RBS: No-deal Brexit could send UK economy reeling October 4, 2018 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) boss Ross McEwan has warned that a no-deal Brexit could push the UK into another recession. Economic growth could fall flat or even turn negative if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, he told the BBC. Read more: 'End Brexit psychodrama' – Chamber of Commerce chief pleads with [...]
German digital bank N26 backed by Tencent and Peter Thiel launches in the UK October 4, 2018 A German digital bank backed by Tencent, Li Ka-shing and Peter Thiel will launch in the UK today with the aim of taking on the big high street banks and adding to the fierce competition among British app-only banks. N26, which already counts 1.5m customers across 17 European countries, has started rolling out its banking [...]
International Monetary Fund warns against financial regulation rollback October 3, 2018 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today cautioned against a “race to the bottom” on financial deregulation as it warned that regulators risk “fighting the last war” in the face of technological change. The Washington-based body said that “reform fatigue” could pose a risk to financial stability if regulation of systemically important institutions is reversed, in [...]
City watchdog boss rejects calls for financial services deregulation post-Brexit October 2, 2018 The chair of the Financial Conduct Authority today said that the City regulator will not engage in a “race to the bottom” after Brexit in a bid to preserve the UK’s position among global financial centres. Charles Randell said calls for deregulation from some quarters of the financial sector show that “some memories are beginning [...]
British Business Bank appoints new head of £2.5bn government-owned capital fund October 1, 2018 The British Business Bank (BBB) has appointed Catherine Lewis La Torre as the new head of its commercial patient capital fund. Lewis La Torre will take charge of British Patient Capital Ltd, responsible for investing a £2.5bn government funding package for UK venture and capital growth announced in last year's Autumn budget. The former head [...]
Standard Chartered reportedly facing $1.5bn Iran sanctions fine October 1, 2018 Standard Chartered is reportedly facing a fine of as much as $1.5bn (£1.15bn) from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for violating sanctions on Iran. The British bank could face the penalty by the end of the year, although final discussions have not yet begun, Bloomberg reported. The investigation into Standard Chartered’s activities is focused [...]
British banks ‘resilient’ even in no-deal Brexit, says Moody’s October 1, 2018 Britain’s banks have grown more “resilient” to shocks despite an increased likelihood of a no-deal Brexit, an influential credit ratings agency said today. Moody’s Investor Service said the UK banking sector has a “stable” outlook in spite of an expected decline in economic growth, in a report published today. Profitability for British lenders will improve [...]
Banco Santander issues warning on impact of Brexit uncertainty October 1, 2018 Spanish lender Banco Santander has warned that the uncertainty surrounding the UK's exit from the EU is likely to have an adverse impact on the bank's operations. In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank said that the lack of clarity on the Brexit deal for financial services and the status of [...]
Tesco Bank hit with £16.4m fine for ‘largely avoidable’ cyber attack October 1, 2018 The financial watchdog has slapped a hefty £16.4m fine on Tesco Bank for a "largely avoidable" cyber attack that hit customers in 2016. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the bank had failed to exercise "due skill, care and diligence in protecting its personal current account holders" in the breach, in which attackers gained £2.26m. The FCA's executive [...]
Danske Bank appoints interim chief exec after boss is ousted following €200bn money laundering scandal October 1, 2018 Danske Bank has appointed an interim chief exec after former boss Thomas Borgen left the firm following news of a €200bn (£177.8bn) money laundering scandal. Borgen announced his resignation last month, after an internal inquiry found that €200bn of payments, many of which Danske said were suspicious, had passed through its Estonian branch over an eight-year period. Its head of [...]