UK Prudential Regulator Publishes Statement on Electronic Signatures

The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a statement on the use of electronic signatures in the context of remote working arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PRA has stated that, in the absence of specific legal provisions to the contrary, firms are entitled to use electronic signatures to submit forms and other regulatory documents to the PRA. The advice does not extend to the use of electronic signatures more generally.
 
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority issued similar advice in April 2020, stating the FCA rules do not require wet-ink signatures for forms and the FCA does not prohibit the use of electronic signatures, but that the use of electronic signatures in agreements is a legal matter for which firms should seek legal advice if appropriate.
 
View the PRA's statement on electronic signatures.
 
View the FCA's statement on electronic signatures.
 
Details of other regulatory responses to COVID-19 are available on our COVID-19 Research Center.
 
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