'Super' trade body launches

UK Finance, a new ‘super’ trade body, has launched today, combining activities of a number of other bodies in the sector.

Related topics:  Commercial,  Commercial finance
Warren Lewis
3rd July 2017
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"For the UK’s finance and banking sector, these changes present new opportunities and fresh challenges which require a coordinated voice to best support it going forward"

The body, which replaces the work of The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA); British Bankers’ Association (BBA); The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML); Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK); Payments UK; and The UK Cards Association (UKCA), will represent over 300 firms in the UK providing credit, banking, markets and payment-related services. Its members offer a wide range of financial and advisory services across both mutual and corporates, representing regional, national, domestic and international businesses.

Its role will be to help its members build customer trust, facilitate industry-wide collaboration and innovation, and work with policy makers and regulators in the UK, EU and at a global level to ensure that the UK retains its position as a global leader in financial services.

UK Finance is led by CEO Stephen Jones who brings broad experience having worked in a wide range of roles in finance for nearly thirty years, including for Santander, Barclays, Citigroup and Schroders. Bob Wigley, who has held a number of senior positions in financial services and brings with him many years of relevant experience as EMEA Chairman of Merrill Lynch and as a member of the Court of the Bank of England, is the organisation’s Chair.

Stephen Jones, CEO of UK Finance, said: “The UK’s finance and banking sector is undergoing an exciting transformation with innovation and technology revolutionising customer services; from tapping a card or mobile phone to make payments, securing a mortgage via video chat or using Big Data to combat financial crime, the boundaries between banking services are blurring, enabling the industry to become more efficient and customer-focused.”

For the UK’s finance and banking sector, these changes present new opportunities and fresh challenges which require a coordinated voice to best support it going forward. UK Finance will be that fresh voice: representing credit, banking, markets and payment-related services across the UK and bringing together the expertise and reach of the constituent organisations to achieve the best outcomes for our members and their customers.”

Bob Wigley will Chair UK Finance’s Board which has been developed to ensure senior and fair representation across the industry, as well as reflecting the previous six associations’ views. It will focus on issues of importance to retail, SME and wholesale customers including ethics, financial inclusion, financial fraud, crime, access to markets and diversity.

Bob Wigley, Chair of UK Finance, said: “This high profile Board has been created to ensure that the interests of all our members are fairly represented and we really focus on the issues that not only our members but also their customers and broader society think are important. I look forward to working with the Board and Stephen Jones to enhance the development of a vibrant, diverse and competitive financial services sector in the UK which consumers value and trust.”

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