Dominic O’Neill

FINTECH

Grizzly Bear Feeds on a Jumping Salmon, Alaska

Can banks capitalize on the fintech fallout?

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has fuelled an abrupt end to venture-capital exuberance. There are vital implications for fintech and for the banking industry.

Dominic O’Neill, May 02, 2023

OPINION

Debt funds alone cannot rescue commercial real estate

Commercial real-estate losses will not greatly damage big banks in Europe, but the banks themselves could inflict real damage to commercial real estate.

Dominic O’Neill, March 31, 2023

BANKING

Electric car sign, charging station, green sign painted on street

Banks shift gear as mobility goes electric

Banks like Santander, BNP Paribas and SocGen see auto finance and the future of mobility as critical pieces of their overall group strategies. But as mobility becomes an increasingly fractured business, what does the auto finance bank of the future look like?

Dominic O’Neill, March 14, 2023

BANKING

Santander looks to network effects to answer its critics

Santander executive chairman Ana Botín has stepped back from the M&A-based restructuring many assumed former CEO candidate Andrea Orcel would oversee. Euromoney asks Botín and her new chief executive, Héctor Grisi, how they plan to make this international retail bank succeed.

Dominic O’Neill, March 08, 2023

BANKING

Commerzbank rides a return to form – and the DAX

After its DAX return, Commerzbank now has a clear – if uncertain – path to achieving its profit target, according to CFO Bettina Orlopp.

Dominic O’Neill, February 27, 2023

BANKING

UK lender OakNorth faces up to its first downturn

Higher interest rates will weigh heavily on the property development lending that makes up the bulk of OakNorth’s loan book. But chief executive and co-founder Rishi Khosla tells Euromoney the bank can maintain its ultra-low loan losses and keep growing.

Dominic O’Neill, February 22, 2023

OPINION

Why ‘Britcoin’ could disrupt banks more than a digital euro

With the digital pound, the UK is following much of what the European Central Bank has done on the digital euro. But could the UK’s more unified banking sector foster a more revolutionary central bank digital currency?

Dominic O’Neill, February 13, 2023

BANKING

Election brings hope and fear for Nigerian banks

Gains written on banks’ equity book values from long dollar positions could be quickly wiped out if borrowers prove unable to service debt at a higher exchange rate.

Dominic O’Neill, February 08, 2023

CAPITAL MARKETS

Exterior of Google office Headquarters in London, UK

Real estate debt funds face their day of reckoning

As Europe’s economic mood sours, a sharp rise in interest rates is putting commercial real estate through its first big cyclical turn since 2008. The non-bank sector, which has become a vital enabler of funding at higher leverage, now faces a test of its resilience.

Dominic O’Neill, January 10, 2023

OPINION

Will Lloyds fall behind NatWest in this downturn?

As a long recession looms for the UK, past successes may be a sign of future problems.

Dominic O’Neill, December 06, 2022

FINTECH

The ECB’s path to a digital euro

While other economic blocs aren’t so convinced of the merits of issuing retail central bank digital currency, the eurozone is ploughing ahead. In doing so, however, it is having to water down the project to such an extent that its usefulness will be limited.

Dominic O’Neill, November 30, 2022

BANKING

What’s behind SocGen and AllianceBernstein’s new equities partnership?

Societe Generale and AllianceBernstein may look like an equities odd couple. Leveraging Societe Generale’s derivatives franchise is key to the new joint venture, as is maintaining AllianceBernstein’s reputation for independence.

Dominic O’Neill, November 24, 2022

FINTECH

NatWest spins Mettle tech into banking-as-a-service venture

NatWest digital SME bank Mettle has broken new ground in its partnership with Polish fintech firm Vodeno.

Dominic O’Neill, November 14, 2022

ESG

Is the energy crisis an opportunity for banks?

New opportunities in oil and gas as supply is reoriented away from Russia highlight the question of how quickly cuts to financed emissions will match banks’ enthusiasm for growth in clean energy.

Dominic O’Neill, November 09, 2022

ESG

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

How the energy crisis hits Europe’s sustainability leaders

European banks have raced far ahead of their US peers on sustainability. But the continent is now facing an energy emergency, creating pressure from some corners to reverse investment declines in oil and gas. Can Europe’s banks remain frontrunners in sustainable finance in today’s fragile geopolitical environment?

Dominic O’Neill, November 02, 2022

BANKING

UK banks’ cost of equity reaches 19%

With domestic retail borrowers under rising pressure, does political risk matter more than strong profitability and capital buffers at UK banks?

Dominic O’Neill, October 10, 2022

OPINION

Why are Raiffeisen and UniCredit still in Russia?

Societe Generale has exited, and Citi is winding down in retail, but the two biggest remaining Western European players in Russia are also spending a lot of time working out their exposures and operations in the country.

Dominic O’Neill, October 04, 2022

BANKING

SocGen’s board opts for safety with Krupa as CEO

Societe Generale’s choice of Slawomir Krupa to succeed Frédéric Oudéa suggests an approach of riding out the storm and continuing elements of Oudéa’s recent strategy, rather than any radical change.

Dominic O’Neill, October 03, 2022

OPINION

HVB’s CEO exit highlights tension at UniCredit

A new job running Bayern Munich's finances could be more rewarding for HVB CEO Michael Diederich, especially after UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel’s push for more cuts in Germany.

Dominic O’Neill, September 30, 2022

BANKING

Lone Star’s Cyprus pullback might not be the end

The things that attracted Lone Star to Bank of Cyprus are present in banks in Greece and elsewhere in peripheral Europe. If other private equity-like investors take an interest, domestic political blessing could be the key to success.

Dominic O’Neill, September 29, 2022

OPINION

Italian banks pin their hopes on Draghi’s legacy

With far-right leader Giorgia Meloni now set to become Italy’s new prime minister, can policies put in place by her predecessor – coupled with reputational self-help – prevent Italian banks from taking another hit?

Dominic O’Neill, September 27, 2022

OPINION

In this inflation crisis, banks should prioritize their reputations

Banks may soon match energy companies for political unpopularity – posting soaring profits, even as customers struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, and higher interest rates. To safeguard their long-term interests, banks need to show much greater social awareness in their actions.

Dominic O’Neill, August 25, 2022

BANKING

Polish mortgage holidays risk permanent damage for banks

In what was supposed to be a banner year for Poland’s banks, free universal mortgage holidays are set to halve profits in the sector in 2022. Many fear the government will extend the policy as elections approach in 2023. Are Poland’s attacks on mortgage interest margins in the name of fighting Russia-fuelled inflation a sign of things to come elsewhere?

Dominic O’Neill, August 24, 2022

BANKING

Russian President Putin meets with Turkish President Erdogan in Sochi

Sanctions risks increase Turkish bank vulnerability

With Turkey maintaining its ties with Russia, the risk of secondary sanctions against Turkish banks rises. But even if such sanctions are targeted, the central bank’s policies are already risking a deeper crisis.

Dominic O’Neill, August 23, 2022

CAPITAL MARKETS

How Europe’s political disunity prevents big bank M&A

The European Central Bank has made it clear that it would look favourably on big bank mergers to create stronger pan-eurozone lenders. But M&A between large lenders in different eurozone states is still stalling through financial and political fragmentation – despite hopes for a closer union after Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

Dominic O’Neill, August 10, 2022

CAPITAL MARKETS

One year on, has delisting made Natixis stronger?

Getting rid of Natixis’ minority shareholders has helped the investment bank use the strength of mutual group BPCE’s balance sheet, says divisional leader Nicolas Namias. There are some signs it’s making a positive difference.

Dominic O’Neill, August 09, 2022

BANKING

ECB board member Fernandez-Bollo insists that big European banks still have room to grow

The European Central Bank has gone out of its way to encourage cross-border mergers that might strengthen the single market in banking. Supervisory board member Edouard Fernandez-Bollo tells Euromoney that this could include mergers between large institutions.

Dominic O’Neill, August 05, 2022

ESG

Sustainable push brings new momentum to ING’s wholesale bank

While ING is paring back the retail-banking ambitions held dear by former CEO Ralph Hamers, sustainable finance is helping the wholesale bank become a growth engine for the group.

Dominic O’Neill, July 22, 2022

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The world’s best bank transformation 2022: HCOB – radical change is possible, even in Germany

Hamburg Commercial Bank is almost unrecognizable from its former incarnation as one of Germany’s most troubled state-owned banks. Now in private hands, it is proving that even legacy banks in the most sheltered parts of European finance can become dynamic and profitable institutions.

Dominic O’Neill, July 14, 2022

FINTECH

Cryptocurrencies: Tether is ‘open to providing more information’

The stablecoin is preparing an audit with a top 12 firm, chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino tells Euromoney. Why is Tether not already providing more transparency on its reserves?

Dominic O’Neill, June 15, 2022

Dominic O’Neill

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