Chris Skinner's blog

Shaping the future of finance

Regulation

How to spot a financial institution in stress

We had a really interesting discussion at the Financial Services Club this week with Charles Thomson, former Chief Executive for the Equitable Life. The Equitable Life is a financial institution that failed at the end of the last decade and it was notable that many of the reasons why I failed are similar to those…

Is SEPA Happening and Does It Matter?

We had our annual pantomime debate at the Financial Services Club this week, with a classical Oxford style debate about whether SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, matters or not. This year, with the backdrop of the Eurozone implosion, the debate was far livelier than usual, with a lot of spicy discussion about countries defaulting,…

SEPA debate1

Is SEPA Happening and Does It Matter?

We had our annual pantomime debate at the Financial Services Club this week, with a classical Oxford style debate about whether SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, matters or not. This year, with the backdrop of the Eurozone implosion, the debate was far livelier than usual, with a lot of spicy discussion about countries defaulting,…

SEPA debate1

How to deal with an insolvent bank

Sitting in a conference talking about living wills isn’t how you want to spend your typical day, but it did spark a whole bunch of thoughts in my mind. The FSA issued their consultative paper 11/16 last summer. The idea is that every bank with assets over £15 billion must produce a Recovery and Resolution…

Wipe out market makers = best execution

Yesterday I wrote about the concept of banks being barred from betting on the bonds and equities markets. “Own account” trading disappears and the only folks who can “speculate” are those with their own chips to play in the game: the private equity, sovereign wealth, high net wroth assets and their asset managers who back…

Wipe out market makers = best execution

Yesterday I wrote about the concept of banks being barred from betting on the bonds and equities markets. “Own account” trading disappears and the only folks who can “speculate” are those with their own chips to play in the game: the private equity, sovereign wealth, high net wroth assets and their asset managers who back…

Casino capitalism: only for those who can afford the chips

For some time there’s been debate about whether Vickers or Volcker is the right way to go. Should investment banks be divided from their retailing and commercial siblings by a fence, or completely separated so that one cannot poison the other? Should banks be allowed to play in the markets off their own account, or…

Casino capitalism: only for those who can afford the chips

For some time there’s been debate about whether Vickers or Volcker is the right way to go. Should investment banks be divided from their retailing and commercial siblings by a fence, or completely separated so that one cannot poison the other? Should banks be allowed to play in the markets off their own account, or…

How will the world look post-crisis?

I’ve been debating some future presentations with various folks today, and a little ray of light went off in my head. The light was triggered by a comment: “can you talk about what impact regulatory change may have on bank to corporate relationships using examples historically?” The question was really asking about the unintended impact…

Pest-analysis

How will the world look post-crisis?

I’ve been debating some future presentations with various folks today, and a little ray of light went off in my head. The light was triggered by a comment: “can you talk about what impact regulatory change may have on bank to corporate relationships using examples historically?” The question was really asking about the unintended impact…

Pest-analysis

Chris Skinner Keynote, April 2025, Europe

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

Top 30 Regtech Blogs

Top 40 UK Fintech Blogs

Lifetime Achievement Award

Kids creating the future bank | TEDxAthens

Alex at the Financial Services

Gaping Void's Hugh MacLeod worked with the Finanser