Economy, Innovation

Bank deposits – the hidden risk associated with government guaranteed deposits

Colin Henderson

The focus on bank financial strength is generally on the lending side of the business and the potential for bad debts.  Here is another view, and something that drives some banks to make ever riskier loans to produce enough revenue to pay for their deposits. For Banks, Wads of Cash and Loads of Trouble | NY Times The 79 banks that have failed in the United States over the last two years had an average load of brokered deposits four times the national norm … But the hot money also came with a high cost. To lure the money from … Continue reading Bank deposits – the hidden risk associated with government guaranteed deposits

Innovation, Payments

DOCOMO to Launch Mobile Remittance Service

Colin Henderson

Banks continue to be challenged by disintermediation from telco’s and here is another example, this time in Japan.  The service will launch 21st July, and allow sending up to $200 with only the payee’s phone number being required. An interesting tweak is the ability to have the money deposited with DOCOMO under the guise of a credit to your account, however this is deposit taking by another name. DOCOMO to launch mobile payments service Customers of DOCOMO’s i-mode™ mobile Internet service on the FOMA™ 3G network will be able to remit up to 20,000 yen (about 208 U.S. dollars) per … Continue reading DOCOMO to Launch Mobile Remittance Service

Economy

Future for many banks remains grim | Roubini

Colin Henderson

This interview with Roubini, on a visit to China, is wide ranging, and provides a good assessment of where we are in the economic cycle, why we got here, and importantly what to expect next.  In particular this assessment on US banks is sobering.  That aside, it is a worthwhile read. Dr. Doom Has Some Good News The first involved banks. Like Paul Krugman and others, Roubini had been warning that many banks were weaker than they seemed. Rather than trying to nurse them along, he said, the government should move straightaway to nationalization: “I’m concerned that we’re not going … Continue reading Future for many banks remains grim | Roubini

US

Morgan Stanley and MUFG in joint push

Colin Henderson

Morgan Stanley hooks up with one of the largest Japanese banks to compete with Citi and JP Morgan. Morgan Stanley and MUFG in joint push | FT Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is set to merge its securities subsidiary with Morgan Stanley’s Japanese securities operations, to create one of the top three brokerages in Japan. The Japanese bank and Morgan Stanley have been in talks since MUFG invested $9bn last year into the then-struggling US broker, for a 21 per cent stake. Researched by Nobyuo Henderson Continue reading Morgan Stanley and MUFG in joint push

Economy1 Comment

“The Fourth Turning” | demographics and predictable change

Colin Henderson

Demographics is an interesting science, and one that has real impacts on society over time that are really only apparent after the fact.  Mauldin recounts a conversation with Strauss and Howe on their book, “The Fourth Turning“.  The premise is that the US and the western world move in 80 year cycles, with four ‘seasons’ within each cycle.  As historians, they have looked back in time, and concluded the cycles are quite consistent. Whether you buy that or not, the four cycles noted do describe the 20th century well, and place us firmly in the latter part of the third, … Continue reading “The Fourth Turning” | demographics and predictable change

VRM2 Comments

On VRM, Facebook, and being misunderstood for long periods of time

Colin Henderson

I simply love this post at RWW.  The post is about how FaceBook could turn on the power of their userbase to the benefit of consumer power.  I have long been a fan of VRM and at the same time at something of a loss to see how it could be initiated.  Then I read this post, and new lights went on. The post is about FaceBook, but it is less about them, than it is about business models for dot.com companies with large userbases who insist on following tradigital advertising models. The whole ‘We have lots of eyeballs so … Continue reading On VRM, Facebook, and being misunderstood for long periods of time

UK1 Comment

BofE Governor in the dark on banking regulation

Colin Henderson

The management of UK banking/ financial system has become highly politicised reflecting the general Browns government style. This from the meeting yesterday between Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England and the Commons committee. Governor in dark on banking regulation | FT His comments to MPs on the Commons Treasury committee flabbergasted its members. John McFall, the committee chairman, said the lack of communication at the top level between the Bank, Treasury and Financial Services Authority was unbelievable. “The tripartite authorities are a communications black holes, which is worrying.” Continue reading BofE Governor in the dark on banking regulation

AI

Most popular posts, now and all time on thebankwatch.com

Colin Henderson

It is always interesting to look at the usage of this blog and which items are most popular, then speculate why that might be.  Any comments on this welcome, because I can try to adapt towards items that are needed.  Overall there is some consistency between the all time, and the newer stats. Comments and observations welcome. Most popular posts at the moment – June 2009: Deloitte report | “The Shift Index: Recession masking long-term competitive challenges” America’s largest Credit Unions How to web 2.0 your bank Japanese online shopping site Rakuten to open eBank Building the Bank of the … Continue reading Most popular posts, now and all time on thebankwatch.com

Economy

OECD forecast revised upward, but underlying economic forecast conditions remain unchanged

Colin Henderson

The OECD today produced a report that is sure to be controversial. They are upgrading all their forecasts both for 2009, and 2010, but that FT headline mask the real underlying situation as it applies to consumers and businesses which I see as relatively no change from other forecasts. OECD sees strongest outlook since 2007 | FT Country Forecast for 2009 Forecast for 2010 Current Previous Current Previous US -2.8% -4.0% +0.9% 0% China +7.7% +6.3% +9.3% +8.5% Japan -6.8% -6.6% +0.7% -0.5% Eurozone -4.8% -4.1% 0% -0.3% Source: OECD The report notes that the unemployment rates and slackness in … Continue reading OECD forecast revised upward, but underlying economic forecast conditions remain unchanged

AI1 Comment

Deloitte report | “The Shift Index: Recession masking long-term competitive challenges”

Colin Henderson

Deloitte put out some good stuff, but this one is superlative.  The context here is is for planners thinking about the future and wondering how to think about the future.  That context is hard to achive with so much information, and so much new information every day.  For example we have all seen and heard the Iran/ Twitter discussion, and impacts here and here.  We have seen government influence Twitter to keep the ‘people influence’ moving.  We see internet advancing rapidly, Google supposedly taking over advertising, yet Facebook with over 200M users, actively resisting advertising.  We see online banking growing … Continue reading Deloitte report | “The Shift Index: Recession masking long-term competitive challenges”