Today's Banking Pulse
Mortgage refinance demand plunges 18% as rates climb to 6.65%
Refinance applications fell 18% week‑over‑week, dropping to 38% of total mortgage filings—the lowest share since June 2025. The average 30‑year fixed rate rose to 6.65%, while purchase‑loan volume edged down 0.4% and the average loan size hit $473,600.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OakNorth acquires Monite to boost business banking
Barclays Evaluates Blockchain-Based Settlement
Barclays is assessing blockchain‑based settlement platforms to integrate stablecoins and tokenized deposits, with a vendor expected to be chosen by April 2026. The move marks a reversal from its earlier cautious stance on crypto toward active blockchain investment. Barclays also joined a bank‑led consortium developing a reserve‑backed digital currency on a public blockchain, targeting G7‑pegged assets for cross‑border settlements. This initiative aligns with regulatory signals such as the US GENIUS Act, which formalizes a framework for dollar‑backed tokens.
PayPal, Rainforest Join Forces
PayPal announced a partnership with Atlanta‑based Rainforest to embed PayPal, Venmo and buy‑now‑pay‑later services directly into Rainforest’s software platform. The integration is designed to accelerate merchant payouts, cut late‑payment incidents and shift transaction volume away from cash and checks. Rainforest,...
Lloyds Stops Opening some Bank Accounts for Customers in Branches
Lloyds Banking Group announced it will no longer open joint, premium or student accounts in its branches, and staff will not switch customers from other providers. Customers seeking new accounts will be directed to the bank’s app or website, though...
Marqeta Flags Cash App Hit
Marqeta warned that Block’s revised Cash App pricing will compress its 2026 earnings, projecting a modest $10 million net income – the first profit since 2024. Block now represents about 45% of Marqeta’s revenue after falling from 68% in 2023, and the...
The Future of Japan’s Regional Banks: Demographics, Mergers, and a Tight Market
Japan’s regional banks, once pillars of local growth, now face shrinking deposits and borrowers as the nation records its 16th consecutive year of population decline. Consolidation is accelerating, highlighted by the 2025 Aomori Bank‑Michinoku Bank merger that now controls about...
Global Stocks: Barclays Shares Fall as Collapse of UK Specialist Mortgage Lender Revives Wider Worries
Barclays shares slipped 1.6% after reports it faces roughly £600 million exposure to the collapsed UK specialist mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS). The fallout also highlighted potential losses for Santander and Jefferies, underscoring broader concerns about the fast‑growing private‑credit market....
Braddick to Take the Helm at the UK’s Banking Watchdog
Katharine Braddick has been appointed Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation and Chief Executive of the PRA, effective 1 July, for a five‑year term. She moves from Barclays, where she served as Group Head of Strategic Policy, bringing rare private‑sector banking experience...
Banks Need to Rethink How They Train Staff to Fight Financial Crime
Banks are confronting a financial‑crime threat that evolves faster than their compliance training cycles. The profession suffers from a thin talent pipeline, with most hires arriving mid‑career and no standardized academic path. Current training is static, annual, and siloed, while...
Banks Need to Choose Carefully Between Public and Private Blockchains
Stellar’s CEO warns banks that choosing between private and public blockchain infrastructures will create lasting path dependencies. With the tokenized real‑world‑asset market valued around $33 billion, banks are already piloting blockchain‑based settlement and fund tokenization. The article outlines three critical questions—who...
Fat Brands Says that Bond Investors Knew What They Were Getting Into
Fat Brands, the parent of Fazoli's and 15 other restaurant chains, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2024. Lenders have pushed for a court‑appointed trustee, alleging CEO Andy Wiederhorn misused company funds for personal loans, bonuses, and an unauthorized stock...
Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank Test Agentic AI for Trade Surveillance
Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank are piloting agentic artificial intelligence for trade surveillance, moving beyond static rule‑based alerts to systems that reason over real‑time trading patterns. Deutsche Bank is collaborating with Google Cloud to build AI agents that flag complex...
KKR’s FSK Fund Sees Spike in Troubled Loans
KKR’s publicly traded credit vehicle, FS KKR Capital Corp, dropped 15% after reporting a surge in troubled loans and a cut to its dividend. The $13 billion portfolio, dominated by private‑equity‑backed mid‑market loans, is seeing rising defaults and mark‑to‑market losses, especially...
Why Delivery Matters More than Vision in Payments Reform
The UK has published its Strategy for Future Retail Payments Infrastructure, moving the conversation from high‑level vision to concrete delivery. Early design decisions—such as system architecture, sequencing, and operational responsibilities—will dictate cost, resilience, and user experience. Brazil’s PIX instant‑payment platform...
Things Worth Reading: 27th February 2026
Block announced a 40% workforce reduction, cutting 4,000 jobs and citing AI‑driven efficiency gains. Klarna reported US$1 bn in revenue, positioning itself for further global expansion. The UK introduced stricter buy‑now‑pay‑later regulations, aiming to curb predatory lending, while Lloyds halted new...
Souhoola Gains Approval for New Prepaid Card in Partnership with Banque Misr, Visa, and Modupay
Egyptian fintech Souhoola has secured initial regulatory approval to launch a reloadable prepaid card in collaboration with Banque Misr, Visa, and payment‑technology firm Modupay. The card will be instantly activatable via an app, allowing real‑time balance tracking, cash withdrawals and...
CGSS Explained: ₹20 Crore Credit Boost Every Indian Startup Must Know
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) has been upgraded to offer up to ₹20 crore guarantee per borrower, doubling the previous limit. The 2025 amendments introduce tiered coverage—85% for loans up to ₹10 crore and 75% beyond—while adjusting annual guarantee fees...
Figure Doubles Consumer Loan Volume and Adds Auto Lending
Figure Technology Solutions reported a 131% year‑over‑year surge in its Consumer Loan Marketplace, reaching $2.7 billion in Q4 2025. More than half of that volume, $1.5 billion, flowed through its newly launched Figure Connect platform, marking a rapid shift toward a capital‑light...
OCC May Give Senators Warren and Scott Access to Trump Bank Application
The OCC’s comptroller, Jonathan Gould, indicated he will consider providing Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tim Scott with the unredacted bank charter application of World Liberty Financial, a Trump‑family‑linked DeFi firm. The application, submitted in January, seeks a national trust bank...
Renaissance at Market Speed: UK Wholesale Finance in 2026
At the Goldman Sachs EMEA Head of Trading conference, FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi outlined a sweeping reform agenda aimed at cementing the UK’s position as a global wholesale‑finance hub. He highlighted recent regulatory wins – from tighter market‑abuse enforcement...
PBOC Cuts FX Risk Reserve Ratio to 0%, Slowing Yuan Appreciation
China's PBOC will cut the foreign‑exchange risk reserve ratio for forward FX sales from 20% to 0% starting March 2, 2026. The move aims to ease hedging costs, curb excessive yuan appreciation, and signal a shift from emergency policy tools....
Fed Sets Reserve Levels; SOFR‑IORB Gap Signals Bank Comfort
No, it tells you there are still very large quantities of reserves in the system as a result of QE. Banks collectively are obliged to hold all the reserves issued by the Fed. The quantity of reserves in the system...
European Wealth Firms Rally Against AI-Driven Client Loss
European wealth managers hit back after fears #AI will make them obsolete: Europe’s top wealth firms are rushing to defend themselves against advances in AI after the launch of a tax-planning tool in the US intensified concerns that tech disruption would...
BlackRock TCP Capital Corp (TCPC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
BlackRock TCP Capital Corp (TCPC) reported Q2 2025 results showing nonaccruals fell to 3.7% of portfolio fair value, down from 4.4% in the prior quarter, while net asset value slipped due to markdowns on restructured assets. The $1.8 billion portfolio stayed...
Automation Boosts Call Center Quality Without Sacrificing Trust
Modernizing call center operations can improve service quality and increase conversion opportunities. Automation doesn’t have to erode trust. We explore this with @zaygranet, CEO of @usebland. Watch the full episode: https://t.co/XXRymkLwFx https://t.co/lVvoajEUEM
DBS and Visa Launch AI-Powered Tokenized Payments Pilot
The future of payments is here. DBS and Visa are bridging TradFi and Web3 with the pilot of Visa Intelligent Commerce AI agents can browse, select, and purchase real-world goods securely using tokenized credit card credentials. DBS and Visa collaborate to advance...
Addi Secures $89M From Citi
Colombian fintech Addi secured $89 million in structured financing from Citi, adding to the $71 million debt facility it raised in November 2025. The funding brings Addi's total recent debt to roughly $160 million, supporting its buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) platform that offers instant point‑of‑sale credit....
Banks Miss AI Mark: Rethink Your Strategy
Excited to be speaking at the NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum in Zurich next week, exploring why many financial institutions are missing the mark in my keynote 'Your Bank’s AI Strategy Is Wrong.' Register here: https://t.co/xTKmiFTVt8 https://t.co/nY4oh47Y7A
Emerging Risks, Bank Consolidation, Quantum Computing Near Production
I've just released my weekly wrap-up. 1️⃣ A public view on Emerging Risks 2️⃣ Re-aggregating banks 3️⃣ Quantum Computing gets closer to production 👉 https://t.co/P2HDzCRgWS — fgtrends
Moderate Credit Growth Expected in 2026 as Lending Normalizes : Analysis
TransUnion projects moderate credit growth for 2026, with mortgage originations rising 4.0% and unsecured personal loans expanding 11.2%. Credit‑card originations are slated for a modest 2.0% increase, while auto‑loan originations may dip 1.5%. The outlook emphasizes disciplined underwriting supported by...
PayPal’s Bitcoin Play Forecasted PYUSD’s Payments Shift
#FlashbackFriday In 2020, I said PayPal’s Bitcoin move wasn’t about Bitcoin at all, but about positioning for a very different payments landscape. PYUSD has since filled in the blanks. https://t.co/IryLfol0XZ Yesterday’s future. Progress optional. #Stablecoins #Paypal #PYUSD
Decouple Payments From Credit with New Technology
New on the not-a-newsletter... The Cap Fits https://t.co/1SFmSdzq9b Maybe it’s time to rethink credit cards and use all the options provided by new technology to decouple the payment system from credit. https://t.co/auLNZL8z9W
Stars Align for Passkeys but Will Adoption Follow?
Credential‑based fraud and login friction are eroding conversion for high‑value e‑commerce shoppers, prompting merchants to seek stronger, lower‑friction authentication. Passkeys, built on FIDO public‑key cryptography and unlocked via biometrics or PIN, promise to eliminate password reuse and phishing risk. PayPal...
Syfe Launches JPMorgan Active ETF Strategy as First WealthTech Partner
🇸🇬 Syfe becomes first #WealthTech partner to launch JPM AM's active ETF strategy: While #JPMorgan provides research insights and market perspectives, @SyfeSG remains responsible for all portfolio decisions. @financialit_net. #WealthManagement https://t.co/aJqdfpeMKr
China Cuts Shorting Costs, Drops 20% Reserve on Yuan Forwards
China Moves to Tame Yuan Rally by Slashing Shorting Costs—Chinese banks won’t be required to set aside a 20% risk reserve on forward currency trades https://t.co/myGXkMjp6X https://t.co/myGXkMjp6X
Foreclosure Starts Surge to Early 2020 Levels
The national delinquency rate slipped to 3.65% in January, yet foreclosure starts surged to 42,000, matching early‑2020 levels. Late‑stage delinquencies rose 104,000 year‑over‑year, pushing the count of borrowers 90+ days delinquent to a July 2022 high. While mortgage rates fell, pre‑payment...
HELOCs for High-Income Earners: Jumbo Credit Lines, $1M Limits, and Strategic Uses
High‑income homeowners can secure jumbo HELOCs ranging from $500,000 to over $1 million, with approval hinging on equity, liquidity, and credit strength rather than salary alone. These lines let borrowers preserve low‑rate first mortgages while unlocking equity for luxury renovations, business...
HELOC for High Income Earners: A Complete Guide for 2026
The Mortgage Reports released a comprehensive 2026 guide on home‑equity lines of credit (HELOC) tailored for high‑income earners. It outlines that borrowers with a debt‑to‑income ratio below 43%, at least 15‑20% home equity, and credit scores over 700 typically secure...
Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Delinquency Rate Increased in January
Freddie Mac reported its single‑family serious delinquency rate rose to 0.60% in January, a marginal increase from December’s 0.59% and slightly below the 0.61% recorded a year earlier. Fannie Mae’s comparable rate edged up to 0.59% from 0.58% in December,...
Block Swaps 4,000 Workers for AI
Block, the fintech firm behind Cash App, Square and Afterpay, announced a 40% workforce reduction, cutting roughly 4,000 jobs and shrinking headcount from 10,000 to just over 6,000. CEO Jack Dorsey said the move is driven by rapid advances in...
High-Yield Account or CD: Which Is the Better Option Right Now for Your Down Payment Savings?
Prospective homebuyers need to maximize returns on down‑payment savings while preserving liquidity. High‑yield savings accounts (HYSA) currently offer 3.3‑4.5% APY, whereas six‑month certificates of deposit (CD) provide slightly higher fixed rates around 4.0‑4.1%. The choice hinges on the buyer’s timeline:...
Reimagining KYC
Capgemini released a whitepaper outlining perpetual KYC, a shift from periodic, manual reviews to near‑real‑time, event‑driven monitoring. Early adopters report 20‑40% fewer false positives, 40‑60% faster onboarding, and 50‑70% reduction in case backlogs. The proposed pKYC triad blends data modernization,...
RBC's U.S. Wealth Unit Defies Inflow Slump with Asset Surge
Royal Bank of Canada’s U.S. wealth management unit posted a 12% year‑over‑year asset increase to $777.2 billion in its fiscal Q1 2026, despite net new inflows dropping more than half to $4.9 billion. The division added roughly $180 billion in assets over the...
More States Are Tightening Their Gift Card Regulations
In 2025, 22 U.S. states introduced legislation aimed at curbing gift‑card fraud, a sharp rise from eight states the previous year. While many bills increase criminal penalties, several also impose new duties on merchants, such as conspicuous fraud warnings and...
Bluprynt Secures $4.25M Seed, Bridges Compliance to On‑Chain
Truly big news today: I’m delighted to share that my startup @blupryntco has completed its oversubscribed $4.25m seed raise. Thanks to an all star roster of investors including @valorcapgroup @CultivationCap @RobinhoodApp @cbventures @QuonaCapital @FlourishVC @SelahVentures and Kazea for joining...
Digital Adoption Drives the Future of Financial Services
The future of financial services is digital. Whether you want to play that way or not. Consumers are opening accounts and transacting digitally more than ever before. https://t.co/mif0VDdckX
Kananga Launches Tokenized MMF. CIMB Partners Ant for Tokenized Deposits
Kenanga Investment Bank has unveiled its Myrra tokenization platform, issuing two tokenized money‑market funds on the Stellar blockchain – a first for Malaysia. At the same time, CIMB, the country’s second‑largest bank, announced a partnership with Ant International to explore...
Crypto.com's $15M Trump Donation Raises Charter Conflict
Crypto .com parent co donated a combined $15M to Trump entities. It just received conditional approval of its trust bank charter app. Even if these things AREN'T related, and I hope they're not, the appearance of a conflict of interest is...
Banks to Embed Wallets Directly in Online Banking
🎯+ wait until you see what @Vantage_Bank & @custodiabank are delivering to a consortium of banks that abstracts away the complexity of wallets *INSIDE* the banking system, accessible from your online banking page. I gave an interview to @BankDirector on...
Digital Transformation at Santander: How Platform Engineering Is Revolutionizing Cloud Infrastructure
Santander launched Catalyst, a platform‑engineering solution built with AWS, to overhaul its cloud infrastructure. The initiative replaces a 90‑day manual provisioning process with an automated, Kubernetes‑based control plane that leverages Crossplane, ArgoCD, and OPA. By consolidating over 100 pipelines, Catalyst...
Effective Onboarding Fuels Customer Retention and Revenue
You cannot expect strong relationships with weak onboarding. A well structured digital process directly impacts retention and revenue. Download The Power of Customer Permissioned Data for free: https://t.co/0wah7wPuXN https://t.co/QvZQSHbMI8