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.
Winning The Attention War That's Reshaping Banking
In this episode, hosts Alex Johnson and Mary Wisniewski discuss the evolving dynamics of FinTech events, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of in‑person networking for business deals and relationship building. They highlight two major industry trends: the surge of new banking charters and heightened competition, and the emerging "attention war" where consumer financial services must capture and retain daily user engagement, exemplified by banks hiring TikTok talent and influencers like Mr. Beast entering fintech. The conversation also explores the risk of complacency among legacy banks and mature fintech firms, noting that leadership inertia can hinder innovation and that companies must create urgency to stay competitive.
JPMorgan's 20% Deposit Share Raises Succession Concerns
JP Morgan dominates Wall Street in a way no other bank ever has. One single institution now holds 20 percent of all US banking deposits. And the person behind this empire is Jamie Dimon, a CEO who has shaped modern...
A Streamlined Approach to Payment Systems Regulation Consultation
The UK government plans to fold the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) into the Financial Conduct Authority, delivering the change through primary legislation when parliamentary time permits. The consolidation will shift all PSR responsibilities—competition, innovation, and consumer protection in payment services—to...
How to Reduce Compliance Risk in Legacy KYC Data
Financial institutions face mounting compliance risk from outdated KYC files, as regulators now deem gaps in ultimate beneficial ownership, source‑of‑wealth and PEP information non‑negotiable. Manual remediation efforts are hampered by fragmented systems, error‑prone spreadsheets, and auditability shortfalls, draining skilled analysts....
Middle East Conflict Weighs on Thai Banks as Profits Slip
Thai banks entered 2026 with a cautious outlook after Q1 earnings fell sharply amid heightened Middle East tensions and a global energy shock. SCB X posted an 18% net‑income decline to 10.2 bn baht (≈$317 m), missing forecasts. Kasikornbank’s profit slipped 3% once...
Why an Australian Payments Network Matters in a Globalised Economy
Australian merchants are increasingly turning to domestic payment networks such as eftpos to control costs and improve resilience. The network’s least‑cost routing can reduce debit transaction fees by roughly 20%, giving businesses pricing transparency and the ability to choose the...
We Won: New EU Banking Permit Prioritizes User Safety
Challenging Regulators: Our Bold Fight for User Safety 💪 | In conversation with Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of bunq. |Davos WEF 2026 🇨🇭 — Enjoy the full video here: 👉 https://t.co/SL8iK4Wuvc 💬 We challenged regulators to put user interests first,...
Private Credit Under Stress: Averting the Next Crisis with AI and Data Visibility with Scott Weller
In this episode, host Boris Agranovich talks with Scott Weller, CTO and co‑founder of EnFi, about the hidden risks in private credit and how AI‑driven data visibility can prevent a next‑generation crisis. Weller explains that most risk signals are trapped...
Commercial Bank in East Africa to Integrate USDA Payments
Kenya’s cross‑border remittance flow hit a record $5 bn in 2024, outpacing tea and horticulture exports, yet settlement still takes four to five days via costly SWIFT corridors. Stablecoin usage surged, with $3.3 bn processed in the past year, highlighting demand for...
Poste Italiane, Postepay Fined €12.5M for Unlawful User Data Processing
The Italian Data Protection Authority has imposed a combined fine of over €12.5 million (about $13.5 million) on Poste Italiane (€6.6 million) and its Postepay unit (€5.8 million) for unlawful processing of user data via mobile apps. Regulators found the apps collected extensive device‑level...
Malaysian Banks Rally, Need Re‑rating to Match Regional Peers
Bank stocks seeing follow thru from yesterday. •Bursa Finance Index highest in 3wks, >20K •CIMB & Public highest since end-March. •Mid-sized RHB & AM up >1% •Still attractive DY >5%, ~1.1x PBV (large banks) As discussed recently, Malaysia’s KLCI NEEDS the banks to re-rate...
Bank of Maharashtra Profit Surges 35% YoY
Profit jumps nearly 35%! 📈 This PSU bank just delivered strong Q4 numbers.Bank of Maharashtra reported net profit of ₹2,014 crore, up 34.9% YoY.
Global Fintech Adyen Extends Partnership with lastminute.com By Launching Virtual Card Issuing for Supplier Payments
Adyen has expanded its partnership with travel‑booking platform lastminute.com by adding Visa‑branded prepaid virtual cards for supplier payments. The new issuing capability lets the travel company create multi‑currency virtual cards in seconds, cutting payout times by two to three days...
Alaska & Bank Of America Expand Partnership: New Credit Cards & Perks
Alaska Air Group and Bank of America have signed a multi‑year extension of their co‑branded credit‑card agreement, deepening integration of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program. The renewal will fund new premium cards, refresh existing offerings, and expand lounge access and...
Texas Regional Bank Stunned by $20M Fraud Loss
First Financial ($FFIN) is a very well regarded Texas regional bank. They have a long term pristine credit record and they have deep local links. Then last year they took a one-off charge >$20m on a single commercial fraud. I am...
Focus on Risk‑return, Not Fancy Financial Engineering
Financial engineering does not make a good product Risk always comes back It’s boring to say but this is why you focus on risk vs return and create allocations
Fime Launches Agentic Commerce Trust Layer Service
Fime has launched FACT (Framework for Agentic Commerce Trust), a "trust‑as‑a‑service" platform that secures AI‑driven financial transactions. The service adds intent validation, real‑time policy monitoring, transaction‑level attestation and independent auditor agents, enabling merchants to accept AI‑initiated payments while giving banks...
Coinbase Launches Yield‑bearing Stablecoins, Keeping Deposits Intact
Nailed it: Coinbase offers yield-bearing stablecoins today and deposits are not displaced "This debate is stupid" @AlexH_Johnson https://t.co/Lz7T1WdQTT
Presenting the New ABCs of Digital Identity
Excited to be hitting the Inner Forum Stage at #Money2020EU today to discuss 'The New ABCs of Digital Identity - Access, Business, and Consent'. See you at 16:00! @chyppings @money2020 #Money2020Asia
Commercial Loans Show US Economy Defies Sluggish Forecasts
U.S. banks reported robust growth in commercial loans during Q1, signaling resilience amid inflation, policy uncertainty, and a softening consumer market. Major lenders such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan posted double‑digit commercial loan gains, while consumer loan growth...
Slash Financial Secures $100 Million Series C, Hits $1.4 B Unicorn Valuation
Slash Financial announced a $100 million Series C funding round that lifts its valuation to $1.4 billion, marking the largest U.S. fintech raise in Q2 2026. The capital, led by Ribbit Capital, will fund product expansion, international growth and a new AI‑driven “Twin”...
Salmon Group Secures $100 M to Accelerate Philippines Digital Banking
Salmon Group announced a $100 million funding round, comprising $60 million in equity and $40 million in debt, to scale its digital banking and lending operations in the Philippines. Led by US venture firm Spice Expeditions, the oversubscribed raise underscores investor confidence in...
Hanmi Financial Corp (HAFC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Hanmi Financial reported Q1 2026 net income of $83 million, delivering a 33% year‑over‑year increase in diluted EPS to $1.52. Net interest margin rose to 3.53%, up 61 basis points from a year ago, while loan and deposit balances grew at...
WesBanco Inc (WSBC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
WesBanco reported net income of $81 million and diluted EPS of $0.84 for Q1 2026, an 18% year‑over‑year increase. Total assets rose 48% to $27.7 billion after the Premier Financial acquisition, boosting loan balances by 52% and deposits by 53% to $21.7 billion....
OFG Bancorp (OFG) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
OFG Bancorp reported a 17% year‑over‑year rise in diluted EPS and a 2% increase in core revenues to $185 million for Q1 2026, driven by disciplined operations and a tax benefit. Commercial loans grew to $3.5 billion, representing 43% of the loan book,...
Bridgewater Bancshares Inc (BWB) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Bridgewater Bancshares reported a solid quarter, with net interest margin expanding 11 basis points to 2.62% as loan repricing outpaced stabilizing deposit costs. Loan balances grew at a 12.5% annualized rate, beating the company’s full‑year growth target, while core deposits...
Orrstown Financial Services Inc (ORRF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Orrstown Financial Services reported record annual net income of $80.9 million ($4.18 per share) and a 4% quarterly net interest margin, underscoring strong profitability. Noninterest income rose to 22% of operating revenue, driven by wealth‑management fees and merchant‑services growth. Loan balances...
Northpointe Bancshares Inc (NPB) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Northpointe Bancshares reported total assets of $7.0 billion, a 35% increase from the end of 2024, driven by rapid expansion of its Mortgage Purchase Program (MPP) and higher residential mortgage originations. Earnings per diluted share rose 15% to $2.11, with net...
National Bank Holdings Corp (NBHC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
National Bank Holdings Corp (NBHC) closed its Vista Bank acquisition, adding $2.4 billion of earning assets and expanding its loan portfolio to roughly $9.4 billion. Tangible book value per share rose 10% and the CET1 capital ratio climbed to 14.9%, underscoring a...
TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
TrustCo Bank Corp (TRST) reported Q2 2025 net income of $15 million, a 19.8% year‑over‑year increase, and net interest income of $41.7 million, up 10.5%. The bank’s loan portfolio reached a record $5.1 billion, driven by a 17.8% surge in home‑equity lines and solid...
Industry-Groups-Warn-EU-Securitisation-Reforms-Could-Backfire
The European Commission has unveiled a new securitisation framework aimed at boosting transparency, risk‑retention and ESG labeling across the continent. Industry bodies such as the European Securitisation Forum and major banking associations argue the rules will raise compliance costs and...
Manhattan Associates Inc (MANH) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Eastern Bank reported a strong Q1 2026 performance, with operating earnings climbing 28% quarter‑over‑quarter to $94.7 million and net income of $99.5 million. The HarborOne merger boosted net interest income by $37.2 million and lifted the net interest margin 14 basis points to...
Capital One Financial Corp (COF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Capital One Financial Corp reported a strong Q1 2026, with diluted EPS up 26% year‑over‑year and total core revenue rising 4% on loan growth and a solid deposit franchise. Loans expanded 5% YoY, driven by a 9% increase in new...
Gouverneur Bancorp Inc (GOVB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Glacier Bancorp (GOVB) reported a record $32 billion in assets after two $4.7 billion acquisitions, driving a 26% rise in annual net income to $239 million. Net interest margin expanded to 3.58% and the bank aims to reach a 4% NIM by the...
Finastra Brings Payments Innovation to Japan’s MUFG
Finastra has deepened its partnership with Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) by deploying its GlobalPAYplus payments hub to support ACH services in the United States. The deal extends a five‑year relationship and brings a modern, ISO 20022‑native, multi‑cloud platform to...
OCC Enters the Interchange Fight and Raises the Stakes
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has stepped into the U.S. interchange fee debate by filing an amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit appeal of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and by submitting a rulemaking proposal on...
Wells Fargo, Citi and Goldman Lead in AI Venture Investment
Large banks are accelerating AI venture investments, posting a 21% compound annual growth rate since 2023, according to Evident AI’s report on the 50 biggest global banks. Wells Fargo, Citi and Goldman Sachs lead U.S. activity with 81, 77 and 70 deals...
The U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
Kevin Warsh is slated for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on April 21, with the committee expected to approve his nomination to chair the Federal Reserve. However, the Justice Department’s ongoing probe into former Chair Jay Powell’s testimony has become...
Three Under-the-Radar Takeaways From Big-Bank Earnings
Big‑bank earnings season revealed three under‑the‑radar trends. Banks are grappling with roughly $40 billion of excess capital as regulators consider easing capital rules, prompting accelerated share buybacks and plans for broader business investment. Deposit funding costs have stalled their recent decline,...
Canton Network Secures Major Tokenized JGB Deals
😎 "We didn't do a pre-mine, we didn't publish all these white papers. We just very quietly executed, and now we're signing all these deals. "Today we signed deals around with Mizuho and Nomura and JPX around tokenized JGBs." --...
ASIC, APRA Among Regulators Monitoring Anthropic's Mythos
Australian and Asian financial regulators are intensifying scrutiny of Anthropic's AI model Mythos after it demonstrated a powerful ability to uncover software vulnerabilities. ASIC and APRA in Australia, Hong Kong’s HKMA, South Korea’s FSS and FSC, and Singapore’s MAS have all...
Discover Reveals a Hidden Savings Gap: Low‑interest Accounts Cost Consumers up to $361 per $10,000
Discover published a guide that quantifies the “savings gap” between brick‑and‑mortar accounts (0.39% APY) and online high‑yield accounts (up to 4.21% APY). The disparity translates to roughly $361 lost per $10,000 annually, prompting experts to urge consumers to reassess where...
UAE Seeks U.S. Dollar Swap Line as Iran Conflict Threatens Liquidity
UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington to propose a dollar‑denominated currency‑swap line that would give the Gulf state cheap access to U.S. dollars if the war with Iran deepens. The talks...
Wells Fargo's Scharf: Lowering Rates Is 'Wrong Thing to Do'
Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf told a Washington audience that cutting interest rates now would be “the wrong thing to do” given the heightened uncertainty from the ongoing Iran war. He highlighted that loan demand remains robust, delinquencies are low, and...
EBA Slashes ESG Reporting Load for European Banks by 50% to Boost Sustainable Finance
The European Banking Authority (EBA) announced a 50% reduction in ESG reporting requirements for banks across the EU, aiming to simplify compliance and accelerate sustainable finance. The move is expected to lower costs for investment banks and reshape product structuring...
IMF Endorses Nigeria's $5.8 B Banking Recapitalisation, Boosting Financial Resilience
The International Monetary Fund has formally endorsed Nigeria’s $5.8 billion banking sector recapitalisation completed in March 2026, saying the higher capital buffers enhance resilience against global shocks. The move, led by Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso, raised N4.65 trillion with 72.55% domestic...
Hang Seng Bank Launches 10‑second Digital Approval for HK$8 Million SME Guarantee Loans
Hang Seng Bank has rolled out an end‑to‑end digital application and approval process that can deliver a principle decision for its 80% government‑guaranteed SME loan product in as little as 10 seconds. The service covers loans up to HK$8 million (about...
Microsoft Launches Fabric IQ to Unify Financial Regulation Ontology
Microsoft unveiled Fabric IQ, a data platform that builds a unified ontology across banking, capital markets and peer‑to‑peer lending. The solution aims to give regulators a single, machine‑readable view of interconnected financial risks, starting with a pilot for Indonesia's financial...
Fidelity Rolls Out Four Fintech Tools to Help Millennials Buy First Homes
Fidelity unveiled a four‑point playbook that uses fintech‑driven gifting, loans, and estate‑planning tools to help millennial first‑time buyers overcome soaring home prices. The guide arrives as the share of first‑time buyers drops to 21% and the median buyer age climbs...
Lloyds Taps Chief Data and AI Officer
Lloyds Banking Group announced the appointment of Sameer Gupta as its chief data and AI officer, starting in June 2026. Gupta leaves DBS Bank after a 12‑year stint, including nine years as managing director and chief analytics officer where he...