All articles by Douglas Blakey
Douglas Blakey
CMA: Has it nothing better to do?
So as heavily leaked, the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is indeed to conduct what it terms a full market investigation into retail banking current accounts and parts of SME banking, argues Douglas Blakey
Praise Be for TSB
We hear plenty about the ‘Last Branch in Town’ and banks deserting small towns and villages. But a little less about banks deserting en masse certain parts of the major cities, writes Douglas Blakey
Metro Bank continues to amaze; NPS success less of a surprise
Deposits up 118% year-on-year; total loans ahead for the year by 146%; assets up by 140% compared to 12 months ago and customer numbers soaring by 71%. No prizes for guessing that I am talking again – and with no apology for so doing – about the UK’s Metro Bank. Douglas Blakey catches up with Vernon Hill
Apple Pay debate: Game changer or nothing new?
The Editor and the Deputy Editor of Retail Banker International debate the pros and cons of Apple Pay and whether Apple will succeed where other mobile payment devices have failed
7 day switching: told you so
At the risk of being accused of gloating…
As written on this site and elsewhere in the run-up to 7 day switching last year, this (albeit very welcome and brilliantly executed innovation take a bow The Payments Council) was never going to lead to a massive rise in switching rates.
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Please No: consequences of a Yes vote do not bear thinking about
If the latest opinion polls are accurate, the voters of Scotland are toying with ending the 307-year-old union with England. SNP leader Alex Salmond has based his case for separation on the spurious assertion that Scotland can somehow leave the UK but retain all the benefits of membership.
Lloyds delay makes sense, get the breakeven share price right
Here we go again: more creative accounting as regards the Lloyds share price.Time and again, UK Financial Investments -responsible for managing the governments stakes in Lloyds (or the Treasury they both have form), try to kid and con that the breakeven price to sell off the Lloyds stake is about £0.73 per share. It is pure hokum of course but with depressing predictability, the UK press lap it up.
StanChart H1 profits dive, remains well placed for future growth
Ignore the hysteria and the hype. If the consumer business press is to be believed, Standard Chartered (StanChart) is in a mess.The news today of StanCharts fall in first half profits combined with news of a further financial penalty to be imposed by US regulators has resulted in a degree of over-excited comment and overblown negative headlines.
OCBC beats forecasts, Q2 net profit rises 54%
OCBC has reported a quarterly net profit of S$921m ($739m) for the second quarter of fiscal 2014, up 54% compared to the year ago quarter and ahead of analyst forecasts.
Banco de Occidente partners with allen international to unveil new branch concept
Colombia-based Banco de Occidente has rolled out the first of its new generation of retail branches. Banco de Occidentes branch re-design coincides with a new visual communication system and refreshed brand identity.