In Focus

APAC fintech market locks 76.6% share in mobile apps

APAC fintech market locks 76.6% share in mobile apps

Merchants shift to smartphone terminals in hawker centres and wet markets to cut hardware costs.

In Focus

Foreign owners scale digital credit via Philippine rural banks

Digital lending models are stretching the rural banking mandate.

Exclusive

Vietnam banks face tight liquidity as deposit growth lags

Banks have turned to the interbank market and bond issuance but it leaves them exposed to interest rates.

In Focus

APAC leads global embedded finance race as North American interest stalls

Nearly all APAC firms plan to invest in APIs and embedded payments throughout 2026.

In Focus

Thai banks face asset stress on risky borrower exposure

Over a fifth of Thai loans are exposed to highly leveraged large corporations.

In Focus

Mega deal slump drags APAC deal value down 6.3%

Only four deals above $5b were logged in Q1 after 6 in the same 2025 period.

In Focus

APAC Q1 investment banking fees fall 5% on M&A and loan slump

Only ECM fees rose during the quarter.

In Focus

Middle East conflict weigh on Indian banks’ margins and profits

Sector margins could decline to below FY2027 forecasts.

In Focus

Singapore banks and insurers expect slower profits in 2026

Finance confidence slipped to 54.3 in Q4 2025, whilst the wider economy rose to 52.1

In Focus

New Zealand cards likely to hit 1.8% growth in 2026 as fee caps spur use

Rewards, discounts, and flexible payment schemes.

In Focus

Commercial banks seize 45% of Thailand’s total financial assets

Depository corporations like savings cooperatives trail far behind with 6.8% share.

In Focus

How can Vietnam lenders manage liquidity stress?

The loan-deposit growth gap pushes banks toward risky wholesale funding.

Expert Opinion

Chinese banks report weak profit amidst mixed margin trends

Gross loan growth was in the single digits, same as fee income.

In Focus

Philippines cash holds 42% of POS payments despite e-wallet rise

GCash reached nearly 3 in 4 consumers and linked 94 million users to 6 million merchants.

In Focus

What will drive South Korea’s digital banking to rise 9.7% through 2030?

Usage climbed 25% over the past year as faster tools gained traction.

In Focus

Japanese banks bet billions on Indian finance, tech growth

GFTN is working with both sides on talent, technology, and market access.

Exclusive

Singapore banks attract inflows as investors exit riskier Gulf markets

Wealth and deposit inflows from risk-averse investors may cushion weaker net interest income.

In Focus