How investment management works in banking and fintech.

11:FS has come a long way in a short time, and as the company has grown up, so must the branding. It's time to sit down, take stock of how we look and sound and fine-tune our identity.

I wrote about the underbanked phenomenon in Eastern Europe a few weeks ago. Mainly I talked about which basic services are used, not used, and why.

With the new year picking up a head of steam, it’s time to turn our attention to the trends and themes set to shape financial services in 2023. Here at 11:FS, we’re more convinced than ever that UK banks are running out of time to address their core banking issues.

Once upon a time, social media and finance apps might’ve seemed like strange bedfellows.

Mortgages and ancient sex positions aren’t two things you’d usually put together (or want to read about at the same time, for that matter). But digital mortgage broker Habito has ripped up the rulebook and created a Mortgage Kamasutra book in its place. And we can’t help but respect them for it.

Around the globe, millions are feeling the pinch as the cost-of-living crisis continues. The biggest fall in living standards since records began is forecast in the UK, while inflation rates are starting to cool after a tumultuous year across the pond.

Despite the global economic climate, a lot of banks and fintechs have dipped their toes into the crypto waters in recent months.

This is the second article in a three-part series on how fintech for good (FFG) is helping people and the planet. The first touched on consumer behaviour. If you missed it, check it out here.

As the saying goes, “success breeds success”. And one of the things that’s interesting in our industry is the alumni of fintechs going on to do great things. It’s no coincidence - there’s a bit of a pattern emerging: The founders of some of the most successful startups of today cut their teeth at the biggest fintechs of yesterday.

It’s happening. After months of ‘will they, won’t they’, Monzo is heading Stateside.

When I see headlines about “hipster” banks and “trendy” cards, it strikes me that the narrative is missing a huge shift about the consumer. Ethical is the new luxury. Private is the new showy. Transparent is the new trusted.

As part of the editorial process for Fintech Insider we review a lot of stories and see how media outlets report on challenger banks. Some recent pieces had the distinct feel of unhappy incumbent bankers lobbying hard to change the narrative.

Markets, from the UK through to Hong Kong and the US, have become highly competitive. With more choice than ever before, how do you make your proposition stand out?

We’ll say it till we’re blue in the face - FS companies need to do more to improve their users’ financial literacy. And that goes for kids too.

The financial services industry has faced an enormous amount of disruption in recent years. We’ve seen significant changes everywhere from payments to current accounts and investments accounts to modern credit products.