US Banks Challenge Crypto Licensing Framework

Leading US banks are considering legal action against federal regulators over new licensing rules that could allow cryptocurrency and fintech companies to operate within the national banking system under lighter regulatory oversight. The Bank Policy Institute, an industry group representing 40 major lenders including

Islamic Fintech Set For Rapid Expansion

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Malaysia are emerging as leading centres in Islamic fintech as global transaction volumes are projected to reach $341bn by 2029, according to a new industry report highlighting

SBT And BankCherokee Adopt Alkami Platform

Two US financial institutions, State Bank of Texas and BankCherokee, have gone live with a new digital banking platform provided by Alkami Technology, extending the vendor’s footprint among community and regional lenders. The deployments follow similar adoptions this year by

UK banks explore sovereign payments alternative

Senior UK banking executives are examining the creation of a domestic payments company to reduce reliance on US card networks Visa and Mastercard, amid concerns that geopolitical tensions could expose vulnerabilities in Britain’s financial infrastructure. A meeting chaired by Barclays’ UK chief executive, Vim

Credit Risk Transfers Draw Regulatory Scrutiny

Global banking regulators are raising concerns over the rapid expansion of credit risk transfer transactions, as lenders increasingly use these instruments to manage capital requirements and free up balance sheet capacity. Supervisors warn that the growing complexity and opacity of such structures could introduce

Goldman Sachs partners Anthropic on AI agents

Goldman Sachs has deepened its engagement with artificial intelligence by working with Anthropic to develop autonomous agents for accounting, compliance and other internal banking functions, the bank’s chief information officer has confirmed. Over the past six months Goldman has embedded engineers from Anthropic to

Bank of Ireland AI Fraud Savings

Bank of Ireland prevented €9.7 million in customer losses in 2025 after deploying artificial intelligence to assess card transactions for potential fraud, underscoring how machine learning is being embedded into core banking controls. The system analysed one billion card transactions over the year, identifying

EU Cross-Border Banking Deals Surge Again

Cross-border banking mergers and acquisitions among European Union lenders hit about €17 billion in 2025, the highest level since the global financial crisis in 2008, reflecting a renewed wave of foreign direct

RBI Expands Banks’ Acquisition Finance Scope

India’s central bank has eased restrictions on acquisition financing, allowing lenders to fund deals up to 20 per cent of their eligible capital base, doubling the limit initially proposed in draft rules.

Lloyds Expands High Street Retreat

Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to close a further 95 branches across the UK, extending a multi-year contraction of its physical network amid continued migration to digital banking. The closures comprise

Banks Oppose Crypto Access To Fed Payments

U.S. banking lobby groups have formally objected to proposals that would allow cryptocurrency and fintech firms direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment systems, in a dispute that is reshaping debate over

Canadian Open Banking Framework Reshapes Banking

Canada’s federal government has confirmed that 2026 will mark the formal launch of its long-awaited consumer-driven banking framework, introducing a structural shift in how financial data is accessed and controlled. The move

Global Banks Push Back Against Fragmentation

The world’s largest banks are urging regulators to rethink a growing shift towards nationally driven financial reforms, warning that the replacement of global standards with domestic rules risks undermining stability despite short-term

HSBC Services Gradually Resume After Disruption

HSBC Holdings Plc reported that its banking services in Hong Kong are gradually returning to normal after a significant technical disruption hit operations across the city’s network on Friday afternoon, affecting both

Smart Banking Transforms Commercial Finance

Smart banking is gaining traction among Nigerian entrepreneurs as business owners increasingly adopt digital financial tools that offer real-time transparency, control and simplicity in managing funds. According to report, smart banking services

ECB Eases Rules To Support Banks In Resolution

The European Central Bank has revised its crisis management guidelines to permit liquidity support for banks that are in the process of resolution, a move aimed at strengthening stability in the eurozone’s banking system. The change addresses a recognised gap

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