WARC (May 29)
“The digital revolution in India is creating a level playing field for Indians across class and gender divisions, as financial services become more accessible because of the country’s digital footprint, lower data costs, and the rise in online payments.” Not only is digital transformation leading to “positive change throughout the financial system,” it is providing “strong impetus for social betterment and inclusiveness.”
Tags: Accessible, Class, Data costs, Digital revolution, Financial services, Gender, Inclusiveness, India, Online payments, Positive change, Social betterment
New York Times (September 9)
“The crypto revolution is bringing financial services to the unbanked, but not without risks.” The crypto “market is expanding quickly — in all sorts of directions,” giving rise to new “Shadow Banks.” Crypto customers “can earn much higher interest rates than at traditional banks, and they can borrow money, using crypto as collateral, often with no credit checks,” but the potential dangers include hacks, fraud, and the lack of FDIC protection for deposits.
Tags: Borrow, Collateral, Credit checks, Crypto, Financial services, Fraud, Hacks, Interest rates, Revolution, Risks, Shadow banks, Unbanked
Reuters (October 4)
Though Ireland still expects negative impacts from Brexit, the country is busy making lemonade with what otherwise might just be lemons. “Ireland’s central bank has seen a surge in financial services firms seeking to set up or extend their operations in Ireland as a result of Brexit and is processing over 100 applications.” So far, Barclays, Legal & General Investment Management and Standard Life Aberdeen are among the companies who have chosen Dublin as a post-Brexit base.”
Tags: Applications, Barclays, Brexit, Central bank, Dublin, Financial services, Ireland, Legal & General, Negative impacts, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surge
Barron’s (March 7)
“Today, in response to a campaign by sustainable investors Arjuna Capital and Walden Asset Management, American Express (AXP) became the seventh financial-services company since Jan. 15 to agree to take steps to publish and close the pay gap between male and female employees. The others are Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Bank of New York Mellon (BK), Mastercard (MA), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).”
Tags: American Express, Arjuna Capital, Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, Campaign, Citigroup, Financial services, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, Pay gap, Sustainable investors, Walden Asset Management, Wells Fargo
Newsweek (February 8)
“A hard “Brexit could threaten 30,000 jobs in London’s world-class finance sector,” according to a recent report, if the firms “lose their ‘passport’ to operate across the EU.” Of course, nobody will really know until Brexit transpires, but the same study suggests “17 percent of all U.K. banking assets might be on the move as a result of Brexit” and the U.K.’s share of the European financial services market could contract from the current 90% to around 60%.
Economist (January 5, 2011)
The EU and Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced guidelines governing bonuses for the financial service sector. The Economist is not impressed, characterizing the guidelines “as remarkable and unhealthy regulation.” The Economist laments that “bad bonus rules are worse than bad bonuses” and may have unintended consequences that increase, rather than decrease, risk.
Tags: Bonuses, EU, Financial services, FSA
