Regulatory intelligence
Also called regulatory monitoring, reg intel
Regulatory intelligence is the collection and analysis of information from regulators, lawmakers and standard setters to show what it means for a specific firm. It goes beyond tracking publications. It explains which rules, consultations, speeches and enforcement actions affect the firm, and why.
How it works
A compliance team gathers output from regulators, official journals, legislatures and standard setters. Analysts filter it by jurisdiction, business line and product, then summarise what changed and who is affected. The analysis feeds the obligations register and the regulatory change process, where owners plan the work. Many firms add enforcement trends and supervisory speeches to read where policy is heading.
Large banks face a constant flow of regulatory updates across many jurisdictions. Missing one can leave a firm in breach without knowing it. Rules require compliance functions to monitor and assess regulatory obligations, and boards expect early warning of costly changes. Good intelligence also lets firms respond to consultations while rules can still change.
The rules
Sets the principle that a bank's compliance function keeps management informed on compliance laws, rules and standards and developments in them.
BanksRequires a permanent compliance function that monitors and regularly assesses the firm's measures against its obligations under MiFID II.
Investment firmsRequires policies and procedures sufficient to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations and to counter the risk of the firm being used for financial crime.
FCA-authorised firms in scope of SYSC 6Common questions
How is regulatory intelligence different from horizon scanning?
Horizon scanning looks for future changes and emerging issues. Regulatory intelligence covers the full flow of regulatory information, both current and upcoming, and adds analysis of what each item means for the firm.
Who uses regulatory intelligence?
Compliance teams are the main users. Legal, risk, product and operations teams also use it to plan changes. Senior managers and boards receive summaries of the most material items.
What sources does it cover?
Typical sources include regulators, official journals, legislatures, central banks, standard setters and enforcement notices. Many firms add supervisory speeches, consultation papers and industry body guidance.
Can AI do regulatory intelligence?
AI tools now classify and summarise large volumes of regulatory text and map it to internal policies. Firms still use human review to confirm relevance and impact before acting on the output.
