Augustus raises $180M as it builds out a de novo bank
The company, which has conditional approval for a bank charter, hit a $1 billion valuation with fintech exec backing from firms such as Nubank and Revolut.
AI, sometimes, is even smarter than we think it is
An OpenAI program managed to escape its sandbox, go out on the web and find another AI platform, and hack it. Not even OpenAI expected that.
OpenAI models’ Hugging Face breach is a red flag for bankers
The intrusion did not affect the financial industry directly. But it presents a warning to banks that are deploying agentic AI.
Visa’s World Cup sponsorship pays off ahead of earnings
The payment network, which posts second-quarter results next week, noted localized boosts in payment volume near match sites in cities such as Boston, New York and Guadalajara.
Northern Trust joins banks lifted by IPOs, capital markets
Like many of its peers, the Chicago-based custody bank posted strong results thanks partly to the downstream effects of a strong initial-public-offering market.
Banks see $68 billion in scam losses Washington misses
Only 13% of scams reach federal agencies. The rest land at banks and payment apps, making them the country’s de facto scam-reporting system.
SEC reporting overhaul draws mixed reviews
A Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to change reporting requirements for public companies has drawn mixed reactions, with some groups warning that reduced transparency could harm markets.
Santander still confident Webster deal will close this year
Following a recent approval by the European Central Bank, Banco Santander’s pending acquisition of Webster Financial is expected to close before the end of 2026, executives said. There’s been concern that the deal could get tangled up in tensions between the U.S. and Spain.
Cincinnati’s First Financial strikes third deal in 13 months
The planned acquisition of Finward Bancorp would bolster the Ohio bank’s growing Chicago-area franchise, creating a platform big enough to support an organic buildout.
Three ways banks can defend themselves against the fintech charter boom
A surge in bank charter approvals for fintechs and crypto firms creates new risks for sponsor banks.