Competition and Markets Authority relinquishes control of Open Banking Implementation Entity following bullying scandal, with question mark over its future

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has handed over running its open banking unit following a bullying scandal.

The Financial Conduct Authority and Payments Systems Regulator will now oversee the Open Banking Implementation Entity’s (OBIE) transition to a new permanent body and regulate open banking technology for now.

Open banking allows banks, trusted third parties and technical providers to access consumer financial data (when the consumer consents) to allow more ways for consumers to spend, invest and borrow and allow businesses to provide them with services.

>See also: UK banks prioritising open banking — Yapily

It has been estimated that by September 2023, 60 per cent of the UK population will be using open banking payments.

The CMA was tasked with overseeing the open banking unit in 2016 to encourage banks to share customer information to encourage account switching and boost competition.

However, the unit became engulfed in a bullying scandal which led to the resignation of its chairman in October. The independent report found a “toxic culture” of bullying and intimidation at the organisation and claimed the CMA did little to act on problems when they became apparent.

>See also: Open banking will continue its exponential rise in the UK in 2022

The new regulatory committee will work with OBIE, but the unit’s future remains uncertain as the watchdogs and the Treasury consider creating a new entity.

The CMA said: “Recommendations will be taken into consideration in the design of a future entity to succeed the Open Banking Implementation Entity. The future entity would build on the significant progress made to date by the OBIE to encourage innovation and support competition in retail banking.”

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, added: “The CMA has carefully considered the appropriate future arrangements to boost open banking so that its significant benefits can be realised even more widely. We have outlined the core principles that will ensure the new entity successfully picks up the reins.”

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UK banks prioritising open banking — Yapily – Research conducted by open banking Fintech Yapily has revealed that UK banks have continued to invest in open banking infrastructure, as user adoption grows