Chris Skinner's blog

Shaping the future of finance

Humour

Inside the bank’s boardroom crisis meeting

Welcome to the first of what may be many fly-on-the-wall (FOTW) reports of internal bank management matters. In this first FOTW report, we sent Marty, our Scottish fly, into the monthly management meeting of one of the world’s largest banks, Megabank (stock ticker: MGB). Here’s how it went. 10:00, FTSE at 5450.49, MGB share price…

American Excess rather than Express

So I can’t find my American Express Card. Looked everywhere and it’s lost. Darnit. I Google “AMEX lost corporate card”, and find an American telephone number. Harumph. So I Google “AMEX lost corporate card UK”, and find the UK 01273 telephone number and call it. “Hello and welcome to American Express Card Services”, says some…

American Excess rather than Express

So I can’t find my American Express Card. Looked everywhere and it’s lost. Darnit. I Google “AMEX lost corporate card”, and find an American telephone number. Harumph. So I Google “AMEX lost corporate card UK”, and find the UK 01273 telephone number and call it. “Hello and welcome to American Express Card Services”, says some…

Bribery, corruption and banking

I’m sitting in a restaurant the other day, and hear the following conversation … Banker One: “So what’s this Bribery Act thingamajig?” Banker Two: “New Law.  Came into force July 1st.” mnum, yum, mnum. Banker One: “Yea, I know that”, mnum yum. “I meant what does it mean?” Banker Two: glug, glug.  “Can’t take a bung…

Things a banker says, and what they really mean

I know we see these things all the time – what someone says and what they really mean – but I haven’t seen many for bankers, so here’s a few that I’ve encountered over the years, and my interpretation. What they say: “You’re good for this loan?” What they mean: You look like a hobo….

Honesty? Strewth, I’d rather steal from an Australian …

I got a nudge today from NAB. No, it’s not a disease. It’s NAB, National Australia Bank, who recently pulled the pants down on their competitors by telling them they were all dodgy in a national advertising campaign framed around the theme: “it’s over between us ”. The aim was to set NAB apart from…

That European Joke

I’m quite pro-European as it goes.  Roughly translated, as I’m British, this means that as long as the Eurocrats stay in Europe and out of the UK, that’s fine.  It's also because the main benefit is that I enjoy holidays without having to worry about changing currencies. In truth, I'm quite pro-European because I've been…

British male

That European Joke

I’m quite pro-European as it goes.  Roughly translated, as I’m British, this means that as long as the Eurocrats stay in Europe and out of the UK, that’s fine.  It's also because the main benefit is that I enjoy holidays without having to worry about changing currencies. In truth, I'm quite pro-European because I've been…

British male

New Media versus The Law

I’ve written about the end of privacy before, but now the big news in the UK is that privacy is a joke. There is no such thing. For example, we had a court of law here that could implement superinjunctions to stop the media leaking information about people’s private lives. Major stars of media, sport…

Superinj1

A long break …

It's Easter in the UK and we get a long break now. Friday and Monday are official holidays and then there's some wedding going on over here next Friday, so that's a holiday too.  We also get May Day Bank Holiday, and it means that Britain has shut down until 3rd May!!! Now I may…

Intelligent Money: Our Future Is Where We Do Not Think About Money, As Our Money Thinks For Us

What is the future?

Learn more

Learn more about Chris

About Chris Skinner

The Past, Present And Future Of Banking, Finance And Technology

Fintech expert Chris Skinner: countries need digital transformation to remain competitive

Join me on Linkedin

Follow Me on X!

Hire Chris Skinner for dinners, workshops and more

Learn directly from from one of the most influential people in technology, gain insights from the world's most innovative companies, and build a global network.

Chris’s latest book

Order now

Chris Skinner’s ‘Intelligent Money’ Book Launch Event

Lifetime Achievement Award

Kids creating the future bank | TEDxAthens

Alex at the Financial Services

Gaping Void's Hugh MacLeod worked with the Finanser