The FSA on the RBS debacle....
The review confirmed that RBS made a series of bad decisions in the years immediately before the financial crisis, most significantly the acquisition of ABN AMRO and the decision to aggressively expand its investment banking business. However, the review concluded that these bad decisions were not the result of a lack of integrity by any individual and we did not identify any instances of fraud or dishonest activity by RBS senior individuals or a failure of governance on the part of the Board.
The issues we investigated do not warrant us taking any enforcement action, either against the firm or against individuals. However, the competence of RBS individuals can, and will, be taken into account in any future applications made by them to work at FSA regulated firms.
The FSA’s supervisory investigations into other banks that 'failed' during the crisis are ongoing. If they lead to enforcement action being taken then it would be usual for the FSA to make these outcomes public if such actions against individuals or institutions are successful.
The FSA cannot publish the content of the RBS review as information gathered from the bank during the course of the review remains confidential under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).
Well, I for one, am fully reassurred. The RBS catastrophe was all just a "series of bad decisions in the years immediately before the financial crisis."
1 comment:
Would I be a bit too forward, if I state that this "series of bad decisions in the years immediately before the financial crisis" directly resulted in the financial crisis?
Some might respond: Crisis? What crisis? Just look at the city bonuses... they have never been this good! Look at the stock market returns... they have never risen so sharply in such a short term?
Oh, well...
Joseph
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