‘Non-sexy’ is the new cool: UK fintech predictions for 2019 December 13, 2018 Despite the continued uncertainties of Brexit, 2018 was another year for the UK’s fintech sector. Record levels of investment poured into the community, with $16bn secured in the first six months of 2018, exceeding the value of investment in US fintech by almost $2bn. In addition, progressive regulation and a thriving financial services sector attracted [...]
Shares collapse at Gam as it prepares for huge full year loss, pinning hopes on turnaround strategy December 13, 2018 Fund manager Gam saw its share price plummet by 28 per cent today as it warned shareholders that it is staring at a heavy net loss for the full year. The Swiss firm predicted a net loss of SFr 925m (£736.8m), after recording a profit of SFr 123.2m last year, embarking on a turnaround strategy [...]
Credit Suisse to buy back up to $3bn of shares as restructuring comes to an end December 12, 2018 Banking giant Credit Suisse plans to buy back up to Sfr 3bn (£2.4bn) of shares after signalling it was on track to successfully complete its three-year restructuring. The Swiss bank also confirmed plans to increase its dividend by at least five per cent annually from next year in a bid to reward shareholders who have [...]
European development bank pulls plug on funding for coal mines December 12, 2018 The European bank which funds international development around the world will stop paying for coal projects in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development also announced it would stop funding oil exploration projects. It will only pay for oil development in exceptional circumstances where the investment would help reduce [...]
The City is braced for a hard Brexit – why aren’t MPs? December 11, 2018 Had things worked out differently we could have woken up this morning to news that MPs voted last night in favour of Theresa May's withdrawal agreement. The transition period was secured, talks would move on to the future trade deal and businesses would breath a mighty sigh of relief. Instead, we rise to find another [...]
Beat your demons: Barclays lets account holders block their worst spending habits December 11, 2018 Barclays has become the first high street bank to allow customers to “turn off” certain types of spending in a bid to give those with addiction better control over their money. Customers can now block payments to retailers including gambling websites, betting shops and pubs using a button in the bank's mobile app. Barclays developed [...]
Out with the old: Danske Bank sells £228m pensions business amid talks of money-laundering fines December 11, 2018 Under-fire Danske Bank has sold its Swedish pensions arm to a group of private equity firms, in what some analysts believe is an attempt to raise cash to pay any penalties from its money-laundering scandal. The bank, which is under investigation for payments routed through its Estonian branch, said it would sell Danica Pension to [...]
DEBATE: Do banks need to become fintechs in order to survive? December 10, 2018 Do banks need to become fintechs in order to survive? YES, says Lu Zurawski, consumer payments practice lead at ACI Worldwide. Big banks definitely need to find ways to become more like fintechs, which represent a new way of engaging with customers who increasingly expect modern, mobile-first and always-available services. These tech-savvy firms focus on customer-centric, informative [...]
Sabadell reportedly plans to sell TSB when it becomes profitable again December 7, 2018 Spanish lender Sabadell plans to eventually merge or sell its TSB unit once it has returned the bank to profitability, it is reported. Sabadell chairman Josep Oliu said options for the British bank, which was hit by a costly IT meltdown earlier this year, would be looked at in due course. “The aim is that TSB enters into a process [...]
UK scores top marks in anti-money laundering review December 7, 2018 The UK’s finance sector scored top marks in a review by a global anti-money laundering watchdog published today. However, due to its status as the largest financial services provider in the world, it still faces a “significant risk” of money laundering, the Paris-headquartered Financial Action Task Force said. While Britain has a “robust” regime to [...]