Banking 29 March 2026 - 7 April 2026

Barclays PLC Buyback Tops £525 Million as Bank Crosses Halfway Mark
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Barclays PLC Buyback Tops £525 Million as Bank Crosses Halfway Mark

Barclays has repurchased £525 million of stock since February, passing the halfway point of its £1 billion buyback program, filings showed Tuesday. The bank canceled 125.1 million shares and said its share capital now stands at 13.72 billion shares. Barclays will report first-quarter results on April 28. The buyback is part of a broader plan to return over £15 billion to shareholders by 2028.
April 7, 2026
National Australia Bank Keeps Lowest Big Four One-Year Fixed Home Loan Rate Ahead of May Results
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National Australia Bank Keeps Lowest Big Four One-Year Fixed Home Loan Rate Ahead of May Results

National Australia Bank kept its one-year fixed home loan rate at 6.04% for owner-occupiers borrowing up to 80%, undercutting ANZ and Commonwealth Bank. NAB raised variable rates by 25 basis points after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s March hike. No NAB Connect payments processed on Easter Monday except fast and linked transfers. NAB’s half-year results are due May 4.
April 7, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia rolls out one-minute passport scan sign-up in digital banking push
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia rolls out one-minute passport scan sign-up in digital banking push

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has launched an NFC passport chip verification for new account openings via its app, onboarding over 2,700 users since January. The feature, which matches the passport chip with a selfie, is currently limited to some Australian customers. Migrants and international students must still visit a branch for full access. CBA says the process meets anti-money-laundering rules.
April 6, 2026
HSBC Australia Sale Reignites as Blackstone Eyes A$26 Billion Loan Book
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HSBC Australia Sale Reignites as Blackstone Eyes A$26 Billion Loan Book

Blackstone is preparing an early bid for HSBC’s A$26 billion Australian loan book, with offers due by late April, according to The Australian. Citi is handling the sale, which also includes A$16 billion in deposits. The process follows HSBC’s decision to narrow its sale plan and ongoing efforts to exit lower-return businesses. The deal’s outcome remains uncertain due to regulatory and operational hurdles.
April 6, 2026
Lloyds Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Pot as April Dividend, Q1 Update Loom
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Lloyds Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Pot as April Dividend, Q1 Update Loom

Lloyds Banking Group will keep its £1.95 billion motor finance provision unchanged after reviewing the UK’s final compensation rules for mis-sold car loans. The bank said no adjustment is needed for now, with a further update due in its first-quarter results on April 29. The FCA’s scheme covers 12.1 million agreements and expects firms to pay about £7.5 billion in redress.
April 6, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group plc Sticks With £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision as FCA Trims Redress Bill
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Lloyds Banking Group plc Sticks With £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision as FCA Trims Redress Bill

Lloyds Banking Group said it will not increase its £1.95 billion provision for motor-finance mis-selling after reviewing final FCA rules. The FCA cut the sector’s total bill to £9.1 billion and narrowed eligibility to 12.1 million car loans. Lloyds shares fell 1.6% after the update. The bank warned that response rates, costs, and litigation remain uncertain.
April 3, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Fuel Shock Is Hitting Wallets as RBA Rate Risks Build
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Fuel Shock Is Hitting Wallets as RBA Rate Risks Build

Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a sharp rise in fuel spending through March 27 as Middle East conflict drove up petrol and diesel prices, while overall household spending stayed flat. CBA now expects inflation to reach 5.4% by mid-2026 and unemployment to rise to 4.6% by early 2027. The bank said households are shifting budgets rather than cutting back. Markets see about a 60% chance of another rate hike in May.
April 2, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Deepens Sainsbury’s Pact With Nectar Card, Savings and Loans
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NatWest Group Plc Deepens Sainsbury’s Pact With Nectar Card, Savings and Loans

NatWest Group and Sainsbury’s agreed to launch savings accounts, personal loans, and a Nectar-linked credit card for Sainsbury’s customers, following NatWest’s 2025 acquisition of the grocer’s banking books. The new products will roll out in the second half of 2026. NatWest’s Boxed platform will power the services. The move extends NatWest’s embedded finance strategy amid pressure on interest income.
April 2, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group plc Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision After FCA Final Rules
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Lloyds Banking Group plc Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision After FCA Final Rules

Lloyds Banking Group will keep its £1.95 billion provision for motor finance compensation unchanged after reviewing the UK regulator’s final rules. The Financial Conduct Authority’s redress scheme covers about 12.1 million agreements, with total industry costs estimated at £9.1 billion. Lloyds will update investors again on April 29. Barclays and Close Brothers have set aside £325 million and £300 million, respectively.
April 2, 2026
NatWest Group Plc strikes new Sainsbury’s Nectar banking deal with savings, loans and card
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NatWest Group Plc strikes new Sainsbury’s Nectar banking deal with savings, loans and card

NatWest Group and Sainsbury’s will launch new financial products for Sainsbury’s customers, including instant-access savings, unsecured loans, and a NatWest Nectar credit card, starting in the second half of 2026. The move follows NatWest’s 2025 acquisition of Sainsbury’s Bank’s core portfolios and will offer Nectar-linked benefits through Sainsbury’s digital channels using NatWest Boxed.
April 1, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group Faces Fresh Provision Test After FCA Finalises UK Motor Finance Redress
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Lloyds Banking Group Faces Fresh Provision Test After FCA Finalises UK Motor Finance Redress

Lloyds Banking Group is reviewing the UK regulator’s final motor finance redress scheme, which covers 12.1 million agreements and could return £7.5 billion to customers. Lloyds’ provision for motor finance costs stands at £1.95 billion. The FCA set deadlines of June 30 and August 31 for firms to prepare for claims. Lloyds shares rose 1.3% after analysts said the scheme may not require major changes to its provision.
April 1, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%

Westpac expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise the cash rate three more times this year, reaching 4.85% by August, citing inflation from Middle East fuel disruptions. The bank’s customers began paying higher mortgage rates from March 31 after Westpac passed on the RBA’s last increase. Peers NAB and ANZ forecast fewer hikes. Markets remain cautious, with traders pricing in a lower chance of further rises.
April 1, 2026
Australia to Ban Debit and Credit Card Surcharges From October as RBA Cuts Fees
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Australia to Ban Debit and Credit Card Surcharges From October as RBA Cuts Fees

Australia will ban surcharges on debit and credit card payments via eftpos, Visa, and Mastercard from Oct. 1, after the Reserve Bank found the fees were no longer transparent. The RBA expects businesses to save about A$910 million a year, while consumers currently pay around A$1.6 billion annually in surcharges. Interchange fee caps will also be reduced from 2027. Some banks warn they may offset lost revenue with other charges.
March 31, 2026
Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion
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Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority set the final cost of a car-finance compensation scheme at £9.1 billion, below last year’s estimate. Barclays faces questions over whether its £325 million provision will cover its share. The scheme covers 12.1 million agreements from 2007 to 2024, with average payouts of £830. Payouts are expected to begin this year after a short implementation period.
March 31, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation

Westpac now expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its cash rate three more times this year, peaking at 4.85%, the highest since 2008, citing war-driven fuel costs. The bank forecasts headline inflation at 5.4% in the June quarter despite a temporary fuel excise cut. Westpac shares fell 4.05% Monday as markets reacted. The bank also delayed any rate cut expectations to 2028.
March 30, 2026
Standard Chartered PLC Hires Ex-Deutsche Banker Ole Matthiessen to Lead Digital Assets Push
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Standard Chartered PLC Hires Ex-Deutsche Banker Ole Matthiessen to Lead Digital Assets Push

Standard Chartered has appointed former Deutsche Bank executive Ole Matthiessen as global head of transaction services and digital assets, leading a new unit in its corporate and investment bank. Matthiessen will be based in Singapore and report to CIB CEO Roberto Hoornweg. The move follows recent senior hires and comes as the bank expands digital asset services and reported a 16% rise in 2025 pretax profit.
March 30, 2026
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