Financial Regulators - Who They Are and What They Do (2024)

What is the Primary Purpose of Regulatory Agencies?

Financial regulatory agencies are government agencies or independent organizations responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, overseeing market activities, and protecting consumers and investors.

There are several regulatory agencies that oversee the activities of banks, credit unions, and savings & loan associations. Various regulators oversee the mortgage industry, the insurance industry, and the stock markets.

By overseeing and regulating financial markets and institutions, these financial regulators serve to uphold the integrity of the financial markets, ensuring stability, transparency, and fairness.

Who are financial regulators?

Many financial regulatory agencies exist in the world. In the US, notable securities regulators include the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has six divisions and 24 offices, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Other financial regulators that review the banking industry include the Federal Reserve System (“the Fed”), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for the protection of consumers.

Abroad, the Financial Conduct Authority oversees the UK markets. The European Central Bank has power over financial regulation in the European Union. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and India also have similar agencies to help oversee their markets.

Key Responsibilities

Financial regulators are in charge of overseeing financial markets to help keep them fair and stable. Financial regulators create or uphold regulations to help prevent and investigate fraud, maintain market efficiency and transparency, and ensure customers and clients are treated fairly and honestly.

Main responsibilities may vary, depending on the types of financial markets and institutions they oversee in their jurisdiction. Here are key aspects of financial regulatory work:

  • Monitor financial markets and institutions to detect and prevent fraudulent or illegal activity.
  • Enforce laws and regulations related to financial services and products.
  • Conduct investigations and bring legal actions against violators.
  • Promote transparency and accountability in financial markets.
  • Protect consumers and investors from fraud, misconduct, and abuse.
  • Promote financial stability and manage risk.

Becoming a Financial Regulator

There are various reasons why you would want to become a financial regulator. You may have a passion for finance and economics or a true yearning to grow a career in the financial industry. Having a career in financial regulation can be intellectually challenging and financially rewarding.

Working as a Financial Regulator

A good education, training, and professional experience can help you become a financial regulator. Typically, some people start their careers as analysts or examiners. Later, they can get promoted to better positions. Other more experienced professionals may join as senior managers or executives.

Today’s modern financial regulators usually have advanced degrees in finance, economics, law, or related fields. They may have already worked in financial services before leveraging their experience into a regulatory role.

Financial Regulators - Who They Are and What They Do (2024)

FAQs

Financial Regulators - Who They Are and What They Do? ›

Financial regulators are in charge of overseeing financial markets to help keep them fair and stable. Financial regulators create or uphold regulations to help prevent and investigate fraud, maintain market efficiency and transparency, and ensure customers and clients are treated fairly and honestly.

What are financial regulators responsible for? ›

Regulatory agencies are defined as governmental or quasi-governmental bodies that establish, monitor, and enforce laws within their area of responsibility. In most cases, a regulatory agency is created by a legislature to enforce or implement laws that have been passed and signed into law.

What is the main role of regulators? ›

Regulators are equipped with the task of overseeing, monitoring and enforcing of laws, rules and regulations. One of the Key features of a regulator is to ensure compliance by all parties involved so that fairness, transparency and stability is maintained.

What are the purposes of financial regulations? ›

Financial regulation and government guarantees, such as deposit insurance, are intended to protect consumers and investors and to ensure that the financial system remains stable and continues to make funding available for investments that support the economy.

What is the difference between FINRA and SEC? ›

FINRA primarily regulates brokerage firms and professionals, while the SEC has a broader mandate, overseeing the entire securities industry, including public companies and investment advisors.

What does a regulator do in finance? ›

Enforce laws and regulations related to financial services and products. Conduct investigations and bring legal actions against violators. Promote transparency and accountability in financial markets. Protect consumers and investors from fraud, misconduct, and abuse.

What is the job description of a financial regulator? ›

Monitors and reviews data and reports to ensure compliance with governmental regulations; evaluates financial information for liability. 3. Gathers and reviews documents including bills, property statements, tax history, and other various reports to determine accuracy of information and property values.

Why do banks need regulators? ›

By promoting competition, bank regulation helps to keep prices low for consumers and spurs innovation in the banking sector. Furthermore, bank regulators also supervise the activities of banks and enforce compliance with regulations.

Who regulates banks? ›

The OCC ensures that national banks and federal savings associations operate in a safe and sound manner, provide fair access to financial services, treat customers fairly, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Who is the leader of the Regulators? ›

Led by men such as Rednap Howell, James Hunter, and Herman Husband—considered the movement's chief spokesman—the Regulators organized a resistance to these abuses, first through protest and ultimately through violence.

Who controlled the finance industry? ›

There are numerous agencies assigned to regulate and oversee financial institutions and financial markets in the United States, including the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

What are the regulators responsible for? ›

The fundamental goal of any regulator is to protect the safety and interests of the public, which typically means ensuring that there is adequate, healthy competition among providers and that the public are protected from misleading or unscrupulous business practices.

What is financial regulatory compliance? ›

The purpose of regulatory compliance in the finance industry is to protect consumers and investors, preserve the financial system's integrity, stability and transparency, and prevent financial crime by ensuring fair practices within the industry.

What is the primary goal of financial services regulations? ›

The agency's primary goals are to protect investors, maintain fair markets, and prevent fraud.

Who regulates US money? ›

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks.

Who are the US federal functional regulator list? ›

Federal Functional Regulator - §1010.100(r)(1) The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (2) The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; (3)The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (4) The Office of Thrift Supervision; (5) The National Credit Union Administration; (6)The ...

What is the difference between the FDIC and the OCC? ›

The FDIC is the primary federal regulator for state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is the primary federal regulator for all national banks.

Who is the funds regulator in the US? ›

The SEC is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the securities industry, including the registration and regulation of investment companies, investment advisers and broker-dealers. Securities offerings are registered with the SEC unless an exemption from registration is available.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 5981

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.