
Tony Vidler spells out the risks of marketing a service as 'free'
FAMNZ will be taking membership applications from next month
In 2023, four out of five New Zealand businesses embraced flexible working hours
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
21 March 2024 - Insurance Contracts Bill had first reading in Parliament. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/fcc98f82-e1f8-4aa4-6c02-08dc494421e8?Tab=history
25 March 2024 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published an analytical note proposing improvements to the methodology used by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to assess labour market indicators of inflationary pressure. Measuring inflationary pressure from the labour market can be improved by watching a narrow set of four high-quality indicators: 1) the job transition rate (the share of workers switching between jobs), 2) the job vacancy-to-unemployment ratio, 3) the unemployment rate, and 4) a survey measure of labour as a limiting factor for business production. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/03/improving-how-we-measure-inflationary-heat-in-the-labour-market
26 Mar 2024 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published Guidance for our regulated entities on managing climate-related risks. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/03/guidance-issued-on-managing-climate-related-risks
26 March 2024 - The Financial Markets Authority has issued warnings to Southern Cross Medical Care Society (SCMCS) and Southern Cross Pet Insurance (SPCI) for failing to apply advertised discounts to each entities’ respective insurance products. The FMA is satisfied, and both entities accept, that they breached the fair dealing provisions of the Financial Markets Conduct Act by making false or misleading representations. The representations relate to the failure on each entities’ part to correctly apply advertised discounts to affected customers’ invoices, resulting in overcharged premiums. The FMA determined that the cause of each issue was due to poor controls and/or technical errors.
SCPI made an initial report to the FMA in November 2022 disclosing some of the contraventions and later reported more details. Following these disclosures, further enquiries from the FMA and an internal review in the wider Southern Cross Group, the extent of the contraventions was established.
SCPI failed to correctly apply the following discounts:
Additional pet discount
Direct debit discount
Southern Cross membership discount.
SCMCS failed to correctly apply the following discounts:
Free child discount
Healthy lifestyle rewards discount
Low claims discount.
The total amount of SCPI premiums overcharged was $424,508, affecting 7,542 customers, approximately 1.28% of its customer base. SCMCS overcharged $161,547 across 1,957 customers, approximately 0.2% of its customer base.
https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/fma-warns-southern-cross/
28 Mar 2024 - The Council of Financial Regulators has released an updated Regulatory Initiatives Calendar for the financial sector for Q1 2024. https://www.cofr.govt.nz/files/regulatory-initiatives-calendar/regulatory-initiatives-calendar-q1-2024.pdf
28 Mar 2024 - The FMA is warning the public to be cautious after fake documents claiming to be issued by the FMA were sent out as part of what appears to be a ‘recovery scam’ - where previous victims of financial crimes are targeted by criminals promising to help get lost money back. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/
28 Mar 2024 - DIA encourages reporting entities to get RealMe verified before annual reports are due. From 1 July 2024, you’ll be able to file your AML/CFT annual report via AMLOnline. https://www.dia.govt.nz/AML-CFT-Get-your-RealMe-verified-early-this-annual-reporting-season
28 Mar 2024 - The FMA has said that overtime they will assess whether their regulatory framework needs strengthening to support better deployment of Generative Artificial Intelligence. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/opinion/gen-ai/
28 Mar 2024 - The Commerce Commission sees "good reasons" to recommend designation of the interbank payment network to Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly. https://www.interest.co.nz/banking/127024/commerce-commission-wants-more-influence-over-interbank-payments-potentially