New small business account, Tide, launches today January 31, 2017 Small businesses on the hunt for a bank account have a new option from today, as Tide launches on iPhone, Android and web. The new app, the first aimed at companies, allows users to set up a fully functioning business account, complete with UK sort code and account number and a Tide Mastercard for daily expenses, [...]
Two ex-HBOS bankers among six convicted over corruption which cost the collapsed bank £250m January 30, 2017 Six people, including two ex-HBOS bankers, have been convicted over claims they drove businesses into the ground for their own gain, running up losses of around £250m for the now collapsed bank. Former banker David Mills, 60, his wife Alison Mills, 51, his associates Michael Bancroft, 73, and Tony Cartwright, 72, and HBOS employee Mark Dobson, 56, were all found [...]
The FCA says Tracey McDermott won’t share confidential information in new Standard Chartered role January 30, 2017 Andrew Bailey, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), today said Tracey McDermott will not share insider information with Standard Chartered from her time at the FCA. Yesterday, McDermott, former acting chief executive of the FCA, said she would join Standard Chartered (SCB) as group head of corporate, public and regulatory affairs effective 20 March. In a [...]
NatWest backtracks on plans to freeze UK account of Russian state broadcaster RT January 30, 2017 NatWest has reversed its decision to freeze the accounts of Russian state broadcaster RT. RT, formerly known as Russia Today, revealed a letter from NatWest announcing the freeze in October, with the broadcaster’s editor-in-chief condemning the move as an attack on freedom of speech. RT said NatWest announced plans to close the UK accounts of the [...]
Unicredit gets green light from European authorities paving the way for €13bn fundraise January 30, 2017 European authorities have not raised any issues with Unicredit breaching capital ratios after the bank convinced them it is merely a temporary problem and will be solved by its mammoth €13bn (£11bn) rights issue. Plans for Italy's largest lender to right-size its balance sheet appeared to have been dealt a blow after it revealed this morning it will [...]
Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley bosses rally behind staff after Trump travel ban January 30, 2017 The bosses of three US banking giants have moved to reassure staff after President Donald Trump introduced a travel ban over seven majority Muslim countries. In a voicemail sent to staff yesterday evening, Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein hit back at the policy, saying: "This is not a policy we support, and I would note that it has [...]
The government has sold more Lloyds Banking Group shares January 30, 2017 The government has sold more shares in Lloyds Banking Group, bringing its holding below the five per cent threshold. UK Financial Investments, which manages the government's stake in the bank, said today it now owns 4.998 per cent of the group. Shares in the bank dipped 1.4 per cent at the open. Until a few [...]
The first of many? TP Icap seals first deal under new banner January 30, 2017 Newly named financial broker TP Icap has made its first acquisition, picking up analytics and business consulting firm Burton-Taylor International. TP Icap has its own division providing independent real time information on over-the-counter financial product prices. Burton-Taylor will "complement" this division, TP Icap said. Read more: This high-profile City boss just sold his shares in new company TP Icap [...]
The City should welcome apprenticeships to build a higher-skilled economy for all January 30, 2017 The City of London Corporation recently announced its pledge to hire 100 new apprentices. This figure, combined with 17 current positions, will give 117 career-starters a role in the organisation. This echoes Sadiq Khan’s recent calls for more powers to build skills among London’s workforce – and to help keep the capital globally competitive in [...]
With reports Barclays has chosen Dublin for its EU HQ, will Ireland be the beneficiary of any City Brexodus? January 30, 2017 Daniel Mahoney, head of economic research at the Centre for Policy Studies, says Yes. Although Theresa May has provided a degree of clarity on the Brexit negotiations, remaining uncertainties mean that financial service firms will, inevitably, seek to implement some restructuring and contingency planning. Ireland is well placed to take advantage of this. Ireland shares [...]