Revolut, the global fintech giant, has officially launched full banking operations in Mexico, marking a major milestone as the company establishes its first bank entity outside of the European continent.The move sees the end of the company’s beta phase in the country. Now operating as Revolut Bank S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, the challenger bank aims to use its Mexican operations as a blueprint for further expansion into other high-growth markets globally.A strategic foothold in LatAmRevolut has capi ...

As I've covered in the past, a large part of my structurally bullish thesis for Nu Holdings ( NU ) is based on a few well-established pillars: its unmatched scale and engagement, being the largest digital bankEquity Research Analyst at DM Martins Research.I cover stocks that are often undercovered, focusing primarily on Brazil and Latin America — but I also occasionally write about global large caps. My work can also be found on TipRanks, where I contribute regularly, and on TheStreet, where I was a frequen ...

Core Insights - The merger between Fifth Third Bancorp and Comerica Incorporated creates a $294 billion institution, reshaping competition in mobile banking, commercial payments, and middle-market services [2][3][4] Group 1: Merger Overview - The merger closed on February 2, establishing the ninth-largest U.S. bank by assets and linking Fifth Third's consumer digital platform with Comerica's commercial franchise, particularly in Texas and California [2][3] - The combined bank operates in 17 of the 20 fastest-growing large U.S. metropolitan areas, with system and brand conversions expected later this year [4] Group 2: Digital and Commercial Integration - Fifth Third enters the merger with a strong digital base, averaging 3.19 million active digital users and 2.49 million active mobile users in the last quarter, with nearly 98% of mortgage applications digitally assisted [5] - The merger connects Fifth Third's consumer digital capabilities to Comerica's dense middle-market relationships, creating a unified platform for retail deposits, commercial lending, and payments [6] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The integration of Fifth Third and Comerica may pressure regional banks that operate consumer and commercial services separately, as the combined institution allows for streamlined retail acquisition and commercial onboarding [7] - The merger broadens Fifth Third's embedded finance platform, Newline, which is expected to generate a $1 billion recurring fee business [8][10] Group 4: Customer Impact - Near-term service for consumers is expected to remain stable during the integration, with plans to extend mobile tools and digital onboarding processes across Comerica's footprint over time [14] - For middle-market enterprises, the combined platform offers enhanced connections between deposits, payments, and expense management, potentially redefining competitive boundaries in the regional banking sector [15]

Core Insights - Banco Santander Chile reported a strong financial performance for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2025, with a net income attributable to shareholders of Ch$ 1.053 billion, reflecting a 22.8% year-over-year increase and a return on average equity (ROAE) of 23.5% [2][3] Financial Performance - The bank's operating income increased by 10.2% year-over-year, driven by improved net interest margins, higher fees, and better financial transaction results [2] - Compared to the previous quarter, net income attributable to shareholders rose by 3.2% quarter-over-quarter, supported by improved margins and effective cost control [3] - The net interest margin (NIM) improved to 4.0% in 12M25, up from 3.6% in 12M24, due to a reduction in funding costs from 4.7% to 3.8% [4] Customer Growth - The total customer base expanded by 6.9% year-over-year, reaching approximately 4.6 million customers, with nearly 2.3 million being digital customers [6] - The bank maintained a strong market share in current accounts at 21.8% as of November 2025, driven by increased demand for US dollar accounts [7] Fee and Efficiency Metrics - Net commissions increased by 8.9% in 12M25, resulting in a recurrence ratio of 63.7%, indicating that over half of the bank's expenses are financed by customer-generated fees [8] - The efficiency ratio improved to 36.0% in 12M25, down from 39.0% in the previous year, despite a 1.8% increase in total operating expenses [9] Capital and Ratings - The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 11.0%, with a capital generation of 50 basis points for the year, while the BIS ratio reached 16.9% [10] - Banco Santander Chile holds high credit ratings from various agencies, including A2 from Moody's and A- from Standard & Poor's, all with a stable outlook [11] Asset and Loan Metrics - As of December 31, 2025, the bank's total assets amounted to US$ 75.6 billion, with total gross loans at US$ 45.4 billion and total deposits at US$ 33.9 billion [12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a quarterly revenue increase of 21% year-over-year, with net interest income growing by 30% year-over-year [5][21] - Adjusted total revenue for Q4 2025 was $42.1 million, reflecting a 21% increase over Q4 2024 [21] - Net interest margin improved to 2.22%, up 55 basis points year-over-year [22] - Net income for Q4 2025 was $5.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, with adjusted net income of $5.6 million, or $0.64 per diluted share [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The banking-as-a-service (BaaS) initiatives generated over $1.3 billion in new deposits for 2025, more than tripling from the previous year [6] - The SBA business maintained a strong position with nearly $580 million in funded originations during 2025, despite industry challenges [7] - The company processed over $165 billion in payments volume, an increase of over 225% from 2024 [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total loans as of December 31, 2025, were $3.7 billion, a 4% increase from the linked quarter but a 10% decrease from the previous year [26] - Total deposits as of December 31, 2025, were $4.8 billion, representing a 2% decrease compared to both September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024 [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a digital-first banking model, emphasizing operational efficiency and disciplined expense management [5] - Strategic sale of approximately $850 million in single-tenant lease financing loans to Blackstone improved capital position and reduced exposure to lower-yielding assets [6] - The company aims to enhance credit quality by prioritizing higher credit quality borrowers in its SBA production, projecting a more measured production of approximately $500 million for 2026 [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver strong financial performance while building long-term shareholder value [11] - The company anticipates continued loan growth of 15%-17% in 2026, driven by strong pipelines across commercial lending verticals [27] - Management expects credit conditions to stabilize as problem loans are resolved and enhanced underwriting standards take effect [10] Other Important Information - The company recognized a provision for credit losses of $12 million in Q4 2025, primarily due to net charge-offs [25] - Non-performing loans increased to $58.5 million, with a ratio of 1.56% of total loans, primarily related to SBA guaranteed balances [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected yield on SBA loans retained on the balance sheet? - Management indicated that they expect to hold an additional $94 million of guaranteed SBA loans on the balance sheet, priced at prime plus 1.5 [42] Question: What are the expectations for deposit repricing in the first half of the year? - Management expects continued decreases in deposit costs, particularly in the first quarter, due to maturing CDs and lower market rates [39][40] Question: What is the outlook for net charge-offs relative to the provision guidance? - Management indicated that approximately half of the provision guidance would be for charge-offs, with expectations for elevated levels in the first half of the year [60][61]

January 2026 Forward-Looking Statements & Non-GAAP Financial Measures This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, trends in lending policies and loan programs, plans and prospective business partnerships, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements are generally ident ...

Core Viewpoint - Santander is closing 44 branches across the UK, putting nearly 300 jobs at risk, in response to a shift towards digital banking [1][10]. Group 1: Branch Closures and Job Impact - The bank plans to close most branches in April and May 2023, with four additional closures scheduled for January 2027 [2]. - This move follows a previous announcement to shut down 95 branches last year, which put 750 jobs at risk [7]. - After the closures, Santander will operate only 305 branches, with 80% of them providing essential services like mortgage advice and cash deposits [1]. Group 2: Leadership Changes - Mike Regnier, Santander's UK chief, is stepping down after five years, coinciding with the branch closure announcement [3][4]. Group 3: Industry Context - The trend of closing branches is not unique to Santander; other banks like Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, and HSBC have also reduced their high street presence [4]. - In response to the closures, banks are launching shared banking hubs to provide deposit services, although many are yet to open [6]. Group 4: Strategic Decisions and Financial Context - Santander's decision to close branches comes after it recommitted to the UK market despite previous considerations to exit due to regulatory challenges and low returns [8]. - The bank recently acquired TSB for £2.6 billion, which will add five million customers and 218 branches to its operations [10].

Funding and Expansion - Lunar, a digital bank in the Nordic region, has raised €46 million ($54.8 million) in new funding to expand its business banking services and develop lending products, particularly in Norway and Finland [1] - The funding round saw participation from both existing and new investors, including London-based fintech investor 100A [1] User Base and Services - Lunar has over one million users across several Nordic countries and operates with its own banking license and infrastructure, which supports its payments platform, Moonrise [2] - The company has reached 40,000 business users as of January, indicating strong momentum in its business customer base [2] Strategic Goals - The new capital will enable Lunar to scale its consumer and business banking operations while increasing its presence in the Nordics, with a focus on achieving profitability by 2026 [3] - The introduction of Lunar Youth, a banking app for customers aged seven to 17, demonstrates the company's commitment to catering to younger users [4]

Core Insights - CorServ has integrated its credit card account management solutions into the Jack Henry digital banking platform, enhancing the user experience for cardholders of community and regional financial institutions [1][2][3] Group 1: Integration and Features - The integration allows banks to provide a cohesive cardholder experience with features such as dashboards, transaction insights, and rewards management [1] - CorServ's technology is embedded into the Banno Digital Toolkit, enabling seamless access to Jack Henry's API and enhancing the digital banking experience for approximately 7,400 financial institutions [1][2] Group 2: Program Offerings - CorServ offers a Turnkey Credit Card Issuing Program that allows financial institutions to achieve higher direct margin returns compared to traditional models, along with access to cardholder data and credit decisioning [2][4] - The Self-Issuer Program enables banks to create customized credit card products, further enhancing their offerings within the Banno digital banking experience [2] Group 3: Company Mission and Vision - The CEO of CorServ emphasized that the integration significantly expands digital banking capabilities, aiming to make credit card issuing more successful and accessible for financial institutions [3] - CorServ's mission since 2009 has been to enhance the profitability and accessibility of credit card issuing for banks and fintechs [3]

Financial Performance (4Q25) - EPS reached $1.27[7] - Total core revenues amounted to $185.4 million[7] - Net Interest Margin (NIM) stood at 5.12%[7] - Provision for credit losses was $31.9 million[7] - Non-interest expense totaled $105.0 million[7] - Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR) was $79.3 million[7] Financial Position (EOP 4Q25) - Total assets reached $12.5 billion[7] - Customer deposits totaled $9.9 billion[7] - Loans held for investment were $8.2 billion[7] - Investments amounted to $2.8 billion[7] - Cash holdings were $1.0 billion[7] Capital Adequacy (4Q25) - CET1 ratio was 13.97%[7] - Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 13.97%[7] - Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 15.24%[7] - Leverage Ratio was 10.71%[7] Digital Adoption (4Q25) - 96% of all routine transactions were conducted through digital channels[17] - 98% of all deposit transactions were conducted through digital channels[17] - 71% of all loan payments were made digitally[17]