The hottest Banking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics
Fintech Radar β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 30 Oct 24
  1. Western Union is buying Dash, a mobile wallet in Singapore, to expand its digital services. This shows how much the remittance business has changed with more competition from apps.
  2. Goldman Sachs and Apple are being fined nearly $90 million over issues with the Apple Card, which could hurt their future plans. It highlights the challenges Goldman faces in consumer banking.
  3. Morgan Stanley launched an AI assistant to help its staff analyze research reports faster. This shows how traditional finance is integrating AI to improve efficiency.
Net Interest β€’ 7 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
  1. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government allowed a significant bank merger to ensure financial stability despite concerns about competition.
  2. The idea of promoting competition through challenger banks was embraced but has struggled to reduce the dominance of the Big Four banks in the UK.
  3. Despite efforts to increase competition, mergers between existing players, like Virgin Money and Nationwide, have become a significant strategy to challenge the Big Four banks.
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Confronting the Future β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 12 Mar 23
  1. Silicon Valley Bank faced a major bank failure, leading to significant implications in the banking sector.
  2. Depositors should be prioritized in bank resolutions to maintain stability and prevent mass panic.
  3. Bank runs can have widespread consequences, requiring regulators to ensure depositor confidence and prevent systemic failures.
Malt Liquidity β€’ 12 implied HN points β€’ 10 May 23
  1. The financial system is composed of equity, currency, and debt, with debt providing liquidity to trust.
  2. Interest rates compensate for the risk on loaned capital, and every lending act inherently contains some risk.
  3. Deposit banking and investment banking serve different clients, with depositors being stakeholders in their bank's success.
Fintech Radar β€’ 8 implied HN points β€’ 31 Oct 23
  1. Elon Musk plans to turn Twitter into a financial app called X by 2024.
  2. Monzo is in talks to sell a stake in the company worth over Β£300m to prepare for an IPO.
  3. JPMorgan's JPM Coin handles $1 billion in daily transactions, showing slow but significant growth in blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
Net Interest β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 25 Oct 24
  1. Compensation structures in firms can impact employee performance and morale. It's essential to find the right balance to keep people motivated.
  2. Understanding net interest income is important for assessing financial health. It reflects how well a company manages its income from loans and investments.
  3. Mixing insights from different financial areas can provide a broader perspective. This can help in making smarter decisions in finance and investments.
Fintech Radar β€’ 6 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 24
  1. Revolut ventures into telecom by introducing phone plans in the UK with eSIMs, aligning with its all-encompassing super app vision.
  2. FIS partners with Banked to offer pay-by-bank solutions, a move towards A2A payments that could challenge traditional card schemes.
  3. Temenos faces allegations from Hindenburg Research, highlighting the challenges in large corporate tech transformations and the need to address accusations.
Fintech Radar β€’ 8 implied HN points β€’ 22 Aug 23
  1. The UK is investing heavily in late-stage fintech startups with a Β£1 billion fund.
  2. Investors are cautious about valuing FinTech companies due to global economic concerns.
  3. Nubank has achieved record revenue growth and increased customer base, while BitGo has secured a significant funding and valuation.
Malt Liquidity β€’ 10 implied HN points β€’ 09 Mar 23
  1. Lenders must balance generating yield and preserving liquidity.
  2. Deposit distribution challenges can lead to losses on notes.
  3. Middleman services like food delivery face profitability challenges.
Fintech Radar β€’ 2 implied HN points β€’ 28 Nov 24
  1. Robinhood has bought TradePMR to expand its services for financial advisers, showing it's serious about growing in the wealth management area. This move is part of a wider trend where fintech companies are trying to offer more services to their users.
  2. Revolut is planning to introduce an AI assistant, branded ATMs, and mortgage options by 2025. These additions reflect their aggressive approach to compete in the traditional finance space beyond just banking.
  3. Google Pay is now incorporating buy now, pay later options from Afterpay and Klarna. This shows that big tech companies want to partner with existing services instead of directly competing in the financial sector.
Fintech Radar β€’ 6 implied HN points β€’ 02 Oct 23
  1. Apple introduces feature allowing UK users to view bank account balance via Apple Wallet using Open Banking APIs.
  2. Ant Group expands payment ecosystem for Asian e-wallets through Alipay+ Program, enabling seamless mobile payments.
  3. Nova Credit partners with HSBC UK to offer credit card for immigrants, leveraging international credit history for new customers.
James Ledbetter's FIN β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 10 Dec 23
  1. Jamie Dimon expressed strong opposition to cryptocurrency like Bitcoin
  2. Elizabeth Warren got big bank CEOs to agree to root out terrorism funding through financial networks
  3. Federal law enforcement officials want to amend the Bank Secrecy Act due to concerns about cryptocurrency being used by terrorists
Economic Forces β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 02 Nov 23
  1. Banks need to have enough reserves to meet withdrawal requests from customers.
  2. If a bank is insolvent, it means it has more liabilities than assets.
  3. Central banks can face insolvency issues due to interest rates and government bonds, leading to potential economic consequences.
Fintech Wrap Up β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 07 Jun 23
  1. MENAP fintech market defying global trends with strong economic fundamentals and continued growth in the banking sector.
  2. Rise of Asian super apps driven by mobile-first internet users, cost-efficient mobile phones, and building trust through offering multiple services on a single platform.
  3. Stripe introduces charge card program to provide businesses easier access to credit and generate revenue through interest on deposits, interchange fees, and financing revenues.
Without Warning β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 26 Mar 23
  1. SVB's downfall was due to a run on its business model, not a run on banking
  2. Unrealized losses in the banking system haven't caused a systemwide run, but targeted specific banking business models
  3. The Fed could potentially fix banking system stress with a significant rate cut
Below the Line from Kevin LaBuz β€’ 7 implied HN points β€’ 26 Mar 23
  1. Silicon Valley Bank grew rapidly and reached the 16th largest bank in the US, but struggled with managing its growth.
  2. Banks make money by taking deposits and making loans, operating with fractional reserves and managing a balance between liquidity and lending.
  3. SVB's downfall was fueled by a combination of poor decisions, rising interest rates, and a concentrated deposit base that led to a rapid collapse.
Malt Liquidity β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 07 Sep 23
  1. Real estate market belief in constant growth can lead to risky investments
  2. Commercial real estate market faces challenges with liquidity and valuation
  3. Overreliance on real estate investments can have negative economic impacts
Klement on Investing β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 20 Feb 25
  1. Banks now have to keep more money in reserve, which helps prevent risky behavior and protects the economy. This rule came after the 2008 financial crisis.
  2. Even though higher capital requirements may lower banks' profits, they do not slow down overall economic growth. The economy remains stable without large drops in growth.
  3. Overall, increased capital requirements reduce the chances of serious economic downturns, which is a big win for financial stability. It seems like this regulation is working well.
Vivid Leaves β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jul 23
  1. The collapse of the Soviet banking system birthed the modern Russian banking system through a series of rebellions and creation of new banks.
  2. The Soviet economy transitioned from a market vacuum to a market economy due to cooperative entities and the birth of private commercial banks.
  3. Formation of the Central Bank of Russia and rapid bank privatization led to a banking system with significant infrastructure challenges and financial instability.
James Ledbetter's FIN β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 23
  1. Silicon Valley Bank's collapse affects more than just its customers, causing ripple effects in the financial system.
  2. New York State considers ETH a security, adding complexity to crypto regulation.
  3. FTX debtors file a lawsuit seeking $9 billion from Grayscale Investments, highlighting ongoing challenges in the crypto industry.
westafricaweekly β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 02 Dec 23
  1. The former chairman of Unity Bank in Nigeria orchestrated a massive financial scandal involving billions of naira in non-performing loans and a dubious loan portfolio sale.
  2. The scandal involved regulatory malpractice, compliance fraud, and the misuse of bank funds by insiders, leading to severe financial harm to the bank and potential systemic risks.
  3. Despite clear regulatory violations, the bank's management, auditors, and regulators failed to take appropriate action, highlighting a need for thorough investigations and accountability measures.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 22 Mar 23
  1. Small and medium-sized banks are crucial for the financial infrastructure in many U.S. communities.
  2. These banks account for a significant portion of lending in various sectors like commercial, residential, and consumer.
  3. Building relationships with local banks can have a significant impact on both businesses and individuals.
In My Tribe β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 20 Feb 24
  1. Non-bank finance in America emerged due to regulatory constraints on banks.
  2. Direct lending matches assets and liabilities better than traditional banking.
  3. Banking regulation leads to trade-offs - tightly restricting banks can push finance outside the system, potentially causing instability.
Fintech Business Weekly β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
  1. Lineage Bank faced regulatory issues with the FDIC due to oversight failures in its banking-as-a-service partnerships.
  2. The consent order from the FDIC requires Lineage Bank to make significant changes in its management, risk assessment, and operational practices.
  3. The impact of Lineage Bank's BaaS wind down and the FDIC order on Synapse, Synctera, and their fintech clients is not yet clear.
Fintech Radar β€’ 2 implied HN points β€’ 15 Feb 24
  1. The acquisition of Onfido by Entrust indicates the evolving landscape of KYC beyond financial services, with the expansion of AI/ML-based verification technology to various sectors.
  2. JPMorgan's decision to open 500 new branches seems counterintuitive in a digital age; however, it presents a unique opportunity to invest in physical presence amidst industry trends of branch closures.
  3. MEPs implementing rules for Euro transfers to arrive within 10 seconds will likely stir industry activity to meet this requirement and may impact how charges are structured for instant transactions.
The Opus Letter β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 27 Feb 24
  1. Georgia's economy has shown impressive GDP growth rates, averaging 4.5% over the last decade and reaching 7-10% in recent years
  2. Georgia's banking sector, dominated by Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank, is well-run with healthy credit utilization and manageable non-performing loans
  3. Georgia's capital market faces challenges with low liquidity and complexities in ownership, reflecting broader issues with public company transparency in the country
Family Meal β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 23
  1. Silicon Valley Bank's 2023 State of the Wine Industry report had been quoted by wine writers but the bank has now failed.
  2. There is an FDIC receivership notice on top of the aforementioned report.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers only on Family Meal, published on March 14, 2023.