Metro Bank’s £51bn Blind Spot Leads to 3rd Largest FCA Fine of 2024

The
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has imposed a £16.7 million fine on Metro
Bank for significant failings in its anti-money laundering controls that left
over £51 billion in transactions inadequately monitored over a four-year
period.

Metro Bank Hit With £16.7m
Fine Over AML Control Failures

The
regulatory action follows an investigation that revealed Metro Bank failed to
properly monitor more than 60 million transactions between June 2016 and
December 2020 due to fundamental flaws in its automated transaction monitoring
system.

The
investigation uncovered a critical error in the bank’s data processing that
prevented the monitoring of transactions made on the same day accounts were
opened. This technical flaw, known internally as the “Time Stamp Code
Logic Error,” went undetected for nearly three years despite early
warnings from junior staff members.

“Metro’s
failings risked a gap being left in our defense against the criminal misuse of
our financial system,” Therese Chambers, joint executive director of
enforcement and market oversight, commented. “Those failings went on for too
long.”

The
problems began when Metro Bank implemented its Automated Transaction Monitoring
System in June 2016. A coding error meant that when customers opened accounts
and conducted transactions on the same day, the system failed to capture these
activities for monitoring. The issue persisted until July 2019, when a partial
fix was implemented.

The Fine Could Be Higher

Even after
identifying the problem, Metro Bank did not establish consistent verification
procedures to ensure all transactions were being properly monitored until
December 2020, more than four years after the system’s initial implementation.

Internal
documents reveal that junior staff members raised concerns about data
monitoring gaps in 2017 and 2018, but their warnings failed to prompt adequate
investigation or remediation by senior management. The issue was notably
removed from the minutes of a January 2018 Financial Crime Steering Group
meeting, effectively burying the warning signs.

The fine
would have been £23.8 million, but Metro Bank received a 30% discount for
agreeing to resolve the matter early. The bank has since implemented new
processes to address the identified issues and strengthen its financial crime
controls.

Despite the
“discount,” the fine imposed on Metro Bank is among the highest in
2024. Only Starling Bank received a higher penalty in September, nearly £29
million, and Citigroup in May, £28 million.

The
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has imposed a £16.7 million fine on Metro
Bank for significant failings in its anti-money laundering controls that left
over £51 billion in transactions inadequately monitored over a four-year
period.

Metro Bank Hit With £16.7m
Fine Over AML Control Failures

The
regulatory action follows an investigation that revealed Metro Bank failed to
properly monitor more than 60 million transactions between June 2016 and
December 2020 due to fundamental flaws in its automated transaction monitoring
system.

The
investigation uncovered a critical error in the bank’s data processing that
prevented the monitoring of transactions made on the same day accounts were
opened. This technical flaw, known internally as the “Time Stamp Code
Logic Error,” went undetected for nearly three years despite early
warnings from junior staff members.

“Metro’s
failings risked a gap being left in our defense against the criminal misuse of
our financial system,” Therese Chambers, joint executive director of
enforcement and market oversight, commented. “Those failings went on for too
long.”

The
problems began when Metro Bank implemented its Automated Transaction Monitoring
System in June 2016. A coding error meant that when customers opened accounts
and conducted transactions on the same day, the system failed to capture these
activities for monitoring. The issue persisted until July 2019, when a partial
fix was implemented.

The Fine Could Be Higher

Even after
identifying the problem, Metro Bank did not establish consistent verification
procedures to ensure all transactions were being properly monitored until
December 2020, more than four years after the system’s initial implementation.

Internal
documents reveal that junior staff members raised concerns about data
monitoring gaps in 2017 and 2018, but their warnings failed to prompt adequate
investigation or remediation by senior management. The issue was notably
removed from the minutes of a January 2018 Financial Crime Steering Group
meeting, effectively burying the warning signs.

The fine
would have been £23.8 million, but Metro Bank received a 30% discount for
agreeing to resolve the matter early. The bank has since implemented new
processes to address the identified issues and strengthen its financial crime
controls.

Despite the
“discount,” the fine imposed on Metro Bank is among the highest in
2024. Only Starling Bank received a higher penalty in September, nearly £29
million, and Citigroup in May, £28 million.

This post is originally published on FINANCEMAGNATES.

  • Related Posts

    CySEC Flags Multiple Unregistered Websites, With Bybit and VTMarkets Named

    The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) informs investors that several websites are not linked to any entity authorized to offer investment services or perform investment activities. It should be…

    Prop Trading: FunderPro to Introduce Futures

    Prop trading company FunderPro has announced plans to launch Futures services, the company announced on its website. In a notice, the firm opened a waitlist reportedly for exclusive access to…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    CySEC Flags Multiple Unregistered Websites, With Bybit and VTMarkets Named

    • November 14, 2024
    CySEC Flags Multiple Unregistered Websites, With Bybit and VTMarkets Named

    JPMorgan’s quants see upside for gold prices from here after Trump win

    • November 14, 2024
    JPMorgan’s quants see upside for gold prices from here after Trump win

    Nigeria plans $28 billion spending for 2025 budget, minister says

    • November 14, 2024
    Nigeria plans $28 billion spending for 2025 budget, minister says

    Gold prices fall on inflation worries; copper slips lower

    • November 14, 2024
    Gold prices fall on inflation worries; copper slips lower

    Master the Market with Hedge Fund Forex Strategies

    • November 14, 2024
    Master the Market with Hedge Fund Forex Strategies

    Mexico’s Sheinbaum to present constitutional safeguard for non-GMO corn in coming days

    • November 14, 2024
    Mexico’s Sheinbaum to present constitutional safeguard for non-GMO corn in coming days