Four out of five of the near 750 respondents to the survey say that making individuals take responsibility for their actions and face criminal charges is the best way to clean up the industry.
Of that figure, 58% feel that bank traders should be held accountable while 22% believe that traders’ managers should take the rap.
A further 9% of those taking part consider that extending the right of clawback to all bankers’ pay and not just bonuses is the most effective solution to end the long line of scandals that have shamed the sector, most recently forex rigging. Only 5% believe that the regulators imposing ever bigger fines on the banks is the way forward.
“The only penalty which will really bring people to their senses is for the perpetrators to go to prison."
The remaining 6% of respondents think that nothing can be done to make banks toe the line and that they will always find new ways to break the rules.
One contributor commented: “The only penalty which will really bring people to their senses is for the perpetrators to go to prison.”
Another said: “It is staggering that given the seriousness of the offences, no one has been jailed and the bonus culture continues apace.”
A further respondent went further calling for “a bank to be closed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the individuals involved to be sent to prison.”
The CISI has welcomed recent attempts by the FCA and its fellow regulator the Prudential Regulation Authority to strengthen accountability in banking through a new regulatory framework for individuals.
To help reform the banks and restore trust in the sector, the CISI is proposing an annual Certificate of Competence which will incorporate several ‘refresher’ tests to demonstrate that competence and integrity are being maintained and built upon, with qualifications, where appropriate, focused on identifying and managing risk.
Take part in the latest CISI survey at
cisi.org