Latest long reads: Finextra Research

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

Understanding the ISO 20022 deadline

The deadline for ISO 20022 – the new standard for electronic data interchange between financial institutions – has been notoriously changeable. Back in March 2020, Swift delayed the original migration date for cross-border payments by 12 months (from November 2021 to the end of 2022) as banks struggled with decommissioning and preparing existing ...

14 hours /payments

The power of social media in taking financial health messages to neighbourhoods

Gareth Walton Head of EMEA Sales at Nextdoor

The power of social media in taking financial health messages to neighbourhoods

High street banks have spent decades building up customer trust and loyalty. Their branches, a familiar sight across most UK towns and cities, provide a space where customers can seek advice and assurance around their personal finances. As such, banks’ physical buildings have come to symbolise their overall reliability and stability, underlined by...

19 hours /retail

Is the PS21/3 operational resilience transition period end a turning point?

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

Is the PS21/3 operational resilience transition period end a turning point?

The transition period for the UK regulator FCA’s PS21/3 guidance for Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs) to build their operational resilience officially ends on 31 March 2025. For many organisations in the financial services and fintech industries, the conclusion of this transition period marks a critical milestone in regulatory compliance an...

31 March 2025 /regulation

Can open banking stand alone as the UK’s payment infrastructure?

Tom Hay Principal Consultant at Payment Systems Europe

Can open banking stand alone as the UK’s payment infrastructure?

The weaponisation of payment infrastructure by governments is not a theoretical risk; it’s a reality. In 2023, the US imposed sanctions on Russia’s Unistream Bank, leading to the suspension of cross-border payment services by banks in countries like Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan due to fears of secondary sanctions. This disruption affected remi...

31 March 2025 /payments

The top payments stories you missed in March 2025

Dominique Dierks Senior Content Manager at Finextra

The top payments stories you missed in March 2025

March has been a busy month in the world of payments. From regulatory upheaval to rising fraud numbers, here is an overview of our most viewed Payments stories from this month. UK Government confirms plans to scrap Payment Systems Regulator You probably did not miss this story. In March, the UK Government has officially confirmed its plans to aboli...

28 March 2025 /payments

Empowering European consumers: The future of personalised payments

Brice Van De Walle EVP at Mastercard

Empowering European consumers: The future of personalised payments

The European payments landscape is evolving rapidly. Technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and regulatory changes are driving a move toward more flexible and personalised payment experiences. Mastercard’s research conducted last year, reveals that two-thirds of European consumers prefer to consistently use the same payment method...

27 March 2025 /payments

Mastering banking on cloud: 3 frontiers that will define the future

John Barber Vice President and Head at Infosys Finacle

Mastering banking on cloud: 3 frontiers that will define the future

This article has been co-authored by John Barber, head of Europe, and Gaurav Sharma, senior industry principal, at Infosys Finacle. Cloud has been a focal point of banking transformation for over a decade now. Banks have made significant strides, shifting workloads to the cloud to drive agility, scalability, and operational efficiency. Cloud has ev...

26 March 2025 /cloud

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

What is T+0 settlement?

In February 2025 it was announced that the EU will switch to single-day settlement – otherwise known as ‘T+1 settlement’ – of stock and bond trades in 2027. So what does this mean and why is it important? ‘T+0 settlement’ refers to a same-day settlement in stock markets; T+1 refers to a settlement in the stock market that takes a maxim...

25 March 2025 /markets

What’s behind the record highs in secondary market trading?

Brendan Gallen Partner at Reed Smith LLP

What’s behind the record highs in secondary market trading?

Secondary market trade volumes soared to record levels last year, signalling an ongoing and noticeable shift in investor sentiment and portfolio management strategies. A secondary market transaction occurs when an investor buys or sells an existing stake in a private equity fund, venture capital vehicle, or other alternative asset. Secondaries tra...

25 March 2025 /wealth

Tornado Cash: The end of sanctions, a decentralised future, and financial privacy

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

Tornado Cash: The end of sanctions, a decentralised future, and financial privacy

In a monumental shift in regulatory policy, the US government has reversed its decision to sanction Tornado Cash, the decentralised cryptocurrency mixer that has been a subject of intense debate since 2022. As reported by CoinDesk, Tornado Cash has been “accused of helping North Korea’s Lazarus Group launder stolen funds from its various hacks a...

24 March 2025 /crypto

Are CBDC projects moving forward without public buy-In?

Bazil Sansom Research Fellow at Warwick Business School

Are CBDC projects moving forward without public buy-In?

Central banks worldwide are accelerating retail CBDC (central bank digital currency) initiatives, with a notable drive on the digital Euro, and the digital pound. Yet skepticism and resistance are on the rise. Commercial banks fear deposit outflows and costs and see CBDC as an unwelcome intervention in their business model. Meanwhile, public mistru...

21 March 2025 /crypto

What is Digital Company ID? CFIT’s blueprint for fraud prevention

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What is Digital Company ID? CFIT’s blueprint for fraud prevention

The Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology (CFIT) has published a Digital Company ID plan to crack down on fraud and support UK businesses. CFIT led a coalition of over 70 organisations including financial institutions, government agencies, tech firms, policymakers, and academics, to develop and analyse Digital Company ID. According to the ...

19 March 2025 /identity

Long reads