SET Training - Banking and Fintech

By Stanley Epstein -  Introduction: The Promise of Stability The financial world is buzzing with talk of stablecoins. It’s no longer a niche topic; major players like Citi, Visa, Stripe, and a growing number of large US banks are actively building platforms and exploring issuing their own. This isn't just experimental—the scale of the ambition is immense. Citi's CEO, Jane Fraser, recently forecasted that stablecoin issuance could surge to an astonishing $3.7 trillion by the end of the decade. At its core, the promise of a stablecoin is simple: to create a cryptocurrency with a stable price by pegging it to a real-world asset, most commonly the US dollar. This is meant to offer the benefits of digital currency—speed, accessibility, and transparency—without the wild price swings associated with assets like bitcoin. But beneath this straightforward promise lies a far more complex and surprising reality with profound consequences for the global financial system. The rapid growth of...

- Stanley Epstein -   Introduction The common narrative around digital payments is one of solved problems and inevitable progress. We hear about a future that is instant, seamless, and entirely digital, and it’s easy to assume the financial industry is well on its way to delivering it. But a recent deep-dive into the state of the global payments ecosystem reveals a far more complex and surprising reality. These insights come from the "Payments 2030: What’s Shaping the Future?" report, based on a June 2025 survey of 162 senior financial executives conducted by Finextra Research in partnership with ACI Worldwide. The report uncovers the high-stakes conflict at the heart of the industry: the immense external pressure of customer demand crashing against the powerful internal inertia of legacy systems and reactive culture. This post distils the five most impactful takeaways from the report. They are not just interesting facts; they are crucial pieces of evidence that paint a pictu...

Introduction: Beyond the Banks Stanley Epstein - When we think of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis, the story that comes to mind is one of failing banks, risky mortgages, and a system brought to its knees by the very institutions meant to be its bedrock. It was, in the popular imagination and in reality, a “banking crisis.” But in the years since, the global financial system has undergone a series of profound structural changes that are less visible to the public but are every bit as important. This isn’t just a story about stricter bank regulations. It’s about how the fundamental ways money moves around the world have been completely reconfigured. It’s a story about how the demand for “safe” government debt, fuelled by your pension fund, created a gargantuan “hidden” market that now transmits financial shocks in ways we’ve never seen before—challenging the very power of central banks. This article reveals four of the most impactful and surprising shifts that define our modern financial...

An analysis of reactions of banking, fintech and tech leaders to the re-election of Donald Trump, tends to focus on the potential impacts across various sectors including finance, climate policy, banking, technology, fintech, and cryptocurrency. Here's a breakdown by key subject areas: Economy and Markets: Analysts predict that Trump’s policies will focus on expanding U.S. fiscal policy, reducing regulation, and promoting aggressive trade tactics. Daniel Casali of Evelyn Partners notes the likelihood of tax cuts, which could benefit equities and drive growth. However, others warn that this economic boost may come with long-term global consequences. Climate Policy: The administration’s stance is expected to be less focused on climate initiatives, echoing Trump’s first term, which could stall global climate progress unless other nations take up the slack. Garry White of Charles Stanley anticipates fewer regulations on fossil fuels and a decrease in subsidies for green investments, p...

Check out all my latest POSTS on banking, fintech, payments, risk management, AI and more on my LinkedIn page HERE Read my latest Articles at ' Stanley's Musings'  by clicking HERE     For details of my training courses click HERE

For the past year, generative AI has dominated discussions about how emerging technology stands to transform our lives, and the payments space has been a big part of the conversation. Though generative AI is a hot topic, the road to development is long. Along with the opportunities come notes of caution and warnings that this revolution may take a while. Read the full story HERE .

The payments landscape is evolving rapidly, and fast payment systems (FPS) have emerged as a key innovation. Jurisdictions differ in their approach to designing FPS and in user adoption.  In this article the authors lay out the main design features of FPS that may foster adoption. Cross-country regressions suggest that adoption of fast payments is greater when the public sector plays an active role in the FPS. Other design factors important for adoption are non-bank participation, more use cases and more cross-border connections. Read the full article HERE .

Artificial intelligence is transforming the banking industry, with far-reaching implications for traditional banks and neobanks alike. This transition from classic, data-driven AI to advanced, generative AI provides increased efficiency and client engagement never seen before in the banking sector.  According to McKinsey’s 2023 banking report , generative AI could enhance productivity in the banking sector by up to 5% and reduce global expenditures by up to $300 billion. But that’s not even half of the picture. Read the full story HERE .

The past year has been painful for the financial technology industry, with publicly traded fintech stocks languishing 50% below their late 2021 peak, even as the S&P 500 has surged to new highs. Venture capital funding for fintech startups is even more depressed–it fell more than 70% from $141 billion worldwide in 2021 to $39 billion in 2023, according to CB Insights. Both layoffs and fire sales have spread.  Yet Forbes' new 2024 Fintech 50 list is packed with extraordinary entrepreneurs who have adapted and flourished in this environment. Three categories that primarily serve other businesses—Payments, Wall Street & Enterprise and Business to Business Banking–made the strongest showing, accounting for 27 of our 50 picks and seven of the 13 first-time honorees on this year’s list, Forbes ninth annual honor roll of the most innovative private businesses in fintech.  Forbes Senior Editor, Jeff Kauflin, and reporter Emily Mason sat down in studio to break down this year's...

Despite the industry’s funding woes, some startups–particularly those serving others business—are thriving. Here’s the Forbes Fintech 50 for 2024. Get the details HERE .

Big startups are shutting down. More than 3000 private venture backed startups failed in the last year. Of the startups raising money, 19% were funded at a lower valuation than in prior funding rounds. 38% of VCs disappeared from dealmaking last year and more than a quarter of a million workers at tech companies lost their jobs over the same period. US corporate bankruptcy filings closed out 2023 with the most filings since 2010. The year has been described as a mass extinction event for startups in the press.

Thoughts on fintech, banking, payments, risk management, AI, going green, economics, business and much more… The latest edition is now available - HERE

Check out my regular posts and articles on  STANLEY's MUSINGS . Thoughts on fintech, banking, payments, risk management, AI, going green, economics, business and much more... Regular posts on issues related to banking, fintech, blockchain,digital banking, payments, foreign exchange, technology, CBDC's and much more. Never miss a new posting. Subscribe now on the site.

S ince 2001 the Citadel Advantage Group (as Citadel Advantage Ltd. from 2001 to 2022 and as the Citadel Advantage Group since 2023) has been working with banks and financial institutions to make them safer and more profitable. International GRC & Operations Consulting Since our establishment in 2001, SET - Citadel Advantage Group has been dedicated to enhancing the safety and profitability of banks and financial institutions worldwide. Consulting and Training Excellence We specialize in guiding our clients through Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) with a proven track record in consulting and training. Our focus extends to various core areas, including governance, compliance, operational risk management, payment and treasury systems, and operations/back office management. Professional Courses and Training Explore our wide array of professional courses and training programs that set us apart. As banking operations specialists, we provide a unique perspective derived f...