The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently increased its oversight of KeyInvest, a financial services firm renowned for its funeral bond product, by imposing additional licence conditions and raising the capital requirement.
This decision follows an APRA review identifying deficiencies in KeyInvest’s risk management framework and questioning the board's effectiveness in maintaining strategic oversight.
KeyInvest must now meet a new capital requirement of $5.5 million, which will remain until APRA confirms that its concerns have been adequately addressed. Furthermore, the firm is required to develop and implement a remediation plan based on the review's recommendations and establish a board renewal plan approved by APRA.
APRA's Member, Suzanne Smith, emphasised the importance of robust risk management frameworks and urged KeyInvest to prioritise compliance and prudential risk mitigation. Smith stated that the increased capital requirement serves to encourage and expedite the completion of necessary remedial work. Moreover, she reiterated APRA's commitment to protecting policyholders by maintaining a strong prudential framework and actively supervising insurers to ensure their obligations are met.
KeyInvest has acknowledged the review findings and has already begun efforts to act on the recommendations presented by APRA.
The imposition of these conditions on KeyInvest highlights APRA’s rigorous stance on ensuring financial institutions are accountable for their risk management practices. For consumers, this action provides assurance that financial firms are being monitored and held to high standards, thus safeguarding their investments and policy benefits. Businesses in the financial sector are reminded of the critical importance of a sound risk management strategy and the potential repercussions of failing to meet regulatory expectations.
KeyInvest’s progress in meeting APRA’s requirements will be closely watched by the industry. Successful implementation of the required remediation plan could restore confidence in the firm’s governance and risk oversight capabilities. It remains essential for KeyInvest to demonstrate substantial improvements to satisfy APRA's conditions promptly. This situation also serves as a broader warning to other financial institutions to ensure they adhere strictly to prudential regulations to avoid similar scrutiny.
Published:Thursday, 7th Aug 2025 Source: Paige Estritori
Australia's housing market is grappling with stark increases in land costs, which are driving home prices to unprecedented heights. Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that residential land values surged by 8.8% between 2023 and 2024, reaching a staggering $7.7 trillion. Over the past 35 years, these values have ballooned from 1.1 to 2.9 times the nation's GDP. - read more
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently increased its oversight of KeyInvest, a financial services firm renowned for its funeral bond product, by imposing additional licence conditions and raising the capital requirement. This decision follows an APRA review identifying deficiencies in KeyInvest’s risk management framework and questioning the board's effectiveness in maintaining strategic oversight. - read more
Cash flow refers to the movement of money into and out of your business. It encompasses all the income your business earns from sales, payments from customers, and investments, as well as all the expenses for operational costs, salaries, and other expenditures. - read more
Embarking on a startup journey is an exhilarating challenge that requires not just a brilliant idea, but a solid foundation of financial support to turn that idea into reality. Finding the right funding can be a make-or-break moment for many startups. Here, preparation is more than just a good practice; it's the backbone of any successful loan application. - read more
Need Help Finding a Loan?
All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation. We
respect your
privacy.
Knowledgebase
Loan Amortisation Schedule: This is the formal name for the repayment schedule that shows each of your mortgage payments with a breakdown of how much is applied to principal and how much is applied to interest.