Rules and Terms
Act on Securities Transaction
On 1 November 2007 a new act on securities transactions came into effect in Iceland, Act no. 108/2007. The new act incorporates two European Union directives into Icelandic legislation: the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, also known as MiFID; and the Transparency Directive. The new act heralds changes to various important regulations on trading with financial instruments (this term includes shares, bonds, units trust certificates and derivatives).
The objective of the change in legislation is to increase consumer protection for investors. It takes into account the experience and knowledge of parties engaged in trading on the financial markets. Consumer protection for investors varies in scope and decreases the greater investors' experience and knowledge of trading with financial instruments is considered to be.
Conflicts of interest
Managing conflicts of interest is all part of delivering the best possible service to clients. This is done through the segregation of employees who have conflicting roles within Arion Bank.
We will disclose to clients cases where there is a danger that this cannot be fully achieved. Additional information on conflicts of interests can be provided to clients upon request.
Information on Conflicts of interest
Best execution
Arion Bank has always strived to give our clients the best possible result for their orders. With MiFID achieving this goal has been put into a more rigid legal framework. We will provide retail and professional clients with our order execution policy, which will offer clients some insight into how we select venues to execute their orders. “Best possible result” means that Arion Bank will take into account certain factors such as price, cost and speed of execution when processing orders.
Information on the order execution policy
Client categorization
One of the main changes due to MiFID is the requirement to know our clients and subsequently categorize them according to a standard set of criteria. Most clients will receive the default rating of retail client, which gives them the most protection. Larger institutions and companies and companies that have received licences from the Financial Supervisory Authority are classified as professionals giving them less protection, as they are able to make their own investment decisions and assess investment risks on their own. Clients have the option to request a different categorization, higher or lower providing they fulfil certain MiFID requirements. Clients who request a higher categorization should be aware that the change in categorization will lead to a lower client protection. Finally there is the eligible counterparty.
AML
Arion Bank has adopted AML rules in accordance with Act No. 64/2006, on Measures to Prevent Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, which is based on Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and FATF’s 40 Recommendations and 9 Special Recommendations.
The objective of the rules is to seek to prevent the use of the operations and activities of Arion Bank, or those of its subsidiaries, for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing.
In adopting the rules, the Bank seeks to fulfil in all respects the strictest requirements made domestically and internationally of the Bank with regard to money laundering and terrorist financing.
AML Information for Financial Institutions
US Patriot Act Certification - Arion Bank
Wolfsberg Questionnaire
For further information please contact Hákon Már Pétursson, Compliance Officer.
Keys to responsible decision making
The Bank promotes high ethical standards in its work and is conscious of the fact that its operations affect different stakeholders and society at large. The code of ethics is designed to serve as a key to responsible decision-making at Arion Bank.
The code of ethics is applied by the Board of Directors, the Bank's management, and other employees of the Bank. It is the responsibility of the CEO to make sure that the code is adhered to. The code is to be reviewed regularly, at least annually.
- We respect different points of view
We take a critical approach and respect different points of view. We believe that critical debate lays the foundations for good decisions.
- We take responsibility for our actions and environment
We know our role and take responsibility for our projects and decisions. We define our role and area of responsibilities broadly and ensure that no projects are overlooked.
- We obey the rules
Our decisions and actions are in compliance with law and regulations. Any uncertainty in this context should be eliminated as far as is possible. We follow our own rules of procedure and improve them if necessary.
- We protect different interests
We protect the interests of all the Bank's stakeholders in the long term, i.e. customers, creditors, shareholders, the community and employees. We endeavor to identify and prevent or manage any conflicts of interest, and to inform our stakeholders of any potential conflicts of interest which cannot be managed with reasonable confidence.
- We can provide rationale for all our decisions
Our decisions are based on the merits of each individual case and we can provide stakeholders, i.e. customers, creditors, owners, the community and employees, with rationale for our decisions.