Did these 25 people actually change banking in 2025?

Donald Trump, Taylor Swift and the CEOs of the biggest banks: We checked back to see if our predictions were correct about whether these bankers, regulators and payments execs made an impact on the industry this year.

CFPB: Earned wage access is not credit

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an advisory opinion said that “covered” earned wage access products should not be considered an extension of credit under the Truth in Lending Act. It also said that expedited delivery fees and tips should not be considered finance charges.

Coinbase shoots for crypto’s ‘AWS moment’

The cryptocurrency company has entered partnerships with big banks and payment giant Klarna in recent days. Coinbase exec Brett Tejpaul says the GENIUS Act is creating an opportunity to sell a broad range of digital asset technology.

HSBC recruits ex-Citi executive Ida Liu to lead private bank

Ida Liu, who resigned from Citi earlier this year, will join HSBC on Jan. 5 as the CEO of the private bank. Liu will be tasked with accelerating the growth of the private bank “at a defining moment for wealth,” she said in a LinkedIn post.