Starling and Adyen Target SME Pain Points Together
Starling Bank and payments platform Adyen have teamed up to launch tap‑to‑pay functionality for UK small‑business customers. The service will let merchants accept contactless card and mobile‑wallet payments directly through a smartphone inside the Starling app, eliminating the need for separate terminals. Settlement is expected by the next business day, and the solution integrates Adyen’s global acquiring network with Starling’s banking features. The partnership signals a deeper move toward embedded finance in the SME segment.
Monzo Just Posted £1.7B in Revenue. Here Is the Pitch Deck That Started It All
Monzo reported full‑year results of roughly $2.1 billion in revenue, a 39% year‑over‑year increase, and $109 million in pre‑tax profit. The UK challenger bank now serves 15.2 million customers, adding a record 3 million in the past year. It is positioning itself for a...
Uzbekistan’s Banking Delegation Secures Cooperation Agreement with Hong Kong Association of Banks on Digital Finance and Investment
In May 2026 a delegation of Uzbekistan’s commercial banks signed a cooperation agreement with the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB). The deal establishes a permanent bilateral communication platform and a joint roadmap covering digital transformation, investment financing and professional...
Credit Card Loyalty Is Moving From Plastic to Platforms
Credit card issuers are increasingly viewing their mobile apps as the primary battleground for loyalty, with app quality now shaping which card sits at the top of a consumer’s wallet. A PYMNTS Intelligence and Elan study finds that nearly 70%...
AI in Finance and Banking, May 15, 2026
OpenAI rolled out a preview of personal‑finance tools for ChatGPT Pro users in the United States, partnering with Plaid to connect over 12,000 banks and brokerages. Anthropic introduced ten finance‑focused AI agents that are already being piloted by firms such as...
Purchase Activity Lifts Mortgage Applications Despite Higher Rates
Mortgage applications rose 1.7% last week, driven entirely by stronger purchase activity despite 30‑year fixed rates edging up to 6.46%, the highest in five weeks. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index jumped 4% week‑over‑week and is 7% higher than a year...
HELOC, DPA, U/W Fees Waived Products; Delinquencies Edge Higher; Conv. Conforming Changes
Mortgage delinquencies edged higher in Q1 2026, with FHA and VA loans lagging conventional by 900 and 225 basis points respectively, reflecting the end of pandemic‑era relief and tighter payment plans. Lenders announced several agency‑driven product updates, including AmeriHome’s removal...
The Credential Layer
The blog highlights that the payment industry’s credential layer—built on static PANs and CVVs—has become its weakest link, with 3,158 U.S. data breaches in 2024 exposing billions of records. Stolen card data trades for $5‑$15 on dark‑web markets and is...
Amazon Launches Two New U.S. Bank Business Credit Cards
Amazon has introduced two new business credit cards—the Prime Business Card and the Amazon Business Card—issued by U.S. Bank on the Mastercard network, replacing its former American Express partnership. Both cards feature no annual or foreign‑transaction fees and a variable sign‑up bonus...
King’s Speech Signals End of PSR as FCA Takes Over Payments Oversight
In the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026, the UK government announced that the Payment Systems Regulator will be folded into the Financial Conduct Authority. The consolidation is intended to eliminate regulatory duplication, streamline decision‑making and provide a single supervisory body for...
Brookfield Bancshares to Acquire NSTS Bancorp for $73.7 Million
Brookfield Bancshares announced a definitive agreement to acquire NSTS Bancorp for $73.7 million, paying $14.28 per share—a 12.9% premium to the prior close. NSTS, the holding company of North Shore Trust and Savings, brings $266.6 million in assets and a portfolio of...
PNC Launches Spend Wise Credit Card – 0% APR For 18 Months (4% Balance Transfer Fee)
PNC has introduced the Spend Wise Visa credit card, offering an 18‑month 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers with no annual fee. The card includes a $25 digital‑subscription credit, price‑protection, and a unique Porch Piracy Protection benefit. Balance...
American Express Adds $300 ChatGPT Business Credit To Business Cards Platinum & Gold
American Express has launched a $300 annual statement credit for ChatGPT Business subscriptions on its Business Platinum and Business Gold cards. Cardholders must enroll, and the credit applies only to purchases charged directly to the card in the U.S. and...
NatWest Sharpens Its AI Focus with New Fintech Cohort
NatWest has chosen eight artificial‑intelligence‑led fintechs for its 2026 Fintech Programme, a 12‑week accelerator aimed at pre‑Series A and Series A companies. The cohort spans solutions for customer engagement, compliance, financial‑crime detection, vulnerability identification, geopolitical risk, treasury and payments. Participants will work...
Digital Securities Are Still Securities
CoinList’s recent letter to the Senate Banking Committee argues that audit requirements are costly and could stifle smaller digital‑asset projects, echoing a broader desire for lower compliance expenses. The piece stresses that, despite blockchain’s on‑chain transparency, investors still need independent...