The Finanser’s Week: 27th November – 3rd December 2017

This week’s main blog headlines are …

Proving digital transformation works for shareholder returns

I wrote about the fact that digital transformation does not create greater shareholder value … yet … and then DBS announce that they are the first bank in the world to demonstrate the link between digitization and shareholder value creation on November 17. Interesting, as …

The Circle of Crypto

The world feels fairly surreal sometimes. I watch the relentless rise in price of bitcoin, ether, litecoin and brethren, and feel it’s just a truly weird moment we’re living in. I’ve never seen assets rising 1000% of, in ether’s case, 5000% in a year. It’s …

We still need bank branches

For many years we have had discussions about bank branches and a branchless future. I personally don’t believe in a branchless future, but many do. And yes, there are many branches disappearing, much to the annoyance of those who lose that physical store. For example, …

Financial services of the future will be open sourced and real-time

I recently  presented in Miami and BBVA were kind enough to summarise what I said so … here is their summation. Financial services of the future will be open sourced and real-time Chris Skinner closed Latin America’s top ‘fintech’ meeting with a prognosis: The financial …

Is it better to have a great strategy implemented badly or a bad strategy implemented well?

I was at a presentation where Robin Speculand, Singapore-based author and speaker, asked: Is it better to have a great strategy implemented badly or a bad strategy implemented well? Most people – about 4 out of 5 – raised their hand for the latter option. …

Introducing SelfKey

I’m involved in quite a lot of start-ups, ICOs and funds these days, and recently started a mini-series of interviews with them, as I think it will be of interest to readers of my blog. In the fourth of this series, I’m interviewing Edmund Lowell, founder …

The latest news headlines …

Bitcoin bubble? - BBC
The digital currency Bitcoin is going through the roof - but what is it, and why has it shot up in price?

Barclays hires Alphabet and Timpson bosses for board of UK ring-fenced bank - The Telegraph

Lloyds takeover of HBOS felt 'like two ocean liners about to collide', ex-bank boss tells High Court - The Telegraph

RESEARCH: European banks’ reaction to PSD2 [PDF] - PwC
The revised Payments Services Directive (PSD2) goes into effect in Europe in January of 2018, but few banks are ready. By law they will need to make customer data available in a secure manner, and eventually to give third-parties access to their customer’s accounts. But equally important to these compliance efforts are the strategic implications for banks.

Pound soars against the euro on Brexit divorce bill breakthrough - The Telegraph

UK banks can weather chaotic Brexit but RBS and Barclays in worst shape, says Bank of England - The Telegraph

City of London voices in unison on Brexit threat to investment - Financial Times
But financial stalwarts fear that politicians simply aren’t listening

Can a bank in a box replace a branch? - BBC
One firm has developed an interactive cash-machine which, it says, can do 80% of the tasks typically undertaken in a bank.

BBC Panorama: The fraud costing the UK £1bn a year - BBC
VAT fraud costs the UK more than £1bn a year and is making it hard for firms which pay the tax to compete.

City veterans aim for 'Google of finance' with new digital bank - The Telegraph

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