The Global Banker — Banking Industry News & Intelligence
Banking News
View All →Scotiabank Canada Reports 9% Net Interest Income Growth on Loan Surge
Canada's second-largest bank posted robust first-quarter earnings driven by surging demand for commercial and mortgage loans, with deposits climbing 7% as consumer spending remains resilient.
Brazil's Bradesco Posts 18% Q1 Profit Jump on Deposits Surge
Bradesco's first-quarter net income rose 18% to R$7.9 billion, driven by 13% deposit growth and tight cost controls amid record corporate lending. The bank's non-performing loan ratio improved to 3.2%, signaling stronger risk management in a volatile economy.
Ghana's Ecobank Posts 19% Profit Jump on SME Lending Surge
Ecobank Ghana's first-quarter earnings climbed 19% to GHS 850 million, driven by a robust 24% expansion in its small and medium enterprise lending portfolio and disciplined cost management.
Bancolombia's Q1 Earnings Jump 13% on Fee Income Momentum
Colombia's largest bank posts net income of COP 1.5 trillion as transaction fees surge and loan growth accelerates, signaling resilience amid regional economic uncertainty.
Executive Moves
View All →Chase Poaches Monzo Exec as UK Bank Head
JPMorgan Chase has tapped Kunal Malani, Monzo's former chief banking officer, to lead Chase UK pending regulatory nod. The move signals intensified US banking push into Britain's competitive retail market.
South Africa's TymeBank Names Founding Member Keraan as New CEO
Tauriq Keraan, a founding member and former deputy CEO, takes the helm of the digital lender following Sandile Shabalala's resignation, bringing deep operational expertise to lead the bank's next growth phase.
Mexico's Banorte Elevates García to CFO Role Amid Economic Headwinds
Grupo Financiero Banorte has appointed Javier García as chief financial officer, promoting the corporate finance veteran as the bank strengthens its financial leadership during a period of economic uncertainty in Mexico.
Thabo Dloti Named African Bank Holdings Chairperson
The boards of African Bank and African Bank Holdings have appointed Thabo Dloti, ex-CEO of Liberty Holdings, as non-executive director and chairperson, succeeding interim leader Louisa Stephens. Dloti brings deep expertise in financial strategy and transformation to the role.
M&A
View All →Ghana's Rural Banks Complete Community Bank Shift Today
All of Ghana's rural banks have transitioned to community banks effective March 31, 2026, marking a pivotal regulatory overhaul by the Bank of Ghana to strengthen the microfinance sector. This shift aims to enhance operational resilience amid evolving financial demands.
Nigeria's Unity Bank Merger Bolsters Banking Recapitalisation Drive
Nigeria's Unity Bank merger with Providus Bank advances amid CBN's aggressive recapitalisation push, as African banks post stellar 17% ROE in 2025, far outpacing global peers. The deal underscores continent-wide consolidation to build resilience against economic headwinds.
Citi Eyes $500B US Regional Bank Acquisition Amid Overhaul
Citigroup executives have explored buying a major US regional bank with around $500 billion in assets, such as PNC or Truist, to boost deposits and domestic presence, Bloomberg reports. The bank denies the rumors, focusing on organic growth as shares dip 4%.
Citi Launches Global AI Infrastructure Banking Unit
Citigroup has formed a dedicated global AI infrastructure banking group, uniting senior leaders from investment and corporate banking to seize opportunities in surging data center demand. The bank projects nearly $3 trillion needed by 2030 for AI-driven infrastructure buildout.
Fintech
View All →Qatar's QNB Unveils AI-Driven Payments Platform with STC Pay
Qatar National Bank (QNB) has launched an AI-powered digital payments platform integrated with STC Pay, enabling seamless QR code transactions across Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Processing over 1 million daily transactions with 99%+ fraud detection, it bolsters QNB's regional dominance.
N26 Rolls Out Full Banking in Poland Post-KNF License
German neobank N26 has launched savings accounts and debit cards in Poland after securing a full banking license from the KNF, targeting 1 million users and 10% of the underbanked market within a year. The move intensifies competition in Eastern Europe's fastest-growing digital banking sector. (1...
East Africa Banks Abandon Legacy Models for Fintech Distribution Platforms
Traditional lenders like Equity Group Holdings and KCB Group are embedding fintech infrastructure into core operations, transforming into API-driven distribution engines that fundamentally reshape the region's financial architecture.
Kenya's Mobile Money Transactions Top $300B Annually
Kenya's fintech ecosystem has surged past $300 billion in yearly mobile money transactions, representing 5% of GDP and fueling over 450 companies. M-Pesa anchors this shift, turning East Africa into a unified digital finance powerhouse.
Regulations
View All →Singapore MAS Fines DBS S$5m Over Token Compliance Lapses
Singapore's Monetary Authority has slapped DBS Bank with a S$5 million penalty for failing to properly assess risks in its digital token services for institutional clients. DBS has halted new bookings amid remediation efforts.
ECB Slaps BofA Securities Europe with €6.2M Risk Reporting Fine
The European Central Bank fined BofA Securities Europe SA €6.2 million for underreporting trading book risks from 2022 to 2024 by using an unauthorized method on sovereign bond options. The penalty highlights intensifying scrutiny on accurate risk disclosure amid volatile markets.
RBI Fines Union Bank of India 9.5 Million Rupees for Violations
India's central bank slapped a 9.5 million rupee penalty on Union Bank of India over regulatory lapses uncovered in a recent inspection. The action underscores RBI's intensified scrutiny on compliance amid rising banking risks.
Hong Kong Regulator's Thematic Reviews Strengthen Sanctions Compliance Framework
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority's targeted regulatory reviews have substantially improved how financial institutions manage sanctions controls, marking a significant advancement in compliance effectiveness across the banking sector.