FDATA North America has published a submission to the Global Financial Innovation Network’s (GFIN) consultation, via the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
Steve Boms article on National Newswatch
Please click here to read an article by FDATA North America’s Steve Boms on National Newswatch.
The full text is also below.
For Canadian Consumers and Small Businesses, Open Banking is the Way Forward
The national budget passed by Parliament this February requires the Department of Finance to offer findings and recommendations for a move toward open banking. Lawmakers didn’t set a deadline, but Finance Canada is already engaging with industry stakeholders to solicit input.
Canada’s movement toward open banking cannot come soon enough.
The march toward open banking is well underway globally, from Europe to Australia, and India to the Middle East. Market stakeholders in all of these jurisdictions are now beginning to realize the significant advantages open banking frameworks provide. In the name of consumer and small business financial empowerment, and also for the sake of global competitiveness, it’s time to advance the revolution in Canada, and we are encouraged by our initial engagement with the finance ministry and members of parliament.
At the center of this debate are questions about user-permissioned data access: the right of the consumer or small business to affirmatively grant access to the third party tool of their choice to connect to or see the financial data required to provide them the product or service for which they have provided their consent.
In Canada today, financial institutions control individual customers’ account data. It is therefore difficult for consumers to share their information with third-party technology tools that can assist them in managing their finances—even though they choose to—since financial institutions can heavily restrict or even prohibit third-party access to customer data.
In practice, this impasse has led to a disparate market for consumers and small businesses, with different outcomes depending on the financial institution with which they have their primary banking relationship. Further, in the absence of clear standards regarding whether and how end users can use third-party, technology tools to help them improve their financial wellbeing, the market currently relies on credential-based authentication, which some institutions — and even some regulators — argue violates the terms and conditions to which customers agree when they enter into a relationship with a bank.
One need only look to Europe to see there’s a better way.
The United Kingdom’s Open Banking architecture relies on standardized data feeds implemented by financial institutions, which provide a uniform method of accessing data on behalf of the consumer or small business. The system includes prescriptive consent flows that ensure that a consumer’s or small business’ experience granting or revoking consent to access their data to any third party in the open banking environment is uniform. Accordingly, consumers in the open banking ecosystem experience the same consent-granting process across every third-party application they use, regardless of the financial institution with which they have their primary banking relationship. Offboarding is similarly uniform.
One key issue that must be resolved to create an open banking ecosystem is accountability; the question of who makes an end user whole in the event of financial loss and how. In the United Kingdom’s framework, a vibrant cyber liability insurance market, implementation of objective traceability, and regulations that require minimum security thresholds for all players, in addition to the modernization of existing laws and regulations such that any entity responsible for consumer financial loss is also responsible for making the consumer whole, address the issue. In exchange, no financial institution is permitted to restrict access to a financial services provider that meets or exceeds the requirements for entry into the open banking system.
Under this regime, individuals and families would have more choices about whom they bank with or lend from, would gain access to a broader array of credit providers and financial advice tools, and would have enhanced visibility into their financial state. Regulators and financial institutions would gain significantly more visibility into the third-party ecosystem. Financial institutions wouldn’t be held liable for fraud that didn’t happen under their watch, and, with their scale and existing customer relationships, would be well-positioned to bring their own technology-based tools to market.
An open banking regime that provides standards for liability, privacy, technology, authentication, and consent will significantly increase the deployment of fintech applications to the benefit of consumers and small businesses. With the UK, Australia, and other countries moving quickly to make these changes, Canada risks being left behind. Finance Canada’s efforts to push this issue forward are as timely as they are important.
Boms is a member of the board of directors of the Financial Data and Technology Association, which played a pivotal role in crafting the design and implementation of open banking standards in the United Kingdom and Europe, and is executive director of the organization’s North American chapter.
Coverage of FDATA North America’s launch
American Banker and Finextra cover launch of FDATA North America
Sept. 21, 2018, Washington, DC— The launch of the Financial Data and Technology Association’s (FDATA) North America chapter was covered in two major financial publications today.
You can read American Banker’s story here, and Finextra’s here.
Coverage of FDATA North America’s launch
Contact: Kerrie Rushton, (202) 876-2995
American Banker and Finextra cover launch of FDATA North America
Sept. 21, 2018, Washington, DC— The launch of the Financial Data and Technology Association’s (FDATA) North America chapter was covered in two major financial publications today.
You can read American Banker’s story here, and Finextra’s here.
Leading Fintech Trade Association Launches North American Arm
FDATA-North America to Advocate for Open Banking Rules in Canada, Mexico & the United States
Sept. 20, 2018, Washington, DC— The Financial Data and Technology Association (FDATA), which played a pivotal role over the last five years in crafting the design and implementation of open banking standards in the United Kingdom and in Europe, announced today the launch of a North American arm, FDATA North America. FDATA North America will advocate for the adoption of open banking frameworks in Canada, Mexico, and the United States and will encourage global standards for consumers to access and share their financial data safely and securely with whatever providers they choose.
North American policymakers and industry participants have begun an earnest dialogue about open banking. FDATA North America will work with lawmakers, regulators, financial institutions, and other industry and consumer stakeholders to advance and implement this framework. Gavin Littlejohn, who led the organization during the implementation of PSD2 across Europe and the launch of Open Banking in the United Kingdom, is the group’s global chairman and Steve Boms, who serves on the board of FDATA Global and has been an
outspoken advocate for the fintech industry, will act as executive director.
FDATA North America members include Equifax Canada, Intuit, Kabbage, Morningstar, Moven, Onist, Questrade, Quicken Loans, and Envestnet Yodlee, among others.
“Our members provide technology-based products and services that make it easier for individuals, families, and small businesses to make smarter financial decisions. To fully realize these benefits, however, consumers must be able to decide how to access and share their data.” explained Boms. “Our goal is to develop a framework within North American markets that balances safeguards with consumers’ rights to have access to these third-party tools.”
“With FDATA as the fintech industry leader since 2014, Europe has made great strides in advancing open banking rules,” said Littlejohn. “For the sake of both consumer choice and global competition, North American policymakers now must catch up. Our North American advocacy efforts, though nascent, have already been incredibly impactful. We have been pleased with our initial engagement with U.S., Canadian, and Mexican government officials. There’s a
strong will and desire to bring the open banking revolution in North America.”
Littlejohn, based in Edinburgh, is a tech entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Money Dashboard, a personal finance software company. He’s led FDATA since it’s inception in 2014. Boms, a former U.S. congressional staffer, has led global advocacy efforts for equity options exchanges, large U.S.-based financial institutions, and leading fintech firms.
Leading Fintech Trade Association Launches North American Arm
Contact: Kerrie Rushton, (202) 876-2995
FDATA-North America to Advocate for Open Banking Rules in Canada, Mexico & the United States
Sept. 20, 2018, Washington, DC— The Financial Data and Technology Association (FDATA), which played a pivotal role over the last five years in crafting the design and implementation of open banking standards in the United Kingdom and in Europe, announced today the launch of a North American arm, FDATA North America. FDATA North America will advocate for the adoption of open banking frameworks in Canada, Mexico, and the United States and will encourage global standards for consumers to access and share their financial data safely and securely with whatever providers they choose.
North American policymakers and industry participants have begun an earnest dialogue about open banking. FDATA North America will work with lawmakers, regulators, financial institutions, and other industry and consumer stakeholders to advance and implement this framework. Gavin Littlejohn, who led the organization during the implementation of PSD2 across Europe and the launch of Open Banking in the United Kingdom, is the group’s global chairman and Steve Boms, who serves on the board of FDATA Global and has been an outspoken advocate for the fintech industry, will act as executive director.
FDATA North America members include Equifax Canada, Intuit, Kabbage, Morningstar, Moven, Onist, Questrade, Quicken Loans, and Envestnet Yodlee, among others.
“Our members provide technology-based products and services that make it easier for individuals, families, and small businesses to make smarter financial decisions. To fully realize these benefits, however, consumers must be able to decide how to access and share their data.” explained Boms. “Our goal is to develop a framework within North American markets that balances safeguards with consumers’ rights to have access to these third-party tools.”
“With FDATA as the fintech industry leader since 2014, Europe has made great strides in advancing open banking rules,” said Littlejohn. “For the sake of both consumer choice and global competition, North American policymakers now must catch up. Our North American advocacy efforts, though nascent, have already been incredibly impactful. We have been pleased with our initial engagement with U.S., Canadian, and Mexican government officials. There’s a strong will and desire to bring the open banking revolution in North America.”
Littlejohn, based in Edinburgh, is a tech entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Money Dashboard, a personal finance software company. He’s led FDATA since it’s inception in 2014. Boms, a former U.S. congressional staffer, has led global advocacy efforts for equity options exchanges, large U.S.-based financial institutions, and leading fintech firms.
ABOUT FDATA NORTH AMERICA. FDATA North America is a chapter of the Financial Data and Technology Association, a trade association coordinating the campaign for the delivery of Open Banking across the globe. While FDATA North America advocates before policymakers across the continent, individual member companies advocate only in the jurisdictions in which they have a mandate. Equifax Canada’s involvement is limited to FDATA’s Canadian activities.
FDATA WELCOMES THE START OF OPEN BANKING
Leading fintech trade association calls launch “the first waypoint on a long journey”
The Financial Data and Technology Association, the leading advocate of open banking in the UK and around the world, has welcomed the parallel implementation of PSD2 across Europe, and the launch of Open Banking amongst the large banks here in the UK.
FDATA, which is chaired by Gavin Littlejohn, who represents the fintech industry on the Open Banking Implementation Entity Steering Group, was set up by six fintech companies in 2014 at the request of HM Treasury, and has been working directly with government, regulatory authorities and financial industry stakeholders in our mission to open up Britain’s financial sector to the benefits of financial data and technology.
FDATA has members from across the financial sector who provide innovative financial applications and services to empower personal and small business consumers to make better decisions and take fuller control of their financial lives across all their bank accounts, credit cards, loans and investments.
PSD2 and Open Banking empower the customer, through his or her explicit consent, to ensure that their chosen third party provider can access their data, make payments and provide them with innovative financial solutions.
Commenting on today’s launch, FDATA Chairman Gavin Littlejohn said:
“This is an important day for consumers and small businesses. From today, PSD2 gives consumers the right to share their payments data with their chosen third party app without any lingering fear that they are breaching the terms of their bank account, and those third party providers are being brought into a regulated environment to further increase consumer protection. And, in the UK, the delivery by the nine largest current account providers of a common Open Banking standard has provided the opportunity to reduce fragmentation, enhance innovation and provide additional security measures for the whole ecosystem.
“The standardisation of Open Banking delivery will see the continued expansion of fintech companies, models and products, and this is an extremely exciting time for the consumer and for UK plc.
“However, Open Banking in the UK is merely the first waypoint on a long journey. The scope of this launch – only current accounts and only from certain banks – is limited, and customers will only experience the full benefits when the scope is expanded.
“FDATA has successfully campaigned to get us this far, and we will now campaign with renewed vigour to bring all financial products, from all over the world, into a standardised open banking system.
“The drive towards open banking has been, and will remain, customer outcome led. The fintech industry exists because customers required better outcomes. Today is the day where consumers of financial technology in the UK can know for sure that they are being listened to.”