The property market is experiencing a wave of change, from the recovery of UK lending and the US market emerging from a ‘hibernation period’, to falling housing values in Australia and New Zealand. The dynamics worldwide are shifting. 

RFI research and insights shows UK confidence rising, and over a quarter of homeowners in Australia expected to make additional mortgage repayments within the next year, highlighting improving financial sentiment. This trend, alongside advancements in energy-efficient housing and government incentives for carbon neutrality, is transforming how affordability and sustainability are addressed globally.  

In this episode of the Banking Uncovered Podcast, co-host Chloe James, speaks to Lisa Claes, CEO of CoreLogic International, a leading global provider of property data and insights. They unpack the evolving dynamics of property markets in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, shedding light on what is driving change and what’s next for the home loan sector in each market. Lisa shares her expert perspective on the home loan market in 2024, what to expect in 2025 and why banks and institutions should shift the narrative to focus on “what customers own, not what they owe”. 

Topics discussed include:   

• Housing market dynamics in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, regional differences and recovery patterns 
• Why it is important to talk to customers about what they own, not what they owe 
• The rebound in UK lending after it nearly dried up 18 months ago. 
• Insights into the recovery of consumer confidence, despite the cost-of-living crisis; RFI Global data shows that over a quarter of Australians plan to increase mortgage repayments in the next year 
• The variation in levels of home ownership and legislation by country; 77% of US households say they would never take out a mortgage with a variable interest rate 
• The role of banks and financial institutions in educating consumers 
• Affordability pressures, including the 12-13 years it takes the average earner in Sydney to save for a median-priced home, despite assistance from ‘The Bank of Mum and Dad’. 

For most Americans, their financial institution is the last thing on their minds - they’re too busy navigating pay cheque-to-pay cheque living, rising costs and a housing crisis. What they need from financial service providers isn’t just another product; they need tools that make life simpler, more transparent and fairer. From real-time access to wages to innovative housing solutions like PadSplit, the future of financial services lies in meeting people where they are and empowering them to build better lives.

In this episode of the Banking Uncovered Podcast, Chloe James, Banking Uncovered Co-host, speaks to Kathryn Petralia, Co-founder of Kabbage and Keep Financial, and one of Forbes’ most powerful women in the world. They discuss trends in banking, the biggest challenges in financial services today, the future of fintech and the broader industry, US consumer sentiment, satisfaction and dissatisfaction, global innovation, the gender pay the gap in financial services, and much more.

Topics discussed include:

• The need to make financial services more accessible and less judgmental through data-driven decisions and online platforms
• How to balance innovation with responsibility, including the challenges of unintended consequences in the machine learning model
• Americans' focus on day-to-day financial survival amid the cost-of-living crisis and economic instability
• Innovations in global payments, cross-border banking, and cryptocurrency adoption for consumers and SME’s
• What we can learn from companies like Revolut that are simplifying financial processes and setting new benchmarks for customer experience
• Looking ahead to 2025: Kathryn’s vision for addressing financial needs, empowering individuals to save more and strengthening economies through innovative compensation models.

Customer engagement in banking is shifting from passive loyalty to active engagement, driven by innovation and increasing customer expectations. Today’s customers want banks that understand their unique needs, offer quick and simple account setups, and provide a personalised experience.

But what is the difference between a fabulous relationship and being intrusive?

Banking Uncovered host Chloe James, speaks to Jim Marous, a top 5 retail banking influencer, global speaker, podcast host and co-publisher at The Financial Brand about the evolving landscape of customer experience (CX) and engagement in financial services. They explore how banks must prioritise personalisation beyond broad segmentation and embrace partnerships with fintech’s to offer streamlined, intuitive experiences that build trust and loyalty.

They discuss how traditional banks and fintechs should take advantage of the data they have on their customers, what’s next for innovation in banking, and much more.

In the second of two podcasts, Jim and Chloe dive into the challenges financial institutions face with the rising pressure to embrace personalised, customer-driven experiences in a tech-driven world.

Topics discussed include:

• What customer engagement means today and how to excel
• The importance of personalised engagement and how customers expect banks to understand their unique goals, preferences and financial patterns
• The huge and under-utilised value that data and customer insight bring
• What financial institutions can learn from GPS systems, Amazon Prime and Disney
• The next level of innovation in banking and how to deliver meaningful innovation
• The imperative for convenience and speed