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3646 Results from /retail

Jonathan Rosenne

Jonathan Rosenne Chairman at QSM Programming Ltd.

Is the use of PIN for every purchase justified?

Every use of the PIN exposes it, and the exposure has a cost attached. For small value transactions, say less than 50 Pounds, it is probably not economically justified. Moreover, establishements where most of the transactions are low value could probably use much cheaper terminals, that do not have PIN pads at all. No PIN used, no PIN stolen.

/retail Trends in Financial Services

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

I went to buy a toaster and it came with a free bank

The credit crunch is no laughing matter, but as any psychologist will tell you, laughter is a way of dealing with extraordinary events that challenge our system of beliefs. So, in the interests of good mental health, here's a selection of some of the best gags currently doing the rounds. Q: What is the definition of optimism? A: An investment banke...

/retail /wholesale Whatever...

Gary Wright

Gary Wright Analyst at BISS Research

Business Ethics Back From The Abyss

It appears to me that the best way to start clawing back from the abyss in the financial services industry, has to be the reclamation of business ethics. The scandalous bonuses paid to people who worship the buck at the expense of the industry and its clients have to be brought back into line. Stripping the market at any cost is not the best way t...

/retail Data Management 101

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

Sign of the times

A digital clock erected in Times Square to show the US national debt has run out of digits. When the national debt level passed the $10 trillion mark a couple of weeks ago, the digital display failed to keep pace. The board was first erected to highlight the $2.7 trillion level of debt in 1989. A new board with extra digits is under construction. I...

/retail /wholesale

Gary Wright

Gary Wright Analyst at BISS Research

Financial Crisis drives bullyboy tactics

Now I know this might be a small issue in the whole scheme of the global financial meltdown but HSBC seems to be plummeting to new depths of desperation. Only this week, I learnt how HSBC has been harassing, a recently graduated student, initially once a week over the past three weeks but more recently, this has increased to daily phone calls. A

/payments /retail SEPA and European Payments

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

Message to Barclays: Don't call us, we'll call you

As a Liverpudlian, I'm pleased to see Barclays creating new jobs in my home town. But as a Barclays' customer my heart sinks at the creation of this new 'proactive' call centre. Explaining the investment in a second outbound telesales operation, Alan Longmuir, head, premium segments, Barclays, says: "Our proactive contact centre division has g...

/retail

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

The silent but deadly bank run

"We are not currently processing any deposits or any withdrawal requests through our Icesave internet accounts. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our customers. We hope to provide you with more information shortly." The notice posted on the Icesave Web site today is the electronic equivalent of a Great Depression bank shut...

/retail Trends in Financial Services

Roy McPherson

Roy McPherson 

Turkeys home to roost

I've been made acutely aware of the financial turkeys coming home to roost by receiving a single call from an elderly relative. Aunty X, by no stretch of the imagination a person of huge personal means, had recently moved her assets to take advantage of better interest rates on offer through internet banks. I realised with chilling clarity just h...

/retail

Retired Member

Retired Member 

Demonstrating marketing budgets during the downturn

It’s a torrid time out there and there seems to be no limit to the industries in line for the chopping block. One of the first to truly feel the effects of this credit storm is, of course, the retail sector. There is scarcely a day goes by without hearing some more dismal results from the high street or another 11th hour buy-out. With the excepti...

/retail

Gary Wright

Gary Wright Analyst at BISS Research

Staff shortage will threaten recovery

The lay offs have already begun as banks look to bring their costs down and protect their profitability. UBS were the latest to cut 2000 jobs and they will not be the last as the crisis begins to bite hard and as usual the finance industry is reactive in chasing the market down. I can however; guarantee that once the good times roll the banks will...

/retail Operational Risk Management

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