Starling’s profit slides as falling interest rates bite May 21, 2026 Starling’s profit took a dip in the latest financial year as the lower interest rate environment took a chunk out of the digital bank’s bottom line. The UK fintech notched a £217m pre-tax profit, down three per cent from the £223m secured in the prior year. This came as revenue slipped 5.6 per cent to [...]
Nationwide income soars on consumer lending boost May 21, 2026 Nationwide booked a hefty jump in its annual income as the building society benefited from a boost in consumer lending and clawed out a bigger market share of mortgage balances. The mutual recorded a 22 per cent jump in total income to £6.4bn, which was up from £5.2bn in the previous year, led by a [...]
AI will ‘destroy and create jobs,’ says HSBC boss May 20, 2026 The boss of Europe’s largest bank has warned that the growth of AI will both “destroy” and “create” new jobs as the banking industry continues to be reshaped in the face of new technology. Georges Elhedery, chief executive of HSBC, warned that the bank’s staff must avoid “fighting us” as it unveiled its latest AI [...]
The Square Mile gets its fourth City Minister – could it soon get its fifth? May 20, 2026 Four City minsters later, in this week’s column Samuel Norman takes a look at the blow to the Square Mile from the latest reshuffle. Also on the agenda: Revolut’s plans for the high net worth faces off with ambitions of incumbents. “Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes…” So goes the lyrics [...]
Deutsche Bank hit with six-figure fine in UK for breaching Russia sanctions May 19, 2026 Deutsche Bank has been slapped with a six-figure fine by the Treasury’s financial sanctions body for processing payments that breached sanctions on Russia. The German multinational investment bank has been handed a £160,000 fine after it was found to have authorised two payments linked to a sanctioned Russian firm between the periods of June and [...]
UK finance workers weigh quitting over back-to-office mandates May 19, 2026 Financial services workers are weighing quitting their roles if their companies mandate office attendance amid a deepening feud between managers and employees. Nearly six in ten employees in the finance sector said requirements around their office presence is making them more likely to leave their role, according to new research from City recruiter Morgan McKinley. [...]
Monzo’s profit rockets as customer base grows by a quarter May 19, 2026 UK fintech darling Monzo posted a mammoth profit jump in the last financial year as its customer base swelled. The neobank’s pre-tax profit came in at £87.3m, 44 per cent higher than the £60m scored in 2024. The increase came as revenue stormed 40 per cent higher to £1.7bn. Monzo’s total users ballooned 25 per [...]
Jamie Dimon’s iron grip on JP Morgan threatens investor rebellion May 18, 2026 Jamie Dimon’s iron grip on JP Morgan comes under the microscope at the Wall Street giant’s annual general meeting on Tuesday as the banking exec looks to fend off an investor rebellion. The world’s most influential banker is facing an activist offensive that targets splitting up the chief executive and chair role – two positions [...]
Rachel Reeves reforms ring-fencing in boost to Natwest and Lloyds May 18, 2026 Rachel Reeves has handed a major boost to the likes of Natwest and Lloyds with an overhaul of the ring-fencing regime in hopes to free up capital to be invested into the UK. The Treasury has unveiled a shakeup of the 15-year-old legislation, which requires major banks to separate their retail banking operations from their [...]
Emergency lifeline for collapsed banks doubled to £3bn May 18, 2026 The emergency credit fund that serves as a lifeline for collapsed lenders has been doubled as a result of “recent regulatory and operational developments”. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – working in tandem with the Treasury and Bank of England – has hiked its revolving credit facility capacity to £3bn from £1.45bn previously. The [...]