By: Samuel Norman

Senior City Reporter Samuel is a Senior City Reporter covering banking and fintech as well as stories on capital markets and economics. He also leads on City AM's morning liveblog from 7am everyday. He has previously written for the Daily Mail and The i Paper and worked for Sky News as an election stringer. He enjoys writing in-depth analysis of major blue-chip firms and start-ups and also industry trends. He can be contacted at samuel.norman@cityam.com and posts on LinkedIn and X at x.com/samnormanwrites.

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Deal fever: Banking giants plot takeovers to ramp up market share

June 18, 2025

British banking is poised for a major shake-up as top names go on the hunt for fresh acquisitions. Lenders have been scouting new deals that would send shockwaves across the industry. Much of the prospective dealmaking involves London lender Shawbrook, whose private equity owners have been circling high street bank Metro. Ahead of this, Shawbrook [...]
Financial services firms expected to dump green finance and DEI

June 18, 2025

The financial services industry is taking a dramatic step back from green finance and diversity policies. Over half of UK senior financial professionals believe their leadership will place less focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies in the coming years. Meanwhile, a similar proportion, 54 per cent, believe diversity, equality and inclusion commitments will [...]
Natwest top pick to acquire TSB

June 17, 2025

British banking juggernaut Natwest Group has been pegged as the “most likely acquirer” of TSB Bank. Natwest returned to private ownership last month, ending a nearly two-decade-long banking saga and setting the lender up for a deals spree. The bank has purchased over £5bn worth of shares from the Treasury as part of its directed buyback [...]
Dollar weakens as ‘confidence in US assets continues to erode’

June 17, 2025

The US dollar’s traditional safe-haven status has continued to take a bruising, as investors shun the currency amid rising global tensions. The dollar index (DXY) – which tracks the dollar’s value against a basket of currencies – has tumbled to around 98, compared to nearly 110 at the beginning of the year, as the currency [...]
Barclays calls in McKinsey to find savings in investment arm

June 17, 2025

Barclays has tapped global consultancy giant McKinsey in a bid to identify cost-saving areas across its investment banking arm. The FTSE 100 bank is looking to simplify its investment bank, with consultants examining the front office, finance, risk and technology divisions. The consultants will be looking at duplication of work and whether tasks can be [...]
Secure Trust Bank taps Labour donor tied to cronyism scandal as new boss

June 17, 2025

An ex-Treasury director who was at the heart of Labour’s “cronyism” scandal has been tapped to take the helm at specialist lender Secure Trust Bank. Ian Corfield, who also spent nearly a decade as chief commercial officer of New Day, will replace retiring chief executive David McReadie. Corfield stepped down from his civil servant role [...]
Banco Sabadell weighing sale of TSB Bank

June 17, 2025

Banco Sabadell is mulling the sale of its British high street bank TSB after receiving expressions of interest. The Spanish lender confirmed last night that it has been approached regarding a potential takeover. Sabadell is reportedly working with advisers to examine the sale of the high street lender and has been in contact with potential [...]
Simply: Fintech SME lender expands loan book as firms turn to debt finance

June 17, 2025

Simply Asset Finance notched a record loan total in the last year as firms turned to debt financing to fuel their expansion plans. The UK lender to small- and medium-sized enterprises topped £1.75bn in the total cumulative value of all loans they’ve approved and funded after the firm’s loan book expanded by £505m over 2024. [...]
Paragon Bank shares jump after analysts hike target

June 16, 2025

Shares in Paragon Banking Group jumped on Monday after analysts reiterated their ‘Buy’ rating. The FTSE 250 bank’s stock climbed over two per cent in afternoon trading, reaching 908.50p. This came after Peel Hunt analysts upped their target price on the lender to 1,030p from 950p. “The group’s capital and funding position remain strong, with [...]
Peel Hunt: UK stock market held back by ‘lack of self esteem’

June 16, 2025

The boss of City broker Peel Hunt has said London markets are being held back by a “domestic lack of self esteem”. Steven Fine, Peel Hunt’s chief executive, told City AM the UK believes it is in “a lot worse shape than the rest of the world does,” which has led to a cheapening of [...]

My ride in a helicopter over London as Leonardo expands its UK presence

2026 World Cup: England only attract half as many bets as Norway to lift trophy

Old Pulteney releases 50-year-old whisky for 200th anniversary

By: Samuel Norman

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