Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Conduct of Business Sourcebook

The FCA’s Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS) applies to firms conducting the following activities from an establishment, or through an appointed representative, in the United Kingdom: (1) selling activities relating to long-term insurance, (2) designated investment business, or (3) any activities connected to them. Separate rules apply to the selling of general insurance policies, home finance and consumer credit products and the provision of payment services.

There are recordkeeping requirements for these firms throughout COBS. These requirements primarily deal with records of documentation provided to clients, information obtained or created in the course of advising or selling to clients, advertisements and other promotions, audits and research. These requirements include minimum retention periods and descriptions of each record to be retained. Many, but not all, of these requirements, are driven by EU laws.

To view the FCA’s table of recordkeeping requirements found in COBS: https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/COBS/Sch/1/1.html

Link to Handbook: https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/COBS.pdf

Smarsh, Inc. assumes no liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Please consult with an attorney for specific information on specific rules and regulations and how they apply to your business.

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