Softbank taps Goldman for Wework debt financing plan December 9, 2019 Wework saviour Softbank has approached Goldman Sachs for financing as it attempts to reinvigorate the flexible working space provider. The banking giant is securing a $1.8bn (£1.4bn) line of credit, the first stage in Softbank’s $5bn debt financing package for Wework. Read more: Wework names four new executives and outlines six point plan for profitability [...]
Fines levied by the FCA rocket more than 500 per cent December 9, 2019 The value of fines issued by City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this year has soared to £391.8m. Research from law firm RPC found the level of fines so far this year was up more than 550 per cent on the £60m levied last year. The increase in fines by the FCA has been [...]
HSBC shakes up senior management after ‘unacceptable’ third quarter December 9, 2019 HSBC has replaced its investment banking boss and group chief operating officer in a raft of changes due to take effect in 2020. Investment banking chief Samir Assaf will step down as chief executive of global banking and markets in March, after 10 years in the role. He will take a new role as chairman [...]
Financial services employees consistently overworked December 9, 2019 Employees in the financial services sector are consistently overworked, according to a report published today. The vast majority (94 per cent) work beyond their contracted hours on a weekly basis and almost half do not leave the office or take a break at lunch time, a survey from recruiter Morgan McKinley showed. Twenty per cent [...]
RBS under fire over fake reviews for new app December 8, 2019 Natwest-owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has come under fire for writing fake reviews of its new online banking app Bó. Eagle-eyed users noted that a string of five-star reviews, some of which were published months before Bó’s 27 November launch, praised the app for features including design and notifications system. Read more: RBS launches [...]
Watchdogs propose tougher rules to limit banking services glitches December 5, 2019 UK regulators have proposed new rules to make banks and payment firms more resilient to major problems in the wake of TSB’s IT meltdown. MPs called for regulatory changes in October after repeated technological failures by lenders such as TSB, Visa, Barclays and RBS. Read more: TSB IT meltdown blamed on data centre test failure [...]
Moody’s downgrades outlook for global banks December 5, 2019 The outlook for global banks has been slashed by credit ratings agency Moody’s. Weakening economic growth, low interest rates and more volatile operating conditions will increase the credit challenges for lenders across the world, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report published today. The agency cut its outlook from stable to negative. Read more: Metro [...]
HSBC to bring in 40 per cent overdraft rate December 5, 2019 HSBC is set to bring in a controversial single overdraft rate of almost 40 per cent for its customers next year. Current rates are between 9.9 per cent and 19.9 per cent but all account holders will be charged 39.9 per cent by HSBC as of next March. Read more: Metro Bank boss to step [...]
What can the financial sector learn from dairy farmers? December 5, 2019 Nobody would travel with an out-of -date passport, so why should the world of finance be any different? And yet, many major institutions are at great risk of acting on outdated information as they navigate through the increasing complexity of modern-day markets. With so much out-of -date information out there, it is imperative to know [...]
How can banks factor in climate change without damaging the economy? December 5, 2019 In a few weeks, we will get the results of the UK bank stress tests, which is a measure of our biggest banks’ ability to withstand the toughest of economic shocks. In 2021, these tests will include a scenario on climate change. The regulator wants to know that our biggest financial institutions really can weather [...]