UK banks differ from US on AI strategy February 20, 2025 Banks in the UK are more likely to focus artificial intelligence (AI) strategy on improving customer experience compared to their US rivals, a new report has revealed. NTT Data’s ‘Intelligent Banking in the Age of AI’ found 52 per cent of UK banks were using AI to enhance customer services, rather than cut jobs. This [...]
Reeves told to improve investment incentives by industry bosses February 19, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been told by top global financial firms she needs to ease investment taxes, sources told Reuters. In a meeting with executives from JPMorgan, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Fidelity, Schroders and abrdn on Wednesday, Reeves was told to improve tax incentives for UK consumers. The latest summit in Reeves’ bid for [...]
HSBC pushes net-zero target back 20 years February 19, 2025 HSBC has put a 20-year delay on its climate target which aims to reduce emissions across the bank’s operations. Announcing its annual results Wednesday morning, the FTSE 100 giant’s new boss Georges Elhedery confirmed a delay on its net zero policy. The Big Four bank had announced plans in 2020 to achieve net zero across [...]
HSBC shares dip after profit beats expectations February 19, 2025 HSBC surpassed analyst profit expectations in its annual results as its new boss reiterated its focus on slashing costs. The FTSE 100 lender published its first set of results with Georges Elhedery at the helm this morning, covering the fourth quarter and full-year 2024. Shares in the banking giant rose one per cent following market open, [...]
Barclays shares near post-financial crisis high February 18, 2025 Shares in Barclays closed in on a post-financial crisis high on Tuesday morning. The stock has surged higher over the past 12 months due to improved investor sentiment towards the banking sector thanks to higher interest rates. Shares rallied to a high of 310.20p following market open, touching highs not witnessed since the rebound of [...]
UK fintech investment hits four-year low February 18, 2025 Fintech investment in the UK had another sluggish year with new data showing it sunk to a four-year low in 2024. KPMG’s bi-annual fintech report showed UK fintech investment fell by 27 per cent to £7.9bn last year, down from £10.1bn in 2023. Despite this, the UK managed to scoop up more funding than France, [...]
Lloyds Bank urged to release full HBOS review February 17, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group has been told it must publish a “full copy” of the long-delayed report into the mishandling of the HBOS Reading scandal. Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the Treasury Committee, has backed campaigners’ calls for Lloyds to be transparent in private correspondence obtained by The Times. This follows Lloyds’ pledge to “fulfil any [...]
Borrowing boom to boost banks February 17, 2025 Banks have been given a boost after new data predicted borrowing growth would rise throughout 2025. After the Bank of England slashed interest rates three times in the last six months, research from EY Item Club anticipates total UK bank lending will rise to 3.7 per cent this year, up from 2.3 per cent in [...]
HSBC set to unveil bigger profits as cost-cutting overhaul in focus February 16, 2025 HSBC is set to unveil bigger profits as investors prepare for an update on the bank’s cost-cutting overhaul, while earnings for Lloyds will be in focus amid a long-running motor finance probe. Rivals Barclays and NatWest set the tone for the banking sector when they reported stronger earnings this week, despite UK interest rates starting [...]
Nigel Farage exploring private prosecution against Natwest February 14, 2025 The reform leader Nigel Farage is reported to have instructed a legal council to explore private criminal proceedings against Natwest Group over the debanking row