All articles by Douglas Blakey

Douglas Blakey

DeepSeek AI breakthrough – sector reaction

If DeepSeek is to be believed, its AI model was crafted at a fraction of its US rivals. The dramatic impact on markets comes as little surprise – the financial services reacts

MUFG agrees multi-year partnership with LPGA star Yuka Saso

The Japanese golfer is currently ranked 17 in the world according to the latest Rolex Women’s golf rankings

Navigating DORA: Strengthening financial resilience with automation

John Stevenson explains how automation can optimise resource allocation to bolster threat response and regulatory compliance for those in financial services

CBDC require clear benefits of use to become currency in future, says GlobalData

To date, retail CBDCs have failed to address real consumer needs or pain points meaningfully and currently offer no clear tangible benefits that would drive user adoption

Interview: Currensea co-founder – how to avoid being charged to spend overseas

Currensea was launched to avoid consumers having to jump through hoops to avoid payment fees when abroad. Its co-founder James Lynn discusses its success to date and future plans with RBI editor Douglas Blakey

FCA, PSR: Next steps for open banking – industry reaction

A new independent company will drive forward variable recurring payments, with the aim of giving consumers and businesses more choice in how they make and receive payments safely, securely and efficiently 

CaixaBank to hire 500 developers in Q1

CaixaBank Tech, the technological subsidiary of the CaixaBank Group, plans significant growth in Seville, where it will enhance its technology hub in February

The tipping point for Generative AI in banking: Why 2025 will be a watershed year

Konstantin Kruglov sets out the main obstacles keeping banks from leveraging GenAI more deeply, and outlines how things are likely to change in 2025, in particular when it comes to customer service

Banking in the developed world – what can dynamic African fintechs bring to the market?

Tosin Eniolorunda argues that African fintechs can deliver their own innovations and market know-how, not just on the continent but globally

The inconvenient truth for ESG evangelists

For the past year or more. there have been frequent news reports of how ESG has been slipping as a C-suite priority. Douglas Blakey argues that it is more a case of a reset as a result of less overhype of its importance.