The Bank of England is all but certain to slash rates next week after Martin Weale’s declaration July 26, 2016 Another member of the Bank of England's rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) has signalled their intent to vote in favour of slashing interest rates at next week's meeting, pushing expectations of a cut to a near-certainty. Martin Weale, an independent member of MPC said today in the Financial Times last week's disappointing purchasing managers' index (PMI) had [...]
Businesses react angrily as RBS tells business customers: We may charge you to hold your deposits if interest rates go negative July 26, 2016 Businesses have reacted angrily after RBS and its subsidiary, NatWest, wrote to business customers to warn that they may have to charge them to hold deposits if interest rates go negative. In a letter to business and commercial banking customers, the lender wrote that it was making a number of changes to their terms and conditions – [...]
NatWest launches a not-so-small fund for small businesses July 18, 2016 NatWest will say this morning that it has faith in small businesses, while launching a £1bn fund. The bank is launching a new lending fund, which is designed to support the growth of businesses across England and Wales which have not yet broken the £2m mark for turnover. "Small businesses make up more than 99 per [...]
Ladies who don’t lunch: Maike Currie talks to Christine Johnson about bonds, bubbles and being a rebel July 14, 2016 "I am definitely a bond person,” says Christine Johnson, head of fixed income at Old Mutual Global Investors. We’re having lunch at Spring restaurant in Somerset House and I am beginning to understand what Christine means when she says that as a fund manager you need to “live your job”. She likens her personality to [...]
Challenger banks creep into the worldwide ranks, but it might not be time to celebrate just yet June 29, 2016 Challengers are making their presence felt in the banking world, with two well-known names making their way into a worldwide ranking for the first time this year. According to The Banker's Top 1,000 Banks rankings for 2016, which was published today and ranks institutes by their tier one capital, Metro has placed 969th, while Sainsbury's Bank ranked at [...]
Five of the best: Ethical banks to stash your savings June 22, 2016 Banks have been mired in scandal over the last decade. The 2008 financial crisis has been followed by countless investigations and fines. Big banks have variously been caught out for mis-selling products, violating sanctions and manipulating prices of gold, silver, currencies, and libor interest rates. Not surprisingly, headlines have been filled with ire over banks’ unseemly [...]
RBS has pushed back the launch of Williams & Glyn, fuelling buyout speculation June 20, 2016 RBS has put off the marketing push for its new/old Williams & Glyn brand until the first quarter of 2017. The Sunday Times reported that the lender will now put off its marketing activities until the beginning of next year. Under rules set out by the regulator after RBS' £45bn taxpayer bailout in 2008, it [...]
A bank is close to replacing Waitrose as the main sponsor of English cricket June 17, 2016 Waitrose is set to be replaced as the main sponsor of English cricket by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) offshoot Natwest, reports have suggested. The supermarket announced in February that 2016 will be its last year as the main partner of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Today Sky News reported RBS was in advanced [...]
City Moves for 7 June 2016 | Who’s switching jobs June 7, 2016 Ashurst International law firm Ashurst has announced that Dave Rome, managing director, head of EMEA loan markets at RBS, will be joining the firm as strategic director – corporate lending. Dave has spent over 25 years at RBS and NatWest, working in the UK and Europe as well as spending six years in Asia. In [...]
City Moves for 27 May 2016 | Who’s switching jobs May 27, 2016 Payne Hicks Beach Central London law firm Payne Hicks Beach has announced that Virginia Farquharson, a chartered accountant, has been appointed to the newly created director of management role, following the retirement of Peter Black, as managing partner. Virginia has enjoyed a long career at Payne Hicks Beach for over two decades, principally as director [...]