Building on my discussion yesterday about offshore tax havens and decentralisation to avoid governance in both the physical and virtual world, there’s a more fundamental issue at large here. Tax avoidance. Some people hear the words “a tax” and interpret it as “attacks”. I heard a figure the other day …

Things we’re reading today include … RBS takes on Monzo with standalone digital bank Bó It’s the end of the World Trade Organisation as we know it Barclays chief Jes Staley could have pension payment cut in half Loan sharks cash in on Black Friday spending spree Antony Jenkins and …

People were surprised to see a headline that garnered much market shock: Markets Crash after reports that Binances Shangai Office Closed in Crypto Crackdown Argh. Crypto meltdown! I was amused to see a headline that garnered much online mirth: Markets Crash after reports that Binances Shangai Office Closed in Crypto …

Things we’re reading today include … Revolut marketing boss says bank is not “untouchable” Lloyds plan to cut chief executive’s pay by £220,000 Wall Street hits record high after US GDP is revised up – business live Deutsche Bank offloads assets to Goldman in restructuring Ant Financial builds $1bn start-up investment …

Interesting conversation about switching accounts. I’ve had a few people saying that banks don’t have loyal customers, but they have trapped customers. By way of example, an email from a friend: I am just exactly as loyal to my bank as they are to me, which is to say not …

Things we’re reading today include … Major banks suffer five IT glitches a week, Which? finds Factbox: Five years of Australian finance scandals China’s bank funding pressured as confidence drops Exchanges pitch alternative to IPOs for fundraising Westpac bank chief quits amid money laundering scandal Citigroup fined £44m by Bank …

I picked up a few innovative changes taking place this week within banks. In fact, I should point out that banks are not static beasts, as many claim. They are changing all the time, doing things all the time, adapting all the time. The question is: are they adapting in …

Things we’re reading today include … Women savers are ‘more loyal to their bank than men’ Bank of America CEO: People still want regulation, security amid tech competition ‘Bank of Mum’ helped fund Prince Andrew’s £13m Swiss chalet Charles Schwab agrees to buy TD Ameritrade for $26bn TSB to close …

Really interesting interview here with Ana Botin, Executive Chair of Santander, on Bloomberg. It starts with talking about how Santander can make a difference on climate change with Ana claiming that the bank is voted the most sustainable bank in the world. But when the interviewer, Erik Schatzker, asks her …

Things we’re reading today include … NatWest’s new digital bank Bó is here Totally Sardonic Bank Good company: the capitalists putting purpose ahead of profit India’s Paytm raises $1 billion in fresh funding HSBC’s top duo put futures on line with overhaul Cryptoqueen: How this woman scammed the world, then …

The main blog headlines are … What would you rather talk about: sex, religion, politics or money? My blog often seems to return to the subject of sex, whether it be sexism or basic sex. It is for the reason that money and rumpy-pumpy are the twin engines powering everything …

My blog often seems to return to the subject of sex, whether it be sexism or basic sex. It is for the reason that money and rumpy-pumpy are the twin engines powering everything we do, as Jeremy Clarkson so succinctly put it. However, today I’m not writing about sex per …

Things we’re reading today include … Australia’s Westpac hit by Goldman downgrade over money-laundering scandal What is Westpac accused of, and how is this related to child exploitation? – explainer Investors pour near $400m into African fintech What next for Europe’s banking union? Charles Schwab in advanced talks to buy …

I was running a fun panel on regulation this week. That kind of sounds like a lie – whatever can be fun about regulation – but hey, it was. I often reflect on the fact that regulators run with their eyes in the rear-view mirror. They can’t see what’s ahead …

I just spent a few days in bars and restaurants in a place where everyone lives underground. It’s called Toronto. A place so cold that even Olaf from Frozen has migrated South. In fact, it gets so cold in Canada, they actually have hair freezing contests. Anyways, sitting in a …