This week’s main blog headlines are …
InsurTech’s big ticket items: machine learning on the blockchain
I don’t usually tell people that I’m a qualified expert in insurance as it’s not relevant, but I’m mentioning it today as I just presented at a private insurance event. There are lots of interesting nuances in insurance. You and I probably think it’s just …
Financial Inclusion in Mexico: Saldazo’s overnight success
I now think I am a good friend of Pablo García Arabéhéty, CGAP’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. This is, in part, because he’s contributed one of the key pieces I’m using in my new book Digital Human (due for release next Spring), and …
The State of FinTech in Brasil
I’ve been spending a lot of time travelling around the LatAm markets over the past few years. In fact, I was just at the CIAB FELBAN FIBA conference in Miami that covers this geography and this year saw many firms from Nicaragua to Honduras to Costa …
I recently was interviewed for a conference in Miami, and thought you might enjoy the Q&A so sharing … Your book “Digital Bank” published in 2014 included extensive guidance and background on the digital revolution in banking that was taking place. Are changes going at …
And continuing my shameless self-interest, a little more on the new book … I’ve been musing for a while about inclusivity, and find that the world is truly being transformed as everyone joins the network. It is the theme I present all the time right …
The latest news headlines …
Visa hires former Bank of England deputy Hogg as Europe head - The Telegraph
About 143m customers affected by massive Equifax cyber incident - BBC
Credit reporting giant said "criminals" accessed data such as Social Security numbers and birth dates.
What's gone wrong with Barclays newly launched Smart Investor website? - Financial Times
FT Money editor Claer Barrett on problems at Barclays new Smart Investor website, financial tips for new university students and the benefits of active fund management.
China’s Most Dangerous Bank - Wall Street Journal
Forget China’s debt binge, piles of bad loans and billions in dodgy investment products, investors have fallen in love with Chinese banks again. Their favorite object of affection is China Merchants Bank
Fintech pushes EU to explore changes to bank software rules - Reuters
European Union banks facing increasing competition from financial technology firms could find it easier to invest in software under rule changes being discussed with regulators.
Challenger bank Redwood takes tech to the cloud - Banking Technology
Redwood Bank, a new SME-focused bank in the UK, has opted for a cloud-based banking platform.
Bitcoin Tumbles as PBOC Declares Initial Coin Offerings Illegal - Bloomberg
Bitcoin tumbled the most since July after China’s central bank said initial coin offerings are illegal and asked all related fundraising activity to be halted immediately, issuing the strongest regulatory challenge so far to the burgeoning market for digital token sales.
How Macquarie bank left Thames Water with a £2bn debt - BBC
How the Australian bank Macquarie and its international investors loaded £2bn of debt onto Thames Water.
Here's how many of Europe's banks were at high risk last year - City AM
More than a quarter of European banks measured in an annual health report were at high risk last year, according to consultancy Bain & Company.
Scots set to miss out on BILLIONS as EU bank axe UK funding amid Brexit talks - Daily Record
The decision will see an end to funding that has backed projects including work at Edinburgh Sick Children's and Dumfries and Galloway hospitals.
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The Financial Services Club is sponsored by:
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...
