Today's Banking Pulse
HDFC Bank shares dip after camouflaged ₹45 crore payment report
Shares of HDFC Bank fell 2.6% to ₹758.65 after The Indian Express reported the lender routed an alleged ₹45 crore (≈$5.4 million) payment to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation as a marketing expense, effectively offering higher deposit returns. The allegation revives governance concerns following the abrupt resignation of former chairman Atanu Chakraborty, though it is not expected to affect the CEO’s reappointment.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OakNorth acquires Monite to boost business banking
Swipe Fees Hit Record-Setting $198.25B
U.S. merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in credit and debit card swipe fees in 2025, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition. The total represents a 5.9% jump from 2024 and an 80% increase since the pandemic, with fees climbing 219% since 2009. Visa and Mastercard credit‑card fees accounted for $118.8 billion, while debit‑card fees reached $40.5 billion. The coalition is calling on Congress for bipartisan legislation to curb the “out‑of‑control” fees.
The Case for Modern Client Lifecycle Management in Banking
Modern client lifecycle management (CLM) software is emerging as a solution to the fragmented, multi‑system processes that banks use for prospecting, onboarding, compliance and ongoing relationship management. By unifying these stages on a single platform, CLM reduces the months‑long onboarding...
EIB Global Agrees $200m Green Financing for Vietnam’s Techcombank
European Investment Bank’s global arm has committed a $200 million green financing facility to Vietnam’s Techcombank. The loan will be deployed to expand the bank’s lending for renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transport projects. This partnership aligns with Vietnam’s push...
The New Gold Rush to Become a US Bank
The OCC has seen a surge in U.S. bank charter applications, receiving more in the last six months than in the previous four years combined. Major foreign neobanks such as Brazil's Nubank, Europe's Revolut, and the Dutch Bunq are among...
PensionBee Supports FCA Move to Regulate ESG Ratings
PensionBee has welcomed the FCA’s proposal to regulate ESG ratings providers, calling it a long‑overdue step toward greater transparency. The retirement‑savings platform urged the regulator to adopt a proportionate, internationally aligned framework that reduces reporting burdens on smaller firms. It...
Credit Unions Want FinTechs on Speed Dial
FinTech partnerships with credit unions surged nearly 20% last year, shifting from a supplemental tactic to a core modernization strategy. Credit unions favor these alliances for speed, with 56% crediting FinTechs for faster, larger‑scale innovation. Payments and data analytics dominate...
Virtual Cards Bring Flexibility to SMB Payments Stuck in the Past
A February PYMNTS Intelligence report, conducted with Mastercard and surveying 412 U.S. SMB owners in December 2025, finds that nearly half of small and medium‑sized businesses are eager to cut reliance on cash and checks. Cash still dominates daily transactions,...
RBC Prepares for the AI Era
Royal Bank of Canada has launched a standalone AI Group, headed by Bruce Ross and reporting directly to the CEO, to accelerate the bank’s artificial‑intelligence agenda across retail, wealth and capital‑markets businesses. The group builds on RBC’s decade‑long AI foundation,...
EMEA in Conversation | Eyes on Europe
In this inaugural episode of JPMorgan’s EMEA in Conversation, Stu Cofer and Alison Livesey discuss how Europe’s payments landscape is rapidly accelerating, driven by instant payments, evolving regulations like PSD3, and a push toward interoperability and programmable finance. They highlight...
UK Mortgage Approvals Climbed Before War‑driven Rate Spike
UK mortgage approvals rose before the war triggered a rates surge https://t.co/sRgK0HpypM via @tomelleryrees https://t.co/o5w32DYwZ5
Customers Less Loyal to Retail Banks: JD Power
JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study reveals a subtle erosion of customer loyalty despite a modest rise in overall satisfaction to 657 on a 1,000‑point scale. The study highlights a “soft switching” trend, with the average checking‑account holder...
Intensive Competition Among Lenders Has Shifted Pricing Power Back to Issuers
Private‑credit spreads have tightened sharply over the past four years, now averaging under 600 basis points in both the United States and Europe. An oversupply of capital, renewed bank competition and the refinancing of high‑spread 2022 loans have driven the...
A Chat with Wio Bank, a Fully Digital, Platform-Based Bank
Wio Bank, launched in Abu Dhabi in 2022, is the region’s first fully digital, platform‑based bank backed by ADQ and FAB. It began with a focus on SME and creator banking and now serves over 400,000 customers, achieving profitability in...
ASIC Remakes Relief Instruments for AFS Licensees and Overseas Banks
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has introduced a new legislative instrument, ASIC Corporations (Foreign Licensees and ADIs) Instrument 2026/121, replacing the 2016 version and running until April 1, 2031. The instrument exempts foreign AFS licensees from record‑keeping and audited financial statement...
Businesses Warn of Price Rises From RBA’s Surcharge Ban
The Reserve Bank of Australia will prohibit most credit‑ and debit‑card surcharges from 1 October, a move projected to save consumers roughly US$1.06 billion each year. At the same time, the RBA will cap interchange fees, lowering credit‑card rates to 0.3 % and...
99.92% Villages in India Covered with Banking Outlets Within 5 Km Radius: Govt
The Finance Ministry reports that 99.92% of Indian villages now have a banking outlet—branch, business correspondent or India Post Payments Bank—within a 5 km radius, based on Jan Dhan Darshak data as of March 6, 2026. The government’s GIS‑based monitoring system tracks coverage and highlights...
Ex-Deutsche Bank Manager Sues Bank for at Least $624 Million
Former Deutsche Bank asset‑wealth head Michele Faissola and four ex‑colleagues sued the lender in a London court for at least £473 million ($624 million), part of a broader claim of £664 million ($877 million). The lawsuit alleges they were wrongly blamed in a 2013...
Sullivan & Cromwell Discusses FDIC Rescission of Policy Statement Limiting Participation of Private Investors in Failed-Bank Acquisitions
On March 19, the FDIC rescinded its 2009 Statement of Policy that limited private‑equity participation in failed‑bank acquisitions, aiming to broaden the pool of bidders and reduce resolution costs. The move follows a pilot program that pre‑qualifies nonbanks for asset...
Payment Processing Secrets: 13 Companies Merged Into One Platform
In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Ted Huff talks with Niv Liren, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unser, about the company’s ambitious effort to merge 13 acquired payment and commerce solutions into a single unified platform serving over...
MobiFone Digital Payments Launches to Build Vietnam’s Next-Generation Payment Infrastructure
MobiFone Digital Payments (MDP), a joint‑stock company backed by MobiFone Telecommunications, received a State Bank of Vietnam license on November 27, 2025 to offer financial switching, electronic clearing, payment gateway and collection services. The launch aims to build Vietnam’s fourth‑generation...
Master Apple Card: Move Money & Maximize Rewards
Just joining the complex Apple Card ecosystem? It's smart to learn how to move your money around, including funding your Apple Cash. Here's a primer that explains how everything interrelates and how to maximize your rewards: https://t.co/ZPP9OBmb9Y #applecard #applecash #banking...
UK Mortgage Approvals See Biggest Rise Since November, BoE Reports
The Bank of England reports the biggest month‑on‑month rise in UK mortgage approvals since November, indicating renewed buyer interest. Approvals are up roughly 15 % year‑over‑year as lower rates improve affordability compared with a year ago. Yet borrowing costs have jumped...
Hong Kong IPO Revival Stalls as Regulators and Market Turbulence Raise Stakes for Big Deals
Hong Kong's IPO market, which raised nearly $14 bn in the first quarter – its best since 2021 – is now confronting regulatory warnings, a shortage of deal‑banking staff and Beijing's new restrictions on Chinese listings, dampening investor appetite and putting...
Nigeria Targets 7% GDP Growth, Flags $14 Bn Annual Infrastructure Gap
Finance Minister Olawale Edun said Nigeria will aim for 7% annual GDP growth and needs roughly $14 bn each year to close its infrastructure deficit. The pledge, backed by the Islamic Development Bank’s $2.4 bn support, is tied to broader reforms in...
California Bars Green‑Card Holders From SBA Loans, Threatening $28 B Immigrant‑Owned Business Sector
The Small Business Administration has restricted its loan programs to U.S. citizens and nationals, ending eligibility for green‑card holders. The change could cut off financing for up to 220,000 California small‑business owners, representing 40% of the state’s entrepreneurial base and...
NCino Inc (NCNO) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
nCino reported second‑quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $148.8 million, a 12% year‑over‑year increase, with subscription revenue climbing 15% to $130.8 million and organic growth of 10%. Mortgage and non‑U.S. subscription revenues surged 22% and 30% respectively, while platform pricing conversion reached 21%...
Connect Biopharma Holdings Ltd (CNTB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
ConnectOne Bancorp reported $14 billion in assets and a market capitalization above $1.4 billion after completing its largest acquisition and a rapid systems conversion. Core deposits rose 5% annualized while brokered deposits fell to 6% of assets, improving funding quality. Operating earnings...
Brag House Holdings Inc (TBH) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Bread Financial reported a solid fourth‑quarter and full‑year 2025, with credit sales rising 3% to $27.8 billion and net income of $53 million excluding a $42 million debt‑repurchase charge. The company improved credit quality, cutting the net loss rate to 7.4% in Q4...
AmEx Secures NFL Deal, Boosting Revenue Outlook
Macro: AmEx wins NFL payments deal replacing Visa; Key: exclusive card perks, new co‑branded card & international reach; Risk: marketing ROI/FX; Trade: buy AXP on expected revenue lift. 📈 — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
AML in an Era of Unpredictable Threats
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking direct control of anti‑money‑laundering (AML) oversight, shifting from rule‑making to active supervision. It will demand law firms adopt real‑time risk monitoring and integrate up‑to‑date data, mirroring the approach used with financial‑services firms. Between...
WB Approves $1B Loan to Support Philippine Agriculture
The World Bank approved a $1 billion loan for the Philippines Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project, targeting productivity and climate resilience. The financing will support sector‑wide reforms, modernize practices, and introduce a digital voucher system to deliver inputs efficiently. It aims to...
Mortgage Intent Index Slides, Yet Pending Sales Remain Positive
The Xactus Mortgage Intent Index dipped this week. Three down weeks in a row and below last year now. Xactus is counting credit pulls, so it includes refis. I've found this data to correlate well with the pending sales rate, though...
Piper Sandler Launches Coverage on Dime Community Bancshares (DCOM) with Bullish View
On March 16, Piper Sandler initiated coverage of Dime Community Bancshares (DCOM) with an Overweight rating and raised its price target to $37, up from $36. The brokerage cites a recovering net interest margin and anticipates significant loan repricing in...
Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging – Conclusions Paper
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payments System Board released a Conclusions Paper outlining sweeping reforms to the nation’s card‑payment system. It will remove mandatory surcharging on debit, prepaid and credit cards, lower interchange fee caps and boost fee‑transparency across eftpos,...
How To Get A Home Equity Loan | Process 2026
A home equity loan lets homeowners borrow against the equity built in their property, typically up to 80% of the home’s appraised value after subtracting the existing mortgage balance. The application mirrors a primary mortgage—lenders evaluate credit scores, debt‑to‑income ratios,...
Demand Transparency: Test a Government CBDC for Tax Tracking
Americans do have the right to know exactly where our tax dollars are going. Test out a CBDC on the government https://t.co/670p3X4NoE
Morningstar DBRS Finalizes Its Provisional Credit Ratings on FIGRE Trust 2026-FL1
Morningstar DBRS finalized provisional ratings for FIGRE Trust 2026‑FL1 mortgage‑backed notes, assigning AAA to the $222.6 million Class A‑1 tranche and AA to the $28.7 million Class A‑2 tranche, among others. The transaction backs $274.6 million of first‑lien HELOCs originated by Figure, with...
![[Payments Arriving] Evolve Bank & Trust Data Breach + $20 Settlement](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/evolve-data-breach.png)
[Payments Arriving] Evolve Bank & Trust Data Breach + $20 Settlement
Evolve Bank & Trust disclosed a ransomware breach in May 2024 attributed to the LockBit criminal group. An employee’s click on a malicious link allowed attackers to download customer data and encrypt files, though backups limited operational loss and no...
Are Credit Union Commercial Loans Risky Business?
The episode examines the rapid growth of commercial lending by credit unions, highlighting how regulatory changes since the 1990s—especially the 2016 waiver process and the rise of low‑income designations—have allowed many credit unions to exceed historic lending caps. Dan Brown...
Treasury Moves to Formalize Whistleblower Payouts Tied to Financial Crime Tips
The U.S. Treasury, via FinCEN, has issued a proposed rule to formalize a whistleblower program that rewards individuals for tips leading to financial‑crime enforcement. Under the draft, whistleblowers could earn 10 % to 30 % of penalties collected in successful fraud, sanctions...
Proactive Data Use Keeps Customers, Inactive Banks Lose Them
Customers expect their financial institution to use the data they already have to help them, not just react when problems occur. If your bank isn’t proactive, someone else will be. https://t.co/lAKdvKwfQg
Lender: Keep Fine-Tuning Finances
Chris Schneider of Nicolet National Bank told Brownfield that agricultural operating loans are growing as input costs rise, yet loan amounts per acre have stayed relatively flat. He urged farmers to trim controllable expenses, noting that cutting many small costs...
RTGS CHAPS Industry Forum
The Bank of England has opened nominations for a new RTGS CHAPS Industry Forum, seeking about 15 senior external members from banks, fintechs, large corporates and other stakeholders. The advisory body will help shape the design, development and operation of...
U.S. Bank Extends Loan Terms in Bid to Address Affordability
U.S. Bank announced it will extend its home‑improvement loan terms from five years to six or seven years, targeting larger renovation projects. The move is designed to address growing affordability concerns among American households as home‑improvement spending stays above $600 billion...
Mobile Wallets Boost Security and Credit Card Utilization
Using payment services like Apple Pay and Google Pay can offer extra security and encourage you to maximize your credit cards. https://t.co/VPFoaKTwsB
Goldman Predicts Retail Outflows in Direct Lending Through 2027
Good episode from Goldman on private credit. They forecast outflows from retail channel for direct lending into 2027 https://t.co/eP2DhDcZhr
Most Americans Would Rather Ditch Social Media than Their Beloved Banking Apps, Wells Fargo Survey Says
A Wells Fargo survey of 3,700 U.S. adults reveals that 86% have altered their spending habits and two‑thirds are delaying purchases or payments as money anxiety rises. While 84% would rather give up social media for a year than abandon banking...
Dah Sing Banking Group Posts 20% FY25 Profit Rise on Higher Net Interest Income, Boosts Dividend
Dah Sing Banking Group announced a 20.2% increase in FY25 profit to HK$2.48 bn, powered by a 10.2% rise in net interest income, while also lifting its dividend. The earnings lift lifted the stock 1.3% in Hong Kong trading.
Fintech Firms Scramble for Banking and Payment Licences as Nigeria's New Vision Reshapes Competition
Nigeria’s central bank unveiled a Payments System Vision at the Africa Capital Forum, prompting fintechs to rush for banking and payment licences. The move coincides with $706.84 million of foreign capital entering the country’s banking recapitalisation, underscoring the high stakes for...
American Express To Remove $100 Saks Benefit On Platinum Card
American Express announced that the $100 annual Shop Saks credit on the U.S. Consumer Platinum Card will be discontinued for all members starting July 1, 2026. Existing cardholders can still receive up to $50 in Saks statement credits through June...