Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Regulates the conduct of nearly 50,000 financial services firms and protects consumers, market integrity, and competition.

This page covers UK-wide law. Where local procedure differs (e.g. courts or tribunals), this is noted in the relevant section.

Overview

The Financial Conduct Authority regulates the conduct of financial firms in the UK and is the prudential regulator for firms not regulated by the PRA. It sets the rules in the FCA Handbook, authorises firms, and takes enforcement action. The FCA does not handle individual consumer compensation — those claims go to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

What it handles

Consumer Duty enforcement (post-July 2023)
Misleading financial promotions and unauthorised firms
Whistleblowing about regulated firms
Investigations into market abuse
Authorisation and variation of firm permissions

What it does not handle

Individual compensation for losses — go to FOS or court
Firm insolvency claims — go to FSCS
Pensions regulation (TPR) or accountants (FRC) — different regulators

Official sources

https://www.fca.org.uk

Official Resources

Report a firm or scam →Financial Services Register →

Last reviewed: 2026-05-21. This is legal information, not legal advice.