Bank of England: Strengthening accountability - insurers and UK branches of non-EEA banks

13 August 2015

The Prudential Regulation Authority has set out how it will hold senior managers in insurance companies and UK branches of non-EEA banks accountable. This will allow all PRA-regulated firms to prepare for the introduction of the Senior Managers Regime and Senior Insurance Managers Regime.

Robust accountability for senior managers is crucial for the effective functioning of financial institutions, which is why it is important that the new rules are applied in an effective yet proportionate manner. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) issued its final policy and tailored final rules on how the accountability requirements will be applied to insurers and near-final rules to branches of overseas banks taking into account their specific characteristics. These publications provide firms with the clarity and certainty required to make the Senior Managers’ Regime and Senior Insurance Managers’ Regime operational.

The new accountability regime sets out the standard of behaviour expected by the PRA of those in positions of responsibility. Under the new regime, senior managers will be held individually accountable for the areas they are responsible for.

Insurers

The PRA intends to implement a parallel accountability regime for insurance companies (referred to as the Senior Insurance Managers’ Regime). This regime is tailored to the differing business models and associated risks of insurers, compared with those of banks.  Today’s publications seek to provide greater clarity by providing the final rules on most aspects of the new regime, as well as further proposals to introduce a streamlined approach for smaller insurers.

UK branches of overseas banks

The PRA has also published final and near final rules on the application of the Senior Managers Regime to UK branches of non-EEA banks. These rules are tailored to reflect the characteristics of non-EEA branches and are aligned with the PRA’s approach to branch supervision.

News release

PRA_publications

Senior Insurance Managers Regime: implementation proposals for non-Solvency II insurance firms – CP26/15

Strengthening individual accountability in banking: UK branches of non-EEA banks – PS20/15

The Senior Insurance Managers Regime: a streamlined approach for non-Solvency II insurance firms – PS21/15

Strengthening individual accountability in insurance: responses to CP26/14, CP7/15 and CP13/15 – PS22/15

Strengthening individual accountability in insurance – SS35/15

The prudential regime for non-Solvency II insurance firms and consequential amendments – CP27/15


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