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 →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.
Third Federal CFO Meredith Weil to Retire in 2027
TFS Financial Corporation announced the retirement of veteran CFO Meredith S. Weil effective January 2027, with James E. LaRocca set to succeed her after joining as Finance and Accounting Officer in June 2026. The transition caps Weil's nearly three-decade tenure at the Cleveland-based thrift.
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 →Spain's Lynx Pays Wins Banco de España Approval for P2P Lending
Spanish fintech Lynx Pays has secured Banco de España authorization to launch integrated P2P lending via its digital wallet, offering instant loans up to €5,000. The firm targets 500,000 users in six months amid surging embedded finance demand.
N26 Germany Gains Dutch Banking License for Netherlands Launch
German neobank N26 has launched full banking services in the Netherlands after De Nederlandsche Bank upgraded its license, targeting 2 million users with €100,000 deposit protection. The move cements its presence across 10 European markets amid intensifying fintech competition.
Colombia's Superfinanciera Approves Rappi Bank's Loans, Cards
Rappi Bank secures regulatory greenlight to launch personal loans and credit cards for its 15 million Colombian users, marking a pivotal shift to full digital banking via AI underwriting. This approval follows intensive scrutiny of risk models, intensifying fintech competition.
Indonesia's Bank Mandiri, SeaMoney Launch Unified Digital Wallet Integration
Bank Mandiri and SeaMoney have integrated their payment platforms, creating a combined ecosystem serving 100 million users and reshaping Indonesia's competitive digital payments landscape.
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.