The ECB Is Worried that Stablecoins Will Make the Euro Irrelevant
The European Central Bank’s Isabel Schnabel warned that dollar‑backed stablecoins could render the euro irrelevant as they attract deposits away from traditional banks. She noted that stablecoins are evolving from a crypto experiment into a new form of private money operating on blockchain networks. Large‑scale adoption would reshape funding flows, complicate monetary policy and amplify U.S. dollar dominance in global finance. The ECB now views stablecoins as critical infrastructure that must be regulated before they become systemically important.
AI Is Just a Calculator for Gen Alpha
The article frames the current AI wave as the third business revolution, noting massive job cuts at firms like Block, Coinbase and major banks as companies race to become "AI‑native." While headlines warn of human displacement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman...
The Tech Behind Intelligent Banking
The article outlines the third technology revolution in finance, where banks become AI‑native, integrating intelligent agents across back‑ and front‑office functions. It contrasts this shift with the earlier mainframe‑driven efficiency era and the cloud‑enabled customer‑experience wave of the 2010s. Huawei’s...
What Is an AI-Native Bank?
The book *Intelligent Bank* defines a third fintech revolution driven by artificial intelligence, analytics and connected data. It argues that merely digitising services is insufficient; banks must become "AI‑native"—predictive, real‑time, and customer‑centric. Success hinges on integrating siloed data into actionable...
The Finanser’s Week: 18th May – 24th May 2026
The Finanser’s weekly roundup (May 18‑24, 2026) spotlights four blog posts that dissect current banking trends. One piece debunks sensational AI headlines, emphasizing that banks are using artificial intelligence to augment, not replace, core functions. Another explores the evolving, invisible nature of...
What Banks Are Doing with AI
Banks are quietly embedding generative AI into middle‑office functions rather than replacing core systems. Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, IBM watsonx and AWS Bedrock each target specific workflow bottlenecks such as KYC, AML, document processing and operational automation. Real‑world...
It’s the AI’s Fault … Urmm, No It’s Not
The article clarifies that when AI tools execute trades, legal responsibility does not shift to the algorithm but stays with the human or entity that controls it. If you trade your own capital, any loss is your own, unless the...
The Finanser’s Week: 4th May – 10th May 2026
The Finanser’s Week (May 4‑10, 2026) highlighted five banking‑industry trends. A UK‑focused piece warned that closing over 6,000 branches since 2015 has stripped retail banking of its human infrastructure. A Boston Consulting Group report elevated the CIO to the most strategic role,...
The CIO Is No Longer Running IT … They’re Running the Future of the Bank
Boston Consulting Group’s latest report declares the chief information officer the most pivotal role in modern banks. The CIO’s remit has shifted from maintaining legacy systems to orchestrating AI, strategy, and organizational redesign. Executives now must decide which tasks are...
Let’s Be Honest: Retail Banking Is Broken
Retail banking in the UK has shed half its branch network, with over 6,000 closures since 2015 and 15,000 free ATMs disappearing since 2018. Yet a YouGov survey shows 31% of adults—and even 21% of Gen Z—still rely on physical branches,...
AI Is the Force for Change in Banking
McKinsey’s new report argues that most banks cannot reap AI benefits because legacy architecture, fragmented data, and siloed operating models prevent true intelligence from being applied. AI will only add value if banks tear down these structures and rebuild around...
The Rebuilding of Banking
WNS, part of Cap Gemini, released three thought‑leadership blogs arguing that AI alone cannot solve banking’s biggest challenges. The pieces stress that fragmented legacy data hampers compliance, operational efficiency, and mortgage processing, and that unifying data across the operating core...
The Finanser’s Week: 27th April – 3rd May 2026
The Finanser’s weekly roundup highlights a surge in systemic fraud, as the LSEG Risk Intelligence report warns that fraud now shadows digital banking, instant payments and AI. It also flags the shifting power balance in global banking, noting HSBC’s strategic...
If People Do Not Trust the System, They Will Not Use It
The London Stock Exchange Group’s 2026 Risk Intelligence report reveals that fraud has moved from a peripheral issue to a core, AI‑driven threat across digital banking and instant payments. Scammers now use deepfakes, synthetic identities and automated phishing at scale,...
The Problem with HSBC
HSBC’s sprawling international network has left it lagging behind JPMorgan Chase and ICBC in asset size and market valuation. JPMorgan’s tightly integrated U.S.-focused model operates like a high‑efficiency machine, delivering consistent returns. ICBC, backed by China’s state‑driven financial system, functions...