bank regulators

Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, is in talks to acquire Lithuania-based Saldo Bank, a move that would give the company a full banking licence in the European Union. That would upgrade its current standing from the electronic money institution licence it holds in Ireland, allowing broader banking services across the bloc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Essex Police are drawing attention to a wave of fraud warnings circulating in the UK, including 'job offer' scams and missed-call scams designed to trick people into calling back premium numbers. The advice, echoed by regulator Ofcom, urges people not to respond to unexpected calls or unsolicited job offers and to verify any approach before sharing personal or banking details.

TD Bank and Akoya have announced a new open banking relationship, under which TD will work with the Akoya platform to enable secure, consent-based sharing of customer financial data with approved third parties. The move aligns with the broader shift in financial services toward open banking frameworks and standardized data access across North America.

The Central Bank of Russia is a trending search topic among Russian users right now. Beyond the spike in interest, the available material does not point to a specific announcement, rate decision or statement from the regulator. The bank's regular policy moves — particularly decisions on the key interest rate, sanctions-related measures and ruble policy — are the usual reasons it dominates public attention, but no concrete development can be confirmed here.

Fraud investigators have detained Hungary's former central bank governor, a development making headlines across Europe. The arrest comes as the Prudential Regulation Authority separately announced a five-year strategy that will include setting performance targets. Readers are weighing both stories: the fall of a once-powerful financial official and regulators tightening oversight to prevent misconduct in the banking sector.

Brazil's securities regulator, the CVM, is drawing attention on several fronts. News reports cover the chairman's travel, a new rule requiring securitization companies to report data to the Central Bank and opening the credit registry to FIDC fund managers, and a ruling expected today on former IRB executives over a fund operation that caused losses for Copel.

Christina Skinner has published commentary examining the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the question of central bank independence. The piece addresses how regulatory oversight bodies interact with monetary authorities and what that means for financial stability policy. The discussion comes amid ongoing debate in the United States over the proper limits of financial regulators and the political pressures facing central banks.

Brazil's central bank is preparing measures to promote responsible lending as part of a crackdown on rising consumer debt, according to sources cited by Reuters. The move, picked up by multiple US outlets, is expected to push banks to lend more carefully to households. Brazil has been grappling with high household indebtedness, making regulators' response to consumer credit practices a growing topic of interest.

A roundup of AI in finance and banking highlights leads with an IMF warning that the world cannot afford to get AI wrong. It also cites reports that a quarter of financial firms now tie pay and promotions to AI proficiency, alongside the State of AI in Capital Markets 2026 report describing an era of execution at scale and a persistent AI fluency gap across the industry.

European financial regulators have formally queried Google following a cloud outage that disrupted banking services across the region. The incident raised concerns about banks' reliance on a small number of hyperscale cloud providers and prompted scrutiny of operational resilience arrangements. Regulators are seeking details on what caused the disruption, how it affected financial institutions, and what safeguards will prevent repeat failures.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has proposed reforms to open up contactless payments on iPhones, calling on Apple to lower developer fees and grant third parties access to its closed NFC tap-to-pay system. The move would let rival wallet and payment providers compete with Apple Pay on iPhones sold in Britain. The proposals form part of an ongoing antitrust review of Apple's dominance in mobile payments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has opened an investigation into nine large national banks over alleged debanking practices, according to Forbes. The probe will examine whether these institutions improperly cut off customers' access to accounts. Debanking has become a heated political issue in the United States, with critics arguing banks terminate services for ideological or political reasons rather than legitimate risk concerns.

Fintech company Kapital is setting up a new banking entity in Colombia, prompting speculation that it could follow the path of digital banking giants Nubank and Revolut. Coverage focuses on how the new entity would operate and whether Kapital can replicate their success in the digital banking market for businesses.

A central bank has issued a warning that insurers are fraudulently selling insurance cover to customers. The alert raises concerns about misleading or unauthorized sales practices in the insurance sector and signals possible enforcement action. Regulators typically urge consumers to verify that sellers are properly authorized before purchasing policies.

Malaysian banks are struggling with gaps in nature-related data as the country's regulators explore the creation of a new platform to address the problem. The move reflects growing regulatory focus on environmental and biodiversity risks in the banking sector, with lenders needing better information to assess their exposure to nature-related financial risks.

The UK's Prudential Regulation Authority is preparing to set performance targets as part of a new five-year strategy, according to The Banker. In a separate development, fraud investigators have detained Hungary's former central bank governor. Both stories highlight renewed scrutiny of banking oversight and accountability in Europe, drawing attention from regulators, policymakers and financial-market watchers.

The Bank for International Settlements has stated in writing that Bitcoin is not money but capital. According to BIS economist Iván Aldasoro, money is a promise that requires trust, while Bitcoin is the asset that is nobody's liability. The distinction matters for how regulators and banks classify crypto holdings.

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Work, a tool aimed at banks and financial services workers. The product is designed to give finance professionals access to relevant insights and models tailored to their sector. The announcement is drawing attention in tech and financial circles as OpenAI continues expanding ChatGPT into regulated industries.

The Dutch central bank DNB granted Qivalis an electronic money institution licence on 13 October. This allows the company, backed by 37 European banks including ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank and KBC, to issue a euro-backed stablecoin as an e-money token. However, the coin does not exist yet, as further approval from DNB is still required before launch.

Federal regulators are weighing a decision that could allow shrimp trawling to return to areas near Oculina Bank, a rare deep-water coral reef off Florida's Atlantic coast. Conservationists warn the reef, found nowhere else in the world, remains fragile despite decades of protection, while fishing interests support reopening access. The ruling is expected to shape the reef's future.

Circle Internet Group, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, is now reportedly subject to direct banking supervision from European Union regulators. The news has drawn attention from investors and crypto observers tracking how EU rules, including the MiCA framework, are being applied to stablecoin issuers. Details on the exact mechanism and consequences for Circle's European operations remain limited.

Qivalis, a fintech supported by 37 European banks, has received an electronic money institution licence and plans to launch a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the euro. The MiCA-compliant euro EMT is to be issued on the blockchain, creating a regulated foundation for secure digital euro payments, and the move is drawing attention in banking and crypto circles.

The governor of the People's Bank of China says the central bank will pursue a three-part strategy on artificial intelligence. The announcement, reported by Chinese state media, signals how AI is being woven into financial policy in China. Details of the three components were not immediately laid out, but the move is drawing attention as regulators worldwide weigh how central banks should adopt and oversee AI.

JPMorgan is reported to be closer to securing a banking license in Nigeria, a step that would deepen the largest US bank's footprint in Africa's most populous economy. The report offers no further details on timing or the type of license sought. Nigerian regulators have in recent years opened the door wider to foreign lenders, and entry by a major global bank would be a notable vote of confidence in the country's financial sector.

China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, is signalling reforms to liquidity management and lending rules. According to The Banker's regulatory roundup, the move points to changes in how banks will be supervised on liquidity and credit allocation. Details of the proposed measures and their timing remain limited, but the signals matter for Chinese banks and global institutions exposed to the mainland market.