Moneyland, Kleptopia & On Corruption - How the corrupt operate

Oliver Bullough, Tom Burgis and Sarah Chayes, authors of three of the best books on global corruption, gather for a panel at the Annapolis Book Festival for a fascinating discussion about how the corrupt operate, often with impunity, and what can be done to slow the pace of looting.

The likely impact of central bank digital currencies on quantitative easing

Many central banks are considering launching digital currencies. Far from a simple technological innovation, central bank digital currencies (CBDC) might persistently alter the size and composition of central bank balance sheets. Martina Fraschini, Luciano Somoza and Tammaro Terracciano analyse the equilibrium effects of the introduction of a CBDC and its interaction with current monetary policies. They show how and when issuing a CBDC might render expansionary policies quasi-permanent.

Read their insightful article HERE.

“TOP READS OF THE WEEK” (for week ending 23 April)

The latest top reads in banking, fintech, payments, cybersecurity, AI, IoT and risk management

In this weeks selection;

Interesting to know

• Cybercrime - Was this the most daring bank theft ever attempted?
• NatWest will not accept corporate customers who deal in cryptocurrencies
• 8 Ways to Leverage the Internet of Things in Utilities
• What Can Smart Tech Be Used For?

Banks & Credit Unions

• UK Bank NatWest Bars Businesses That Accept Crypto
• Banks decide their place on the Citi-Goldman spectrum
• Nigerian banks’ dominance of their home turf is virtually unparalleled

Fintech

• Forget the piggy bank, Till Financial’s kids’ spend management app gets Gates’ backing
• Machine learning, explained
• Embedded Fintech Versus Embedded Finance: Jumpstarting New Product Innovation In Banks
• Internet of Things — Leap towards a hyper-connected world
• Top 8 IoT applications and examples in business

Payments

• Is the Coronavirus Killing Off Cash?
• COVID-19 pushed real-time payments to jump 41% in 2020, study finds

Cybersecurity

• 3 ways CISOs can align cybersecurity to business goals
• Marijuana is becoming more accepted. Will cybersecurity employers play along?
• A botnet named after Prometheus jumps is also exploiting Exchange Server flaws
• Nation-state cyber attacks could lead to cyber conflict
• India wants to block WhatsApp's controversial privacy policy update

 

 

 

Cybercrime - Was this the most daring bank theft ever attempted?

In November 2014, one of the world's biggest movie studios was the target of a devastating cyber attack. The aftermath left Hollywood reeling - but an even bigger shock was in store. In the first episode of a new BBC podcast, Geoff White and Jean Lee investigate the story of the Lazarus Heist.

“Almost a perfect crime.” The hacking ring and an attempt to steal a billion dollars. Investigators blame North Korea. Pyongyang denies involvement. The story begins in Hollywood.

Listen to this BBC podcast HERE.

NatWest will not accept corporate customers who deal in cryptocurrencies

UK commercial and retail bank NatWest will not accept corporate customers who deal in cryptocurrencies.

“We have no appetite for dealing with customers, whether taking them on as new clients or having an ongoing relationship with people, whose main business is backed by an exchange for cryptocurrencies, or otherwise transacting in cryptocurrencies as their main activity,” said NatWest head of risk Morten Friis during a recent shareholder event.

Friis indicated that the NatWest board, of which he is a member, is taking its cues from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which earlier this year issued a warning to crypto customers that Bitcoin and other digital assets are risky investments.

Read the full story HERE.  

“TOP READS OF THE WEEK” (for week ending 16 April)

The latest top reads in banking, fintech, payments, cybersecurity, AI, IoT and risk management

In this weeks selection;

Interesting to Know

• The global system for combatting financial crime is hugely expensive and largely ineffective
• Bernie Madoff - "It was inconceivable that he was a crook"
• Why I hate the term ’embedded’
• Post-Pandemic Lessons for Risk Managers
• What are the most important Mobile Banking features?
• Ireland opens GDPR investigation into Facebook leak 

Banks & Credit Unions

• Why Big Banks Can’t Keep Pace With India’s Mobile Payments Revolution
• The digital trends disrupting the banking industry in 2021

Fintech

• ‘Screen scraping is not evil’: Bankers, fintechs, aggregators face off
• Embedded Fintech Versus Embedded Finance: Jumpstarting New Product Innovation In Banks
• Kenyan fintech tech startup secures funding to regionally expand
• FinTechs Targeting Underserved Communities

Payments

• India’s Mobile Payments Revolution Slowed Down by Tech Glitches at Big Banks
• Consumer credit payment patterns shift during pandemic

Cybersecurity

• IRS is probing the dark web to look for cryptocurrency and NFT tax evasion, says IRS commissioner
• Your Customer’s Bank or Credit Card Details Are Being Sold On the Dark Web. What Can You Do to Stop It?
• Would You Buy a Non-fungible Token? You Should Know Exactly What It Is Your Buying (but You Can’t!)
• How marketing principles can be used to enhance cybersecurity training
• 15 Cybersecurity Pitfalls and Fixes for SMBs

Artificial Intelligence

• How AI and Machine Learning Are Helping In Cybersecurity?
• Why every website wants you to accept its cookies

 

Bernie Madoff - "It was inconceivable that he was a crook"

Bernie Madoff died on 14 April 2021 aged 82. He was in the 12th year of his 150 year prison sentence after committing the biggest Ponzi fraud in US financial history.

In this interview "Bernie Madoff: 'The Wizard of Lies' ", first published in September 2017, Diana Henriques drew on her years of financial journalism and extraordinary access to the title character to write the definitive book about Bernie Madoff. It was turned into an HBO movie in early 2017 starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Diana, playing herself. 

This is compelling listening. Hear it rebroadcast on the "Bribe, Swindle or Steal" podcast  HERE.