Farage: Government right to consider Natwest licence over Coutts brouhaha July 20, 2023 Nigel Farage has praised the Government following reports ministers are considering making new laws to stop banks closing customers’ accounts because they disagree with their political views. The former Ukip leader said MPs are “beginning to realise that this system is coming for them as well” after his bank accounts were closed by Coutts because his views [...]
US Fed fines Deutsche Bank $186m over failure to improve money laundering checks July 20, 2023 The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it fined Deutsche Bank and its U.S. affiliates $186m for failing to sufficiently address money laundering control problems and other shortcomings previously flagged by the U.S. central bank. The new penalty for lingering issues marks the latest blow for the German lender, which has struggled for years to get on [...]
New sustainability reporting standards are a game changer for businesses July 20, 2023 In June, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its long-awaited inaugural standards for sustainability reporting. The launch of the standards is widely regarded as a hugely important milestone in the global fight against climate change. By providing a global baseline for businesses to report comparable information on sustainability issues, the new standards should make [...]
Coutts treatment of Farage ‘ought to jeopardise’ Natwest’s bank licence, senior Tory says July 19, 2023 Top Tory MPs have piled pressure on Coutts and its owner Natwest after the private bank reportedly closed Nigel Farage’s account because his views do “not align with our values”. Former Brexit secretary David Davis said the decision amounted to “thinly veiled political discrimination” and called it a “vindictive, irresponsible and undemocratic action”. Speaking during [...]
Banks to avoid surge in delinquency even as average interest rate on credit card hits highest level this millennium July 19, 2023 The average rate of interest on UK credit cards hit their highest level in nearly 30 years last month, but experts suggested there would not be a surge in delinquencies. According to Bank of England data, the average rate of interest on a credit card surpassed 23 per cent in June for the first time [...]
Goldman Sachs’ profit tanks on dealmaking slump and costs tied to consumer arm July 19, 2023 Goldman Sachs’s profit tanked in the second quarter as the investment banking giant continued to struggle with the downturn in M&A activity while booking rising costs. Profit in the second quarter fell to $1.1bn, 62 per cent lower than last year while revenue fell eight per cent. The drop was primarily driven by a decline [...]
Farage claims documents show Coutts closed his accounts for political reasons July 19, 2023 Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said he has obtained documents that show his accounts with the private bank Coutts, a unit of taxpayer-backed bank Natwest were being closed primarily for political reasons. In a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday, Farage said he received a 40-page document from Coutts after filing a “subject access [...]
Morgan Stanley profits fall on dealmaking slump while rising rates lift Bank of America July 18, 2023 The continued lull in dealmaking hit Morgan Stanley’s profit despite a strong performance from its wealth management arm, while rising rates lifted Bank of America. Income at Morgan Stanley, which specialises in investment banking, slipped to $2.2bn in the second quarter, down from $2.5bn the year before but in line with analyst expectations. This fall [...]
Banks must tell savers if better deals are available under Consumer Duty, FCA says July 18, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned banks that they must inform savers if better deals are available once the new Consumer Duty comes into force at the end of the month. In a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, the FCA said it is “more critical than ever that borrowers and savers are offered [...]
Arbuthnot shares soar after profits leap from £3.4m to £26.4m – but it warns of risks ahead July 18, 2023 Arbuthnot Banking Group’s pretax profit soared in the first half of the year as rising interest rates helped it record a huge increase in profit. Pretax profit multiplied to £26.4m in the six months to June, up significantly from the £3.4m it recorded last year. On the back of this it upped its interim dividend [...]