Uncategorized2 Comments

A request of RBC | where is your community feature?

Colin Henderson

I have been applauding RBC’s internet initiatives, and this one from what looks like a press release is no exception … except I cannot find it? Anyone out there at RBC care to help me out here. Finextra: RBC Direct Investing taps blogs for investment management Community is part of a wider site redesign by RBC, which is also adding a ‘sectors and industries’ page to allow investors to target areas and obtain more granular trending information. The bank says a ‘trading dashboard’ will be added this summer which will enable more active traders to consolidate research, tracking and execution … Continue reading A request of RBC | where is your community feature?

Social Lending1 Comment

Trust and verify | Tapscott offers radical solution for credit crisis

Colin Henderson

Don makes a terrific point here on the power of what he terms wikinomics, that comprises four principles: openness peering sharing act globally CNW Group | DON TAPSCOTT | Troubled financial markets need to embrace Wikinomics-style transparency says Don Tapscott “For example, investors should be able to “fly over” and “drill down” into a CDO’s underlying assets. With full data, they could readily graph the payment history, and correlate information such as employment histories, recent appreciation (or depreciation), location, neighborhood pricings, delinquency patterns, and recent neighborhood offer and sales activities. Now that AAA ratings have proved worthless, currently investors don’t … Continue reading Trust and verify | Tapscott offers radical solution for credit crisis

research

things I read yesterday … 06/10/2008

Colin Henderson

I am largely over Twitter. I feel weird when I post something there instead of here. I get a ton more discussion here. – FriendFeed Steve continues to push to envelope with good thinking on microblogging, and online conversations. FF is built by ex Google folks who built gmail, so they understand well written applications, and scalability. tags: friendfeed, twitter, micropersuasion, steve rubel “I am largely over Twitter. I feel weird when I post something there instead of here. I get a ton more discussion here.” Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/10/2008

Innovation9 Comments

moneyaisle | coming June 9th

Colin Henderson

I learned today of a new offerring scheduled to launch June 9th in the US. I am quite intrigued by the concept that has aspects of moneyexperts.co.uk with the added mix of auctions. More to come. moneyaisle.com The company’s fully automated, proprietary technology creates unique online auctions where banks compete in real-time to meet each consumer’s specific banking needs until one bank remains. The unique MoneyAisle platform has already become an attractive offering for small and mid-sized banks. Without the high costs of customer acquisition, banks are able to access a large market of potential customers from across the United … Continue reading moneyaisle | coming June 9th

AI

moneyaisle | coming June 9th

Colin Henderson

I learned today of a new offerring scheduled to launch June 9th in the US. I am quite intrigued by the concept  that has aspects of moneyexperts.co.uk with the added mix of auctions. moneyaisle.com The company’s fully automated, proprietary technology creates unique online auctions where banks compete in real-time to meet each consumer’s specific banking needs until one bank  remains. The unique MoneyAisle platform has already become an attractive offering for small and mid-sized banks. Without the high costs of customer acquisition, banks are able to access a large  market of potential customers from across the United States. A quick … Continue reading moneyaisle | coming June 9th

AI

US attempts (again) to reduce interchange fees

Colin Henderson

A move in the US to reduce interchange fees on credit card transactions, by (somehow) permitting retailers and merchants to negotiate them. Finextra: New Senate bill launched to rein in interchange fees Interchange fees currently comprise 90% of transaction fees charged to merchants. The percentage is set by the credit card companies – generally Visa or MasterCard – and averages 1.75% of the total purchase price. In 2006 Visa and MasterCard banks collected more than $36 billion in interchange fees last year, up 17% from 2005 and 117% since 2001. In 2007, the fees amounted to $42 billion. The backdrop … Continue reading US attempts (again) to reduce interchange fees

AI1 Comment

Wachovia | what are they getting right?

Colin Henderson

James highlights a key perspective on the new Wachovia product that is getting lots of accolades. Javelin Strategy and Research » Rewards and the Economy: Timing is Everything Wachovia’s way2save(sm) program is receiving peak promotion at the right time, given all the economic uncertainty. Ron notes Wachovia’s high customer satisfaction ratings. 1) What’s Wachovia doing right? As banks’ index dropped 3.5%, Wachovia’s score increased by about the same percentage. In the ACSI study, banks as a group scored 78. Excluding the  five largest banks — of which Wachovia is one — the score was 80. Wachovia’s performance  flies in the … Continue reading Wachovia | what are they getting right?

Business Models, Canada3 Comments

RBC p2p | an update

Colin Henderson

RBC have had their student blog up for a few months now, and thought I would check back in. About RBC p2p – Everything students need to know about money Ever notice that bank commercials tend to have a lot of grey haired people waxing poetic about retirement? Or suits conferring with more suits about leveraging assets? This isn’t for those people. The posts are smart and well written. Its difficult to know how much review occurs before posting but the result is a good collection of posts varying from speaker reviews, cultural events, to basic budgetting. The main quibble … Continue reading RBC p2p | an update

Social Lending

the pinstripes are chasing the poor | TIME

Colin Henderson

Microfinance, small loans in impoverished areas is becoming business that is interesting the large Banks. The Big Trouble In Small Loans – TIME And he’s getting more of them, from directions he never could have anticipated. Last year the Spanish multinational BBVA raised some $300 million to invest in microfinance, then reached across the Atlantic to snap up two Peruvian firms. “Everyone wants to do this now,” says Llosa. “And it’s not only Peru. This change is everywhere. Everywhere microfinance is working, it’s happening.” Continue reading the pinstripes are chasing the poor | TIME

Smart Cards

The smart card olympics commence

Colin Henderson

The branding olympics are underway now. G&D announce they are supplying a commerative Olympic smart card for Chinese Banks. Smart Cards for Olympics The Bank of China and the China Everbright Bank are offering their customers special Visa Olympic-edition credit cards. China Mobile is marketing a gift box containing six prepaid telephone cards, which is the fourth set of commemorative cards for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games launched by China Mobile. The Olympic smart cards are supplied by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), a leading provider of smart card solutions. Continue reading The smart card olympics commence