Your guide to UK Banking Regulation in 2026

Alastair Holt and Simon Treacy have co-authored the UK chapter for GLI’s Banking Regulation 2026.

The UK Government has promised to use financial regulation to support its ambitions for economic growth. Several important areas of banking regulation are under review, including rules relating to mortgages, financial advice, consumer credit and payment services.

Regulation is also responding to rapid technological change. As banks adopt the latest technology, including AI, they must meet high standards for operational resilience and consumer protection. The increasing adoption of digital assets, including stablecoins, is both an opportunity and a potential competitive threat. Banks are responding by investing in innovation, such as tokenised deposits.

Read the chapter for an overview of the regulatory framework for banks in the UK.