Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

This week’s main blog headlines are … Why FinTech start-ups think they can beat the banks There’s an old joke about the guy who’s lost driving in the countryside who stops to ask a pedestrian how to get to the city.  The pedestrian replies: “oh, …

There’s an old joke about the guy who’s lost driving in the countryside who stops to ask a pedestrian how to get to the city.  The pedestrian replies: “oh, if you want to get there, I wouldn’t start from here”, and this is exactly how …

Things we’re reading today include … Citigroup and Deutsche Bank give Frankfurt a Brexit boost Brexit transition deal: ‘The sooner the better’ says Goldman exec Would using an eye scanner make mobile banking secure? Revealed: The world’s 10 largest companies by revenue Bitcoin swings as …

One of the presentations I particularly enjoyed at the EFMA meeting was from Gürhan Çam, Senior Vice President- Digital Banking at DenizBank, Turkey.  You will all know by now that I love the innovations in retail banking in Turkey, and Gürhan didn’t disappoint. First, there …

Things we’re reading today include … Goldman’s rotten trading quarter is a familiar smell on Wall Street One-third of card payments contactless P2P lender RateSetter steps in to protect investors from losses Regulators assessing suitability of Deutsche Boerse board Spain’s ‘secret credit card banker’ Blesa …

I just attended an EFMA conference where the opening presentation talked about the most innovative banks in the world. They may or may not be, you can decide, as I’m posting some of their stories here.  These are the ones I quite liked, so it’s not …

Things we’re reading today include … Alternative to London is no financial centre in Europe, warns City envoy Visa and PayPal Extend Partnership to Europe Credit and debit card surcharges to be banned Tech start-ups raise $1.3bn this year from initial coin offerings Swedish challenger …

I was interviewed by UBS’s wealth management team a month ago, when the bitcoin bubble was in full bloom. The price had exploded, tripling in a month. Now that it has burst, the interview seems quite prescient so, here it is … UBS interview with …

Things we’re reading today include … The Boston Consulting Group Says Banking Needs to Become More Bionic Italian banks may take 10 years to fix bad debt issue – Morgan Stanley Former Barclays chief will stand trial over Qatari fundraising in January 2019 Didn’t pay …

I talked earlier about the homogenization of the world as we are all become globally connected, seeking global brands using a global language through global platforms.  I truly believe that will happen, as it’s the natural outcome of the fourth age of humanity where we …

Things we’re reading today include … Britons face lifetime of debt as Bank of England warns over 35 year mortgages Former Shawbrook finance chief Wood to aid Co-op Bank rescue plan ECB eyes review of Deutsche Bank shareholders: source Westerman in the frame to be …

This week’s main blog headlines are … Homogenizing the world I’ve pretty much been travelling the world on business non-stop for thirty years, and something has fundamentally changed during that period.  Obviously, the internet and mobile and global connectivity, but also the homogeneity of globalisation.  …

One company that is seeking global domination is Ant Financial. The company has an open stated intention to reach two billion users by 2025.  The way in which they’ll achieve that is through local partnerships, and many of those have been started already: Ant Financial …

Things we’re reading today include … Bitcoin just got a vote of confidence from Switzerland’s legendary banking system Post-crisis, US banks have recovered while their European peers are still looking for ways to survive Investors bullish on financials ahead of bank earnings Credit card defaults …

I was reflecting on a question posed to me recently by a Turkish banker.  He asked me: “why is it that the Western banks are always talking about legacy?”  I knew exactly what he was getting at, as the banks I deal with in USA, …

I’m spending the week in China with Alibaba and ANT Financial. More details to follow, as this is all building towards a case study chapter in my new book Digital Human, and sat amongst 2,000 fans listening to Jack Ma yesterday and his vision of …

I posted this on twitter earlier and it’s proven so popular that I thought I would share with all.   The bank calls for an Open Banking meeting

Things we’re reading today include … Exclusive: Ant Financial refiles for U.S. approval of MoneyGram deal – sources Lloyds Bank to abolish charges for unplanned overdrafts FCA: More taking out drawdown pensions without advice The end of cash? Cards now account for more than half …

I got to thinking about yesterday’s post on humanity in part due to a discussion of global banking.  Global, universal banking was the mantra of the 2000s and HSBC, Citi, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Deutsche and more were all jumping on the bandwagon.  After …

Things we’re reading today include … Bank stocks are about to face another major challenge IBM, Westpac and More Trial Blockchain for Bank Guarantees A bank replaced a fax machine with blockchain. Was it worth it? London climbs two places to become world’s third best …

I’ve pretty much been travelling the world on business non-stop for thirty years, and something has fundamentally changed during that period.  Obviously, the internet and mobile and global connectivity, but also the homogeneity of globalisation.  I remember flying into Singapore’s brand spanking new Changi Airport …

Things we’re reading today include … Wells Fargo CEO ‘pleased’ with preliminary approval of $142 million settlement Analysts saved by stroke of the FCA’s pen Theresa May’s election woes spark jitters among UK finance chiefs Top bankers back calls for revamp to protect small firms …