Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

We had a huge bust-up last night, when my banking colleague and I were discussing customer service. Over dinner we were all recounting stories of good and bad customer services, and boy did we have a few humdingers. The change of address where the telecoms …

We had a huge bust-up last night, when my banking colleague and I were discussing customer service. Over dinner we were all recounting stories of good and bad customer services, and boy did we have a few humdingers. The change of address where the telecoms …

In a post reminiscent of something I wrote a few months ago, the BBC reports today that "supermarkets could be asked to take people’s fingerprints as part of the government’s identity card scheme." Watch that space.

Just found a great new little blog called "How to beat up anything". It just shows how nutty folks are to come up with such a site. They even have a guide as to How To Beat Up an Apple-Throwing Tree From The Film "The …

This week, there are quite a few folks in Prague at a conference on payments in Central & Eastern Europe including myself. Lots of local banks presenting as well as regionally focused transaction providers, such as ING, Raiffiessen and Deutsche. What struck me as these …

This week, there are quite a few folks in Prague at a conference on payments in Central & Eastern Europe including myself. Lots of local banks presenting as well as regionally focused transaction providers, such as ING, Raiffiessen and Deutsche. What struck me as these …

We wake up today to find that Barack Obama has been duly crowned Prince, sorry, elected as the next President of America. Whatever your view of that result, the fact is that it brings a sense of ‘hope over fear’ to America, and the world. …

I was delighted to host Wells Fargo at the Financial Services Club last night. Wells gave an update on their Web 2.0 strategies, which are far and away ahead of most other banks in Europe. This was corroborated by the bankers attending, who said to me afterwards …

I was delighted to host Wells Fargo at the Financial Services Club last night. Wells gave an update on their Web 2.0 strategies, which are far and away ahead of most other banks in Europe. This was corroborated by the bankers attending, who said to me afterwards …

Dick Stroud, an expert on using interactive channels to communicate with the over-50s market, posted a blog on his website yesterday that includes a link to his presentation on the subject. The presentation is fascinating as it shows the major growing group of users of …

Dick Stroud, an expert on using interactive channels to communicate with the over-50s market, posted a blog on his website yesterday that includes a link to his presentation on the subject. The presentation is fascinating as it shows the major growing group of users of …

Nothing to do with banking, but this phone call between Sarah Palin and Neecolas Sarkozee is very funny. Not for Sarah Palin however.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a moan about HBOS’s marketing.  Maybe it’s not so bad though, as they seem to have pulled that advert. To add some balance therefore, here’s an interesting case study about the Halifax, part of HBOS, and this marketing …

A couple of weeks ago, I had a moan about HBOS’s marketing.  Maybe it’s not so bad though, as they seem to have pulled that advert. To add some balance therefore, here’s an interesting case study about the Halifax, part of HBOS, and this marketing …

A couple of weeks ago, I had a moan about HBOS’s marketing.  Maybe it’s not so bad though, as they seem to have pulled that advert. To add some balance therefore, here’s an interesting case study about the Halifax, part of HBOS, and this marketing …

After blogging about mobile the other day, I was surprised but pleased to see that Lloyds TSB claim to be the first to offer banking on the phone: What surprised me even more is that they are already advertising this on the net with celeb …

After talking about the £5.8 billion (near $10 billion) that the Sovereign Wealth Funds of Qatar and Abu Dhabi gave to Barclays in return for a 30% stake in the Bank, which is by no means a done deal by the way, I wondered what …

For quite a while now, MasterCard has been issuing a Diamond MasterCard. Yes, it is a MasterCard and yes, it has real diamonds in it.   This one came out in the Spring in Dubai, and yes, that is real gold too. What benefits does the …

For quite a while now, MasterCard has been issuing a Diamond MasterCard. Yes, it is a MasterCard and yes, it has real diamonds in it.   This one came out in the Spring in Dubai, and yes, that is real gold too. What benefits does the …

For quite a while now, MasterCard has been issuing a Diamond MasterCard. Yes, it is a MasterCard and yes, it has real diamonds in it.   This one came out in the Spring in Dubai, and yes, that is real gold too. What benefits does the …

For quite a while now, MasterCard has been issuing a Diamond MasterCard. Yes, it is a MasterCard and yes, it has real diamonds in it.   This one came out in the Spring in Dubai, and yes, that is real gold too. What benefits does the …

For quite a while now, MasterCard has been issuing a Diamond MasterCard. Yes, it is a MasterCard and yes, it has real diamonds in it.   This one came out in the Spring in Dubai, and yes, that is real gold too. What benefits does the …

After having every little rugrat in the neighbourhood banging on the front door shouting "trick or treat", I gave their mums and dads a copy of this cartoon from Pugh: That soon got rid of them.

Just noticed this trailer for The International, a movie that is to be released in February 2009 starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. The story, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, goes: "An obsessive Interpol agent (Clive Owen) who spearheads an investigation into one of …

Just noticed this trailer for The International, a movie that is to be released in February 2009 starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. The story, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, goes: "An obsessive Interpol agent (Clive Owen) who spearheads an investigation into one of …

Just noticed this trailer for The International, a movie that is to be released in February 2009 starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. The story, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, goes: "An obsessive Interpol agent (Clive Owen) who spearheads an investigation into one of …

Just noticed this trailer for The International, a movie that is to be released in February 2009 starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. The story, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, goes: "An obsessive Interpol agent (Clive Owen) who spearheads an investigation into one of …

Watching the BBC’s Money Programme, they have just started a six-part series about the Credit Crash on Thursday nights.  The first episode focused upon HBOS and their issues.  Fascinating programme that included an interview with Paul Moore, the Group Head of Risk for HBOS from …