GRC Report Staff

HKMA Exchange Fund Bills Tender Draws HKD $183.72 Billion in Bids for 91-Day Paper

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) allotted HKD $64.979 Billion of 91-day and HKD $14 Billion of 182-day Exchange Fund Bills on September 15, 2026, with accepted average yields of 2.83% and 3.02%. This is a routine market operation and not a new compliance requirement. It does show strong demand and the current short-term HKD rate environment, which matters for treasury, liquidity, and market risk monitoring.

BaFin Warns of Unauthorized Festgeldlotse.de Website Using TFD KVG GmbH Identity

BaFin has warned the public about festgeldlotse(.)de, whose unknown operators are suspected of offering financial and securities services without authorization while falsely claiming a link to Munich-based TFD KVG GmbH. BaFin confirms this is identity theft and that the named firm has no connection to the site. Compliance teams should treat the warning as a fraud-typology and brand-impersonation alert and update their controls accordingly.

Austrian FMA Fines Issuer Board Member EUR 18,000 for Late Directors' Dealings Report

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) fined a management board member of an issuer EUR 18,000 under the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) for failing to notify a personal transaction within three business days. The decision is final and was resolved through an accelerated procedure. It shows that regulators enforce managers' transaction (PDMR) reporting deadlines strictly, even for single late filings by individuals.

HKMA Issues Scam Alert on Fraudulent Websites and Login Screens Targeting Four Banks

The HKMA has alerted the public to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens impersonating four Hong Kong banks: The Bank of East Asia, Shanghai Commercial Bank, Chong Hing Bank, and Fubon Bank (Hong Kong). The alert restates that banks do not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks for transactions and do not request sensitive credentials. Compliance teams should treat it as a prompt to review fraud controls, customer communications, and incident response procedures.

ECB Opens Call for E-Commerce and Mobile Merchants to Join Digital Euro Pilot

The Eurosystem has opened a call for expression of interest for euro area e-commerce and m-commerce merchants to take part in the 12-month digital euro pilot, with applications due by 17:00 CET on October 27, 2026. Participation is voluntary and unpaid, but selected merchants must sign a merchant participation agreement with the ECB and arrange a contract with an acquiring pilot PSP. Compliance teams at merchants, PSPs, and acquirers should assess the contractual, operational, and regulatory implications now.

ACPR Marks 10 Years of Fintech-Innovation Hub with Video Series and Charter Reminder

The ACPR released a three-part video series marking the 10th anniversary of its Fintech-Innovation hub. It reinforces the regulator's view that innovation, regulation, and supervision must advance together, and it highlights the FinTech Charter, which commits the ACPR to initial feedback within two weeks. The release creates no new obligations, but it signals supervisory priorities, especially around AI, and shows how firms can engage early with the regulator.

Bundesbank Announces Tender to Increase Two German Federal Bonds on September 16, 2026

The Deutsche Bundesbank announced a multi-ISIN auction on September 16, 2026, to increase two existing federal bonds (2047 and 2056 maturities), with a market maintenance quota of EUR $2.5 Billion. Compliance teams at Bundesbank Bidding Group members and institutions with Bund exposure should confirm bidding eligibility, operational readiness, and settlement controls ahead of the tight same-day bidding window.