Review of SME Banking Undertakings 2002
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is carrying out a formal review of the remaining SME Banking (Behavioural) Undertakings 2002.
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
| Autumn 2025 | Final decision to be published |
| Summer 2025 | Consultation on provisional decision |
| 2 April 2025 | Initial consultation launch |
Published in line with guidance on the CMA’s approach to the variation and termination of merger monopoly and market undertakings and orders. Any revisions made to the timetable will be published on this webpage.
Review group appointed
2 April 2025: The CMA appointed the following Panel group members to the review of the SME Banking Undertakings 2002:
Decision to carry out a review
2 April 2025: The CMA has decided to launch a review of the remaining SME Banking Undertakings 2002. In 2014, the CMA reviewed the Undertakings and decided in 2016 to release all but 4 provisions in the Undertakings. These 4 provisions prohibit 8 designated banks from compelling an SME customer to open or maintain a business current account as a condition of accessing business loans or deposit accounts (the ‘Limitation on Bundling Provisions’).
The purpose of this review is to determine whether, as a result of any change of circumstances, the Limitation on Bundling Provisions are no longer appropriate and need to be varied, superseded or released. The CMA is now consulting on:
- potential changes of circumstances that may mean that the Limitation on Bundling Provisions are no longer appropriate
- if such changes are identified, whether they mean that the Limitation on Bundling Provisions should be varied, superseded or released
- in the case of identifying the need to vary the Limitation on Bundling Provisions, what are the proposed changes that could be made