Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to shut 63 more branches – including in London June 2, 2023 Two of the country’s biggest banking giants have announced they are slashing another 63 branches, taking away services from local communities around the UK. Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group between them announced a series of closures which are due to take place later this year or early next year. Barclays said on Friday it was [...]
HSBC leads banks’ plans to hike savings rates – and analysts say they could go up even further June 2, 2023 HSBC UK is boosting the interest rates on some savings accounts with increases of up to 0.75 percentage points, the bank has announced. The increases will come into effect next week, on Thursday June 8. They include a 0.75 percentage point increase on the bank’s mysavings and premier savings youth accounts, taking rates to 5.00 [...]
Natwest set to receive £47m after reducing stake in Irish bank Permanent TSB June 2, 2023 Natwest and the Irish finance ministry have sold nearly 55m shares in Permanent TSB, representing about 10 per cent of the Irish bank’s share capital. The sale reduces Natwest’s share holding from around 16.7 per cent to around 11.7 per cent. The Irish government will continue to hold 57.4 per cent of the bank. The [...]
Wall Street rises on hopes the Fed may take it easier on rate hikes June 2, 2023 Wall Street rose on Thursday with hopes that the Federal Reserve may soon take it easier on its hikes to interest rates. The S&P 500 rallied 1 per cent after a suite of reports painted a picture of a split US economy. The job market remains solid, but manufacturing is weakening and retailers are seeing [...]
Ex-JP Morgan executive wrote Epstein ‘should not be a client’ in 2011 email June 1, 2023 A former JP Morgan Chase executive wrote in a 2011 email that the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein should not be a client of the bank, according to a transcript of a deposition of chief executive Jamie Dimon seen by Reuters. Dimon said in the deposition he was not aware of the email at [...]
Could JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon run for President of the United States? Billionaire investor Bill Ackman thinks so June 1, 2023 Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has argued that JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon should run for president after comments earlier this week suggesting Wall Street’s longest-serving bank boss would consider running. In a tweet, Ackman said “we need an exemplary business, financial, and global leader to manage through what is likely to be a critically important [...]
‘Antiquated technology’ scuppering fraud threat response at over three quarters of retail banks June 1, 2023 Retail banks worldwide are struggling to upgrade their defences against fraud despite the increasing threat of financial crime. According to data collected for BioCatch, 78 per cent of financial firms worldwide are concerned about their ability to respond to emerging fraud threats quickly and effectively. The report revealed how lenders feel impelled to boost defences [...]
HSBC launches £15bn SME fund amid cost of living crisis with £3bn available in London June 1, 2023 HSBC has launched a £15bn fund dedicated to financing the survival and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country. The £15bn fund, which equals the largest SME fund HSBC has launched, is available to businesses across the country, with £3bn put aside for SMEs in London. Across sectors, £2bn will be allocated [...]
Consumer Duty: High street banks prepare for major regulatory shakeup as clock ticks down May 31, 2023 Banks in the UK have just two months to prepare for the incoming Consumer Duty, with some prominent bankers suggesting the new regulatory standards will prompt widespread changes in the industry. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) flagship Consumer Duty, which will come into effect on 31 July, requires firms to deliver good outcomes for retail [...]
Falling value of commercial real estate likely to hit European banks, RBC warns May 31, 2023 The European banking sector could be at risk from the weakening outlook for commercial real estate, analysts have warned. In a note, Anke Reingen, analyst at Royal Bank of Canada, argued that European banks are “likely to take some hits from the worsening [CRE] sector outlook”. CRE has faced widespread problems in recent months as [...]