The hottest Banking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics

Partner Banking League Tables & Analysis: 2025

Fintech Business Weekly • 14 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. U.S. regulators are approving new bank charters faster, opening the door for de novo and crypto-focused banks to enter the market and reshape traditional banking relationships.
  2. Crypto firms are under growing compliance and card-network pressure—no‑KYC services can be shut down quickly—so players are partnering with or investing in regulated banks and building onshore stablecoin solutions to legitimize their businesses.
  3. Fintech M&A is heating up, from celebrity-led deals like MrBeast buying Step to Grab taking control of Stash and large corporate acquisitions, signaling a consolidation wave that will change customer acquisition and product strategies.

Debanking, PEPs, KYC, & AML

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 1198 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. PEPs and KYC checks can lead to issues for individuals and businesses needing banking services.
  2. Debanking can affect not just high-profile figures but also small businesses like window-cleaning firms.
  3. Regulations around PEPs, AML, and KYC may lead to overzealous interpretation by financial institutions.

Evolve Exec Pleads The Fifth in Missing Money Case

Fintech Business Weekly • 44 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Evolve’s tie-up with Synapse left thousands of customers unable to access funds, reconciliations showed huge shortfalls, a key exec invoked the Fifth on FDIC insurance, and the bank is still finding and distributing more money more than 600 days after the freeze.
  2. Evolve is resisting document requests by citing consumer privacy rules even though it was previously hacked and leaked terabytes of data, and court filings say the bank doesn’t know how the forensic firm Ankura calculated amounts returned to users while seeking to seal deposition transcripts.
  3. bunq is reapplying for a U.S. national bank charter under a new U.S. holding structure, but faces tough odds: other European digital banks have struggled in America, the addressable market of European expats is small, and bunq’s fee-driven model, limited lending, and clunky app may not win many U.S. customers.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Banks banks banks (redux)

Yet Another Value Blog • 1022 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. If you're looking at banks below tangible book value, you don't need to worry much about hidden disasters on their balance sheets.
  2. Even though there are concerns like a potential commercial real estate crisis or a recession, banks seem well-prepared and overcapitalized.
  3. Rising interest rates could actually make banks more profitable due to their interest rate sensitivity.

The Fed is going to botch this

The Bitcoin Layer • 530 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The Fed may mishandle their approach to QT, which could cause issues.
  2. There is concern that the Fed is not properly addressing the balance sheet in their policies.
  3. The Fed's decision-making process on balance sheet matters appears arbitrary and lacking forethought.

Podcast with UCLA Housing Voice

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 42 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The conversation examines how mortgage lending standards have influenced the housing market.
  2. Shane Phillips from UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies shares policy perspectives on lending and its effects.
  3. A full, one-hour interview is available online for anyone who wants a deeper look at these issues.

Our Liquidity Addiction Continues

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 21 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The Fed has begun a modest, ongoing balance-sheet expansion—buying short-dated Treasuries to keep banks flush with reserves and control short-term rates—which is a "gradual print" that should be mildly supportive for asset prices and mildly dollar-negative.
  2. Severe shocks like a recession, a large-scale financial or kinetic conflict, or sudden foreign sell-offs could force much larger, faster Fed purchases measured in the trillions, while a change in Fed leadership might try to shrink the balance sheet but would only have limited, mostly technical effects.
  3. Japan’s rising bond yields are a real risk but not an immediate systemic collapse: the BOJ owns a large share of the debt and Japan has big FX reserves and a current-account surplus, so policymakers have tools (yield-curve control, reserve sales) to manage it; investors should favor high-quality, scarce assets and rebalance away from overheated areas.

The debt explosion: How neoliberalism fuels debt crises

Geopolitical Economy Report • 558 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Debt has surged globally due to neoliberal economics, leading to countless crises.
  2. The Federal Reserve's actions focus on bailing out the financial sector, even when it doesn't benefit the economy at large.
  3. The US economy is heavily dominated by finance, insurance, real estate, military, pharma, and tech sectors, all characterized by high levels of monopoly and rent-seeking behaviors.

Fannie Mae Multi-Family Delinquency Rate Almost to Housing Bust High

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 71 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac saw single-family serious delinquency rates rise to about 0.58% in November, a small month-over-month and year-over-year increase but still below pre-pandemic highs.
  2. Delinquency is concentrated in older loan vintages: Fannie’s 2004-and-earlier and 2005–2008 loans have much higher serious delinquency rates, while loans from 2009–2025 show very low delinquency.
  3. Fannie Mae’s multi-family delinquency rate has climbed to its highest level since the housing bust (excluding the pandemic), signaling rising stress in the multi-family sector.

The Financial Sector

In My Tribe • 425 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Usury, or charging interest, has been historically frowned upon, especially when lending to those in need. Nowadays, people often borrow for various reasons, making this taboo less relevant.
  2. Banks play a crucial role by offering services like checking accounts and loans, balancing risky long-term loans with immediate access to funds for customers. They use strategies like diversification and relationships to manage these risks.
  3. The relationship between banks and government is vital for stability. Trust in both can lead to a healthy economy, while a lack of confidence can cause financial crises, as seen in events like the 2008 financial crash.

❄️💖 380 ans d'utilité publique. Un coup de cœur.

Snowball • 471 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Learn about the Crédit Municipal de Paris, an institution with over 380 years of history providing various financial services.
  2. The Crédit Municipal offers services such as quick loans against valuable items, financial counseling, auctions, and ethical savings options.
  3. The institution aims to innovate and modernize its services, while maintaining a focus on social impact and financial empowerment.

Top Links 793 Stablecoins and MMF compared. China Investment Corp in retreat. Biology & air-conditioning & not knowing yet wanting-to-know.

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Stablecoins are similar to money market funds and provide a way to manage digital assets safely.
  2. China Investment Corporation is pulling back from some markets, indicating possible economic shifts.
  3. There is a growing interest in the links between biology and technology, especially in areas like air-conditioning.

Issue #144: Capital One Snaps Up Brex, BitGo Goes Public, And PayPal Bets Big on Agentic AI

Fintech Radar • 23 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Big banks are buying modern fintechs to get technology and customers fast, and Capital One’s purchase of Brex shows consolidation can still deliver big wins for founders even at lower valuations.
  2. Crypto infrastructure and tokenized assets are back in favor — BitGo’s IPO and large tokenization raises signal strong institutional demand for regulated custody and on‑chain securities.
  3. Payments and commerce are shifting toward agentic AI and deeper embedded finance, with deals like PayPal buying Cymbio and products like after‑purchase BNPL showing a land grab for AI-driven checkouts and merchant plumbing.

Top Links 773 How a private equity titan became an insurance-backed quasi-bank. Narrating the AI boom & rethinking the "fall of Rome".

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
đź’Ľ Business Banking
  1. Apollo, a big player in private equity, became like a bank by adding insurance services to its business. This change was led by its CEO in 2009.
  2. The rise of artificial intelligence is a hot topic, drawing attention to its impact and potential in today's economy.
  3. There's a need to rethink historical perspectives, like the fall of Rome, to better understand how current events and trends affect us today.

SCARCE TO ABUNDANT RESERVES

The MacroTourist • 432 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. In 2008, the Federal Reserve had a significant change with Congress allowing them to pay interest on reserves.
  2. This change led to a shift from a monetary system of scarce reserves to abundant reserves.
  3. It's important to consider this shift when analyzing the Federal Reserve and the yield curve for forecasting.

Macroeconomics: Some Defects

In My Tribe • 486 implied HN points • 29 May 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Macroeconomics often treats the economy like a simple factory that can be controlled centrally, but the reality is much more complex with many different goods and services. It's not just about one measure like GDP.
  2. Many economics students learn about macro without understanding the important role banks play in the economy. Banks help manage risks and their crises can lead to major economic downturns.
  3. Macroeconomic theories are often presented as timeless, but they should consider historical changes and events that shape the economy. Each economic crisis is unique and influenced by different circumstances over time.

JPM, Stifel, & Lead Bank Join As Speakers at Newcomer Banking Summit

Newcomer • 353 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
đź’Ľ Business Banking
  1. JPM, Stifel, and Lead Bank will be speaking at the Newcomer Banking Summit on March 14 in San Francisco.
  2. The event will feature speakers like Jackie Reses, Melissa Smith, and Matt Trotter.
  3. The summit will delve into the impact of the Silicon Valley Bank crisis, the changing landscape of banking for startups, and the future of financial technology companies and banks.

Top Links 757 Flipping correlations. Mapping credit scores. Saudi twitter & the secrets of the RG.

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Treasury yields and the value of the dollar are acting differently now, where higher yields are linked to a weaker dollar.
  2. There are interesting tools that help map and understand credit scores, which could be helpful for managing finances.
  3. Saudi Twitter is revealing some hidden information about the region, suggesting social media plays a role in public discourse.

Major Signals are flashing Code Red in the Shadow Banking System

The Dollar Endgame • 718 implied HN points • 07 May 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The reverse repo figures reaching $2 trillion signal a serious issue in the market, showing strains on the entire banking system from massive liquidity injections.
  2. Reverse repos in the shadow banking system allow entities like MMFs to act like banks but without the same regulations, functioning in an opaque, complex, and risky world.
  3. The increased usage of the Fed's RRP facility and rising award rates indicate collateral shortages within the system, leading to concerns about the stability of MMFs and potential risks in the financial system.

The AI economy is full of financial gimmicks.

The Future, Now and Then • 309 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The AI economy is largely filled with financial tricks and gimmicks. Many startup valuations and deals may not reflect true economic value until they produce real products or profits.
  2. Tech and finance are becoming tightly linked, and understanding this connection is essential for journalists. Just like the housing market before the crash, the AI sector has both real growth and bubble-like financial behavior.
  3. It's important to question how much of the reported economic activity in AI is genuine. Many big numbers come from transactions that may not create real wealth, blurring the lines between actual growth and financial gamesmanship.

Michael Hudson: Why the US bank crisis is not over

Geopolitical Economy Report • 717 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. When interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and banks can hold onto securities without marking down their assets, showing the decline only during a run on the bank.
  2. Depositors withdrew money as banks acted greedily, paying low deposit rates while making high profits, causing a shift towards more fair market returns elsewhere.
  3. The US bank crisis involves a mix of deregulatory corruption, political influence, and economic imbalance in the face of financial claims surpassing economic ability to pay.

The US Must Return To A Gold Standard

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 25 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The dollar has been heavily debased over time because the government and the Fed keep creating money, which erodes purchasing power and risks a currency collapse.
  2. Reinstating a gold standard—by promising future redeemability of dollars for gold at the market price and never suspending that promise—would force strict monetary discipline.
  3. Without a hard money anchor like gold, politicians will keep hiding the real costs of spending and war through inflation, so only a gold-based system can deliver lasting monetary stability.

The Hidden Bank Panic

The Dollar Endgame • 259 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Institutions are requesting the Fed to exclude Treasuries from their leverage ratios post the Bank Term Funding Program, which is causing concern within the financial industry.
  2. Capital requirements in banks are crucial for preventing insolvency, with risk-based and leverage ratios being the two main types of requirements.
  3. Leverage ratios do not consider the risk levels of assets and require banks to maintain a specific ratio of capital to assets, helping ensure financial stability.

Pipe Had Just $7.1m in Revenue, Burned $47m in 2024, Newly Leaked Docs Show

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Pipe generated only $7.1M in revenue in 2024 while burning about $47M, pursued an ambitious Uber partnership and growth plan, then abruptly laid off roughly half its staff, leaving its strategy and runway in question.
  2. The OCC gave conditional national trust charters to five crypto-related firms (Paxos, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity, and Circle’s bank), imposing detailed compliance conditions and drawing criticism from banking and state regulators about oversight and risks.
  3. Enova is acquiring Grasshopper Bank, which would give Enova a large deposit base to lower its funding costs and boost profitability for its subprime lending business, but the deal needs regulatory approvals and faces consumer advocacy scrutiny.

Fed Pivots to More Hikes, More Pain

cryptoeconomy • 648 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. The Federal Reserve is planning more interest rate hikes and tightening measures, signaling potential economic pain.
  2. Despite initial expectations of a pause in rate hikes due to economic impacts not yet fully realized, Fed Governor Waller is advocating for further hikes to curb inflation.
  3. Quantitative Tightening, the reversal of money printing, may be the next step for the Fed despite past failures, raising concerns of potential economic disruptions and widespread impacts.

A data-driven insight into German transfer fraud: 7.594 cases

Altay's Blog • 1 HN point • 30 Sep 24
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Many people in Germany lose money to transfer fraud each year because scammers trick them into thinking their payments are safe. They use methods like fake online shops to steal money without delivering any products.
  2. Scammers often use tricks to hide their identities, like opening bank accounts under fake names or recruiting unsuspecting people to help. These tactics make it hard for banks to catch them right away.
  3. There are rules called Know-Your-Customer (KYC) that banks must follow to verify customer identities. When these rules are not strong, it can lead to more fraud, but better KYC practices can help reduce these scams.

Crime and Covid Set up the Next Bank Crisis

cryptoeconomy • 609 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
đź’° Finance Banking
  1. Major retail chains closing stores due to crime and Covid may lead to a bank crisis
  2. Big cities experienced increased crime rates post-pandemic, causing people to move out
  3. Empty office spaces and store closures across major cities could significantly impact banks and financial systems