One year on from a reboot, Openbank has doubled customers and is making a profit

.

Regulatory changes to Brazil’s positive credit bureau open way for fintech start-up; better data predicted to lead to lower cost credit and GDP growth.

Markets take Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Amlo) victory in stride; analysis shows Santander could outperform under next administration.

The bank that has led the way over the last year is Banco Santander, western Europe’s best bank. Santander is already one of the few big banks to prove that internationally diversified retail banks can be more profitable and more stable than domestically focused peers. Now it is in its rightful place, not just Spain’s biggest bank but also the one with the biggest domestic share.

Argentina

Austria

Bank of America and Citi win top prizes; Credit Suisse’s Tidjane Thiam is named Banker of the Year; Asian banks make their mark in global awards.

.

Pimco and Anchorage subpoena the Spanish bank for information to support their case in the EU General Court and criminal proceedings in Madrid.

Banco Santander-Chile

Sharp reduction in Selic boosted 2017 profitability but is a challenge in 2018; ‘soft’ recovery in credit demand might not offset lower margins.

UBS Wealth Management voted best global private bank; private banks more bullish on revenues; hiring to increase.

…and how wealth management can have a brighter future.

While other parts of finance splinter and specialize, in wealth management it looks like bigger really does mean better: UBS wins Euromoney’s Private Banking 2018 survey yet again and the big global franchises continue to take the lion’s share of the industry.

Ana Botín and her team are taking advantage of Europe's restructuring of its banking sector

GDP growth expected to drive acceleration in credit demand; Santander Chile’s CFO expects BBVA to sell to Scotia.

The Single Resolution Board was wrong to wholly redact the Spanish bank’s valuation report but it will fight hard to keep its workings as opaque as possible.

The UK Treasury’s plan to boost SME banking competition by paying RBS customers to go elsewhere doesn’t make sense if they are simply pushed into the arms of another huge, global player.

The speed with which Santander took on Popular has boosted confidence in the recovery of Spain’s economy and banks, but what are the implications of its high provisions for Popular’s NPLs in a banking system still awash in problem loans?

Santander’s takeover of Banco Popular was certainly in the public interest, but did it break EU law?

Volume key for profitability as banking market normalizes; flurry of equity deals to fuel M&A and organic growth.

Short-term factors driving strong improvements in earnings and ROE; revenues the issue next year as credit demand remains weak.

Bank’s IB division up to third in rankings in first half of 2017; IB head Leao says there is “still a lot more to come”.

A big depositor run in Spain spells trouble for some – but the country’s biggest bank thinks it has spotted an opportunity.

Renegotiated and restructured debt lengthening NPL cycle; Bradesco and Santander to benefit most from better cost of risk.

The best bank transformation of the year award goes to Santander Brasil.