Latest long reads: Finextra Research

The AI energy crisis: Why chatbots are using up our drinking water

Dominique Dierks Senior Content Manager at Finextra

The AI energy crisis: Why chatbots are using up our drinking water

Just this week, the Trump administration has introduced its new ‘AI Action Plan’ with the direct aim to speed up the adoption of AI and the build of more data centres, all the while cutting regulation to enable this. As the world continues its AI race, how much is too much? Concerns have long been raised about the amount of energy AI uses. The In...

25 July 2025 /ai

How AI is reshaping portfolio construction

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

How AI is reshaping portfolio construction

Portfolio construction has long been a careful balancing act between risk, return, and investor psychology. Traditionally, it has been siloed, relying on historical data, human judgment, and static models. Classic portfolio construction follows a linear path: where risk tolerance and investment goals are assessed first, assets across predefined ca...

24 July 2025 /wealth

11 ways fintech can help postpone Earth Overshoot Day

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

11 ways fintech can help postpone Earth Overshoot Day

In 2025, Earth Overshoot Day is yet again being marked too early on 24th July. According to the Global Footprint Network, this date is “when humanity’s demand on nature surpasses Earth’s capacity to replenish nature during the entire year.” In 2024, this day fell on 1st August, meaning that humanity is persistently overusing the planet’s resources...

24 July 2025 /sustainable

5 sustainable-focused fintechs you should know about

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

5 sustainable-focused fintechs you should know about

In a follow-up to my previous long read on sustainability-linked bank accounts available to users, now I am looking at sustainability and green-focused fintech platforms for the everyday consumer for those seeking a climate-conscious banking experience. Looking at the biggest banks in the world, the likes of HSBC, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase have...

23 July 2025 /sustainable

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

What are embedded payments?

Embedded payments are a type of embedded finance, whereby financial services are extended within non-financial contexts. In such a scenario, the business-to-customer (B2C) firm stands as an intermediary between the customer and the financial institution (FI) – meaning the bank is (superficially) removed from the banking process. While this is not...

22 July 2025 /payments

From advisors to algorithms: The shift in wealth guidance

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

From advisors to algorithms: The shift in wealth guidance

For decades, wealth management was a relationship business. Clients used to meet their financial advisors in offices, discuss life goals, and trust human judgment to guide their financial futures. However, over the last decade, a quiet revolution has taken place: one that’s replacing handshakes with algorithms and intuition with machine learning. ...

21 July 2025 /wealth

UK’s Leeds Reforms set stage for global fintech leadership by 2035

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

UK’s Leeds Reforms set stage for global fintech leadership by 2035

Last week UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the first-ever Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness sector plan and her aim to make the UK “the number one destination for financial services businesses by 2035, attracting inward investment and creating good skilled jobs across the UK.” Fueling fintech innovation, talent and scale-up support...

21 July 2025 /markets

Is ISO 20022 still important for financial institutions and their clients?

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

Is ISO 20022 still important for financial institutions and their clients?

Is getting onboard with ISO 20022 important to you? That depends on your priorities: if you value accurate and standardised entry and management of payment and trade transaction communications and details, and you like to ensure your company’s payables and receivables are properly reconciled, it’s going to make all of that a much more simple and a...

21 July 2025 /regulation

What Australia’s Confirmation of Payee means for the future of fraud prevention

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

What Australia’s Confirmation of Payee means for the future of fraud prevention

July 2025 saw Australian banks unveil their version of scam fighting technology Confirmation of Payee, allowing names to be matched to accounts and preventing customers from being tricked into sending funds to fraudsters. Forming part of the Scam-Safe Accord – a joint initiative of the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and the Customer Owned Ba...

17 July 2025 /crime

Can reducing fossil fuel subsidies advance global climate goals?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Can reducing fossil fuel subsidies advance global climate goals?

Research from ZEW Manheim found that worldwide climate targets can be met by reducing subsidies for fossil fuels. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2°C to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Targets range from achieving net zero by 2035 to 2070 depending on the country, with most settling in the middle at 2050. The UK is aim...

16 July 2025 /sustainable

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Solving modern KYC challenges

In today’s digital age, banking is expected to be seamless, frictionless, and to make it plain and simple: easy. However, with a constantly shifting regulatory landscape, increased demand for hyper-personalisation and desire to be digital – financial institutions have obstacles to overcome to keep up with consumer demand. A pain point in the digit...

15 July 2025 /retail

Why and how America’s midsize cities are leading the way in business payments

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

Why and how America’s midsize cities are leading the way in business payments

“Go West (or maybe, Go South instead), young business!” is an appropriate hallmark slogan for post-pandemic small business payment and general population trends. Even if the US and its communities large and small have changed substantially - and the economic and political environment is dramatically different than in the days of this original quot...

14 July 2025 /markets

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