No, it's not biometrics ... it's a bit weird actually. Just received a link from Matt Cross to a video of a new service that launches this Sunday, and claims to use your face and thumbs-up as a payment approval: Looks like a bit of a joke, but it's not.   It's using NFC mobile media to verify payments. Think I'll stick with Square.  

It’s my last day in the States and off to the New York Stock Exchange to join TEDx Wall Street – the first one ever! Staying in downtown New York is as mad as ever, but fun. What’s really fun is the lottery fervour fever. Everyone’s talking about the lottery called Mega Millions. Not surprising as it’s the biggest lottery prize ever, with an estimated $540 million, which may rise to over $600 million by the time the cash registers stop beeping at 22:45 tonight, and the draw takes place at 23:00...

Things we're reading today include ... Standard Chartered boss voices alarm over new bank watchdogThe Independent Northern Rock boss Pym slashes payThe Telegraph Ebay appoints entrepreneur to head PayPalFinancial Times FSA threatens action on investment banksFinancial Times Commodity hedge funds returns falterFinancial Times America’s capital markets: A muffled big bangThe Economist Spanish banks: The long kiss goodnightThe Economist Investment banking: going gets toughFinancial Times

Things we're reading today include ... Year of global catastrophes plunges Lloyd's into £516m lossThe Independent BATS chairman stripped of titleFinancial Times Islamic bonds stage comeback from crisis slumpFinancial Times Barclays most complained about bankThe Telegraph FSA needs to stop barking and bite down on swaps scandalThe Telegraph Goldman defuses Blankfein revoltThe Independent London and New York 'top cities'BBC Brazil to rally BRICS against rich countriesThe...

I recently blogged about less cash and less branches, rather than cashless and branchless, and thought I’d follow it up with two quick stories. First, is my experience in New York this week. Went to the ATM and, as usual, my bank blocked me using my card as it was in the USA and not in some backwater in the Middle East (my usual hangout). Trouble was that I’d gone out touring for the day and had no cash, only one cash card, no phone and no way of clearing the problem. [In fact, it would have...

Things we're reading today include ... BBA to launch crackdown on Libor ratesFinancial Times MF Global won praise for risk handlingFinancial Times EU lawmaker Othmar Karas calls for cap on banker payThe Telegraph JPMorgan Chase in 'missing' decimal point contract blunder The Telegraph Eurozone needs the 'mother of all firewalls'The Independent It's time for the FSA to take mis-selling seriouslyThe Telegraph RBS admits thousands of SMEs were sold interest rate swapsThe...

I see more and more these days about cybercrime. The latest thing was a survey that landed in my inbox from PwC, which finds that cybercrime is the second most common economic crime affecting companies in the financial services sector after traditional fraud.  Key findings include: In financial services, cybercrime accounts for 38% of all economic crime incidents, compared to 16% for other industries. In particular, mobile finance is making it worse with apps to access banking services...

I’m in the States this week and was asked to keynote at the ISITC 18th Annual Industry Forum & Vendor Show in Boston this week. Knowing that it’s always important to pull the chain a little bit, I put forward the title: “The next mega global financial crisis will be in 2045”. This was based upon an earlier blog, where I talked about the tensions of China and India leading to another crisis. Here is the slide deck: ISITC - next major crisis View more presentations from Chris Skinner Pretty...

Things we're reading today include ... Bernanke comments rally US stocksBBC SocGen wins UK newspaper damagesBBC Strauss-Kahn may face sex chargesBBC Merkel opposes Greece euro exitBBC Cybercrime threat 'on the rise'BBC VIDEO: Merkel: Britain must decide on EuropeBBC   City fury as watchdog calls for extra powersThe Telegraph UK government held talks about RBS stake sale with Abu DhabiThe Telegraph   Mobile payments companies link up in £109m dealThe Independent...

I misrepresented a key issue with the discussions on the future of SWIFT in my blog entry last Friday, so thought I would write a follow up here, as it is THE key issue the network community faces. Who owns SWIFT? The obvious answer is the 9,700 banks who form the SWIFT community, but that’s not the answer. Maybe it’s the few banks who most influence SWIFT that comprise the global transaction banks, but that’s not the answer either. Maybe it’s the executive board and non-executives who comprise...