The Finanser’s Week: 4th May – 10th May 2015

This week's main stories are ...

Why the blockchain will radically alter our futures

There’s an interesting debate about blockchains, sidechains and identity taking place that is emergent right now but, soon, will be mainstream.  For those who are unclear about these things, blockchain is the technology protocol invented by Satoshi Nakamoto with bitcoin, although it doesn’t have to be based upon bitcoin. 

Job titles, acronymns and the corporate boa constrictor

So we’re having a meeting the other day and my friend was a little upset.  He’d just been promoted in the bank to become the Director of Digital Payments, Innovation and Strategy.  We all noted that he was now the lead for DPIS and congratulated him for taking DPIS.  For some reason he took offence. 

The Finanser Interviews: Jeffrey Robinson, Author of "Bitcon, the naked truth about bitcoin"

Following our regular weekly interview, the Finanser talks this week with best-sellng author Jeffrey Robinson.  Jeffrey Robinson is a recognised expert on organised crime, fraud and money laundering, and has been labelled by the British Bankers’ Association as “the world’s most important financial crime journalist”. 

Talk about 'access' rather than 'channel'

I’ve written quite a lot about my disdain for the use of the word channel, multichannel and omnichannel, and some people asked me: so what should we call it then?  I’ve written about this too but, to be exact, we should call it Access. Augmented Access, Proximate Access, Intelligent Access or whatever phrase you want, but it’s purely about access to services, information and support in a digital form.

The major general news stories of the past week include ... 

Will HSBC move back to its first home? - BBC
Will HSBC move back to its original home?

HSBC's HQ rethink: taxes and China relationship hold key to decision - Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) - In 1990, an assessment called Project Rainbow paved the way for HSBC to move from Hong Kong to Britain. As Europe's biggest bank now considers moving back, the same exercise offers clues to its final decision, say industry sources and analysts.

HSBC: 'The UK has rejected the concept of universal banking' - The Telegraph
Chief executive Stuart Gulliver gives further hints that bank will move abroad

HSBC chief says UK exit review will be complete by end of year – and Tory policy is to blame - The Independent
HSBC chief Stuart Gulliver has promised a decision on a UK exit by the end of 2015 in a first quarter earnings call, stating that shareholders would vote to decide.

Clydesdale Bank to be demerged as Australian owners plan hasty UK exit - The Telegraph
NAB plans to spin off Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks by year end

Hedge fund manager Loeb takes aim at 'Oracle of Omaha' Buffett - Reuters
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Hedge fund mogul Daniel Loeb on Wednesday took aim at the "Oracle of Omaha," calling beloved billionaire Warren Buffett a hypocrite.

US accused of destroying Andorran bank - Financial Times
Controlling family says it was given no time to respond to money laundering allegation

Why you can't replace staff with machines - Daily Mail
An American billionaire trying to take on Britain’s biggest banks has accused his rivals of ‘enraging’ their customers by ‘replacing humans with machines’.

First-time buyers in London 'need to earn at least £77,000' - The Independent
Hopeful homeowners in London have to earn a whopping £77,000 a year to be able to buy their first house, a new report has revealed.

Exclusive: Barclays Bank faces multimillion-pound legal challenge over Libor rigging - The Independent
Barclays Banking Group’s role in the Libor-rigging scandal looks set to fall under the microscope once again after a self-storage company launched a multimillion-pound legal claim against the bank.