Asia Banking Research

Jan

Beijing is serious about promoting Macau as a financial hub

The former Portuguese colony of Macau, China’s answer to Las Vegas, has long struggled to diversify its economy away from gaming. Efforts to promote MICE and family tourism have had limited success. After all, Macau is small and faces stiff competition in the region. Yet, amidst relentless political turmoil in…

Jan

Asia Banking Research

Why are Grab and Singtel applying for a Singapore digital banking license together?

Singapore’s ride-hailing unicorn Grab is Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber. But as Uber’s cash-hemorrhaging business model has come under closer scrutiny, Grab has been racing to rebrand itself: first as a digital bank, then as a “super app” that will offer users in Southeast Asia the same bevy of services…

Dec

Asia Banking Research

OCBC steps up digital banking initiatives

Neobanks are coming soon to Singapore, but the top incumbents appear cool as cucumbers. That’s largely because the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) favors a gradualist approach to fintech, rather than a disruptive one. When possible, the regulator encourages incumbents and fintechs to join hands. Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC),…

Contact Info

Asia Banking Research