Infrastructure Insights

Over the past year of its implementation Open Banking remains a key concern of banks given the regulatory environment, the changing consumer patterns and the new fintech firms. It is becoming a need for banks to embrace digital transformation in this area to achieve more profitable operations. The banking industry is looking to achieve strong... read more

The fact that the UK’s API standards are in prime position to be embraced across the European Union puts the country’s banks and fintechs – already conforming to those standards – at a distinct advantage over their counterparts in the rest of Europe. “The UK is the first mover on this [Open Banking] across Europe... read more

Systems consolidation is the name of the game if firms are to meet the reporting requirements of the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation (SFTR), according to Broadridge senior product director, Dean Bruyns. “Obviously it takes work and it takes budget. These are challenges that all banks have,” says Bruyns.... read more

A request for input from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), seeking to improve its understanding of the ethereum blockchain, has demonstrated a “fundamental” lack of knowledge at the regulator. “It seems to not have a very good understanding of ethereum overall,” says John Quarnstrom, founder of ethereum... read more

Any extension to the scrutiny period for the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation (SFTR) comes as a blessing as “there is still so much” for banks to do. "Some banks will find it difficult to retain their resources [during a delay]. After enough time they get moved on to other projects,” says Dean Bruyns, senior... read more

Two in three (66%) of UK banking decision makers believe the tech giants will be offering retail banking services by 2024, according to a recent survey. The tech sector – led by Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple (GAFA) – are well poised to embrace Open Banking, according to banking commentator Elizabeth Lumley, director of fintech... read more

The exemption for pension scheme arrangements (PSAs) to clear over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives through central clearing houses under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (Emir) is to be extended for a further four years under the regulation’s Refit proposals, according to a European Commission spokesperson. “There is an... read more

Technology vendors need to support the adoption of microservices or risk banks pivoting to a model of self-sufficiency, according to Hans Tesselaar, executive director at BIAN “Each year you see fewer and fewer core banking vendors appearing on industry rankings tables,” he says. “In 20 years from now maybe there will only be... read more

Partnerships with fintechs is necessary to create the “best of both worlds” approach - which customers will demand in 2019, according to Currencycloud’s CMO and head of product, Todd Latham. “Customers expect a broad range of services from their bank, and they trust them to provide them,” adds Latham. “By... read more