SFA Launches Digital self-assessment Framework to fast track FinTech Firms partnerships with Financial Institutions
- To promote a sustainable outsourcing relationship between FinTech firms and financial institutions
- To organise a series of workshops by PwC to address compliance gaps identified
Singapore, 10 June 2020 – The Singapore FinTech Association (SFA) announced today the launch of a digital self-assessment framework and toolkit for FinTech firms to expedite the onboarding process for their partnership with financial institutions and accelerate the digitalisation process across the financial industry.
Through its FinTech Certification[1] scheme, SFA found that eight out of ten FinTech firms in Singapore provide technology solutions to financial institutions to enhance financial institutions’ services and product offerings. As such, there is a need for these FinTech firms to adopt an efficient approach to demonstrate satisfactory compliance levels to provide assurance to the financial institutions while maintaining a baseline level of governance, rigour and consistency over their services.
To do so, the SFA has undertaken a phased approach to enhancing the compliance maturity of FinTech firms by establishing the ‘FinTech Service Provider (“FSP”) Compliance Readiness Framework’. The framework includes a set of minimum base requirements from the Outsourced Service Providers Audit Report (OSPAR) guidelines laid out by The Association of Banks in Singapore and the Technology Risk Management Consultation Paper and Cyber Hygiene Notice by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). FinTech firms are expected to adhere to these requirements as a starting point for servicing financial institution. The framework is advised by PwC. This initiative is part of the S$125 million support package[2] announced by MAS on 8 April 2020 for the financial and FinTech sectors to deal with the immediate challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger for recovery and future growth.
The primary objective of this framework is to promote a sustainable outsourcing relationship between the FinTech firms and financial institutions, by helping the FinTech firms understand the minimum compliance requirements to operate safely in partnership with the financial institutions. The self-assessment toolkit featured in this framework will allow FinTech firms to identify the maturity of their control environment and compare that against the minimum compliance requirements. This will also enhance the financial institutions’ confidence level when partnering with FinTech firms. With PwC’s support, a series of workshops to address the compliance gaps identified in the self-assessment has been organised for the FinTech firms.
Mr. Chia Hock Lai, President, SFA, stated, “With 80% of Singapore-based FinTech firms offering technological solutions to financial institutions, it is a critical skill for them to be competent with the compliance requirements of working with financial institutions. This Digital Self-Assessment Framework will enable FinTech firms to be more effective when collaborating with financial institutions, and giving financial institutions more confidence in the partnership as they accelerate their digitalisation efforts.”
Mr Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, MAS, said, “With the launch of the digital toolkit for the FinTech Service Provider Compliance Readiness Framework, a mid-mile problem in the innovation process for FinTech firms’ compliance with financial institutions’ outsourcing standards is addressed. The API Exchange (APIX) is a powerful collaboration platform for FinTech firms and financial institutions to explore, experiment, and adopt digital solutions. By leveraging APIX and the digital self-assessment framework on APIX, the FinTech community can further accelerate the digital transformation of the financial sector with confidence and trust”.
Wong Wanyi, FinTech Leader, PwC Singapore said, “Over the last few years, technology risk management is a key area that financial institutions look at when working with FinTechs. However, many existing frameworks for technology evaluation are suited towards more mature service providers. This new Self-Assessment Framework will provide an early indicator of where the FinTechs’ control environment stand when it comes to technology risk.”
ABOUT SINGAPORE FINTECH ASSOCIATION (SFA)
The SFA is a cross-industry and non-profit organisation. Its purpose is to support the development of the FinTech industry in Singapore, and to facilitate collaboration among the participants and stakeholders of the FinTech ecosystem in Singapore. The SFA is a member-based organisation with over 650 members. It represents the full range of stakeholders in the FinTech industry, from early-stage innovative companies to large financial players and service providers.
To further its purpose, the SFA also partners with institutions and associations from Singapore and globally to cooperate on initiatives relating to the FinTech industry. The SFA has signed over 50 international Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and are the first U Associate organisation to be affiliated with National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Through their FinTech Talent (FT) Programme, launched in 2017, over 300 professionals have been trained in FinTech, including blockchain & cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and regulation.
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[1] https://singaporefintech.org/fintech-certification/
[2] https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/2020/mas-launches-package-for-fis-and-fintech-firms-to-strengthen-long-term-capabilities