Post by 11:FS

Banks have new de-banking rules - let’s count ’em… 🎶 One - don’t pick up the phone - they’ve got to give you 90 days’ notice Two - don’t let ’em in - they have to put it in writing Three - don’t let it go - you’ve got the right to challenge it So, what’s actually happening here? UK banks including NatWest, HSBC and Lloyds are facing tougher rules on de-banking - where firms close or refuse customer accounts. They’ll now need to: 👉 Give at least 90 days’ notice (up from two months) 👉 Provide a clear written explanation for closures The aim is simple: give customers more time, more clarity, and a fair shot at challenging decisions via the Financial Ombudsman. It follows a string of high-profile cases - most notably the whole Coutts/Farage drama - which turned a niche issue into a political flashpoint. What happens next? The 90-day notice period will help. No question. But it doesn’t solve the core tension: How do banks explain complex risk decisions without exposing how those controls actually work? And the fintech angle? If traditional banks pull back, fintechs could step in to serve those customers. But as they scale, they may find themselves facing the same regulatory and risk pressures.