HSBC Asks Victim of Credit Card Theft to Pay HK$126,580 Racked up by Criminals
HSBC has demanded that a Hong Kong mother repay more than HK$126,000 in charges incurred after thieves used her stolen credit card. The card was taken on November 15 and the victim reported the loss the following day, but the bank argues the delay breaches its reporting policy. HSBC’s decision contrasts with a recent case where a friend’s similar loss was covered by the bank. The dispute highlights divergent treatment of card‑fraud liabilities.
Crypto Firm Rhino.fi Targets Stablecoin Spreads with 1:1 Conversion Product
Rhino.fi has introduced a “Stablecoin 1:1” product that guarantees a fixed one‑to‑one conversion rate for USD‑pegged stablecoins such as USDT and USDC across more than 25 blockchain networks. The service eliminates hidden spreads and routing inefficiencies, offering transparent fees for neobanks...
Kenya Seeks Public Comment on Draft Rules for Crypto Firms
Kenya has launched a public consultation on its draft Virtual Asset Service Providers Regulations for 2026, aiming to operationalise the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act of 2025. The proposals require crypto firms to obtain licences, disclose ownership, meet capital and...
CFTC Issues Update to Guide Crypto Integration in Derivatives Markets
The CFTC released FAQs on March 20, 2026 clarifying how registered firms can use cryptocurrency as collateral in futures, swaps and clearing activities. FCMs may accept qualified non‑security crypto—primarily Bitcoin, Ether and payment stablecoins—subject to haircuts, a three‑month limitation, and weekly WinJammer...
Trojan Now Impacting Brazilian Financial Institution Clients, Malware Employs Advanced Stealth Tactics : Analysis
Kaspersky’s GReAT team has detailed the GoPix banking Trojan, a Brazilian‑origin threat that has logged roughly 90,000 infection attempts since 2023. The malware spreads through sophisticated malvertising on Google Ads, impersonating services like WhatsApp and Correios to lure high‑value victims....
BSP Expands Online Access to PERA
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has broadened digital access to the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) through its Open Finance for PERA Pilot. Customers of GCash operator G‑Xchange, UnionBank, Philippine National Bank and RCBC can now open PERA...
Absa Fraud Warning
Absa has issued a broad warning about phishing scams that distribute fake e‑statement links and counterfeit account‑security alerts. The messages mimic the bank’s branding, use spoofed email addresses and unrelated URLs such as pouiyt.tech, and lure customers into entering login...
Regulators Monitor Rising Debt; Banking System Holds Firm
The Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) affirmed that the Philippine banking system remains resilient, backed by strong capital and liquidity. However, the council warned that rising corporate debt, expanding consumer credit, and growing exposure to large conglomerates could heighten systemic...
FCA Highlights Risks when Dealing with Unregulated Lenders
The FCA reminded regulated firms to conduct proper due diligence when dealing with unregulated lenders, safe‑custody providers, money brokers and financial leasing companies, known as Annex 1 firms. About 1,200 Annex 1 firms are registered solely for anti‑money‑laundering (AML) purposes and are...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
What Banking Customers Want—And Don’t Want—From Chatbots
Banks increasingly rely on mobile apps as the main customer interface, but chatbot satisfaction remains low. Research from Javelin Strategy shows bots often serve as complex call‑routing tools that frustrate users, especially younger consumers who expect swift human assistance. Institutions...
Interview: Jem Walters, CTO, Vanquis
Jem Walters, former Virgin Money CIO and co‑founder of the Snoop app, became CTO of Vanquis in September 2023 to lead a sweeping digital overhaul. He is consolidating three legacy technology stacks into a unified Salesforce‑based platform while building a Snowflake‑powered...
Starling Bank Rolls Out “UK’s First Agentic AI Financial Assistant”
Starling Bank announced the launch of the UK’s first agentic AI financial assistant, dubbed Starling Assistant, to automate everyday banking tasks. The voice‑enabled tool can set up savings goals, allocate funds across dedicated spaces, and schedule bill payments through natural...
CIRO to Return Misconduct Funds to Investors Starting April
Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) will roll out a Disgorgement Distribution Program on April 1, 2026, enabling funds seized from broker misconduct to be returned to affected investors. The initiative distributes disgorgement penalties on a prorated basis, with claimants given at least...
Government Unveils Rs 20000 Crore Credit Guarantee Plan for MFIs
The Indian government announced a Rs 20,000 crore credit guarantee scheme aimed at micro‑finance institutions (MFIs) to alleviate liquidity pressures. The programme applies to all bank‑sanctioned loans up to June 30, 2026 and imposes a 2 % rate ceiling above the marginal cost of funds....
DORA Is Reshaping How Europe’s Financial Sector Thinks About Compliance, and Most Firms Still Aren’t Ready
Fourteen months after DORA became enforceable, European financial institutions are still struggling to meet its requirements. Surveys show only about a third feel confident about full compliance by the Jan 2025 deadline, while half expect to finish by end‑2025 and many...
Credit Card Default Is Driven by Job Loss, Not Contract Terms
A large‑scale randomized experiment with 144,000 Mexican credit‑card borrowers shows that lowering interest rates by 30 percentage points cuts default by only 2.6 percentage points, while a 5‑to‑10 percent increase in minimum payments modestly raises short‑run defaults. By linking borrowers to social security...
Why Real-Time Intelligence Sharing Is Now a Legal Must
Regulators across Europe are turning real‑time financial‑crime intelligence sharing from a voluntary practice into a legal requirement, with the Payment Services Regulation (PSR) Article 83 and AMLR Article 75 mandating connections to domestic and international networks from 2027. Salv Bridge, a four‑year‑old...
IFSCA Issues 60 Warnings in FY26 as Capital Market Intermediaries Breach Compliance Norms
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has issued 60 warnings to capital market intermediaries (CMIs) operating in GIFT City during FY26 for breaches such as unattended offices, missing key personnel, weak infrastructure, and use of remote‑access software for trading....
Explainable Redress Decisions: What the FCA Demands
The FCA now mandates that every compensation outcome in large‑scale remediation programmes be fully auditable and transparent. Known as explainable redress decisions, firms must reconstruct the entire decision‑making process for each customer, documenting data sources, eligibility criteria, formulae, and any...