Intensification of the control activity aimed at guaranteeing transparency for the consumer and for businesses; slight reduction in the number of members, also linked to the cancellation measures for subjects without the requisites; increase in mandates for the granting of loans and payment instruments. These are the main figures of the Oam 2016 report, the body for the management of the lists of financial agents and credit brokers, chaired by Antonio Catricalà. The report, approved by the Management Committee, also shows a significant increase in employees and collaborators operating in the sector.
STRENGTHENED SUPERVISION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
Last year, Oam managed 2.762 controls against the approximately 2.000 planned, which resulted in 1.156 sanctioning procedures (638 concluded with the application of 544 sanctioning measures).
At the same time, the action to combat the illegal phenomenon continued: in 2016, the Body received 79 complaints and, at the conclusion of the related investigations, presented complaints to the competent judicial authorities relating to 33 individuals. The 266 complaints received from third parties on subjects registered in the lists must be added to the reports received regarding financial abuse.
Also relevant is the control activity on the incompatibility between the financial and insurance sectors and the checks on the honourability requirements of the registered subjects.
In particular, the Oam has turned a light on the exercise of activities on behalf of financial intermediaries/consortia not authorized to issue the financial product "guarantees and guarantees". 158 control activities were carried out on this phenomenon, which is particularly dangerous for those who buy the product in fact ineffective, which led to the initiation of 55 sanction procedures and 21 complaints to the competent judicial authorities
In 2016, the relationship with the authorities of the countries of origin of the agents who carry out payment services on behalf of EU intermediaries was also intensified: the Oam sent 15 communications to the respective authorities concerning anti-money laundering violations.
SLIGHT DECREASE IN MEMBERS BUT INCREASING MANDATES
From the data of the Oam annual report it emerges that in 2016 the members registered decreased, compared to the previous year, by just under 2,8% (-231 units) while the communicated mandates amount to a total of 20.555, with an increase of 1.225 units (58% relating to the granting of loans, the remainder to payment services).
The overall contraction should also be read in the light of the intensification of checks on the maintenance, by members, of the requisites established by law: for those who did not have them, the Body in fact proceeded with the cancellation.
The largest number of members is concentrated in the regions of Lombardy (13,8%), Lazio (12,5%), Sicily (12,3%) and Campania (11,7%), equivalent to 50% of the total subscribers.
As for the products 'transmitted' through the network of Oam members, in 2016 there were significant increases in the number of mandates for the Personal credit (+416) and Mortgages (+228) categories, while the segment of products “Leasing” (-
101), the "Restructuring of credit" (-69) and the "Finalized credit" (-36). Among payment services, substantial increases were recorded for mandates concerning the promotion of the product "Credit and debit cards" (+350) and "Collection and transfer of funds and other payment services" (+123) while more contained results from the increase in “Money transfer” mandates (+36). In percentage terms, the "Assignment of the V salary/pension and payment delegations" represents, without particular changes compared to 2015 (+74), the product most present on the market (21%), followed by "Personal credit" (14% ), "Mortgages" (10%) and "Finalized credit" (8%).
