The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) concluded that former Barclays CEO Jes Staley misled regulators about the depth of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The FCA determined that Staley “recklessly approved” misleading statements in a 2019 letter sent by Barclays, which downplayed his contact with Epstein and suggested their relationship had ended long before his tenure at the bank. In reality, correspondence revealed an ongoing relationship that continued for years after Epstein’s first conviction. The FCA ruled that Staley’s conduct demonstrated a lack of integrity and transparency expected of senior banking officials and issued a penalty totaling £1.8 million alongside a ban preventing him from holding any senior management or key function roles in the UK financial sector.

After a lengthy appeal process, the UK Upper Tribunal upheld the FCA’s decision in mid-2025, describing Staley’s behavior as a “serious failure of judgment” and noting his lack of contrition throughout proceedings. While the tribunal slightly reduced the fine to £1.1 million, it agreed that Staley’s conduct warranted a permanent ban from leadership positions within financial services. The ruling effectively ends Staley’s career in banking and cements his downfall from one of the UK’s most prominent financial figures to a cautionary tale of hubris, poor judgment, and the enduring fallout from his ties to Epstein.


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