FCA to hold annual public meeting in Edinburgh for first time. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will hold its Annual Public Meeting (APM) in Edinburgh for the first time on 6 October 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen its presence across the UK. The regulator said the move reflects its continued investment in Scotland, where it now employs more than 350 staff. The hybrid event will take place at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms, allowing attendees to join both in person and online. The announcement coincided with a visit to Edinburgh by FCA chair Ashley Alder, who opened a new office space in the city. Alder said: "Bringing its Annual Public Meeting to Edinburgh for the first time is a deliberate step to strengthen its visibility and accountability right across the UK. "Scotland is a critical part of the UK's financial services sector, and as we continue to grow our presence here, we want to be closer to consumers and the firms we regulate." Industry bodies and consumer groups welcomed the move, with Investment Association chief executive Chris Cummings describing Edinburgh as a "leading centre for financial services". Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell said the decision would help strengthen connections with Scottish consumers. Consumer Scotland chief executive Sam Ghibaldan added that the meeting would support engagement on issues including financial inclusion and access to cash.

Market Watch 85. On 29 April 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Market Watch 85. In this edition of Market Watch the FCA discusses how the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 can help firms share customer information to fight economic crime.

Coadjute joins FCA AI Live Testing Sandbox to advance AML compliance for conveyancers. London, 21st April 2026 Coadjute, the governance, risk management and compliance platform backed by Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Nationwide, today announced that it has been accepted into the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) AI Live Testing Sandbox - marking a major milestone in the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) compliance across the property sector. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for conveyancers and legal professionals. In October 2025, the UK Government confirmed that the FCA will become the single professional services supervisor for AML, replacing the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in this role. This transition signals a fundamental shift in regulatory approach - from guidance-led oversight to a more consistent, enforcement-driven regime. A new regulatory reality for conveyancers Under the new framework, firms can expect significantly increased scrutiny, with a stronger emphasis on proving that AML policies are effective in practice, not simply documented. Industry experts anticipate more frequent "skilled person" reviews, greater enforcement activity, and rising compliance costs. There will also be increased focus on core risk areas such as Source of Funds and Source of Wealth, with regulators expecting firms to demonstrate a clear, evidence-based understanding of client risk-rather than relying on basic document collection alone. While the SRA is expected to retain AML responsibilities through 2026, the transition period introduces additional complexity, including the risk of overlapping investigations from both regulators. Conveyancing firms are therefore being urged to act now: strengthening internal controls, improving data quality and record-keeping, and ensuring senior management accountability for compliance outcomes. Coadjute leading the way with AI-driven compliance Coadjute's inclusion in the FCA's AI Live Testing Sandbox places it at the forefront of regulatory innovation. The sandbox enables firms to test cutting-edge AI solutions in a controlled environment, working directly with the regulator to shape the future of compliant, technology-driven financial services. Building on its "AI-native" platform, designed from the ground up to embed artificial intelligence into AML workflows, Coadjute is uniquely positioned to help conveyancers meet the demands of this new regulatory landscape. Its platform combines advanced automation, a unique risk engine optimised for the property market, and human compliance expertise to deliver a fully managed AML service. This includes identity verification, source-of-funds and source-of-wealth analysis, enhanced due diligence, and audit-ready reporting, all designed to stand up to increased regulatory scrutiny. Recent innovations, such as its digital human assistant "Clara," demonstrate how AI can improve both compliance outcomes and client experience, guiding buyers and sellers through AML processes while ensuring completeness and accuracy. Working with the industry to set new standards Coadjute's credibility is underpinned by its backing from the UK's three largest mortgage lenders - Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Nationwide - and its prior collaboration with the Bank of England. Through the FCA sandbox, the company will continue working closely with regulators and industry stakeholders to help define best practices for AI-driven AML compliance. For conveyancers, the message is clear: the regulatory bar is rising, and firms must be able to demonstrate that their AML processes - particularly in high-risk areas - are robust, consistent and effective in practice. Jessica Rusu, chief data, information and intelligence officer at the FCA, said: "Its new AI Live Testing service helps firms who are ready to use AI in live markets... Always Finance is helping to make sure that AI is developed and deployed safely and responsibly in UK financial markets. "We want financial firms and their customers to benefit from AI, so we're providing a safe space to test how they plan to use it." John Reynolds, Co-founder and COO of Coadjute, said:"Conveyancers are entering a new era of AML regulation - one that demands demonstrable effectiveness, not just good intentions. Its acceptance into the FCA's AI Live Testing Sandbox is a significant step forward, not just for Coadjute, but for the entire industry. "We are working hand-in-hand with regulators and major industry participants to define how AI can be used responsibly to raise standards, reduce risk and make compliance more robust and more efficient. Our focus is simple: to give conveyancers the tools they need to meet - and maybe even exceed - the expectations of the FCA."