Philippine Central Bank Governor Says It Is Considering Off-Cycle Rate Hike
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled it may raise rates before its June 18 policy meeting, after an April 25‑basis‑point hike to 4.50% proved insufficient amid a persistent supply shock. Governor Eli Remolona cited spiralling fuel costs and a weakening peso as catalysts for a possible off‑cycle move. The central bank already held an unprecedented off‑cycle meeting in March to address inflation pressures from the Middle‑East conflict. A further increase would aim to keep inflation expectations anchored and support currency stability.
Landbank Q1 Profit Slips to P12B
State‑run Land Bank of the Philippines reported a 9% decline in first‑quarter 2026 net profit, falling to ₱12.05 billion (about $219 million) from ₱13.3 billion a year earlier. Despite the earnings dip, the bank reduced its InstaPay person‑to‑person transfer fee from ₱15 to...
Banks Are Again Vying for CRE Loans as Fears Subside
Banks are rapidly rebuilding commercial‑real‑estate (CRE) loan pipelines as confidence returns after 2023’s credit scare. Originations rose 80% in Q1 2026 versus a year earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, while net loan volumes grow modestly due to high...
Wealthsimple Unveils New Family and Business Products as It Broadens Banking Push
Wealthsimple unveiled a suite of family‑focused and small‑business banking products, including a kids’ chequing account with parental controls, a multi‑account household tool, and a business chequing account that offers up to 2.25% interest, a USD account, prepaid card and line...
PSR Publishes Proposed Direction and Guidelines: Regulatory Financial Reporting in Relation to the Market Review of Card Scheme and Processing...
On 21 May 2026 the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) issued a draft direction and accompanying guidelines to implement its Regulatory Financial Reporting (RFR) remedy for card‑scheme and processing fees. The proposal trims reporting obligations, dropping annual balance‑sheet submissions deemed unnecessary, while retaining...
Ukrainian Banks Post Record Growth in Hryvnia Business Lending
Ukrainian banks recorded a historic surge in hryvnia‑denominated commercial loans, reaching UAH 609.28 bn (≈$13.8 bn) in April 2026. The growth was led by financing for the defence industry, energy projects and agriculture, reflecting a shift from direct state‑budget funding to market‑based lending....
Why the 2026 World Cup Is a Test of AML Readiness
FinCEN has issued a formal notice urging banks to heighten AML vigilance for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing heightened human‑trafficking risks across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament’s massive visitor influx will drive surges in cash, prepaid‑card...
Agentic Commerce and the Battleground for New Payments Infrastructure
Agentic commerce—AI agents that recommend, negotiate, and pay for users—is emerging rapidly, prompting a shift from human‑initiated to agent‑initiated transactions. Visa proposes a four‑step framework that moves agents from product recommendation to full‑lifecycle payment orchestration. The fragmented landscape of identity...
Canadian Credit Union Association's 2026 National Conference: Credit Unions Focus on Scale, Growth, and Modernization
The Canadian Credit Union Association’s 2026 National Conference in Ottawa highlighted a sector shift toward scale, collaboration, and modernization. Leaders emphasized mergers, federalization, and partnerships as pathways to compete with fintech and larger banks. While preserving their cooperative ethos, credit...
ASIC Warns of "Lost Generation" Risk if Australia Falls Behind on Fintech and AI
ASIC warned that Australia could create a "lost generation" of citizens with lower living standards if the nation falls behind in fintech and AI, releasing a Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre review that benchmarks the country against six leading jurisdictions....
Credit Saison India Raises $500 Million via ECB
Credit Saison India secured a $500 million multi‑currency external commercial borrowing, the largest in its history, pushing its cumulative ECB fundraising past $1.1 billion within a year. The syndicate included the Asian Development Bank’s first participation alongside returning lenders such as SBI,...
Exploring Australia’s Proposed Payments Reforms
Australia is set to modernise its payments regulatory framework with a two‑tranche reform package, targeting a parliamentary rollout of Tranche 1 in 2026. The first tranche expands the regulatory perimeter to cover stored‑value facilities, payment initiation services, tokenised assets and stablecoins,...
Nigerian Fintechs March Into Banks' Territory
Flutterwave’s April 2 banking licence marks a watershed as Nigerian fintechs move into full‑service banking. The unicorn, now valued at over $3 billion, aims to offer a unified platform for accounts, payments, payroll and credit powered by transaction data. Peer firms...
The Non-Agency Market Is Bigger than You Think
At the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Secondary and Capital Markets Conference, panelists declared that non‑agency (non‑QM) mortgages have shed their niche label and now account for roughly half of new originations. Lenders such as Deephaven Mortgage report mainstream demand, while investors...
Starling’s SaaS Business Sees Revenue Lift but Group Profits Dip
Starling Bank posted a 3% drop in pre‑tax profit to £217 m ($276 m) and revenue fell to £887 m ($1.13 bn) for the year to March 2026, mainly because lower interest rates cut interest income. Transaction volume rose to £216.7 bn ($275 bn) and average deposits...