Our biggest stories of the week are ...
We had a great meeting at the Financial Services Club this week with Lazaro Campos, CEO of SWIFT. Lazaro took part in a one to one interview about SWIFT’s past, present and future, and delved into many areas that were...
Innovators break the rules: here comes Apple's iWallet
I did a speech about innovation yesterday. As usual, the opening question was: “which is the most innovative company in the world?” and, as usual, the answer shouted back was: “Apple”. Apple. The firm everyone wants to be like because...
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Mobile payments is so hot right now, it burns
I said that I had been chairing a conference on payments last week. The conference is the International Payments Summit, one of my annual favourites. It now has quite a wide ranging remit, from SEPA and European payments through all...
I've been having a bit of a Richard Branson overload this week. Everywhere I go and look, he's there. He's on TV, in the papers, in my specialist magazines and even at the tradeshows I go to. What's going on?...
Have you taken our survey on European Payments yet? Click here to take the survey and get a free copy of the research report in May.
When It Pays to Pay Your Investment Banker
Just stumbled across a fascinating paper about bulge bracket brokers, and whether they are worth their salt or not. They found that if you were making a public listing for the first time, the returns were over one percent higher than if the firm used an adviser outside the top tier.
First-Ever TEDx Wall Street
As mentioned the other day, we are a media partner with the first ever TEDx Wall Street, taking place on 30th March in New York. I'll be there, as will many other leaders and entrepreneurs from various industries who will convene at the New York Stock Exchange to share innovative and compelling ideas …
Have you taken our survey on European Payments yet? Click here to take the survey and get a free copy of the research report in May.
The major general news stories of the week include ...
Sale of Lloyds branches to the Co-op close to collapse - The Telegraph
Controversial sale of Lloyds branches looks to be in trouble, increasing the likelihood the business may now be spun off in a stock market flotation.
Goldman Sachs in hunt for 'muppet' email - The Telegraph
Goldman Sachs has started scanning emails for the term "muppet" as the Wall Street bank investigates allegations made in an explosive public resignation letter by a former employee last week.
RBS sold complex swap to 19 year old first-time landlord - The Telegraph
Jessica Naraghi's bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, required her to take out an interest rate swap to protect her from a debt she did not have
Vatican Bank faces fresh controversy - The Telegraph
Thirty years after it was entangled in a scandal involving the mafia, money laundering and the mysterious death of the man nicknamed "God's banker", the Vatican bank faces fresh controversy.
Banks 'set for more job losses' - The Independent
Further job losses in the banking sector are on the way, a report said today, after the eurozone debt crisis, compensation costs and higher taxes slashed the combined profits of the UK's five biggest banks.
Banks to restructure as revenues tumble - The Telegraph
Banks will be forced to radically restructure their businesses as they find it harder to make money from their investment banking arms, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.
City's shock as Sants walks out on the FSA before split - The Independent
In a shock move that could damage the Government's attempt to create a radical financial regulatory regime, the Financial Services Authority's chief executive Hector Sants quit yesterday.
Goldman banker's fiery letter wins high-level support - The Independent
Greg Smith, the departing banker who declared that Goldman Sachs suffered from a "toxic" habit of ripping off its clients, won support from an unlikely source last night: the great-grandson of the Wall Street firm's founder.
NBNK chief Gary Hoffman's 'meeting' with Co-op riles investors - The Telegraph
Revelations that NBNK's chief executive Gary Hoffman met the bank's main bid rival to discuss defecting has sparked concern among some of its biggest investors.
The financial crisis is at the heart of the problems with Solvency II - The Telegraph
Solvency II is not a subject likely to excite the hearts of the British consumer.
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Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...
