The Banker

The Banker

2/28/2025, 11:48:09 AM

💼 Leadership transitions are rarely smooth, writes Tim Skeet. At the highest levels of banking, succession planning is fraught with politics, personal ambitions, and the illusion of irreplaceability. JPMorgan’s ongoing speculation over Jamie Dimon’s successor is a prime example. 💡 Yet, a clear plan is essential. Recent high-profile exits, such as those at NatWest and Barclays, highlight how unpredictable leadership can be. With social media scrutiny and shifting societal expectations, today’s leaders need resilience, adaptability and strong political instincts. 👥 The talent pipeline is under strain, with fewer senior bankers developing the next generation. Effective succession planning must go beyond the C-suite to ensure stability across all levels of an organisation. The question is: are tomorrow’s leaders truly prepared? *Read more:* https://on.ft.com/3F0tdIr

The Banker

2/21/2025, 9:18:12 AM

🌙 Is the honeymoon over for neobanks? 🌙 After years of rapid growth, neobanks are facing new challenges as they try to compete with incumbents. Read the full cover story here: https://on.ft.com/3EKBwIj

The Banker

2/27/2025, 11:59:07 AM

🇪🇺 The European Commission insists its new omnibus proposals are not about deregulation — but do they risk creating more uncertainty? 🖊️ The exclusion of financial services from the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the simplification of the Green Asset Ratio are clear wins for banks. However, limiting sustainability reporting under the CSRD could leave financial institutions struggling with data gaps. ✂️ Experts warn that by reducing the number of firms required to report and delaying deadlines, the proposals may undermine early adopters and increase risks. While aimed at cutting red tape, could the omnibus make it harder for banks and investors to finance the green transition? *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/41zRyh9

The Banker

2/20/2025, 10:08:15 AM

📱 A decade ago, neobanks emerged as challengers to traditional banking, promising digital-first services and a break from legacy systems. Favourable regulatory conditions and changing consumer behaviour fuelled their rise, leading to a wave of new entrants in the UK and beyond. Today, however, the landscape has shifted. 📈 Many neobanks have struggled to scale profitably. While they attracted millions of customers, few use them as primary accounts. Compliance failures, fraud concerns and rising interest rates have further tested their resilience. Meanwhile, traditional banks have improved their digital offerings, closing the gap in customer experience. 🌍 Some neobanks are hunting for new revenue streams, from SaaS platforms to international expansion. Others face consolidation or falling valuations. With scrutiny from regulators and investors intensifying, the question remains: can neobanks sustain their models, or will incumbents ultimately prevail? *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/4hIVOAx

The Banker

2/24/2025, 11:23:33 AM

🏢 After more than 25 years at 8 Canada Square, HSBC is set to leave Canary Wharf for the City of London — a move reflecting a broader shift in the district. With Moody’s and Clifford Chance also departing, and others downsizing their presence, Canary Wharf is facing significant change. 📉 Property values in the area have taken a hit, with home prices dropping nearly 8% last year. Meanwhile, Canary Wharf Group is pushing to revitalise the district, with projects like Eden Dock and a £600mn remodelling of 8 Canada Square aiming to attract new tenants and residents. 🌆 Canary Wharf has long been a symbol of London's financial might. Can it successfully reinvent itself for a new era, or will the City continue to pull business away? *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/4hQUpYH

The Banker

2/26/2025, 11:46:48 AM

🏡 The UK’s lending landscape is shifting, with banks directing more credit towards property than productive sectors like manufacturing and construction. 📊 In 2024, mortgage lending grew by £19bn, while net lending to manufacturing shrank by £1.2bn. Overall, productive industries saw just £1bn in additional lending, highlighting a structural imbalance in credit allocation. 💷 With 54.3% of bank lending tied to mortgages and only 16.9% going to non-financial companies, concerns are growing that the financial system is prioritising asset appreciation over real economic expansion. Could a rebalancing of lending priorities better support long-term growth? *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/4hTUzyq

The Banker

2/25/2025, 12:00:59 PM

🤖 Agentic AI is reshaping financial services. Unlike generative AI, which reacts to prompts, agentic AI perceives, learns and acts — autonomously solving multi-step problems with minimal human input. 🏛️ Consulting, auditing and banking will be among the first areas in financial services to feel the effects. From autonomous research tools to AI-driven credit decisions, agentic AI is set to enhance efficiency while redefining professional roles. But its rise also raises critical questions about bias, fairness and governance. 🚦 As AI-powered trading and investment strategies become more accessible, regulators must ensure safeguards to prevent systemic risks. The agentic AI era is here — how financial institutions navigate it will shape the future of banking. *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/3ETqG2E

The Banker

2/18/2025, 11:58:30 AM

📝 “The race was not one of diligence but of laxity.” US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis’ warning from 1933 is echoing through today’s banking landscape, where deregulation is accelerating across key markets. 🇺🇸 The US leads the charge, but the UK and India are not far behind. From the SEC’s climate disclosure rules to the FCA’s Consumer Duty, touted regulatory rollbacks would reshape how banks operate. Yet industry leaders remain cautious — many have invested heavily in compliance and are wary of shifting tides. 🌀 Will this deregulatory drive bring clarity or confusion? As regulators rethink their stance and executives push for leaner governance, one thing is certain: the balance between oversight and growth is being rewritten in real-time. *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/3CWtlba

The Banker

2/17/2025, 12:55:35 PM

💡 The return of Donald Trump has reshaped the clean energy transition, with banks caught in the middle. From withdrawing the US from the Paris agreement to lifting fossil fuel restrictions, his policies present a direct challenge to financial institutions’ net zero ambitions. ⚡ While some US banks insist their climate strategies remain unchanged, high-profile exits from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance signal growing tension between sustainability goals and political realities. Meanwhile, European banks face difficult choices: double down on commitments or risk competitive disadvantages. 🌱 Despite regulatory uncertainty, many investors. and banks see the clean energy transition as inevitable. But will the financial sector maintain momentum, or will political pressure force a retreat? The coming months will reveal the true resilience of banks’ climate commitments. *Read more here:* https://on.ft.com/4b3JacC

The Banker

2/14/2025, 9:39:21 AM

💔 Still in love with neobanks? This Valentine’s Day, we’re thinking about the highs and lows — not in romantic relationships, but in banking. Neobanks have promised to shake up the industry, but are they still winning hearts, or is the honeymoon over? Our deep dive, out next week, explores the challenges they face and what’s next for digital banking. Stay tuned. Read our other coverage at www.thebanker.com