Today's Banking Pulse
Mortgage refinance demand falls 18% as rates climb to 6.65%
Refinance applications dropped 18% week-over-week, with the average 30-year fixed rate rising to 6.65%, the highest since August 2025. Refinance filings now represent just 38% of total mortgage applications, the lowest share since June 2025, while purchase‑loan volume edged down 0.4% and average loan size hit $473,600.
How CBA Unlocked 90 Percent of Its Customer and Transaction Data
Commonwealth Bank completed a migration from an on‑premises SAP R/3 mainframe to an SAP S/4 HANA core hosted on AWS in October 2023. The new in‑memory architecture cut infrastructure costs by 30% and boosted processing performance by the same margin, handling up to 5,000 transactions per second. Real‑time data streams now feed Amazon SageMaker, Bedrock and AgentCore, enabling AI‑driven personalization and fraud detection. Resilience improved dramatically, with the recovery time objective dropping from 90 minutes to 16 minutes after deep engineering with SAP, Red Hat and AWS.
Global Imbalances Drive International Payments Problems
A bit more on section 122 -- Adam Tooze noted that the simplest read of "international payments problems" is a problem of global imbalances manifest by large surpluses and large (U.S.) deficits 1/ https://t.co/86nmn36jP7
Fast, Cheap Blockchain Payments Threaten Traditional Financial Trust
The blockchain provides lightning fast, nearly free, payment exchanges w/ abundant opportunities to build a new payments system. It also opens the door to undoing the trust the U.S. financial system is known for. 👇
Toronto Mortgage Delinquencies Hit 13-Year High, Vancouver Quietly Follows
Mortgage delinquency rates in Canada’s two largest housing markets rose sharply in Q3 2025. Toronto’s rate climbed to 0.27%, a 4.5‑fold increase from its 2021 low and the highest level since 2012. Vancouver’s delinquency rate reached 0.19%, more than double its...
Clarity Act Helps Banks, Blocks Stablecoin Interest
The Clarity Act, promoted as good for crypto, is actually a win for banks. It allows them to enter the crypto space while keeping any interest earned, effectively regulating stablecoin companies and preventing them from offering interest. #CryptoRegulation #ClarityAct #IvanClips...
Predicting PM Reaction to AI News Gives Edge
i should have realized a widely shared article on social media that mentioned credit card AI disruption would cause $AXP & $V to sell off today. PMs are shooting first and asking questions later. figuring out how PMs will react...
Crypto.com Secures Conditional Approval for National Trust Bank Charter
Crypto.com has secured conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter Foris Dax National Trust Bank, operating as Crypto.com National Trust Bank. The bank will deliver custody, staking and trade‑settlement services under OCC supervision,...
Securities and Exchange Commission Schedules Roundtable to Discuss “Retailization” Of Private Securities
The SEC will host a Private Markets Roundtable on March 4, 2026 to discuss the retailization of private securities. Currently, non‑accredited investors are limited to Reg A and Reg CF, while most private offerings remain inaccessible. Pending legislation could relax accredited‑investor thresholds, adding a...
Mortgage Rates Dip Below 6%, Lowest Since 2022
#Mortgage rates just dropped below 6%, matching lowest level since 2022 https://t.co/MSs7B1Npgs @mortgagenewsmnd @MG_MBS #realestate #realestateinvesting
Fintech Rundown: A Rapid Review of Weekly News
Finovate’s weekly roundup highlights a flurry of fintech activity as Flywire names a new CTO, MoneyHash teams with Wayl to enter Iraq, and Payabli partners with Huntington Bank to embed payments in digital banking. Worldline launches One Commerce for omnichannel...
Fintech Focused Banking as a Service Is Reshaping Bank Stability and Consumer Expectations : Analysis
Cornell Law professor Dan Awrey released a working paper titled "Banking, Technology, and Instability" analyzing fintech‑driven Banking‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS). The paper argues BaaS flips traditional outsourcing, with fintechs delegating core banking functions to partner banks, creating regulatory arbitrage. This shift destabilizes...
From Blocking Bots to Trusting Agents: Visa‑Akamai Solution
AI agent traffic nearly tripled in a year. 25Billion bot requests in 2 months. The question is no longer how to block bots — it's how to trust them. Visa + Akamai are building the answer. "What it takes to secure...
Rate Launches RateFi to Make It Easier to Qualify for a Mortgage with Crypto Holdings
Rate has introduced RateFi, a new mortgage product that lets borrowers leverage their cryptocurrency holdings without liquidating them. The program treats verified crypto as both qualifying income and reserve assets, though any down‑payment must still be converted to U.S. dollars....
Bank Mortgage-Banking Earnings Slip in Fourth Quarter
Bank mortgage‑banking earnings slipped in the fourth quarter, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year despite a modest 5% rise in loan volume. Residential mortgage‑backed securities (MBS) holdings saw a sharp decline, while demand for non‑agency, GSE‑eligible loans surged. Banks turned to stablecoin‑based...
Mortgage Investors Expect Early Challenges With New Credit Score Models
Mortgage investors are bracing for short‑term disruption as major credit bureaus roll out next‑generation scoring models that incorporate alternative data and machine‑learning algorithms. The new frameworks promise finer risk granularity but also introduce uncertainty around model validation, regulatory approval, and...
Risks Seen in Potential Shift From Tri-Merge Process
Industry analysts warn that moving away from the established tri‑merge securitization framework could introduce significant operational and liquidity risks for mortgage lenders. The tri‑merge process, which bundles GSE‑eligible loans from multiple originators, has underpinned stable funding flows for years. A...
Short Takes: Expanded-Credit MBS From Redwood / MSRs on Offer / Rate Launches Crypto Option / Sales of New Homes...
Redwood introduced an expanded‑credit mortgage‑backed security, widening the pool of agency‑eligible assets as banks see their residential MBS holdings dip in Q4. Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) are now being offered directly, reflecting heightened M&A activity that is reshaping the conventional...
Demand Risk Mitigation Details for Efficient Money Transfers
My unsolicited comms advice: if you're going to go on at length about making it more "efficient" to move money to places like Venezuela (sanctions risk) and Colombia (narcotrafficking/money laundering risk), also explain how (if?) you mitigate these risks. https://t.co/rN8g9ibBhf
Treasury Unveils AI Lexicon and Risk Framework for Finance
Risk says "model risk." Tech says "ML system." Compliance says "automated decision tool." Legal says "algorithm." US Treasury just fixed this: AI Lexicon + Risk Framework for financial services. 230 control objectives. NIST-adapted. "Treasury releases AI lexicon and sector-specific risk framework"...
Stablecore Marks Jack Henry Integration to Enable Stablecoin Payments And Acceptance
Stablecore has joined Jack Henry’s Fintech Integration Network, allowing its stablecoin and digital‑asset services to be delivered through the Banno digital‑banking platform used by over 1,000 banks and credit unions. The integration adds tokenized deposits, asset management and digital‑asset‑backed lending...
CPI Card Group CFO Exits
CPI Card Group announced that CFO Jeffrey Hochstadt will leave the role on Feb. 13, with senior vice president Terra Grantham stepping in as interim CFO. The transition occurs just weeks before the company’s Q4 and full‑year earnings release scheduled for...
Sebi Chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey Flags Big PMS Overhaul, to Examine New RBI Funding Rules
Sebi chair Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced a sweeping review of portfolio‑management‑services (PMS) regulations, citing the sector’s Rs 10.5 lakh‑crore asset base and 17% CAGR growth. The draft overhaul will prioritize investor suitability, governance, and technology, with a public consultation slated before the...
2026 Identity Fraud Targets Precise, Not Broad Attacks
This Week in Fraud (2/17) https://t.co/DeKt9G8P3d "2026 identity fraud is more sniper than shotgun" Great stuff from Nick. https://t.co/eNakT4O4Fd
Bridge Cuts Support for High‑risk Jurisdictions, Including Russia
Stripe's stablecoin subsidiary Bridge has dropped support for ultra high-risk jurisdictions it supported as recently as Dec 2025, including Russia, Lebanon, Libya, Gaza, and South Sudan, new analysis of the company's documentation shows: https://t.co/zRVzXKZPsu
Article Adds Klarna Option and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 2/23/26
Klarna has partnered with Canadian furniture retailer Article to offer buy‑now‑pay‑later at checkout. Payments platform WanderWallet launched a QR‑code based service in Bolivia, targeting local payment habits. Gift‑card provider Tillo will now reward childcare spending through the Kindo platform. SignaPay...
Invest in Tech, Data, AI to Outperform Banking
Playing catch up is not a strategy. The institutions that outperform are investing in tech skills, data infrastructure, and AI readiness. Get the roadmap in 2026 Retail Banking Trends and Priorities. Download here: https://t.co/oO8kYW1VHc https://t.co/p6BAG6Si63
ECB Steps Up Scrutiny of European Banks’ AI Industry Exposure
The European Central Bank has launched a focused inquiry into banks’ exposure to the artificial‑intelligence sector, requesting detailed loan information on data‑center financing and related AI firms. Parallel workshops are probing how banks deploy generative AI, covering governance, business models...
Deutsche Börse's Allfunds Deal Fuels Tokenization Ecosystem
Deutsche Boerse's record deal for Allfunds sends shares higher https://t.co/CzVp47tiwL It is an ecosystem play for a Tokenized future. My analysis https://t.co/GcECatMsVJ https://t.co/V39EtHorCX
Rewards Drive AI Agents to Abandon Paper Checks
Ya'll realize people (and businesses) still use... paper checks, right? User payment preferences are rarely about fees. Will the AI agents get rewards for using a Colossuspay card? If not, why would their human switch from rewards CC? Bc it helps...
Bharti Airtel Shares to Be in Focus After ₹20,000 Crore Capital Infusion in NBFC Arm Airtel Money
Bharti Airtel announced a ₹20,000 crore capital infusion into its non‑banking financial company arm, Airtel Money, to accelerate its digital finance push. The funding is expected to expand the company’s payments, credit and savings offerings across its telecom customer base. Following...
Nonbank Expansion Fuels Money Laundering, Breaches, Weak Oversight
As we see nonbanks getting more and more involved in lending, payments, holding funds, etc. you’re going to see a lot more money laundering, breaches, and data selling with very little regulatory authority to fine or discipline.
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
Malaysia’s banking sector is poised for further gains despite a recent rally, according to AmInvestment Bank analyst Paul Yap. He cites continued buying from local and foreign investors and relatively attractive valuations versus Singapore peers as key drivers. The note...
SEC Quietly Eases Capital Rules for Stablecoins
The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued guidance allowing broker‑dealers to apply a 2% haircut to proprietary holdings of payment stablecoins when calculating net capital. Previously many firms used a 100% haircut, effectively excluding stablecoins from regulatory capital. By...
Capital Markets Expected to Drive Big 6 Banks as Earnings Season Kicks Off
Canada’s Big Six banks are kicking off first‑quarter earnings with analysts forecasting solid capital‑markets and wealth‑management revenue, positive operating leverage and contained credit losses. Return‑on‑equity expansion is highlighted as the key upside catalyst, with many institutions already raising FY2025 targets....
The EBA Publishes Follow-Up Report on ICT Risk Assessment Under the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process
The European Banking Authority released a follow‑up to its 2022 peer‑review on ICT risk assessment under the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP). The report finds that competent authorities have markedly strengthened ICT risk supervision, largely due to the Digital...
API‑first DeFi Tools Automate Portfolio Allocation and Rebalancing
Beyond stablecoins, DeFi orchestration is next. Companies like Glider offer API-first portfolio tools, allowing automated asset allocation and rebalancing. Set your split, fund it, and let it manage itself. https://t.co/eWaj7x6jbZ
Mencía Bobo: From Financier To Trusted Trade Advisor
Santander has rolled out Invensa, an inventory‑finance solution that lets the bank hold physical stock for clients, easing balance‑sheet constraints amid volatile supply chains. The bank also introduced Navigator Global, a platform that blends financing with market intelligence to act...
Banks, Operators to Drive Africa’s Stablecoin Tipping Point
African banks and mobile network operators are poised to accelerate stablecoin adoption, turning the continent’s burgeoning mobile‑money ecosystem into a mainstream digital payments layer. Ripple’s Reece Merrick highlighted that once banks and telcos embed stablecoins in custody, payments and treasury...
Why Banks Are Struggling to Deliver ROI on AI Investments
Major banks have invested billions in generative AI, yet a MIT study shows 95% see no measurable return. Isolated task‑level gains have not translated into enterprise‑wide efficiency, leaving boards and CFOs uneasy. The root causes are the sequencing problem—guessing which...
Banks Embrace DeFi to Cut Lending Costs, Aave Leads
Every bank will move towards DeFi, it improves their lending cost structure. One of Aave’s goals is to connect Aave into as many banks as possible to serve as a lending network. DeFi will win.
Open-Loop Systems Help Modernize Transit Payments
Transit agencies worldwide are replacing cash and paper tickets with contactless payments that use bank‑issued cards and mobile wallets, delivering a tap‑and‑pay experience identical to everyday purchases. Open‑loop systems route each tap through global payment networks, meeting sub‑300 ms response times...
Planned Purchases Rise as Financial Stress Eases, Study Finds
The PYMNTS Intelligence report finds that as financial stress eases, U.S. consumers are increasingly planning purchases rather than using credit spontaneously. Yet 42 % still doubt they will be approved for a new card, and 15 % experience denial while 43 % never...
Hosting Roundtable at CB Payments Conference, Istanbul March 2026
Excited to be hosting a roundtable discussion at The Central Bank Payments Conference in March with my @chyppings hat on. 🗓️ 23-25 March 2026 📍 Istanbul, Türkiye Save your spot 👉 https://t.co/ou7GKep6K1 @CurrencyResearc #CBPC @Chyppings @Fimenews https://t.co/eYUnBR6CQT
Rupee Support Tool Turns Pressure Point; $7 Billion NDF Maturities Come Due
The Reserve Bank of India relies on non‑deliverable forwards (NDFs) to support the rupee without draining reserves, but $7 billion of contracts are set to mature this week, creating rollover pressure. RBI’s total forward book stands at $62.3 billion, a size that...
UK Floods Raise Specter of ‘Mortgage Prisoners’ Across Banks
UK banks are confronting mounting flood‑risk exposure as climate change pushes millions of homes into high‑risk zones. Nationwide led the way by halting loans to flood‑prone properties, prompting peers such as Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds and HSBC to map flood exposure...
Uber Pro Driver Card Remains on Evolve via Branch
Uber Pro card/bank account for drivers is also still on Evolve (via Branch) -- https://t.co/YVTyf3zXvR
US Underwater Mortgages Climb to 2.1% Nationwide
100 major housing markets, one key question: How many homeowners are underwater? In total, 2.1% of outstanding U.S. homeowner mortgages are underwater—up from 1.3% a year ago. Here's where it's higher. ResiClub PRO report https://t.co/saZU0Ik4OD
Are the Money Center Banks a Buy?
Bank equities fell in January after Q4 2025 earnings, despite solid results, as investors booked profits from a rally that began in October. Citigroup emerged as the top performer among the five major depositories, but the broader money‑center segment faces heightened...
It Looks Like Open Banking’s ‘Breakout Moment’ Is Finally Here
Open Banking in Australia is reaching a breakout moment as three notable consumer‑lending firms—an ASX‑listed billion‑dollar player, a $300 m listed firm, and a $60 m private company—have shifted from screen‑scraping to regulated Open Banking data feeds. This transition replaces insecure credential‑based...
Wellspring Debuts Treasury Management Tool for Small Businesses
Wellspring has launched Wellspring Institutional, a treasury management platform tailored for small and midsize businesses. The solution merges traditional banking APIs with regulated stablecoin settlement rails, delivering centralized cash visibility, domestic and cross‑border payments, and yield generation on idle balances....