Turner wants FSA to have more power to protect bank customers

The reputation of banks, and the confidence that consumers have in these financial institutions, has plunged over recent years, since the onset of the global credit crisis in 2007. With this in mind the chairman of the UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Services Authority, has called for the authority to be given greater powers to protect bank customers.

Lord Turner said that the FSA needs greater powers in order to protect consumers. The FSA is now set to launch a discussion paper based on the protection of bank customers. The debate will be centred around how the FSA could help, and what sorts of measures it could take in order to protect customers.

Officials from the FSA said that they want to find ways to take action to protect bank customers earlier on rather than having to wait until a number of complaints have been made before any action is taken. Some of the measures that the FSA is likely to look at will include the banning of some financial products, and a cap on the fees that are being charged on a variety of other financial products.

Lord Turner is set to argue that the FSA, or its replacement agency if it is disbanded, should be given greater powers to give bank customers the protection that they want and need. This comes following a surge in activity at the FSA, which has been cracking down on insider dealings, and has enforced a greater number of fines over the recent years.

Referring to the debate one FSA spokesperson said: “The debate will be about the types of things we do, different product regulation. Rather than waiting until lots of consumers have had to make complaints, can we take action earlier?”

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