In a speech by Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Pritchard and in its 2025/26 annual report and accounts, the Financial Conduct Authority set out first-year results under its five-year strategy, presenting a regulatory approach aimed at supporting growth while rebalancing risk and maintaining trust. The FCA said it delivered estimated benefits of GBP 5.6 billion to consumers, firms and the wider economy, completed nearly 50 pro-growth measures in 2025, expanded innovation and pre-application support for firms, and used data and artificial intelligence to speed supervision and concentrate resources on higher-risk matters. Key measures cited included the launch of Targeted Support in April, with seven firms already approved and 23 more having applied for authorisation or entered the Pre-Application Support Service. The FCA also pointed to final rules intended to help more consumers make pensions and investment decisions, with at least 18 million consumers expected to benefit over the next decade, and final Buy Now Pay Later rules ahead of the regime taking effect in July 2026. On operations, it said automation reduced handling times for simpler supervisory cases from up to four hours to about six minutes on average, cut low-risk cases in the supervisory caseload by 38%, and allowed nearly 40% of the caseload to come from risks proactively identified through intelligence, data and firm engagement. Between January and March, 99.2% of authorisation applications were decided within existing statutory deadlines, and 97.6% were decided within more ambitious future targets that are not yet in force. Enforcement and financial crime outcomes highlighted in the annual report included 17 criminal convictions, GBP 129 million in fines, GBP 82 million returned to wronged consumers, 2,329 warnings about unauthorised or potentially scam firms, and nearly 10,000 financial promotions amended or withdrawn. The FCA also described an international week of action on illegal finfluencer activity that led to three arrests, six criminal proceedings and 650 social media takedown requests, and said it had identified 30 suspected unregistered crypto brokers and a payments institution believed to be enabling criminal activity. Looking ahead, the FCA said it plans to launch a new Climate Scenarios Sandbox cohort later in the year and is already preparing for tougher authorisation service targets.
Financial Conduct Authority2026-07-08
Financial Conduct Authority reports first year strategy results with GBP 5.6 billion in benefits and crackdown on illegal promotions
In a speech, Financial Conduct Authority Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Pritchard said the FCA is using data, technology and greater transparency to support growth while targeting risks more precisely. She cited progress on Targeted Support, expanded innovation services and faster supervisory processes, alongside enforcement and consumer protection results. The FCA also plans to launch a new Climate Scenarios Sandbox cohort later in 2026.