Tag Archives: Banks and banking

International giant buying South African bank for R2.8 billion (BT)

Bidvest Bank is being sold for R2.8 billion, with the sale to Nigeria-based Access Bank expected to be finalised within the next three months.  During the financial year that ended 30 June 2025, Bidvest said that its Financial Services segment was dismantled and that a formal process was initiated to dispose of Bidvest Bank.  Click […]
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Banks downgrade top sustainability roles (FT)

Leading global banks have downgraded their top sustainability roles and shrunk dedicated teams as a result of slower-than-expected climate action and a backlash set off by Republican politicians in the US. HSBC, Standard Chartered, Barclays and Wells Fargo are among those that have cut or rejigged environmental, social and governance roles, following a wave of […]
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Private banks leading AI adoption in banking services, says RBI study(BS)

Private sector banks in India are taking the lead in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in areas like fraud detection, customer segmentation, and chat automation, according to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study. The asset size and capital adequacy ratio are influencing the rate of adoption. The size and financial health had a […]
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Banking Sector Spurred Nigeria’s Economic Growth In 2023, Contributing 4.6% To GDP, Per Report(ForbesAfrica)

Nigeria’s Financial & Professional Services (FPS) sector demonstrated strong performance in 2023, with the banking sub-sector leading the way, contributing 4.6% to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the recent State of Enterprise (SOE) 2024 report by EnterpriseNGR, a member-led group focused on developing Nigeria’s FPS sector through collective advocacy. Click here to […]
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7 Fintech trends banks should be watching now — plus 8 more to anticipate(FB)

Many banking and fintech researchers excel at tracking industry trends. From year to year the trends change, although sometimes it feels that they remain static. When looking back just a few years, you realize that what was once imminent has sometimes petered out. (I’m looking at you, blockchain.) In other cases, a trend seems to […]
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SMEs require a banking relationship, even in this digital age (BT)

The World Bank estimates that small businesses constitute 90 percent of all businesses worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa alone there are 44 million small businesses, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounting for 60 percent of jobs. In South Africa there are approximately 3.2 million SMEs, which make them the backbone of the economy with a […]
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Central banks ‘must prepare for profound impact of AI’(BL)

Bank for International Settlements says policymakers should harness artificial intelligence to monitor data in real time. London — Central banks should embrace the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) says, but stresses the technology should not replace humans when it comes to setting interest rates. In its first major report […]
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Anti-LGBT+ law puts Ghana’s IMF and World Bank funding at risk, finance ministry warns (FT)

Implementing an anti-LGBT+ law passed by Ghana’s parliament could derail the west African country’s funding from multilateral institutions, including the World Bank and IMF, the finance ministry has warned. Ghana, which is seeking to recover from its worst economic crisis in a generation, could lose $3.8bn in World Bank financing over the next five to […]
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NEW GIBS Case Study: The South African Reserve Bank’s response towards calls to pursue unconventional monetary policy” By Adrian Sivalle, Mluleki Shongwe, and Amy Moore

Learning outcomes On completion of the case study, students will understand the following learning objectives: the characteristics of quantitative easing (QE) and when it may be appropriate to implement QE; how QE differs from a conventional bond purchasing programme; the impact of direct financing of the fiscus by the central bank on its independence; how […]
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Absa launches bespoke offering for youth and women-owned businesses (BT)

Amidst efforts to empower youth and women to start and grow their businesses and create jobs, Absa has just launched a unique banking solution, specifically designed with these business-owners in mind. Respectively called Absa Emerging Entrepreneur and Absa Business She Thrives, the solution offers a monthly fee waiver for six months on a new Business Evolve account, free access […]
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