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
A Banner 2025 for Zelle With 20% Year-over-Year Growth
Zelle processed over $1.2 trillion in U.S. peer‑to‑peer payments in 2025, marking a 20% year‑over‑year increase and surpassing the $1 trillion milestone reached in 2024. Transaction volume rose to 4.2 billion, a 16% jump, with daily averages of $3.4 billion moving through the network. Small‑business activity grew sharply, representing nearly 30% of total dollars and generating $357 billion across 647.6 million transactions. The platform now reaches 80% of U.S. bank and credit‑union accounts, bolstered by new reseller partnerships.
Judge Backs Illinois Law on Card Fees
A federal judge upheld Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which bans card‑swipe interchange fees on sales tax and gratuities, finding that the National Bank Act does not preempt the state law. The ruling, issued by Judge Virginia Kendall, also struck...
Pathward’s Anthony Sharett on Why Sponsor Banking’s Future Is About Evolution, Not Revolution
Sponsor banking, the bridge between fintechs and regulated banks, is under intense regulatory scrutiny but remains a vital conduit for expanding financial access. Anthony Sharett, President of Pathward, argues that the model’s future lies in gradual evolution rather than radical...
Banks Poured $429B Into Steel; Capital Isn’t the Hurdle
"Between 2016 and mid-2023, 354 banks provided $429 billion to the 100 biggest steel producers, suggesting that finding capital isn’t the main challenge." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/banks-backing-green-steel-fund-false-solutions-report-says
Teciem Spins Off as Independent Firm After Apax Acquisition
Teciem Launches as Standalone Firm After Apax Acquires Finastra’s TCM Division - Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH https://t.co/8Q95tmVsv6 https://t.co/w4YfeaaFtC
UK to Regulate BNPL Platforms From 15 July
The UK Financial Conduct Authority will begin regulating buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) providers from 15 July 2026 under a temporary permission regime (TPR). Firms active on 15 July 2025 must apply for TPR and confirm registration intent by early May, while those opting out must halt...
Chatbots Automate UI, Not Experience; Orchestration Is Key
Chat agents automated the interface, not the experience. The hard part isn’t the conversation. It’s workflow orchestration. https://t.co/FfdWO6WYov
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CMWAY) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a solid second‑half 2025 performance, with cash net profit climbing 6% and earnings per share increasing $0.19. The bank highlighted disciplined growth across its core retail and business segments despite cost‑of‑living pressures and global uncertainty....
The High Cost of Going Cashless: Why Payment Choice Is Essential for Economic Equity
The push toward a cashless economy is accelerating, but the hidden fees and infrastructure demands are creating a financial burden for low‑income and unbanked consumers. As merchants adopt digital terminals and fintech platforms expand, cash‑only transactions become increasingly costly or...
India Plans to Lift Bank FDI Cap, Boosting Lending
India’s government is considering raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap for banks from 20% to 49%. SMART MOVE. MORE FDI = MORE BANK CAPITAL = MORE LENDING CAPACITY https://t.co/agaPK9vbzO
ECB Appoints Thomas Broeng Jorgensen as Director General Specialised Institutions and Less Significant Institutions
The European Central Bank appointed Thomas Broeng Jorgensen as Director General for Specialised Institutions and Less Significant Institutions, effective 1 March 2026. In this role he will directly supervise specialised banks and coordinate the oversight of less‑significant banks through national supervisors. Jorgensen succeeds Patrick Amis,...
EximPe Gets Final PA-CB Licence to Process UPI Cross-Border Payments
EximPe, a cross‑border payment startup, has secured the Reserve Bank of India’s final Payment Aggregator Cross‑Border (PA‑CB) licence. The authorisation lets the firm enable global merchants to collect Indian consumer payments via UPI, cards, wallets and other methods, with settlements...
Spark Looks to Build Building a Safe Bridge Between Onchain Capital and TradFi
Spark introduced Spark Prime and Spark Institutional Lending, extending more than $9 billion of stablecoin liquidity to hedge funds, trading firms and fintechs operating under traditional custody rules. The offerings combine over‑collateralized loan structures with a unified risk framework that spans...
Debevoise Discusses Third Circuit Decision on the Limits of the Best Price Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed that the Best Price Rule applies only to shares actually taken up and paid for in a tender offer, not to shares the offeror cannot lawfully acquire. The ruling arose...
How Federal Reserve’s Decentralised Structure Produced New Ideas on Banking Policy
Recent research by Michael Bordo and Edward Prescott shows that the Federal Reserve’s decentralized structure generated fresh banking‑policy ideas in the 1950s and 1960s. In response to industry consolidation and legal reforms, the Board and regional Reserve Banks hired industrial‑organization...
ESAs Publish Joint Guidelines on ESG Stress Testing
The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) released joint Guidelines on ESG stress testing, offering a unified framework for national banking and insurance supervisors. The document outlines how to embed environmental, social and governance risks into existing stress‑test models...
Principles for Risk-Based Supervision: A Critical Pillar for ESMA’s Simplification and Burden Reduction Efforts
ESMA has published a set of Principles for Risk‑Based Supervision to create a unified supervisory culture across the EU. The framework outlines how regulators should identify, assess, prioritize and address risks to investor protection, financial stability and market order. By...
ESMA Promotes Clarity in Communications on ESG Strategies
On 14 January 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued its second thematic note addressing sustainability‑related claims, specifically ESG integration and ESG exclusions. The guidance highlights the varied interpretations of these terms and warns that ambiguous usage can...
The European Supervisory Authorities and UK Financial Regulators Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Oversight of Critical ICT Third-Party Service Providers...
The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to coordinate oversight of critical ICT third‑party service providers under the Digital...
Banks, Stablecoins, and Base by Coinbase: Fighting for Open Money Without Gatekeepers
The article argues that the U.S. legislative debate over stablecoins will decide whether digital dollars become bank‑like deposits or remain programmable assets that spur competition. It highlights how stablecoins now serve as payment rails, collateral, and yield sources, prompting banks...
Fund Manager FINQ Lets AI Run US ETFs
FINQ has introduced two U.S. large‑cap equity ETFs—AIUP and AINT—where an artificial‑intelligence model exclusively selects, weights and rebalances holdings. The AI engine ranks every S&P 500 component daily using market, financial and textual data, guiding long‑only and long‑short exposures respectively. The...
How Printable Check Designs Simplify Modern Business Payments
Printable check designs are gaining traction as businesses seek to modernize traditional payment methods while retaining the benefits of paper checks. By using on‑demand templates, companies can generate professional checks directly from accounting software, eliminating bulk ordering and reducing turnaround...
US Private Credit Market Adapts to Post Rate Hike Environment : Analysis
PitchBook’s latest report shows U.S. private credit remaining resilient despite a modest year‑over‑year dip in January transaction volume. Eight mega‑deals exceeding $1 billion offset the slowdown, while mid‑market issuance stayed robust, highlighting depth in smaller opportunities. Leveraged‑buyout transactions shifted toward fewer,...
Goldman Sachs Holds Over $2 Billion in Crypto
Goldman Sachs disclosed $2.36 billion in crypto assets in its Q4 2025 13F filing, marking a modest rise from the prior year. The portfolio is split between $1.1 billion of Bitcoin, $1 billion of Ethereum, $153 million of XRP, and $108 million of Solana, representing less...
StanChart CFO Abruptly Exits for Apollo
Standard Chartered announced that group CFO Diego De Giorgi is leaving immediately to join Apollo Global Management as a partner and head of EMEA. Peter Burrill, the bank's group head of central finance, will serve as interim CFO while a permanent replacement is...
I’m Unable to View the Linked Content, so I Can’t Generate a Headline.
👀 https://lnkd.in/etCquTsi
Software Creators Not Liable for Users' Money Transmission Violations
“You shouldn't be found guilty of unlicensed money transmision only because other people used your software” https://t.co/afdHBJ8VQK
Toast Links Dining to Instacart’s Marketplace; Ingenico Launches Its 360 Platform Plus AXIUM Terminals
Toast announced a partnership with Instacart, linking its restaurant platform to the Instacart Marketplace and making Instacart Business available for same‑day grocery procurement. The integration adds SmartScan barcode optimization and catalog attribution tools, enabling restaurants to quickly add items and...
Executive Backing Turns Data Governance From Reactive to Strategic
Data governance is critical but tough. Without executive support, clear roles, and resources, committees stay reactive. Done right, it drives strategic decisions and strengthens both insights and cyber resilience. https://t.co/brZ80xsiyu
Fiserv Caps a Sub-Par Year With a Disappointing Fourth Quarter
Fiserv reported a disappointing fourth quarter, with adjusted revenue of $19.8 billion up 4% year‑over‑year but operating margin slipping 200 basis points to 37.4%. The company’s stock has tumbled from $230 to $60 as earnings per share fell 2% to $8.64....
Banking Chief Calls for Urgent European Payment Alternatives
European alternatives to Visa and Mastercard ‘urgently’ needed, says banking chief - https://t.co/TJ18SQs5Bg via @FT
Stripe Eyes $140B+ Tender Offer Valuation
Stripe is in talks to launch a tender offer that could value the payments company at more than $140 billion, Axios Pro has learned from multiple sources. https://t.co/ZdKZhv7qn6 https://t.co/uSM0o6lKUo
SquareAI Enters the U.K. and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 2/10/26
Square announced the UK launch of SquareAI, a free conversational AI tool that helps merchants interpret sales data and make faster decisions. Blue Payment Agency expanded its services to high‑risk e‑commerce merchants selling restricted items, while Duck Creek Technologies will...
Hong Kong's First Yield‑Bearing RWA Stablecoin Goes Live on Avalanche
Fosun Wealth’s Asian Yield-Bearing RWA Stablecoin Finds Its Home on Avalanche https://t.co/na0QP4gUl5 FinChain and ChinaAMC just launched Hong Kong's first yield-bearing RWA stablecoin (FUSD) on Avalanche enabling institutional liquidity on-chain today. https://t.co/5HDATqXC0e
The Quarterly Review: Wise’s Lauren Langbridge Expands Domestic Payment Network Capabilities and Celebrates Partnership Wins
Wise’s Commercial Director for the Americas, Lauren Langbridge, drove two domestic payment network expansions—Direct Pix in Brazil and Zengin in Japan—while laying groundwork for additional connections. She secured new partnerships with Wealthsimple and Interactive Brokers (IBKR), extending the Wise Platform’s reach into retail...
Indonesia Turns to Digital Finance to Reach Unbanked Population
Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations, is accelerating digital finance to boost inclusion. The Financial Services Authority outlined three policy priorities—sector resilience, a contributive ecosystem, and sustainable finance—to guide the effort. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)...
Mortgage and Refinance Interest Rates Today, February 10, 2026: Rates Remain Under 6%, for Now
Mortgage rates have fallen back under six percent, with Zillow reporting a 5.91% average for a 30‑year fixed‑rate purchase and 6.02% for refinances on February 10, 2026. The 15‑year fixed sits at 5.44% and VA loans are slightly lower, while ARM products...
Commercial Lending in the U.S. Surges 30 Percent in Late 2025
U.S. commercial real‑estate lending jumped 30% in Q4 2025, driven largely by banks as interest‑rate volatility eased. Originations rose 25% sequentially, with office loans nearly doubling year‑over‑year and overall 2025 originations up 40% from 2024. Depository institutions led the surge,...
InCred Wealth Crosses Rs 1 Lakh Cr in AUM Within 6 Years of Launch
InCred Wealth, the Mumbai‑based private wealth manager, announced that its assets under management have crossed $10 billion (over Rs 1 lakh crore) within just six years of launch. The firm now operates a network of more than 700 relationship managers serving family offices,...
Revisiting the Nature of Regulation
The article argues that regulator‑regulatee agreements are not merely a peripheral tool but the dominant paradigm shaping modern regulation. Across sectors—from automobile safety to artificial intelligence and data‑privacy settlements—agreements precede, accompany, or replace traditional command‑and‑control rules. This perspective blurs the...
Gibson Dunn Discusses SEC Corporate-Finance Division’s Helpful Updates to Guidance
On January 23, 2026 the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance released a suite of updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations covering proxy filings, executive compensation in spin‑offs, tender‑offer mechanics, lock‑up agreements, and securities‑offering integration. The revisions eliminate voluntary PX14A6G filings for...
U.S. Treasury Rates Weekly Update for February 6, 2026
U.S. Treasury yields slipped across the board for the week ending February 6, 2026. The benchmark 30‑year rate fell 0.02 percentage points, while the 10‑year yield dropped 0.04 points to 4.22 %. The 3‑year Treasury rate settled at 3.57 %, reflecting a modest broad‑based decline. These...
Volatility Laundering in Private Credit
Private credit has trailed public credit since 2022, offering lower liquidity, weaker credit quality, higher industry concentration and higher borrower costs. By avoiding daily mark‑to‑market, private credit managers can "volatility launder" returns, presenting artificially low volatility and inflated Sharpe ratios....
Figure’s CFO Supports Treating Stablecoin as Cash
Figure Technology’s CFO Macrina KgIl is urging the Financial Accounting Standards Board to reclassify stablecoins as cash or cash equivalents, rather than intangible assets. The current GAAP treatment creates ambiguity and extra compliance work for firms holding tokens like Tether....
Uber Kiosks Let Travelers Ride Without a Smartphone
🚨 WOAH: Uber just launched kiosks at LaGuardia Airport. The disruption of taxis is nearly compete. No app. No phone. Walk up, pick a destination, tap to pay, get a paper receipt with your ride details. Powered by Adyen terminals. --- This is the bit...
Stripe's Tender Offer Valuation Jumps to $140B
This was an auspiciously-timed quote. @stripe is in talks for a tender offer valuing the company at $140B. That's up from $107B in the fall. https://t.co/3EHL07KS8p
What AI Builders Can Learn From Fraud Models that Run in 300 Milliseconds
Mastercard’s Decision Intelligence Pro (DI Pro) uses a sub‑300 ms recurrent neural network to assign risk scores to each payment transaction in real time. The platform treats fraud detection as an "inverse recommender" problem, comparing current merchant behavior to historical patterns. By...
FinTech Funding Soars: Over $1 B Raised in February
February FinTech funding off to flying start with over $1bn raised https://t.co/2EDie8Yh7q $1.02bn raised across 29 rounds. Past two-weeks Fintech funding topped $2.3bn.
Following Super Bowl Ad, Trump Accounts Launch a New Sign-Up Option
The Treasury announced a new enrollment pathway for Trump accounts following a Super Bowl 60 commercial. Parents can now submit IRS Form 4547 online via TrumpAccounts.gov or attach it to their 2025 tax return to claim a $1,000 seed deposit for...