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Statement from the Prudential Regulation Authority announces changes to depositor and policyholder protection

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has announced changes to depositor and policyholder protection provided by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

For the majority of depositors currently covered by the FSCS, the existing level of deposit protection (£85,000) will be maintained for six months before changing to £75,000 after 31 December 2015.

The PRA is required by the European Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive to recalculate the FSCS deposit protection limit every five years and set it at a sterling amount equivalent to EUR 100,000. The process and timing is specified by the Directive and is not at the PRA’s discretion.

The FSCS currently protects deposits up to £85,000 in the event of the failure of a bank, building society or credit union. This compensation limit was set in December 2010, based on the sterling equivalent of EUR 100,000 at the time.

The new limit has been set today at £75,000. However, HM Treasury has today put in place legislation to maintain the existing limit of £85,000 until 31 December 2015 for depositors who were previously protected by the FSCS and continue to be protected (including individuals and small companies). This transitional measure helps to ensure that depositors have suitable time to plan for and adjust to the change and will protect most depositors from experiencing a sudden change in the amount of compensation available in the event of the failure of a bank, building society or credit union.

The Directive also extends deposit protection to some categories of depositors that were not previously protected by the FSCS, such as large corporates. The new limit of £75,000 will apply to these newly protected depositors from today.

For those depositors who were previously protected by the FSCS and who are contractually tied into products with balances above £75,000, the PRA is consulting on rules to help manage the impact of the limit change. This consultation ends on 24 July 2015. Pending the result of the consultation, the intention is to allow depositors to withdraw funds between the old and new limits without penalty from 1 August 2015 until 31 December 2015 if they experience a decrease in deposit protection as a result of the limit change. 

Other changes

From today, 3 July 2015, depositors with temporary high balances will be covered up to £1 million for six months from the date on which the money is transferred into their account, or the date on which the depositor becomes entitled to the amount, whichever is later. This is to ensure that depositors are protected when they deposit funds over the limit as a result of specified events, including following a house sale or funds received from a ‘life event’ such as a divorce settlement or inheritance, for a period of time until they have had sufficient time to spread the risk between institutions to appropriately protect these funds.

For insurance policyholders, the PRA has changed the insurance limits for FSCS compensation to increase protection for policyholders in the event of an insurer failing. This increases the limit to 100% of cover for all long term policies, for professional indemnity insurance and claims arising from death or incapacity. This reflects the potential for significant adverse consequences to policyholders, and the wider financial system, of cover being disrupted. The limits for all other types of insurance remain the same.

Notes to Editors

  1. The new sterling compensation limit is the equivalent of EUR100,000, rounded to a sterling amount within EUR5000.
  2. More detail about the announcement of the new limit by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is given here.
  3. CP 23/15: Depositor and dormant account protection- consequential amendments
  4. PS 14/15: Depositor and dormant account protection- the protection limit
  5. PS 15/15: Depositor and policyholder protection – technical amendments
  6. PS 6/15: Depositor and dormant account protection)
  7. PS 5/15: Policyholder protection

Frequently asked questions

What changes to depositor protection have been announced?

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) can pay compensation if a bank, building society or credit union is unable to pay claims against it. Depositors who were eligible for compensation from the FSCS before 3 July 2015 and continue to be eligible will be covered up to £85,000 per person per authorised institution until 31 December 2015. On 1 January 2016, a new deposit protection limit of £75,000 will come into effect for those depositors.   

This means those with a deposit between the new FSCS deposit protection level (£75,000) and the previous level of £85,000 have six months to decide whether to adjust their balances in light of the revised limit.   

More detail about the announcement of the new limit by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

Why does the limit for deposit protection have to change?

The new deposit protection limit of £75,000, which comes into force in January, is in line with the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive, which sets the FSCS coverage level at the sterling equivalent of €100,000.

Are there other changes I need to know about?

There are also changes for people with some types of temporary high balances who will now have FSCS protection up to £1m for up to six months. Things like the proceeds from a house sale qualify for the new protection limit.

Large companies and small local authorities (such as parish councils) will also benefit from FSCS protection from today. The FSCS will cover them up to the new limit of £75,000.

Will the FSCS limit stay at £85,000 for all depositors until 31 December 2015?

No. For local authorities and large companies, which are covered by the FSCS for the first time from 3 July 2015, the new limit of £75,000 will apply. 

In addition, from 3 July, as previously announced, consumers will have some additional protection for temporary high-balances deposits resulting from major life events, for example when someone has sold a house.                                                      

What is the FSCS?

The FSCS is the UK's compensation fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms. It may pay compensation if a firm is unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it. This is usually because it has stopped trading or has been declared in default.

The FSCS covers business conducted by firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). European firms (authorised by their home state regulator) that operate in the UK may also be covered.

The FSCS covers deposits, insurance policies, investments, home finance mediation and insurance mediation.  There are limits on the protection available. For deposits the current level of protection is £85,000 per person per authorised firm.  This limit will change on 1 January 2016 to £75,000.

How can I find out more about FSCS?

If you want any more information on the FSCS and what it covers, visit its website at http://www.fscs.org.uk/.

Channel website: https://www.fca.org.uk/

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