Consumers

The Commission is aware that there has been a recent increase in phishing attempts targeting local businesses. Firms are reminded of the guidance available to them in the Commission’s Cyber Rules and Guidance, 2021 and in particular the need to ensure the Firm: has appropriate cyber security software in place; implements IT systems updates in a timely manner; and its staff exercise caution and...

The Commission has today published a Spring Green Consultation Paper - please click here and its Thematic Review of the Guernsey Green Fund Regime - please click here. Both documents underline the Bailiwick’s ongoing commitment to this important area. The Spring Green Consultation Paper proposes an addition to the Finance Sector Code of Corporate Governance, to take specific account of climate...

The Commission confirms that with effect from Monday 25 January 2021, the vast majority of its staff will be home working. The Commission’s Authorisations team remains open for business. The switchboard will continue to operate during normal office hours and callers will be asked by the receptionist to provide their contact details in order that a member of staff can call or email them back. Firms...

The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in many licensees being unable to operate in their usual office environments. Entering Phase 5, a return to normal activity in the Bailiwick, has seen many licensees return to their offices but we are conscious that adoption of home working has accelerated. Information security risks can increase with home working and therefore we are highlighting a non-exhaustive...

Over the last three months, various international supervisory bodies have reaffirmed the planned timelines for transition away from LIBOR to alternative reference rates, such as SONIA (Sterling Overnight Index Average) or SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate). Firms should therefore continue to assume that they will be unable to rely on LIBOR being published beyond the end of 2021 and should...

The Commission’s Financial Crime Division is recommencing its routine financial crime inspections to firms with immediate effect. Routine inspections were suspended on 19 March 2020 to enable firms to deal with the immediate operational impact of the coronavirus lockdown. Financial Crime inspections are resuming now as the finance industry has demonstrated its resilience and firms have generally...

On 29 May 2020, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, acting to protect the interests of investors and pursuant to powers granted to it under the Protection of Investors (Administration and Intervention) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Ordinance of 2008, made an application to the Court to have administrators appointed to Continent Worldwide Limited, a company licensed under the Protection of...

Following our announcement of 24 March 2020: https://www.gfsc.gg/news/article/commission-allows-more-time-firms-complete-key-financial-returns], the Commission has been pleased to note the resilience of the Bailiwick’s finance sector including the widespread ability to work from home effectively. This operational resilience, taken together with recent States of Guernsey announcements regarding...

The Financial Services Commission (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (the “Financial Services Commission Law”)The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (the “POI Law”) The Insurance Managers and Insurance Intermediaries (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (the “IMII Law”) The Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (the “Insurance Law”) The Regulation of Fiduciaries...

In response to operational adaptation that firms are undergoing as a result of restrictions imposed to tackle the spread of Covid-19, the Commission has decided to ease some of the timeframes in the Handbook rules. Specifically, those timeframes relating to the approval of business risk assessments and policies and procedures and for reviews of existing customers have been put back.The changes...