The Financial Conduct Authority's 2025 enforcement record sent a strong signal to the UK payment and fintech sector. Total fines exceeded £124 million, with the majority linked to anti-money laundering and financial crime control failures. The largest individual penalties were directed at Nationwide Building Society (£44 million), Barclays (£39 million), and Monzo (£21 million).
In each case, the FCA identified weaknesses in transaction monitoring, customer due diligence, or governance oversight. The Monzo fine was particularly noted across the fintech sector because it involved a digital-native firm whose compliance controls had not kept pace with rapid customer acquisition — a risk pattern common among scaling payment businesses.
