Wholesale Banks & International Banking Groups

Specialist regulatory support for wholesale banks and international banking groups operating in UK markets.

Our compliance consultants for banks bring institutional expertise to wholesale banking and international banking groups. With backgrounds including heads of compliance at major banks and former regulators, we understand the complexity of multi-jurisdictional operations and the regulatory expectations that come with them.

As FCA, PRA, and international requirements continue to evolve, we help banks maintain robust compliance frameworks while managing the practical challenges of global operations.

Sector Overview

Wholesale banks and international banking groups navigate some of the most demanding regulatory environments in financial services. Operating across multiple jurisdictions means satisfying overlapping requirements from UK regulators, home state supervisors, and international standard-setters simultaneously.

The dual-regulated nature of many banking operations adds complexity, with both FCA conduct requirements and PRA prudential expectations to meet. Our consultants understand these pressures from first-hand experience building compliance functions at institutions like Standard Chartered and Barclays.

Sector-Specific Challenges

Wholesale banks and international banking groups we work with commonly face pressures such as:

  • Coordinating compliance across multiple legal entities and booking models
  • Managing FCA and PRA expectations alongside home state regulatory requirements
  • Implementing SMCR across complex matrix structures with multiple reporting lines
  • Meeting heightened financial crime controls for correspondent banking and trade finance
  • Satisfying operational resilience requirements across interconnected systems
  • Preparing for regulatory visits from multiple supervisors
  • Maintaining robust market abuse surveillance across trading activities

We help firms tackle these sector challenges proactively. Reducing risk and improving operational confidence.

RESOURCES

Recent insights and articles for wholesale banks and international banking groups

Understanding FCA and PRA Fee Blocks

Understand Fee Blocks and their role in the FCA and PRA's funding allocation for authorised firms in the UK.

2026 Regulatory Priorities

Stay ahead of 2026 regulatory priorities. Discover practical guidance from Leaman Crellin to manage 2026 compliance challenges for your firm.

ESMA 2026 Work Programme: What Regulated Firms Need to Know

Explore the ESMA 2026 work programme and its "landmark" reforms. Essential insights from Leaman Crellin for your firm's compliance plans.

Top Tips for Strengthening Your Market Abuse Risk Assessment 

Explore top tips for strengthening your market abuse risk assessment and ensure compliance with regulatory expectations.

Pre–Hedging and The IOSCO Paper: What dealers and clients need to know

Pre-Hedging and The IOSCO Paper: What dealers and clients need to know about guidance, compliance, and market impact."

client categorisation: beware the tick box, follow the facts

client categorisation
Explore how UK COBS rules classify clients, with Retail Clients receiving the highest protection due to limited investment experience.

Ready to Get Started?

Let’s discuss how we can support your business.