2013年1月12日星期六

金管局洗太平地 鞏固行業操守 私銀規範化 從業員要考試

【本報訊】本港要全面打造為亞洲區私人銀行財富管理中心,為免再次發生雷曼及其他衍生投資工具銷售風波,當局須先「洗太平地」,鞏固及統一從業員資歷與操守要求。消息透露,由金管局任召集人的跨部門及業界組成之推動私銀發展工作小組,正諮詢業界有關從業員準則初稿意見,冀4月展開全面諮詢,若許可,將於9月實行。記者:劉美儀
工作小組去年底就私銀從業員資歷及能力標準(competency standard)訂立了框架草稿,根據草稿內容的資歷框架,從業員須通過認可考試、完成修讀課程及獲認可學歷審核,每年要持續專業進修(CPT)最少10小時,以維持從業資格,但不會採取執業發牌制度規管從業人員,標準會以類似銀行營運守則形式推行。
草稿亦沒有提及設立懲罰或紀律機制,業界組織如香港證券及投資學會(HKSI)、財資市場公會(TMA)或香港銀行學會(HKIB)等,可能會聯手籌辦相應合規的課程,供從業員選讀。
4月諮詢
盼9月實行
草稿正向小組成員傳閱並徵求意見,今年4月將展開正式諮詢工作,冀最快於9月將最終範本標準在港全面推行。
銀行界期望,標準實施時可設過渡期,而享有一定年資的現役從業員可獲寬免安排,即所謂「祖父條款」;對小組傳閱的框架草稿,業界初步沒有太大反響,普遍認為並無特別嚴苛條款。
據悉,該份有關私銀從業員資格及能力標準的框架草稿,由金管局助理總裁(銀行操守)戴敏娜以小組召集人代表身份,於去年12月中向小組成員發出傳閱,並徵求意見。該跨部門工作小組成員包括證監會、財經事務及庫務局、HKSI、TMA、HKIB及正籌組成立的私人財富管理公會(PWMA)相關銀行界代表。
制定專業資歷架構
金管局發言人回應說,為提升及培育本港私人財富管理從業員的能力及操守,維持業內專才,該局正與業界及專業組織就從業員須具備的能力及持續專業培訓,制定一套優化的專業資歷架構,該局擬於今年首季就有關架構諮詢業界;該局亦繼續利便私人財富管理業界籌設行業組織,以推動業務發展。
消息說,工作小組亦會就面向私銀客戶的從業員商議銷售程序及操守,基本原則是不會凌駕於目前證監會及監管當局對專業投資者(PI)及小投資者規定的要求,整體精神是從業員銷售行為必須符合專業、誠實及審慎處理等標準。
業界期望,框架能就從業員向客戶提供私銀服務,包括優先銀行等理財業務時,訂定更具體及適用的銷售守則。

2013年1月5日星期六

List of Bank Fraud and Criminal Activities

POSTED BY ELPIDIOVALDES ⋅ JANUARY 4, 2013 ⋅

 LEAVE A COMMENT FILED UNDER AIG, BANK OF AMERICA, BANKS, CREDIT SUISSE, CRIMINAL, DRUG, FINES, FRAUD, GOLDMAN SACHS, HSBC, JP MORGAN, LANUDERING, SUITS, UBS, WACHOVIA, WEGELIN, WELL FARGO

Contrary to popular belief, banks are not tools used serve the public good. In reality, modern day banking is basically used to serve private needs. There is no need to engage in conspiracy theories or debate, the facts speak for themselves.

 Below are a list of banks that have engaged in fraud and/or other criminal activities:

 JP Morgan and Credit Suisse pay $417m to settle securities charges http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20370509

 HSBC to pay $1.9bn in US money laundering penalties http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20673466 http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/13/matt_taibbi_after_laundering_800_million

 Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/dec/13/drug-money-banks-saved-un-cfief-claims

UBS fined $1.5bn for Libor rigging http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20767984 Swiss bank Wegelin to close after US tax evasion fine http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20907359

AIG Settlement: Insurance Giant Agrees To Pay Investors $725 Million settlement to resolve allegations of wide-ranging fraud http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/16/aig-settlement-investors_n_649910.html

Banks Financing Mexico Gangs Admitted in Wells Fargo and Wachovia Deal http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-29/banks-financing-mexico-s-drug-cartels-admitted-in-wells-fargo-s-u-s-deal.html

Goldman Sachs Will Settle Fraud Case for $550 Million http://www.cnbc.com/id/38267132/Goldman_Sachs_Will_Settle_Fraud_Case_for_550_Million

Bank of America sued for alleged mortgage fraud http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/24/news/companies/bank-of-america-lawsuit/index.html

Wells Fargo Committed Mortgage Fraud To Maximize Profits, U.S. Suit Says http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2012/10/09/wells-fargo-committed-mortgage-fraud-to-maximize-profits-us-attorney-lawsuit/

J.P. Morgan Sued on Mortgage Bonds http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444138104578030903731665328.html

So if banks are willing to engage in criminal activities to serve private needs at the expense of the general public, what should we do about them? Most likely, nothing. I hope I’m wrong.