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Financial Accountability Regime

The Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) imposes a strengthened responsibility and accountability framework for entities in the banking, insurance and superannuation industries and their directors and senior executives. The FAR is designed to improve the risk and governance cultures of Australia’s financial institutions. 

The FAR replaces the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR), which commenced in 2018, and is jointly administered by APRA and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). 

The FAR will apply to authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) and their authorised non-operating holding companies (NOHCs) on 15 March 2024. 

It will apply to insurance entities, their licensed NOHCs, and superannuation trustees on 15 March 2025.

 

  • Joint Administration Agreement

The Joint Administration Agreement outlines the principles underpinning how APRA and ASIC will jointly administer the FAR.

Joint Administration Agreement between the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

  • Information paper for ADIs

The information paper assists ADIs and their authorised NOHCs transition from the BEAR to the FAR and includes the information they must provide to APRA and ASIC. 

Information paper – ADI: Transitioning to the Financial Accountability Regime

  • Guidance material for ADIs

Accountability statement guidance and template

 

FAR timeline

 

The timeline below provides indicative dates for key upcoming releases on the FAR and its implementation by APRA-regulated entities.

 

Timeline on the FAR project: 1. September - Royal Assent; 2. October 2023 - Joint Administration Agreement and ADI information paper; 3. Q4 2023 - Final regulator and transitional rules and Reporting form instructions; Q1 2024 - FAR information paper and consultation on key functions for insurance and superannuation; March 2024 - March commences for banking; Q2 2024 - Final regulator rules for insurance and superannuation; March 2025 - FAR commences for insurance and superannuation