The Monetary Authority of Singapore will tighten the conditions under which financial institutions and their representatives can approach consumers at public roadshows. The measures respond to concerns about unsolicited or persistent solicitation without prohibiting properly controlled public engagement.[1]
The new structure links location, supervision and the consumer’s agreement to continue after receiving a clear marketing disclosure. Street canvassing and residential door-to-door prospecting remain prohibited.[1][4]
The public approach becomes a staged process
How a compliant roadshow approach is expected to work
| Stage | Expected safeguard | Consumer effect |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Use commercial premises and keep activity within the specified five-metre radius of the demarcated event space. | The approach occurs in an identifiable controlled space rather than through roaming solicitation.Source 4 |
| Conduct oversight | Appoint a suitably qualified individual and maintain effective oversight. | An accountable oversight function covers the event.Source 1Source 4 |
| Opening disclosure | Tell the consumer at the outset that the representative intends to market financial products or services. | The purpose is clear before product discussion begins.Source 1 |
| Consent | Obtain consent before continuing the engagement. | The consumer can decline before the sales conversation develops.Source 1 |
| Prohibited channels | Street canvassing and residential door-to-door prospecting remain prohibited. | The new roadshow permission does not reopen those routes.Source 1Source 4 |
Consent needs to be more than continued politeness
The requirement to disclose marketing intent and obtain consent changes the first moments of the interaction. A representative should not begin with a generic survey or prize conversation and only later reveal that the purpose is financial-product marketing. Consent should follow an intelligible explanation of the intended engagement.[1]
MAS’s response paper says verbal consent need not be individually documented. Institutions must instead have mechanisms to check that consent is obtained, such as officer oversight or mystery shopping. Event pre-registration may count where the marketing purpose was clear when the consumer registered.[4]
The qualified supervisor is an operating control
The appointed Public Prospecting Management Officer needs sufficient seniority, a good compliance record and suitable training. MAS allows digital monitoring to complement on-site supervision when the officer is absent. The operating task is to maintain effective oversight across the event’s hours.[4]
Questions an institution should answer before launch
| Control question | Evidence to prepare | Risk addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Where exactly is the designated area? | Site plan, signage and agreement with the commercial premises. | Prevents representatives from roaming beyond the controlled event space.Source 1 |
| Who is the qualified supervisor? | Appointment, competence record and event coverage schedule. | Creates accountable oversight during operating hours.Source 1 |
| How is marketing intent disclosed? | Opening wording and representative training. | Reduces disguised or surprise solicitation.Source 1 |
| How is refusal handled? | Stop-engagement procedure and complaint escalation. | Prevents persistent approaches after a consumer declines.Source 1 |
Verification remains separate from the roadshow rules
Consumers can verify the institution in MAS’s Financial Institutions Directory and the individual in its representative register. Matching the name and institution establishes the relevant record behind the person making the approach.[2][3]
The representative register covers appointed representatives under the relevant financial-services legislation. A result should be matched to the individual and institution; absence, status or role needs to be interpreted in the context of the service being offered rather than treated as a general quality rating.[2]
Public and digital marketing are being aligned
MAS says the public-prospecting safeguards complement digital-advertising measures introduced in September 2025. The common principle is that distribution controls should follow the method by which a consumer is reached. A physical event does not justify pressure that would be unacceptable in a digital campaign, and a digital lead does not remove the conduct standards when the conversation moves offline.[1]
Institutions can now prepare the venue plan, opening disclosure, consent checks, supervision coverage and refusal procedure. The 2027 guidelines and associated notices will start the implementation timetable, while the response paper already supplies important design choices for those preparations.[1][4]
Sources & further reading
- MAS enhances safeguards for public prospecting activities Monetary Authority of Singapore · 12 Oct 2026 · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Register of representatives Monetary Authority of Singapore · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Financial Institutions Directory Monetary Authority of Singapore · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Response to Feedback Received on Enhancing Safeguards for Proper Conduct of Prospecting Activities at Public Places and Telemarketing Monetary Authority of Singapore · 12 Oct 2026 · Accessed 20 Oct 2026