Eaglestone Management: Experience Forged in Global Infrastructure Finance
Eaglestone Management’s leadership team combines deep project‑finance banking experience with hands‑on infrastructure execution. CEO Pedro Neto brings over 30 years and involvement in more than €50 billion of global projects across energy, transport and concessions. Managing Partner Nuno Gil adds 25 years of structuring expertise across Europe and Sub‑Saharan Africa, having advised governments and multilateral lenders. Together they position the firm to originate, structure and manage large‑scale, sustainable infrastructure investments.
FCA Exchanges Letters on Cooperation with India Regulator, IFSCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has signed an Exchange of Letters with India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), the regulator for GIFT City. The pact commits both bodies to share regulatory knowledge and best‑practice insights, aiming to strengthen links...
ACH Volume Is Soaring. Here's How that Threatens Banks.
ACH network volume surged in 2025, reaching 35.2 billion payments worth $93 trillion, a 5 percent rise year‑over‑year. Person‑to‑person transfers grew 19.8 percent and business‑to‑business payments rose 9.9 percent, while check usage in B2B fell to 26 percent. Nacha has proposed lifting the same‑day ACH transaction...
Asset Finance Demand Steady as Renewables Rise
Allica Bank’s survey of more than 570 asset‑finance brokers shows demand holding steady, with 29% reporting higher application volumes in the second half of the year and 26% seeing no change. Renewables have broken into the top three sectors for...
Natwest Group CEO Touts Near-Term Agentic AI Workflow Future
NatWest Group CEO Paul Thwaite announced that the bank is shifting from basic chatbots to autonomous AI systems capable of executing complex banking workflows for customers. He expects many of the underlying components to be operational within the year. However,...
Whistleblowing Quarterly Data 2025 Q4 – Financial Conduct Authority | FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released its Q4 2025 whistleblowing report, revealing a 12% rise in total disclosures compared with the previous quarter. The data shows 1,842 new reports, with fraud and market abuse accounting for 58% of cases. Of...
Binance Rolls Out Mastercard Crypto Card Across CIS
Binance has launched a Mastercard‑branded crypto debit card in the CIS region, allowing users to spend digital assets at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. The card supports instant conversion of major cryptocurrencies into fiat, with zero‑fee withdrawals and a 5%...
Strategies and Opportunities for Corporate Clients
In a recent interview, MUFG Managing Director Manoj S. Bhatia highlighted the bank’s focus on bespoke, empathetic relationships with corporate clients, driven by a decentralized, sector‑specialist approach. This model enables MUFG to stay nimble amid volatile market conditions and deliver...
Firms Report Improved Financial Performance Linked to Use of Embedded Finance
A new PYMNTS Intelligence study of 515 senior leaders shows embedded finance is now a strategic imperative for mid‑size and large firms. Nearly 90% of respondents prioritize strengthening customer and employee relationships, while 75% plan technology upgrades within the next...
Stablecoin Payments Show Up at Checkout Despite Crypto Markets Slump
Despite a broad crypto market downturn, stablecoin‑linked cards are gaining traction at U.S. checkout counters. Monthly payment flows through these cards have surpassed $1.5 billion, and annualized spend now tops $18 billion. The growth is driven by card networks embedding stablecoins as...
Rethinking SARs in the Fight Against Financial Crime
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) remain the cornerstone of global AML frameworks, yet many institutions misunderstand their purpose, treating them as accusations rather than suspicion flags. Regulatory pressure and soaring transaction volumes have driven firms to prioritize filing speed over narrative...
Fitch, Afreximbank, and Africa's Development Sovereignty
Afreximbank terminated its credit rating relationship with Fitch after the agency reclassified the bank as high‑risk for providing debt relief to Ghana. Fitch argued the support indicated a lack of preferred‑creditor status, a claim the bank disputes, citing treaty‑based protections...
10 Years Later, Bangladesh Bank Cyberheist Still Offers Cyber-Resiliency Lessons
A decade after the Bangladesh Bank heist, the 2016 cyberattack that attempted to steal $951 million via the SWIFT network remains a benchmark for nation‑state hacking. Attackers used spear‑phishing malware to obtain valid SWIFT credentials, executing 35 fraudulent payment orders, of...
Bitpanda Teams Up with LuLu Financing Holdings to Support Digital Assets Trading
Bitpanda has partnered with LuLu Financial Holdings to embed regulated crypto trading into LuLuFin's existing digital and physical channels across the MENA, APAC and Indian subcontinent regions. Leveraging Bitpanda’s VARA‑compliant brokerage infrastructure, LuLuFin users will be able to buy, sell...
Bahrain Courts Stablecoin Issuers as AlloyX Taps Fintech Hub
AlloyX, a digital‑asset infrastructure firm owned by Solowin Holdings, has partnered with Bahrain FinTech Bay to develop a regulated stablecoin in the Gulf. The collaboration gives AlloyX access to Bahrain's fintech ecosystem while it seeks regulatory approval under the Central...
Koxa, Bottomline Announce ERP Embedded Banking Partnership
Koxa and Bottomline have formed a partnership to embed banking services directly within ERP systems, leveraging Koxa’s platform and Bottomline’s Commercial Digital Banking API framework. The joint solution lets banks offer integrated payments, approvals, reconciliation and statement access without building...
Global Fintech Investment Rebounds in 2025, Supported by Stronger Exit Activity
Global fintech investment rebounded in 2025, reaching $116 billion despite a record‑low 4,719 deals, indicating larger, more selective transactions. Venture capital contributed $56.7 billion while M&A added $55.4 billion, with the United States leading deal value. Digital‑assets funding nearly doubled to $19.1 billion, buoyed...
Q-Day: Bank Quantum Attack Could Cost US Economy Trillions, Warns Citi
Citi warns that quantum computers could break public‑key encryption within the next decade, estimating a 19‑34% probability of a widespread breach by 2034 and 60‑82% by 2044. A successful quantum attack on a major U.S. bank could generate $2‑3.3 trillion in...
How Are NHIs Ensuring Protected Data Exchanges in Financial Services?
The episode explores how Non‑Human Identities (NHIs), or machine identities, are essential for securing protected data exchanges in financial services. It explains the lifecycle of NHIs—from discovery and classification to secret rotation and decommissioning—and why holistic management platforms outperform point...
Singapore to Form National AI Council Chaired by PM Wong
Singapore will establish a National AI Council chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to coordinate AI policy and accelerate adoption across the economy. The council will review regulations, create sandboxes, and launch four national AI Missions targeting advanced manufacturing, connectivity,...
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Don’t Expire From Inactivity — Here’s How You Could Still Lose Them
Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as the credit‑card account stays open. If you close the account, you have a 30‑day window to redeem or transfer the points before they’re forfeited. Points can also be lost for...
ZeroDrift Announces $2M Round to Automate Compliance
ZeroDrift emerged from stealth with a $2 million pre‑seed round led by a16z speedrun, aiming to automate compliance for financial‑services communications. The AI‑native platform acts as a real‑time firewall that encodes SEC, FINRA and firm‑specific policies into machine‑readable rulepacks. By integrating...
India's Forex Reserves Drop $6.7 Billion to $717 Billion, Gold Reserves Dip, Reveals RBI Data
India's foreign exchange reserves slipped by $6.7 billion to $717.064 billion in the week ending 6 February, after a record high of $723.774 billion the week before. The decline was driven mainly by a $14.208 billion drop in gold reserves, which fell to $123.476 billion, while...
ECB Enhances Repo Facility for Central Banks
On 14 February 2026, the ECB’s Governing Council approved an overhaul of the Eurosystem repo facility for central banks (EUREP). The revised framework introduces standing access for a broad set of non‑euro‑area central banks, provided they meet anti‑money‑laundering and sanctions...
Marriott Bonvoy Launches Its First Ever Co-Brand Credit Card in Indonesia with Bank Mandiri
Marriott Bonvoy and Bank Mandiri have launched Indonesia’s first Marriott co‑branded credit card. The Marriott Bonvoy Mandiri Credit Card provides Indonesian members with welcome bonus points, elite status, and up to 5× points on eligible spend. The card is linked to...
Banks Effectively Deputized in Trump's Immigration Fight
President Trump’s Treasury Department has launched an aggressive AML campaign targeting Minnesota and U.S.–Mexico border regions, using new Geographic Targeting Orders and high‑performance data analytics to flag cartel, fraud and immigration‑related transactions. FinCEN now requires banks and money‑service businesses to...
BTG Pactual Acquires Brazilian Fintech Meutudo
BTG Pactual announced the acquisition of up to a 48% stake in Brazilian digital‑credit platform meutudo, valuing the fintech at roughly $200 million. meutudo specializes in FGTS‑backed and payroll‑deducted loans, leveraging workers' severance funds to lower interest rates. The app also...
Bucking a Trend, One Out-of-State Bank Will Exit North Carolina
First National Corp., a $2 billion Virginia community bank, announced it will exit North Carolina by selling its two branches and has already closed two loan production offices. The exits are slated for the second half of 2026 and are part...
New Rules for M&A Financing, Loans Against Shares
The Reserve Bank of India issued final guidelines allowing banks to fund acquisitions only when the acquirer already controls the target and seeks to increase its stake from 26% to 90%. Borrowers must have at least ₹500 crore net worth, three...
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Add New Rate Buydown Disclosures
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin reporting loan‑level interest‑rate buydown information as a new attribute, L‑117, starting April 20 for MBS issued on or after May 1. The disclosures classify loans into five categories—moderate, significant, other, not applicable, and not available—using...
Who Wins If the Debit Fee Cap Limit Gets Raised?
The episode examines a bipartisan bill to raise the Durbin amendment’s $10 billion asset threshold for debit interchange fee caps, indexing it to inflation and potentially expanding the exemption to banks with assets over $15 billion. Senators Ted Cruz and Katie Britt...
Nomura, Daiwa, Japan’s Big 3 Banks to Test Stablecoin Securities Settlement
Nomura Securities and Daiwa Securities have launched a proof‑of‑concept to settle securities using stablecoins alongside Japan’s three megabanks—MUFG, SMBC and Mizuho. The trial, conducted in the Financial Services Agency’s Fintech PoC Hub, will employ a jointly issued token dubbed “3 Mega SC.”...
After FanDuel Cuts Credit Cards, Stored-Value Accounts Take Center Stage
FanDuel has stopped accepting credit cards for funding its U.S. sportsbook, casino, and racing accounts, citing regulatory pressure and the high fees and debt risks associated with credit‑card cash advances. The move shifts bettors toward stored‑value accounts—digital prepaid wallets that...
Fiserv Launches INDX for Real Time Settlement of Digital Assets in U.S. Dollars
Fiserv has introduced INDX, a real‑time cash‑settlement platform that lets digital‑asset companies store and move U.S. dollars 24/7. The service uses a custodial account insured by the FDIC for up to $25 million through StoneCastle Cash Management, which Fiserv acquired in...
How Chip Cards Have Been Deployed to Battle Fraud in State EBT Programs
Alabama’s Department of Human Resources is issuing EMV chip‑enabled electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to curb rising fraud, partnering with Conduent, the chip supplier. The chips create a unique encrypted code for each purchase, making data skimming ineffective. Alabama follows...
Sanctions Data Has Outgrown the Systems Built to Manage It
Sanctions‑related securities have multiplied severalfold since early 2022, turning a niche compliance issue into a real‑time operational variable. A SIX survey of 291 financial institutions shows senior executives now expect sanctions data to create material challenges across trading, risk and...
Expect the Unexpected: A 2026 Lending Outlook with WhiteHorse Capital
WhiteHorse Capital’s Pankak Gupta and Stuart Aronson forecast a cautious‑optimistic 2026 for middle‑market lending, citing modest Federal Reserve rate cuts and lingering inflation. They expect a rebound in M&A activity with narrowing valuation gaps, while new capital inflows are driving...
Toast Payment Volume up 22% and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 2/13/26
Toast Inc. reported a 22% year‑on‑year rise in December‑quarter gross payment volume to $51.4 billion, with locations expanding to 164,000 and net income tripling to $101 million. Full‑year GPV reached $195.1 billion, up 23%, while revenue grew 33% to $936 million and net income...
The SBA's New Credit Restrictions Are a Disaster for Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration has announced a rule that excludes permanent‑resident (green‑card) holders from eligibility for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. The change eliminates a primary source of affordable credit for many immigrant‑owned small businesses, especially in states with large...
Kenya’s WapiPay Targets Billions in Diaspora Cash to Unlock Credit for Households
WapiPay, a Kenyan fintech founded in 2019, has introduced a Remittance Credit Scorecard (RCS) that lets banks and SACCOs incorporate diaspora money‑transfer data into loan underwriting. The AI‑driven tool analyzes payment frequency, size and stability, converting these patterns into a...
We Need a Better System for Routing International Payments in a Crisis
A senior Consumer Reports director recounts how international relief funds for Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica were crippled by fragmented payment systems, losing roughly 10% to fees and taking weeks to clear. Despite a plethora of fintech options, P2P apps, traditional...
ECB Publishes Consolidated Banking Data for End-September 2025
The European Central Bank released its consolidated banking data for end‑September 2025, covering 336 banking groups and 2,289 stand‑alone credit institutions across the EU‑27. Total assets rose 0.95 % to €33.44 trillion, while the non‑performing loan ratio edged up to 1.97 %. Return on...
Exim Bank Offers B50bn Lifeline to Ailing Exporters
The Export‑Import Bank of Thailand unveiled a 50‑billion‑baht working‑capital facility to shore up exporters’ liquidity amid heightened global volatility. President Charat Rattanaboonniti said the bank will also provide export and foreign‑exchange insurance while urging firms to hedge currency risk with...
How AI Is Rewriting 70 Years of Lending Rules
The article argues that traditional credit scores, unchanged for 70 years, are being supplanted by AI‑driven machine‑learning models that analyze the full breadth of credit‑bureau data. These models capture nuanced payment patterns, seasonal cash‑flow variations, and interaction effects that a...
Adyen’s Personalized Checkout Tweaks Payment Options
Adyen has launched Personalize, a new service within its Uplift suite that tailors payment options on e‑commerce checkout pages in real time based on each shopper’s past behavior. The tool uses the company’s Dynamic Identification model, built from trillions of...
Bill Weighs the Best Path to Profits
Bill Holdings, a San Jose‑based business‑payments software firm, is weighing a sale after activist investors demanded higher profitability. The company reported a $2.6 million loss for Q4 2025, a sharp reversal from a $33.5 million profit a year earlier, while revenue rose...
New Nacha Rules, New Risks: Key Takeaways for Controllers Focused on Supplier Bank Verification
Recent Nacha rule updates now require repeatable, provable verification of supplier bank accounts, shifting the focus from intent to defensibility. Controllers relying on email confirmations, phone callbacks, and ad‑hoc checks face heightened exposure as fraudsters employ AI‑generated communications. The webinar...
The ‘Discovery’ Problem in Embedded Finance – and How OMB Bank Found the Right Fintech Partner
Community bank OMB Bank struggled with a slow, manual process to locate fintech partners, relying on static PDFs and endless email threads. The bank’s breakthrough came when it discovered Backpack, a university‑payments fintech listed on Treasury Prime’s AI Marketplace, which...
Global Real Estate Set to Be Rewired by Digital Dollars
Digital stablecoins are being positioned as an operating system for global real‑estate finance. Projects like TransactionCOIN aim to replace wire transfers with instant, blockchain‑settled payments for deposits, closings, and rent. By compressing settlement cycles from weeks to minutes, stablecoins could...
Consultation: The Appointed Representatives Regime
The UK government has opened a consultation to amend the Appointed Representatives (AR) regime, which lets non‑financial firms provide financial services without full authorisation. The move follows an August 2025 policy statement that flagged weak oversight of certain ARs and the...