DIT Women In FinTech Global Initiative

FinTech Bridges

The UK has entered FinTech Bridge agreements with FinTech hubs in Singapore, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Australia.

These bespoke agreements create valuable opportunities for the UK by overcoming barriers to international market entry and linking UK-based FinTechs with opportunities for international investment through:

Collaboration between key players in the UK FinTech sector and Bridge markets on emerging market trends.
Regulatory agreements that support firms to overcome market access barriers in each jurisdiction.

HM Treasury, the Department for International Trade, and the Financial Conduct Authority are responsible for the delivery of FinTech Bridge policy.

UK-Singapore FinTech Bridge

The UK-Singapore FinTech Bridge was launched in London in May 2016 during the sixth UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue by HM Treasury and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Bridge is underpinned by a regulatory co-operation agreement between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and enables the regulators to refer FinTech firms, that meet set eligibility criteria, to their counterparts, and sets out how the regulators share and use information on financial services innovation in their respective markets.

To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support from HM Treasury, please email FinTech@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support from the Department for International Trade please email FSO Fin Techs FSOFinTechs@trade.gov.uk.

UK-China FinTech Bridge

The UK-China FinTech Bridge was launched in London in November 2016 during the eighth UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The Bridge is underpinned by a regulatory co-operation agreement signed between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and enables regulators to share information about financial services innovations in respective markets, including emerging trends and regulatory issues.

To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support from HM Treasury, please email FinTech@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support please email FSO Fin Techs FSOFinTechs@trade.gov.uk.

UK-Republic of Korea FinTech Bridge

The UK-Republic of Korea FinTech Bridge was launched in July 2016 during the third UK-Korea Financial Dialogue in London by HM Treasury and the Korean Financial Services Commission. The Bridge is underpinned by a regulatory co-operation agreement signed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) and enables the regulators to share information about financial services innovations in their respective markets, including emerging trends and regulatory issues. Regulators are also able to refer FinTech firms that meet set eligibility criteria to their counterparts.

UK-Australia FinTech Bridge

The UK-Australia FinTech Bridge was signed in March 2018 at HM Treasury’s International FinTech Conference. The Bridge is underpinned by a regulatory co-operation agreement signed between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and enables the regulators to refer FinTech firms that meet set eligibility criteria to their counterparts and sets out how the regulators share and use information on financial services innovation in their respective markets. Regulators are also committed to exploring a reduction in the time frame of the licensing approval process for firms moving between both markets.

A Pilot Program has been devised to run across the Australia FinTech Bridge during 2019. The Program aims to bolster existing frameworks, providing tailored, structured support for each company within the cohort. In doing so, the aim is to open further opportunities for UK financial technology companies and to reduce barriers faced as they undertake their international expansion.

The FinTech Bridge Program Cohort for 2019 is: Crowd2Fund, Disberse, Fractal Labs, pirkx, Recordsure, Smart Pension, Thyngs, TradingHub, True Layer

To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support from HMTreasury, please email FinTech@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support please email FSO Fin Techs FSOFinTechs@trade.gov.uk.

UK-Hong Kong FinTech Bridge

The UK-Hong Kong FinTech Bridge was signed in London in September 2017 by Katharine Braddick, Director General of Financial Services at HM Treasury and Ms Shirley Lam, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union.

The Bridge is underpinned by a regulatory co-operation agreement that enables collaboration on a number of initiatives such as a referral mechanism that enables regulators to refer innovative firms that meet set eligibility criteria to their counterparts, joint innovation projects and information exchange and experience sharing, to facilitate financial innovation in the UK and Hong Kong.

A Pilot Program running across the Hong Kong FinTech Bridge will run throughout 2019. The Program aims to bolster existing frameworks and provide tailored, structured support for each company taking part. The overall aim is to open up opportunities to UK financial technology companies and to reduce the barriers they face as they expand internationally.

The FinTech Bridge Program Cohort for 2019 is: AMPLYFI, Artificial Labs, ComplyAdvantage, Delio, Novastone, Onfido, Paymentology, Seedrs, Trade Ledger, Transferwise

To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support from HM Treasury, please email FinTech@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

To find out more and request FinTech Bridge support please email FSO Fin Techs FSOFinTechs@trade.gov.uk.