Update: have tried out the new browser, and running short of superlatives. I can only suggest that everyone at least try it. Fast, secure, and at the same time simple to use. Maximum use of screen is acheived by eliminating things like the status bar, and by repositioning the tabs. Google Chrome Continue reading Google Chrome | new browser for Windows
I have been watching for this download to happen but nothing yet. A Google browser that’s supposed to show up Tuesday. The information suggests a very efficient browser based on webkit that manages the internet better. Internet is no longer a set of web pages. Its become a set of applications, videos, and pages with privacy and security needs that requires a different way to interact. This is exciting! Google Chrome Today there was a comic book in my mail, sent by Google and drawn by no less than Scott McCloud, creator of the classic Understanding Comics. Within the 38 … Continue reading Google Browser to be announced Tuesday Sept 2nd
Every Banker needs to read James post here. This particular paragraph resonated for me, having lived this life for years, and now being in a position to re-orchestrate my day according to my schedule. I have some suggestions …. the back to back meeting day is the death of effectiveness. BankerVision: Email bankrupt A cultural oddity of the bank is that we do back-to-back meetings, probably most days. So our email keeps piling up, and so many of us have resorted to fitting email processing into odd slots of the day. I have some cures for this ailment, before you … Continue reading My “email for Bankers” system
This latest breach of customer data at Wells highlights an issue that Banks are just not getting the message about. I don’t know the specifics of the Wells breach, but based on the theme of this post, there is absolutely NO reason for customer data to be resident on an employees laptop. Very few data breaches are as a result of hacking. More likely they result from physical theft of hardware, and that is avoidable. Finextra: Wells Fargo hit by data breach News of the latest Wells Fargo breach comes after reports of the theft of computer equipment containing confidential … Continue reading Time to learn about data security | Banks
The signs for Banks over the next few months is distinctly negative. I’d expect the strong ones to take advantage of the situation, and maybe we will see some surprising new alignments between Banks. FT.com / In depth – Investors fear another big financial firm failure Nearly 60 per cent of US and European institutional investors surveyed by Greenwich Associates believe there will be such a failure within the next six months. Another 15 per cent think it will happen in six-12 months. “Most institutions think we are currently in the most dangerous period for global financial services firms,” said … Continue reading Investors fear another big financial firm failure
This is one of the most ingenuous uses of Twitter we have seen yet. Wesabe as most will know are a company that sorts, annotates and analyses your spending patterns based on your data. It allows tagging and evaluation of merchants. The new function is for cash transactions which can be inputted directly at time of purchase from your mobile using your own twitter interface. Wesabe: Connections If you want to tell Wesabe your transaction privately, you can use “d wesabe” to send a direct message with how much you spent and on what. If you want to track your … Continue reading Wesabe introduces a brilliant integration with Twitter
This is a groundbreaking announcement today from Obopay, and Grameen. [hat tip paymentsnews]. Note the inclusion of payments as the focus. Payments News: Obopay, Grameen Solutions for Mobile Banking, Payments – August 06, 2008 the Grameen-Obopay Bank A Billion Initiative will provide access to affordable financial services, including cross-border remittances, money transfer, payments, savings and credit accounts. By empowering life and work endeavors with mobile technology that is ubiquitous even in the most impoverished and remote corners of the world, Grameen-Obopay are bringing the full power of banking to those who need it most. bankabillion.org By 2018 the world’s poor … Continue reading Obopay, Grameen Solutions | BankABillion
Interesting new service from Yodlee, offerring same day bill payments, something thats hard to do today. Whats interesting is that there is an additional charge for same day payments. This means in effect that the delayed payments that exist today, are now hard wired as the standard, and anything faster costs more. Finextra: Yodlee launches expedited payments offering for online banking sites With Yodlee PayToday, financial institutions can take immediate advantage of the opportunity to generate new fee revenue by offering their customers the convenience of guaranteed, same-day electronic payments to hundreds of national and regional billers across multiple biller … Continue reading Yodlee launches expedited payments offering for online banking sites
Following up on the last couple of days of news on bank failures, already happened and those to come, what comes next? One easy one is bank takeovers. We noted yesterday the Dundee Securities tipped CIBC in Canada as a takeover candidate. Now the Economist today speaks about an expected big shakeout, naming rumoured acquirors here. Bank consolidation | Under the hammer | Economist.com Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Royal Bank of Canada are among the names to have been bandied about as predators in recent weeks I would include RBS, BofA, in that list too, based on observation of … Continue reading The a big shake-out is coming | ailing bank takeovers
If any of us require an example of an effective modern bank, Santander and Spanish Banks in general are terrific examples. To eliminate duplication, and centralise functions is always a good thing in achieving better customer results. Finextra: Santander to seek £65 million IT savings in A&L takeover Spain’s Banco Santander expects to save £180 million a year from cutting jobs and centralising IT systems as it merges the UK’s Abbey with newly-acquired high street rival Alliance & Leicester. Continue reading Santander is officially a world leader
Bankwatch 