The Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025

Published: Tue 15th Jul 25

The Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025, enacted by the Treasury, bring sections 1 to 7 of the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 into effect on July 16th, 2025.

These sections cover recapitalisation payments, reporting requirements, notification to parliamentary committees, reimbursement procedures, a code of practice, and amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Banking Act 2009.

The regulations aim to provide a timely and effective framework for addressing the financial stability of banks.

Arguments For

  • Promoting Financial Stability: The timely implementation strengthens the UK's banking system by enabling the use of recapitalisation tools to address potential financial instability. This enhances investor confidence and protects depositors.

  • Effective Regulatory Framework: The regulations establish a clear legal framework for the use of recapitalisation powers. This ensures transparency, accountability, and consistency in dealing with failing banks.

  • Protecting Taxpayers' Interests: A swift enactment could prevent significantly larger, more costly bailouts in the future.

Arguments Against

  • Unforeseen Consequences: There may be unexpected negative impacts of the legislation that weren't fully recognised during the initial debates or the impact assessment process.

  • Implementation Challenges: The practical implementation of the new sections may experience unforeseen obstacles, particularly in coordinating across multiple government departments and financial institutions.

  • Alternative Approaches: Other resolutions for dealing with failing banks might have been equally or more effective, resulting in less government intervention.

  1. Citation These Regulations may be cited as the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025.
  1. Commencement The following provisions of the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 come into force on 16th July 2025— (a) section 1 (recapitalisation payments); (b) section 2 (reporting); (c) section 3 (notification to Parliamentary Committees); (d) section 4 (reimbursement in respect of recapitalisation payments); (e) section 5 (code of practice); (f) section 6 (amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000); (g) section 7 (amendments to the Banking Act 2009).

Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations bring sections 1 to 7 of the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Act 2025 (“the Act”) into force on 16th July 2025. Section 8 of the Act came into force upon the Act receiving Royal Assent on 15th May 2025, by virtue of section 4(b) of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30). The effect of these Regulations is to bring the Act into force in full. No impact assessment has been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.