Frances Gagua
Weekly Global News Wrap: Trump floats 10% card rate cap; Citi to cut 1,000 jobs
Weekly Global News Wrap: Trump floats 10% card rate cap; Citi to cut 1,000 jobs
And Credit Agricole wins ECB approval to lift Banco BPM stake above 20%.
Taiwanese domestic banks’ SME loans rise to $341.94b in November
Loans extended to SMEs by domestic banks account for 64.7% of total loans.
BSP extension lets banks write bigger green loans beyond 25% cap
Banks can exceed the single borrower’s limit by an additional 15%.
Southeast Asia fintech funding fell 21% in 2025
This is despite Airwallex and Superbank doing well in their fund raising and IPO.
Taiwan banks add $6.69b loans in November as bad debts tick up
The average NPL ratio is 0.16% with bad loans rising by $0.06b.
Singapore Gulf Bank gains access to J.P. Morgan’s USD clearing network
The bank can receive and credit clients’ incoming funds over weekends and holidays.
Indonesian banks’ credit costs may stay high in 2026 on weather risk
Major banks should still be able to deliver positive earnings growth of 1%-7%.
MUFG Bank sets up structured trade solutions subsidiary in Singapore
It is wholly owned by the Japanese megabank’s consolidated subsidiary.
HSBC nabs Citi Global Wealth COO as new CCO for IWPB business
Valentín Valderrábano will relocate to Hong Kong from New York.
Thailand’s Krungsri names new two new senior executives
Duangdao Wongpanitkrit and Hiroshi Kurihara took over their new roles last 1 January.
Australia’s big four banks loan deferrals, waive fees for bushfire victims
NAB is providing A$1,000 grants and additional financial relief, for example.
Indian banks set to benefit from tighter oversight in 2026
The RBI’s multiple reforms over the next year will allow banks to provision more effectively.
Ant International and Google to soon enable AI checkout in chat
The UCP establishes a common language for agents and systems to operate together.
MUFG invests $4.3b in India’s Shriram Finance
MUFG is subscribing to a preferential allotment of 20% equity shares in the NBFC.
How investment banks can raise transaction banking value by 50%
Partnering with fintechs or making front office changes can raise profit by 3%-10%.
Private capital gives CIBs advisory and financing opportunities
The largest players require support at the fund level, says McKinsey & Co.
CIBs advised to create ‘nerve centers’ and ‘no regret moves’ against risks
Banks should ensure organisation readiness and identify four to five elements that matter most.
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Digital transformation starts with leadership