The past week’s major news headlines include …
Our main stories of this week includes …
Challenger versus incumbent or challenger and incumbent
I guess my highlight of #Money2020Europe was moderating a discussion between Martin Blessing, CEO of Commerzbank, and Ricky Knox, CEO of UK digital-first start-up Tandem Bank.
What does it take to be a FinTech hub?
As mentioned I’ve just attended #Money2020Europe where 4,000 folks gathered to listen to great speakers like me. Unfortunately, I didn’t get long to stay at the show for various reasons, but did pick up a magazine about Copenhagen as a FinTech hub. Everywhere wants to …
The FinTech50 2016: these are the game changers
This week is #Money2020Europe week in Copenhagen. Considering it’s the first time they’ve run Money2020 over here, it’s pretty impressive to have over 3,500 people attending. I’m chairing a couple of plenary sessions tomorrow with Commerzbank, Tandem Bank and Western Union, and have been tracking …
I’ve got standards – which one do you want? [UPDATE 5 APRIL 2016]
Like a few other guys, I fly around the world almost non-stop. When people ask me where I live, I say British Airways lounge, and George Clooney’s Up in the Air looks like a novice to me. Yet, even with all of that experience, you …
Keep quiet on Brexit or face consequences, UK bank staff warned - Reuters
Banks could fall silent on the question of Britain's continued membership of the European Union this month, or run the risk of fines and even jail time for staff who breach campaign rules for a June 23 referendum.
Atom Bank launches app-only savings account for iPhones - The Telegraph
Digital-only lender Atom Bank is launching today as the latest challenger seeking to shake up Britain’s financial services market and to wrest customers away from the big banks.
Worldpay set to break free from RBS - Financial Times
Split will enable group to process up to 20 times more transactions, it says
Quantum computing: Game changer or security threat? - BBC
The pros and cons of superfast computing in the finance world
Ignore the hype about fintech - Financial Times
There has been little innovation and nothing transformational, writes Mark Tluszcz
‘Lots of dead unicorns’ predicted - Financial Times
Many fund managers have been forced to write down their investments in billion-dollar start-ups
Santander launches quick loans for SMEs - Financial Times
Lender joins with US fintech company to provide access to working capital in a matter of hours
Revealed: the $2bn offshore trail that leads to Vladimir Putin - Guardian
A massive leak of documents shines new light on the fabulous fortunes of the Russian president’s inner circle Putin’s best friend: the cellist who holds the key to his fortune Iceland’s PM faces snap election over revelations What are the Panama Papers? A network of secret offshore deals and vast
Cash machines shut down over crime fears - BBC
Five Santander cash machines have been shut down "due to potential criminal activity and vandalism", the bank says.
Ethical credentials in doubt at the Co-op Bank | Letter - Guardian
In your article on Niall Booker’s pay package ( Co-op Bank defends chief’s £3.85m pay , Financial, 2 April) you state that the Co-op Bank presents itself as an ethical alternative to the big high street lenders. However, many of us who banked with Co-op for precisely that reason have
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...
