Management highlighted a return to customer growth, with Thompson saying 2025 was the first year in more than a decade to deliver “meaningful” growth in customer numbers. Total customers increased 4.7% to 1.729 million , with all three divisions growing.The board proposed a final dividend of 9 pence per share , up 12.5% year-on-year. CFO Gary Thompson said the full-year dividend totals 12.8 pence per share (including an interim dividend of 3.8 pence ), representing 12.3% growth versus 2024, with a 49% payou ...

Mobile communications and connectivity company Ericsson launched a money movement partnership with Mastercard, according to a Wednesday (Feb. 18) press release.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The co ...

Banks should adopt a “positive reinforcement approach” to encourage customers to maintain higher balances in savings bank (SB) accounts instead of penalising them for not maintaining minimum balance, according to a Parliament Committee.The Committee on Petitions has recommended that public sector banks (PSBs) and private sector banks (PvSBs) should encourage accumulation of higher balances through incentives such as reward points, fee waivers, and higher interest rate for customers maintaining consistent de ...

Core Insights - The future of cross-border payments is shifting towards smaller retail and low-value transactions, with retail cross-border payment flows expected to reach $64.5 trillion by 2032 [1][9] - Cross-border payments have become a daily routine for billions, with 70% of consumers engaging in remittances and 77% of businesses involved in B2B transactions [2] - Financial inclusion is a key long-term benefit of efficient cross-border payments, allowing individuals and small enterprises to access formal finance [3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached $656 billion in 2023, highlighting the importance of cross-border payments in these economies [4] - Efficient cross-border payments facilitate trade and investment, lowering business costs and encouraging exchanges [5] - The G20 has set goals for cross-border payments to be faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more inclusive, reflecting consumer expectations [8] Group 2: Banking Sector Challenges - Banks face existential challenges in adapting to the evolving landscape of cross-border payments, particularly in digital payments and remittances [6] - Traditional banking infrastructure is not optimized for low-value transactions, creating opportunities for improved efficiencies [10] - Compliance and regulatory requirements pose significant challenges for banks, necessitating partnerships with fintechs and payment providers [11] Group 3: Strategic Opportunities - The G20 goals can be viewed as a commercial opportunity rather than just regulatory hurdles, particularly in the growing low-value retail payments segment [12] - Corporate buyers are increasingly expecting the same immediacy and transparency in B2B payments as in personal finance, blurring the lines between retail and business transactions [13] - Banks that adapt to the changing payment landscape will position themselves at the center of a new transaction economy focused on accessibility and speed [14] Group 4: Future Outlook - Interoperability among banks, wallets, and payment systems is crucial for seamless value exchange, reducing geographical constraints [15] - The evolution of payments is akin to the development of telecom networks, where universal communication became possible through interconnected systems [16] - The global payments system is being restructured to facilitate small, low-value transfers, which will shape the future of financial infrastructure [17][18]

Core Insights - Triasima Portfolio Management Inc. sold 3,013 shares of MercadoLibre, valued at approximately $6.33 million, during the fourth quarter, leading to a decrease in the fund's quarter-end position by $7.19 million due to both the sale and price fluctuations [1][2]. Company Overview - MercadoLibre, Inc. is a leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, with a total revenue of $26.19 billion and a net income of $2.08 billion for the trailing twelve months [4]. - As of February 2, shares of MercadoLibre were priced at $2,145.37, reflecting a 12% increase over the past year, although it underperformed compared to the S&P 500's 15% gain during the same period [3][4]. Business Model - The company operates a comprehensive ecosystem that includes an online marketplace, fintech platform (Mercado Pago), logistics (Mercado Envios), digital advertising, and classified listings, generating revenue primarily through transaction fees, payment processing, credit solutions, and logistics services [5][6]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter, MercadoLibre reported $7.4 billion in net revenue and financial income, a 39% year-over-year increase, with operating income of $724 million and net income of $421 million [9]. - Payment volume surged by 41% year-over-year to $71.2 billion, and the number of monthly active fintech users reached 72 million, highlighting the scale of its ecosystem [9]. Investment Perspective - Following the sale, MercadoLibre represents only 0.14% of Triasima's assets under management, indicating it is a satellite holding rather than a core investment, especially when compared to larger positions in Canadian banks and other financials [3][8]. - The trimming of MercadoLibre shares reflects risk management rather than a lack of confidence in the company's fundamentals, which continue to show strong performance [10].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, representing increases of 17% and 28% respectively compared to the previous year [16] - Return on average assets was 1.87% and return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, compared to 1.61% and 25.5% respectively during the same quarter last year [16] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [16][17] - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [14] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [15] - The company originated $1.9 billion in loans during the quarter, with $678 million in commercial finance and $1.2 billion in consumer finance [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced favorable deposit balances at multiple partners due to a strong holiday season and continued partner growth [17] - The government shutdown impacted secondary market revenues, but this is expected to normalize in subsequent quarters [15][46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - The focus is on generating fee income from balance sheet velocity and originating loans while maintaining a steady balance sheet [10] - The company is committed to enhancing the client experience through an evolved operating model that supports partner growth and scalability [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, which is expected to drive more consumers into tax preparation offices [11][45] - The company is optimistic about the impact of new partner announcements and the normalization of pricing in the industry [41][42] - Management highlighted the importance of monitoring the performance of new partners and the potential for increased revenue from tax-related financial products [43][45] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, leaving 4.3 million shares available for repurchase [21] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for EPS has been raised to a range of $8.55-9.05, assuming no additional rate cuts and an effective tax rate of 18-22% [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the trajectory of the adjusted NIM for Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM for Q2 is expected to be around 5.31%, with potential for it to be flat to up depending on the macroeconomic environment [25][26] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within the net charge-offs? - Management did not provide specific figures but mentioned that the details would be available in the earnings release [27] Question: How does the company view the threat of FinTechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes that while some FinTechs may pursue bank charters, the complexity and scale required to operate effectively will limit their competitive pressure [29][30] Question: What is the current partner pipeline and expectations for future announcements? - Management reported a full partner pipeline and expressed optimism about future announcements, indicating that the number of partnerships is increasing [42] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance for the fiscal year? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that will influence the guidance range [43][45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million, an increase of 17% year-over-year, and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, up 28% compared to the previous year [16] - Return on average assets was 1.87%, compared to 1.61% in the same quarter last year, while return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, up from 25.5% [16] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [14] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [15] - Loans and leases increased to $5 billion, driven by a $531 million increase in commercial finance loans, partially offset by a $148 million decrease in consumer finance loans [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year, with favorable deposit balances due to a strong holiday season [17] - The company originated $1.9 billion in loans during the quarter, with $678 million in commercial finance and $1.2 billion in consumer finance [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - The focus is on generating fee income from balance sheet velocity and originating loans while maintaining a steady balance sheet [10] - The company is committed to enhancing the client experience through an evolved operating model that supports partner growth and scalability [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, which is expected to drive more consumers into tax preparation offices [11][21] - The company anticipates that the changes in tax code for 2025 will positively impact consumer engagement [11] - Management remains optimistic about the pipeline of new partners and the normalization of pricing in the industry [44] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, leaving 4.3 million shares available for repurchase [21] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for earnings per share has been raised to a range of $8.55-$9.05, based on several assumptions including no additional rate cuts [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the trajectory for adjusted NIM in Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM has shown an upward trajectory, with a starting point of 5.49% for Q2, assuming no rate cuts [25][26] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within net charge-offs? - Management did not provide specific figures but mentioned that the details would be available in the earnings release [27] Question: How does the company view the threat of FinTechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes that while there may be some competition, the scale and complexity of operations will limit the impact of new charters on their business [30][31] Question: What is the current partner pipeline and expectations for new announcements? - Management reported a full pipeline and expressed optimism about future partner announcements, indicating that the number of opportunities is increasing [44] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that could affect the guidance range [49][50]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $35.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.57, representing increases of 17% and 28% respectively compared to the previous year [15] - Return on average assets was 1.87% and return on average tangible equity was 26.7%, up from 1.61% and 25.5% respectively in the same quarter last year [15] - Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, a decrease of $170 million year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in custodial deposits [15][16] - Average deposits during the quarter were approximately $90 million higher than the previous year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income from commercial finance increased by $9.2 million due to higher balances and slightly higher yields [12][13] - Non-interest income showed solid results, particularly in core card and deposit fees, with growth attributed to new partners [14] - Loans and leases increased to $5 billion, driven by a $531 million increase in commercial finance loans, partially offset by a $148 million decrease in consumer finance loans [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced favorable deposit balances at multiple partners due to a strong holiday season and continued partner growth [16] - The government shutdown impacted secondary market revenues, but this is expected to recover in subsequent quarters [14][39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its balance sheet by rotating from securities to loans, increasing net interest income without growing overall asset size [9] - Pathward is focused on financial inclusion, providing solutions for underserved and unbanked individuals and businesses [7] - The company is enhancing its operating model to better align with partners and support their growth [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in revenue growth from new partnerships and the upcoming tax season, anticipating benefits from changes in tax code [10][11] - The company is optimistic about the impact of new partner announcements and the normalization of pricing in the industry [36][37] - Management highlighted the importance of monitoring new partners and the potential for increased loan originations throughout the year [44] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 652,000 shares at an average price of $72.07, with 4.3 million shares still available for repurchase [19] - The fiscal year 2026 guidance for EPS has been increased to a range of $8.55-$9.05 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the adjusted NIM trajectory for Q2? - Management indicated that the adjusted NIM for Q2 is expected to be around 5.31%, with potential for it to be flat to up depending on the macroeconomic environment [21][22] Question: Can you quantify the recovery recorded within net charge-offs? - Management stated that specific quantification of the recovery is not available, but aggregate numbers can be found in the earnings release [23] Question: How does the emergence of FinTechs obtaining bank charters impact the company? - Management believes that while there may be some competition, the scale and complexity of operations required to match Pathward's offerings will take time for new entrants [25][26] Question: What is the embedded growth from new partners? - Management expects mid to high single-digit contributions from new partners once programs are launched and live [32][33] Question: What factors will influence the updated guidance? - The timing of new partner contributions and the success of the tax season are key factors that could push results toward the higher end of the guidance [38][40]

Core Insights - Credicorp's digital banking subsidiary, Tenpo, has received operating authorization from Chile's financial regulator, making it the first licensed neobank in the country [1][2] - Tenpo is set to begin operations in the first half of 2026, offering core banking products such as checking accounts, consumer loans, and term deposits [2][5] - The licensing process for Tenpo began in January 2024, culminating in final authorization after several stages, including provisional authorization and legal existence [4] Company Overview - Credicorp is the leading financial services holding company in Peru, with operations in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama, and the United States, and has a diversified business portfolio across various financial sectors [7] - Tenpo, founded in 2020, has rapidly grown its user base to over 2.5 million, focusing on a fully digital, technology-first model that emphasizes customer-centricity and financial inclusion [6]

Core Insights - Alpha Modus Financial Services and SurgePays have signed a Letter of Intent to form a commercial integration and distribution partnership aimed at enhancing financial access for subprime and underserved consumers across the U.S. [1] - The partnership seeks to leverage SurgePays' extensive retail network to create a significant distribution channel for financial services [3][5] Industry Context - Over 100 million Americans visit convenience stores and small merchants monthly for essential services, many of whom are underserved and rely on prepaid mobile services or cash transactions [2] - SurgePays targets the underbanked population, which represents a substantial market opportunity for financial services [12] Partnership Objectives - The collaboration will integrate Alpha Modus' upcoming digital wallet, "Alpha Cash," allowing users to cash checks, pay bills, transfer funds, and purchase prepaid cards [4] - SurgePays aims to pre-load Alpha Cash on 3,000 new devices daily, enhancing customer engagement and financial inclusion [5] Strategic Implementation - The partnership will focus on integrating Alpha Cash as the primary financial services partner within SurgePays' retail assets, enhancing monetization and customer acquisition strategies [6] - SurgePays will utilize its existing platforms to promote Alpha Cash, aiming to improve unit economics and accelerate customer growth [6] Technical Integration - The LOI outlines plans for integrating SurgePays' Top-Up and benefits-enrollment platforms with Alpha Cash, as well as deploying SurgePays' ClearLine POS technology across the AMFS merchant network [7][9] - This integration is expected to create new pathways for financial empowerment and retailer growth [9] Future Steps - Both companies will work towards definitive agreements covering technical integration, pricing, revenue-sharing models, and pilot deployments with select AMFS merchants [9]