The main blog discussions this week include ….
I first started blogging about smart mobile wallets in earnest in 2014. Back then, the mobile network operators were starting to get active and to try and bring the M-PESA and other experiences to the modern world. But no one wanted them. Six years later, …
IPO, IPO, IPO – Ant Group and more
A while ago, I wrote about the IPO and whether you should invest. It’s still coming, but the valuation of the company is now even bigger. 15 percent bigger to be exact. That will make Ant’s IPO the biggest ever in history! Not bad for …
Are you pulling my blockchain?
I need to shut up about Ant Group, as I’ve blogged a lot about them lately. However, with an IPO coming up and news coming out daily almost, it’s hard to ignore some of their activities. One activity that really hit me when it was …
Digital payments in a post-COVID world
I recently saw the announcement from Santander of a foreign exchange service called PagoFX. It’s a service that goes head-to-head with TransferWise and is an interesting example of fighting back. As a result, I asked Victoria Yasinetskaya, CMO at PagoFX to tell me a bit more …
Why are banks so easy to dislike?
I’ve realised over the last few weeks that my FinTech Karaoke is generally having a dig at bad bankers. It’s easy to have a go at bad bankers or, as the 99% call them, banksters. It’s because there’s a lot of bad practices historically in …
The FinTech Karaoke Challenge: Mr. Blue Sky
[A longer version of this blog appears here, explaining why so many songs are anti-bank] During lockdown, Spotify has found that the song Mr Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is the most popular song of the summer. It makes us feel good, …
And the main news headlines are ….
Wells Fargo's Charles Scharf apologises over race comments - BBC
The head of the US bank apologises for an "insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias".
'My bank is shutting my account because of Brexit' - BBC
Thousands of British expats living in the EU have been told their bank accounts are being closed.
Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU - BBC
A simple guide on the UK leaving the European Union.
Bank of England to propose simpler rules for small banks - Reuters
Britain will adopt less bureaucratic financial rules after Brexit, starting with simpler regulation of small banks, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods said on Tuesday.
NatWest unveils savings account offering 3% interest - The Guardian
Up to £50 a month can be put into account designed to help people with little or no savings NatWest has unveiled a new account with a market-leading 3% interest rate designed to help customers with little or no savings. Customers can put between £1 to £50 per month into
Wirecard’s deceit went beyond its fraudulent Asian operations - Financial Times
Report from court-appointed administrator reveals the rest of the business was chaotic and unprofitable
Bank of the Future, Mapped by McKinsey - FINews
The consulting firm, known for its bold calls in global banking, is outlining the bank of the future. Making it reality is another matter.
Brits in EU risk losing UK bank accounts 'within weeks' - The Local
Some of Britain's biggest banks have begun contacting customers in European Union countries, warning them that their accounts will be closed down within weeks because the cost and complexity of operating without a continuation of pan-European banking rules is too much.
FinCEN Files: HSBC moved Ponzi scheme millions despite warning - BBC
The transfers took place after officials were told of the $80m fraud, the secret files reveal.
About a quarter of the UK's top earners are migrants, data shows - Guardian
Lead author says research helps negate idea migrants are a drain on the economy Almost a quarter of the best paid people in the UK are migrants, according to analysis of anonymised tax returns collected by HM Revenue and Customs. Of the 525,000 people in the top 1% each earning
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...
