In Focus

Only 1 in 10 banks see AI returns despite $97b spend by 2027

Data fragmentation and governance uncertainty plague most AI adoptions.

APAC neobanking hits $261b in 2025 as mobile use rises

China and India account for 70% of regional market share.

Payroll drives rural Indonesia banking uptake as digital banks fail to sway users

Digital banks are known but users said there is no difference in app experience.

Korean regulators hit 5 banks with record $1.38b in ELS penalties

Kookmin Bank will face the highest penalty if based on sales amount, the report said.

Steady loan outlook erodes as Philippine banks brace for Q1 squeeze

Banks expecting a flat borrowing appetite fell significantly from a previous high of 80.7%.

Vietnam banks face whiplash as fast lending fuels asset price risks

Credit growth target is 15% in 2026, but banks can be hurt if prices correct.

Malaysia credit growth eases to 5.3% as business loans cool

The banking system’s liquidity coverage ratio rose to 154.8% during the month.

Indian public bank deposit share slumps to 56% as private rivals surge

Household savings held by private lenders climbed from 30% in 2020 to 35% by 2025.

Taiwan bank loan growth to hit high single digits on US pact

Increased overseas investments and corporate credit demand will lift loas.

OCBC and UOB to reverse year-long NIM slide in Q4

DBS Group Research forecasta a quarter-on-quarter margin improvement for two of the big three.

Greater Bay Area loan access index sinks to 48.7 as recovery reverses

 Quarterly business confidence data shows lending conditions falling back into contractionary territory.

Banks risk wealth advisor exits without tech upgrades: Cerulli

Just 8% of wealth advisors in the Americas are not yet using wealth tools.

APAC BaaS market to reach $5.3b as embedded finance surges 148%

Regional revenue is set to climb from $4.44b in 2025 to over $12b by 2031.

APAC to capture $4t private credit boom as loan returns shrink

Australia, Japan, and India are emerging as key private credit growth markets.

Indian banks outclass Western peers with high-return, low-leverage model

The study groups India where lower gearing aligns with higher performance.