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.
China to Allow More Banks to Handle Digital Yuan: Sources
China's central bank will add twelve new banks to the e‑CNY programme, expanding the roster from ten to twenty‑two institutions. The new participants include major joint‑stock banks such as China Everbright and city commercial banks like Bank of Ningbo. The move seeks to accelerate digital yuan adoption, especially for cross‑border payments that bypass the US‑dollar‑centric system. Since its 2019 launch, e‑CNY transactions have amassed a cumulative value of 16.7 trillion yuan, highlighting growing domestic usage.
Federal Reserve Orders External Review of 2023 Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
The Federal Reserve announced a third‑party review of the March 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapse, citing evidence of supervisory and management failures dating back to 2022. Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the external audit will examine all events...
Regulators Push Lower Bank Capital, Sparking Risk Concerns
Regulators proposed Thursday letting banks hold less capital, freeing billions for lending, while critics say it increases risks of crises and bailouts.
Citibank Is Slashing Points Transfers To Two Partners April 19 — One Drops 25%, The Other 50%
Citibank announced that, effective April 19 2026, its Premium ThankYou Rewards cards will transfer points to Choice Privileges at a 25 percent reduced rate and to Preferred Hotels I Prefer at a 50 percent reduced rate. The former moves from 1,000 ThankYou points for 2,000 Choice points to 1,500,...
JP Morgan Chase Settles SEBI Case over FPI Rule Violations
JP Morgan Chase settled a SEBI case over foreign portfolio investor (FPI) rule breaches by paying Rs 34.42 lakh. The regulator found the bank issued Category II licences to four UK FPIs not registered with the FCA and later re‑classified them without verification. Additionally,...
Choosing a Personal Loan Over a Home Equity Loan
Personal loans and home‑equity loans are both fixed‑rate installment options, but they differ in security, rates, and term lengths. Personal loans are unsecured, require lower credit scores, and typically offer 12% interest over one to seven years, while home‑equity loans...
Banks Block Stablecoin Yields, Threatening Retail Investors
TLDR: RETAIL IS FXCKED - Banks are scared that yield on stablecoins will "siphon" deposits and do not want to give retail 4-5% YEILD - Allegedly, crypto firms will be BANNED from using terms like "interest" or "yield" for stablecoin rewards, limited...
Santander Brasil Taps B3 CEO Gilson Finkelsztain to Lead Next Phase of Growth
Santander Brasil announced that Gilson Finkelsztain, currently CEO of Brazil's stock exchange B3, will take over as its chief executive by July, succeeding Mario Roberto Opice Leão. The transition, outlined in a U.S. SEC filing, will occur after Leão steps...
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Best High-Yield Business Savings Accounts for March 2026: Up to 4.00%
Investopedia’s March 2026 roundup identifies the top high‑yield business savings accounts, with Meritrust Credit Union’s Premier Money Market Earnings leading at a 4.00% APY. Three additional institutions also offer the same rate, while others range down to 2.75% APY. The list...
Experts Celebrate White House Reversal on Bank Citizenship EO
Banking experts welcomed the White House’s decision to delay a Trump administration proposal that would have required banks to collect customers’ citizenship information. The mandate, seen as an extension of immigration enforcement into financial regulation, raised concerns about massive customer...
Banks Are Increasingly Moving From Conceptual to Actual Stablecoin Deployment Plans : Analysis
Chainalysis reports that banks are moving beyond theoretical discussions to concrete stablecoin deployments. Executives have settled on three primary models: issuing proprietary tokens, partnering with existing providers, or embedding stablecoins into current payment and treasury systems. The critical hurdle now...
Court Dismisses Biden Fiduciary Rule, Prompting New Label Strategy
This #WeekendReading: U.S. District Court has formally put an end to the Biden-era Retirement Security Rule (aka "Fiduciary Rule 2.0") after the Trump administration's Department of Labor elected not to defend the rule against lawsuits led by groups representing product...
Govt Amends Norms for Exporters Availing the Interest Subvention Support
India revised the interest subvention rules for export credit effective Jan 2, 2026. The benefit now ceases when a loan is classified as a non‑performing asset and the Unique Identification Number cannot be transferred to another bank. Exporters must keep total...
Risk Management Gaps that Expose Mortgage Lenders
Mortgage lenders operate under intense regulatory scrutiny, cyber threats, and capital pressure, yet many still rely on fragmented governance and legacy systems. Recent enforcement actions, such as Bayview’s $26 million data‑breach settlement, highlight the financial and reputational costs of inadequate risk...
The EU Invites Turkey to Join SEPA
The European Union has formally invited Turkey to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), a move that could tighten economic ties and lower cross‑border transaction costs. Over the past year, Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia joined, bringing SEPA...
BHI Provides $88M Bridge Loan for 845 Third Avenue’s Office-to-Resi Conversion
Bank Hapoalim's U.S. arm, BHI, has issued an $88 million bridge loan to finance the conversion of 845 Third Avenue, a 21‑story Midtown East office tower, into a 529‑unit residential building. The loan is part of a broader recapitalization that also includes...
What Is This 600-Strong Bank Network Using Tokenized Deposits For?
U.S. banks Custodia and Vantage have launched tokenized deposits that will be used in Participate, a loan‑participation network spanning roughly 600 financial institutions. The SEC also approved Nasdaq’s plan to settle trades of major equities and ETFs with tokenized securities,...
How Community Banks Can Get in on Stablecoins
Bank of North Dakota is launching Roughrider Coin, a stablecoin designed for wholesale, bank‑to‑bank payments, in partnership with Fiserv’s digital‑asset platform. The initiative demonstrates how a state‑owned, mid‑tier bank can create an instant payment rail without building the technology from scratch....
Global Credit Risk & Debt Recovery Conference 2026
The Global Credit Risk & Debt Recovery Conference 2026 will convene July 1‑2 in Dubai’s Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan. Senior leaders, decision‑makers and innovators from banks and financial services will gather for two days of insight. More than 25 expert...
Stripe Launches Tempo Blockchain to Power AI-Driven Payments
Stripe has launched Tempo, a new blockchain platform designed to power autonomous AI‑driven payments. Built with digital‑asset firm Paradigm, Tempo’s mainnet already supports over 100 integrated services and aims to handle high‑volume cross‑border payouts, remittances, and tokenized deposits using stablecoins....
Pismo and Visa Launch AI-Native Payments Solution With Vivi Money in Australia
Global cloud banking platform Pismo and payments giant Visa have partnered with Australian fintech Vivi Money to launch an AI‑native payments solution in Australia. Built from the ground up with artificial intelligence, the platform delivers adaptive, real‑time services such as...
Sygnum Protect Tops $1B in Assets, Unlocking Crypto Volatility for TradFi Institutions
Sygnum’s off‑exchange custody platform, Sygnum Protect, has crossed the $1 billion asset threshold, reflecting a 900% year‑on‑year surge driven by institutional appetite for secure crypto exposure. Launched with Binance and later expanded to Deribit and Bybit, the service links users to...
Ripple Focuses on Brazilian Markets with Expanded Payments Offering
Ripple is deepening its footprint in Brazil by launching a broader suite of enterprise blockchain solutions and seeking a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence from the Central Bank. The move adds major banks and fintechs such as Banco Genial,...
Propiteer Capital PLC – Financial Conduct Authority | FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a public notice concerning Propiteer Capital PLC, highlighting the firm’s regulatory status and recent compliance actions. The posting, shared via Crowdfund Insider on March 20, 2026, links directly to the FCA’s official website for...
Same Card, More Points: Our Best Tips on How to Start Getting Targeted Credit Card Offers
Targeted credit‑card offers, sent directly to select consumers, can yield higher bonuses than public promotions. The article outlines practical steps to increase the likelihood of receiving such offers, including opting into email and mail communications, regularly checking pre‑qualified offers through...
FDIC Opens Door for Private Equity to Buy Failed Banks
The FDIC has rescinded its 2009 rule that barred private‑equity firms and other non‑bank entities from bidding on failed banks. The change, prompted by the rapid failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic in 2023, is intended...
AI, Credit Scores and Consumer Trust, with JB Orecchia.
In this episode, host Josh Dattar chats with JB Orecchia, founder and CEO of Savvy Money, about how identifying inefficiencies in lending and insurance creates business opportunities, and how AI can reshape credit scoring and consumer trust. JB shares his...
Man Exposes Billion-Dollar Debt Scam, Erases Millions
Did you know banks sell your debt for 10 cents on the dollar? Then collectors harass you for 100% of it. Michael Sheen entered this market in 2023. But instead of collecting, he erased everything. Here's how ONE man exposed the BILLION-dollar scam freeing...
Leaders: Regional Banks in Today's Economy: M&T CEO Rene Jones
In a recent interview, M&T Bank CEO Rene Jones outlined how regional banks are navigating a higher‑interest‑rate environment and tighter credit conditions. He highlighted M&T’s focus on disciplined loan growth, bolstering deposit stability, and accelerating digital transformation to improve cost...
Mortgage Rates Jump Above 6.5%, More Hikes Ahead
A 6.50%+ 30-year fixed mortgage rate is coming today. Crazy we had sub-6% rates less than a month ago. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
UBS Receives Final Approval for US Bank Charter
Swiss banking giant UBS Group AG secured final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national bank charter in the United States. The charter allows UBS to offer a full range of banking products, including...
Visa, PayPal Execs React to K-Shaped Economy
Visa’s product chief says processed‑transaction volume remains stable and resilient, downplaying a K‑shaped split. PayPal’s CFO notes a 1% deceleration in branded checkout growth, attributing it to divergent spending among middle‑ and lower‑income consumers. Shift4’s CFO points to lodging and...
Bowman Signals Deeper Fed Cuts
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman signaled support for a deeper rate‑cut trajectory, proposing three cuts by the end of 2026 despite the March FOMC’s decision to hold the benchmark at 3.5‑3.75%. She highlighted lingering labor‑market concerns and...
Jumbo CD vs High-Yield Savings: Which Is the Best Place to Store $100k?
A retiree looking to park $100,000 can choose between a high‑yield savings account (HYSA) offering 4.20% APY and full liquidity, or a jumbo certificate of deposit (CD) delivering 4.35% APY with a short‑term lock‑in. Both products are FDIC‑insured up to...
FCA Publishes Terms of Reference for Its Market Study Into Later Life Mortgages
The Financial Conduct Authority has released the terms of reference for a market study focused on later‑life mortgages. The study will assess whether the sector can evolve to meet the growing and shifting needs of retirees, including lifetime and interest‑only...
Should You Fix Your Mortgage Rate? Experts Weigh in on Rising Repayments
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent cash‑rate hike is pushing mortgage repayments higher, prompting homeowners to reconsider fixed‑rate options. Experts explain that fixed rates lock in payments and can aid budgeting, but may become costly if interest rates fall, while...
UK Regulator Opens Enforcement Investigation Into Market Financial Solutions Limited
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has opened an enforcement investigation into Market Financial Solutions Limited (MFS), a firm registered under Annex 1 and supervised solely for compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)...
Zimperium Report: Banking Malware Targets 1,200+ Apps
Zimperium’s 2026 Banking Heist Report reveals that 34 active malware families are targeting 1,243 mobile banking apps across 90 countries. Android‑based financial fraud surged 67% year‑over‑year in 2025, with sophisticated campaigns that can fully control devices and bypass traditional defenses....
The 19th Century Banking Problem that AI Hasn’t Solved Yet
Salesforce researchers argue that while technical protocols for AI‑to‑AI communication are emerging, the trust architecture that enabled 19th‑century bank clearing houses is still missing for autonomous agents. They highlight four pillars—registered identity, reputation infrastructure, boundary‑based governance, and structured accountability with...
ARMs Offer $150 Monthly Savings, Biggest Discount Since 2022
"The typical homebuyer would save $150 per month taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage instead of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. That’s a 5.8% discount, the biggest ARM users have had since June 2022 in both dollar and percentage terms." -Redfin
Citibank Cuts Points Transfers: 25% and 50% Reductions
Citibank Is Slashing Points Transfers To Two Partners April 19 — One Drops 25%, The Other 50% - View from the Wing https://t.co/rX89tynL3G
Simple Digital Onboarding Is No Longer Optional
Digital isn’t optional anymore. If your onboarding experience doesn’t match the simplicity customers get elsewhere, they won’t wait. They’ll move on to someone who makes it easy. https://t.co/ov1HBogOPj
Mortgages Trap Workers, Limiting Job Mobility—Denmark’s Solution
Our mortgage system sucks. One under appreciated reason why is that it reduces labor market flexibility. People won’t move to a better job b/c they are locked into a low priced mortgage. Here’s the danish fix:
3.61% APY Savings Adjust with Fed, No Fees
That’s just not true for us. @bankonroger savings is currently 3.61 APY & we adjust with Fed Funds movement. No gimmicks or fees. We do have a cap where interest over 250k is more limited (opposite from most) to contain...
Learn to Move Money & Maximize Apple Card 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/ZPP9OBmIZw #applecard #applecash #banking...
PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin to 70 Countries, Paying Creators
PayPal Scales PYUSD Stablecoin to Reach 70 Countries | https://t.co/ApQ8VoYEl2 https://t.co/RGyJzshUXi YouTube creators can get paid in PYUSD (rolled out for US users)
Investigative Report Exposes Fraudulent Compliance Startup
This is a really damning bit of investigative journalism about a Potemkin compliance startup. Hat tip to Byrne. the spectral signature is not a subtle one, and one wonders whether all companies which paid them were actually defrauded. https://t.co/upQRuWAusZ
Keeping Our Digital Bank Inside FDIC Insured Institution Pays Off
Not all fintechs are created equal. So grateful that we started our digital bank, @bankonroger, within our FDIC insured bank @citizensedmond rather than give into the temptation to spin it out.
UBS Tops JPMorgan, $7 T Assets Expands TBTF Club
UBS manages about $7 trillion in assets - the world's largest and nearly double the size of JP Morgan. Not only is TBTF growing, but we're adding members to the club.
Missing Community Banks Sparks Call for Mega Deposit Insurance
I sure miss the days when new bank formations were a group of citizens coming together to fund economic growth for their communities. Is this why there’s a push for mega deposit insurance?