Keywords: Western Union, PayPal, RBS, Central Bank Of Kenya, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Orange Money, YuCash, KDB, IBK, BTMU, Cooperative Bank, NAB

"The challenge for them is to ensure they don’t damage the interests of the economy by going too far fighting the last war."
Anthony Browne, CEO of the British Bankers’ Association, on the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority replacing FSA UK.


The following are notes from our Monday morning meeting.

Western Union's Money Mindset Index found 39% of US consumers will pay more bills online in 2013, with 12% intending to pay by mobile phone.

PayPal saw a $118b increase in cross-border transactions over 2011, representing 25% of the total transaction volume in the Greater China region for its global cross-border business.

RBS shareholders filed a $6b lawsuit against the bank claiming they were misled into thinking it was healthy just before collapse.

Central Bank of Kenya reported the total value of mobile money transacted from sources such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Orange Money and YuCash increased 100% over the last two years to $17.7b.

*Editor's Note: Co-founder and inventor of M-Pesa, Susie Lonei, will be a speaker at the forthcoming Asian Banker Summit in Jakarta, 23-25 April, 2013

Omani banks increased their total number of deposit accounts to 2.87m as of end of January 2013, up 9% YoY.

South Korea scrapped privatisation plans for Korea Development Bank and will scale bank a sale in Industrial Bank of Korea.

China's four biggest state-run banks reported more than $467b of wealth management products outstanding at the end of 2012.

Japan's BTMU signed an agreement with Myanmar's Cooperative Bank to help develop and provide support for the country's banking industry.

Central bank governors from ASEAN member states launched a summary report to further guide ASEAN financial integration.

Asian Banker Research showed total bank lending in Singapore grew at 16.7% in 2012, slower than 2011's 30.3%. Click here for more.

Sri Lankan domestic banks' state lending recorded a 27.6% YoY increase in January, rising by $438m to $5.46b.

National Australia Bank found online retail sales growth for the last 12 months to February 2013 at 19%, down from 27%.