ECB & Greece Banking Spread: The ECB’s first rate hike since 2023 is set to widen the loan-deposit gap, adding about €147m to Greek banks’ annual interest income as deposit rates lag. AI Hiring Shift: Major banks are cutting junior analyst intake and leaning on AI-driven screening, leaving graduates facing automated interviews and uncertainty about entry-level roles. Belgian Banking Fraud Ruling: A Belgium court rejected banks’ “gross negligence” argument in a fraud case, potentially reshaping how victims are reimbursed across borders. Consumer Banking Costs: Overdraft fees are still alive in the US—average charges barely fell and consumers keep paying billions annually. UK Online Banking Change: Lloyds removed the ability to rename accounts online, reverting nicknames to original labels and sparking customer complaints. Crypto Payments & AI: Ripple launched an XRPL AI Starter Kit so AI agents can make payments using XRP and RLUSD via x402, while USDC remains dominant. SpaceX IPO Banking Fees: SpaceX’s IPO is turning into a “trophy” deal for Wall Street banks, with a rare $0-fee greenshoe arrangement reported to cost underwriters about $75m. NRI/FD Rate Moves: Several banks revised senior FD rates, with AU Small Finance Bank raising FCNR deposit rates to 7.10% and others adjusting yields up to the high-7% range. AML Training in Dubai: Dubai Police Academy rolled out an AML master’s programme focused on compliance and financial crime detection.