Reports & Company Information | Centurium Bank https://centuriumbank.com/category/company-news-and-reports/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:20:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5 https://centuriumbank.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nedbank.png Reports & Company Information | Centurium Bank https://centuriumbank.com/category/company-news-and-reports/ 32 32 Centurium Bank takeover helps raise essential funds for Hospice Isle of Man https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-takeover-helps-raise-essential-funds-for-hospice-isle-of-man/ https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-takeover-helps-raise-essential-funds-for-hospice-isle-of-man/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:18:50 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8366 Last week, Centurium Bank collaborated with Hospice Isle of Man on the first-ever hospice shop takeover. Twenty volunteers from Centurium Bank used their annual volunteer day to help with the running of the Hospice Isle of Man shop in Duke Street from 5-7 March. Volunteers also got involved in the behind-the-scenes operation of… Continue reading Centurium Bank takeover helps raise essential funds for Hospice Isle of Man

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Last week, Centurium Bank collaborated with Hospice Isle of Man on the first-ever hospice shop takeover.

Twenty volunteers from Centurium Bank used their annual volunteer day to help with the running of the Hospice Isle of Man shop in Duke Street from 5-7 March. Volunteers also got involved in the behind-the-scenes operation of the store, by running deliveries to shops around the island, and managing stock at the main warehouse.

The aim of the three-day takeover was to support Hospice Isle of Man in increasing awareness of their newest store in Duke Street, Douglas and raise essential funds. It also provided the opportunity for Centurium Bank staff to give back to the local community.

Figures from the store indicated the takeover helped create a significant uplift with store sales at the Duke Street shop increasing by 236% across the three days, when compared to the shop average.

Andrew Halsall, Head of Private Banking in the Isle of Man, said: “Our aim from the start was to help Hospice Isle of Man raise as much awareness for the store as possible while supporting our staff giving back to our local community. We are delighted that we’ve been able to tick both of these boxes in addition to raising funds, making the takeover a huge success for both sides. Our thanks goes to the Hospice Isle of Man teams and volunteers for their support throughout the initiative.”

John Knight, CEO at Hospice Isle of Man, said: “With Centurium Bank’s support we saw our average shop sales increase significantly. Over 15% of the income needed to fund the continuous running of Hospice Isle of Man comes from the hospice shops around the island. This takeover was the first of its kind for us and highlights how, with a bit of innovative thinking, passion and support from the local community and volunteers, we can truly make an impact. Thank you to Centurium Bank’s team of volunteers for their time and enthusiasm, making this a great success and helping to raise valuable funds for Hospice Isle of Man.”

All funds raised during the takeover will go towards Hospice Isle of Man, helping the charity continue to provide a full-service care provision to the island’s community.

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February 2024 Commentary https://centuriumbank.com/february-2024-commentary/ https://centuriumbank.com/february-2024-commentary/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:06:15 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8361 February was a strong month for risk assets, with several major equity indices reaching record highs where continued excitement around artificial intelligence (AI) played a significant role in steering market dynamics. The “Magnificent 7”, a group of technology and AI-related stocks, posted their best performance in nine months and among them, Nvidia stood out, surging… Continue reading February 2024 Commentary

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February was a strong month for risk assets, with several major equity indices reaching record highs where continued excitement around artificial intelligence (AI) played a significant role in steering market dynamics. The “Magnificent 7”, a group of technology and AI-related stocks, posted their best performance in nine months and among them, Nvidia stood out, surging by 28.6% following strong underlying earnings growth.

The month was not without it challenges though, particularly in the commercial real estate and regional banking sector which came under scrutiny at the beginning of the month. Concerns surfaced within New York Community Bancorp after they reported losses on the 31 January that were driven by expected loan losses in commercial real estate. Although seemingly isolated at present, it has raised the prospect that the full impact of higher interest rates may be yet to materialise, particularly given the substantial debt that needs refinancing over 2024 and 2025.

Despite these concerns leading to a degree of volatility, investors remained glass-half-full, after a promising jobs report revealed strong payroll growth in the current month, as well as positive upward revisions in the two previous months, allowing them to revel in the prospect of broader economic resilience. Of course, with one eye squarely focused on growth dynamics, the other invariably latched onto the latest developments within the inflationary landscape. It was here where investors broke poise slightly, as a hotter-than-expected reading forced some to rethink their projected path for interest rate cuts. The result having negative implications for the bond market, where climbing yields led to some capital loss.

In terms of market returns, global equities (+4.7%) were positive in February, however there was a large variation across regions. Japan (+5.5%) and the US (+5.3%) were by far the best performing areas as both regions saw their primary stock indices reach all-time record highs. The UK (+0.7%) finished the month in positive territory, but with returns far more muted in comparison. In terms of equity styles, growth stocks (+6.0%) outperformed value (+2.6%), and small-cap stocks (+3.3%) lagged large caps (+4.7%). This was reflected in sector performance, with consumer discretionary (+7.9%) and information technology (+6.2%) the strongest two sectors, while utilities (-0.4%) lagged significantly.

Fixed income markets were also mixed, with higher quality government bonds underperforming the lower quality credit space. The higher-than-expected inflation reading pushed back market expectations for rate cuts and forced bond yields to rise, meaning that the global aggregate bond index fell -0.7% over the month. Strong macro data dominated the narrative on the credit side however, meaning that the risker global high yield (0.5%) was positive over February.

In the real assets space, both global real estate (-0.4%) and global infrastructure (+0.0%) underperformed, reflecting their sensitivity to rising interest rate expectations. Commodities displayed mixed performance over the month, such that whilst the broad index was negative (-1.5%), there was significant divergence within the index. Picking out the highlights, crude oil (+2.9%) rose sharply on the back of developments in the Middle East, whereas agriculture (-4.4%) finished the month in negative territory.

 

  Date Index Price Up/Down Compared to
UKX Index 29/02/2024 FTSE 100 7630.02 Down 31/01/2024
INDU Index 29/02/2024 DJ Ind. Average 38996.39 Up 31/01/2024
SPX Index 29/02/2024 S&P Comp 5096.27 Up 31/01/2024
NDX Index 29/02/2024 Nasdaq 100 18043.85 Up 31/01/2024
NKY Index 29/02/2024 Nikkei 39166.19 Up 31/01/2024
GBPUSD Curncy 29/02/2024 £/$ 1.2625 Down 31/01/2024
EURGBP Curncy 29/02/2024 €/£ 0.85589 Up 31/01/2024
EURUSD Curncy 29/02/2024 €/$ 1.0805 Down 31/01/2024
UKBRBASE Index 29/02/2024 £Base Rate 5.25 No Change 31/01/2024
COA Comdty 29/02/2024 Brent Crude 81.91 Up 31/01/2024
GOLDS Comdty 29/02/2024 Gold 2044.3 Up 31/01/2024

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January 2024 Commentary https://centuriumbank.com/january-2024-commentary/ https://centuriumbank.com/january-2024-commentary/#respond Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:13:21 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8324 January proved to be a month of mixed fortunes for markets, where performance amongst financial assets diverged. Economic data continued to pleasantly surprise for the most part, fuelling the upward trajectory of equities that had begun in late 2023. The S&P 500 soared to a new all-time high, with both economic growth and unemployment data… Continue reading January 2024 Commentary

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January proved to be a month of mixed fortunes for markets, where performance amongst financial assets diverged.

Economic data continued to pleasantly surprise for the most part, fuelling the upward trajectory of equities that had begun in late 2023. The S&P 500 soared to a new all-time high, with both economic growth and unemployment data nullifying fears that a US recession is imminent. Even the Euro Area was able to defy market expectations, as the region managed to sidestep a technical recession in Q4, with GDP remaining unchanged. Naturally, economic robustness was met with central bank resolve as officials from the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England decided to hold rates steady, whilst also signalling that rate cuts during the first quarter of 2024 was unlikely. The cautious stance adopted by the major central banks is of little surprise when considering the events of the 1970s, which saw central banks ease policy too soon and inflation re-emerge.

Unfortunately, the start of 2024 also saw a continuation of the geopolitical concerns that punctuated much of last year, with the Houthi rebels launching attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea which resulted in the US and UK conducting retaliatory air strikes. Towards the end of January , a drone attack claimed the lives of three U.S. troops in Jordan, heightening concerns about a broader escalation in the region, which is yet to materialise. Finally, China was dealt another economic blow after a Hong Kong court ordered the liquidation of property developer Evergrande Group after a breakdown in its debt restructuring talks. This comes two years after the company officially defaulted on its debt and, unsurprisingly, has done little to improve sentiment within the world’s second-largest economy which has been plagued with property issues ever since.

In terms of market returns, global equities (+1.2%) were positive in January, however there was a large variation across regions. Japan (+8.5%) was by far the best performing area with investor sentiment supported by the countries favourable macro backdrop of accommodative monetary policy, economic growth and inflation (the latter of which being something that Japan has been trying to engineer for some time!). The US (+1.5%) and Europe excluding the UK (+1.3%) also performed well whilst emerging markets (-3.5%) were held back by the developments in the Chinese property market. In terms of equity styles, growth stocks (+1.3%) outperformed value (-0.1%), and small-cap stocks (-2.6%) lagged large caps (+1.2%). This was reflected in sector performance, with information technology (+3.2%) and communication services (+3.0%) the strongest two sectors, whilst materials (-5.4%) and real estate (-4.7%) lagged significantly.

Fixed income markets were also mixed, with higher quality government bonds underperforming the lower quality credit space. The hawkish rhetoric from central banks pushed back market expectations for rate cuts and forced bond yields higher, meaning that the Global Aggregate bond index fell -0.2% over the month. Strong macro data dominated the narrative on the credit side however, meaning that global investment grade (+0.1%) and the risker Global High Yield (0.5%) were positive over January.

In the real assets space, both global real estate (-4.1%) and global infrastructure (-3.1%) underperformed, reflecting their sensitivity to rising interest rate expectations. Commodities displayed mixed performance over the month, such that whilst the broad index was positive (+0.4%), there was significant divergence within the index. Picking out the highlights, crude oil (+6.1%) rose sharply on the back of developments in the middle east, whereas gold (-0.7%) fell given the market’s expectation for slower cuts by central banks and a stronger US dollar.

 

Date Index Price Up/Down Compared to
UKX Index 31/01/2024 FTSE 100 7630.57 Down 29/12/2023
INDU Index 31/01/2024 DJ Ind. Average 38150.3 Up 29/12/2023
SPX Index 31/01/2024 S&P Comp 4845.65 Up 29/12/2023
NDX Index 31/01/2024 Nasdaq 100 17137.24 Up 29/12/2023
NKY Index 31/01/2024 Nikkei 36286.71 Up 29/12/2023
GBPUSD Curncy 31/01/2024 £/$ 1.2688 Down 29/12/2023
EURGBP Curncy 31/01/2024 €/£ 0.8526 Down 29/12/2023
EURUSD Curncy 31/01/2024 €/$ 1.0818 Down 29/12/2023
UKBRBASE Index 31/01/2024 £Base Rate 5.25 No Change 29/12/2023
COA Comdty 31/01/2024 Brent Crude 80.55 Up 29/12/2023
GOLDS Comdty 31/01/2024 Gold 2039.52 Down 29/12/2023

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Centurium Bank collaborates with Hospice Isle of Man on first-ever shop takeover https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-collaborates-with-hospice-isle-of-man-on-first-ever-shop-takeover/ https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-collaborates-with-hospice-isle-of-man-on-first-ever-shop-takeover/#respond Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:55:30 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8319 Staff from Centurium Bank are gearing up for an exciting initiative that promises to make a positive impact on the Isle of Man community. On the 5, 6 and 7 March 2024, a total of twelve staff members from Centurium Bank will take over the running of the Hospice Isle of Man shop… Continue reading Centurium Bank collaborates with Hospice Isle of Man on first-ever shop takeover

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Staff from Centurium Bank are gearing up for an exciting initiative that promises to make a positive impact on the Isle of Man community. On the 5, 6 and 7 March 2024, a total of twelve staff members from Centurium Bank will take over the running of the Hospice Isle of Man shop located on Duke Street – a first for both the Hospice and Centurium Bank.

The aim of this three-day takeover is to support Hospice Isle of Man in their desire to increase awareness of the invaluable work they do and raise essential funds. These funds will enable the charity to continue providing a full-service care provision to the island’s community.

In a collaborative effort between Centurium Bank and Hospice Isle of Man, the Centurium Bank team will step into the shoes of voluntary shop staff. They will provide customer service, engage with shoppers, and encourage more footfall. Additionally, the team will run a raffle across the three days, with two luxury Fortnum & Mason hampers up for grabs.

Earlier this year, Centurium Bank introduced a new incentive for its colleagues where each employee is allocated one day per year to volunteer at a charity of their choice. This takeover event aligns perfectly with that commitment, allowing the team to actively contribute to the local community.

Andrew Halsall, Head of Private Banking in the Isle of Man, said: “We’re excited to work with Hospice Isle of Man on this opportunity. Our team is passionate about making a difference, and this initiative allows us to do just that. Our aim is to encourage as many people as possible to visit the shop, participate in the raffle, and support Hospice Isle of Man. By doing so, we hope to raise a lot of money for such a valuable local charity.”

John Knight, CEO at Hospice Isle of Man, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Centurium Bank. This is the first takeover of its kind for Hospice Isle of Man, and we’re looking forward to their team stepping up to make a positive impact on our Isle of Man community. By taking over the Hospice Isle of Man shop on Duke Street for three days, they will not only be providing essential customer service but also helping us to raise crucial funds. These funds enable us to continue our aim of delivering full-service care to our island’s community. We’re grateful to Centurium Bank for their commitment and support and look forward to working with them to make this a great success.”

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Centurium Bank strengthens its growing Dubai office https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-strengthens-its-growing-dubai-office/ https://centuriumbank.com/nedbank-private-wealth-strengthens-its-growing-dubai-office/#respond Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:16:50 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8273 Private banker Sid Ludbe joins Centurium Bank. Centurium Bank is pleased to announce the relocation of Sid Ludbe, a highly experienced private banker from its Isle of Man office to its award-winning representative office in Dubai, strengthening the company’s presence in the Middle East. The move follows the appointment last year of private… Continue reading Centurium Bank strengthens its growing Dubai office

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Private banker Sid Ludbe joins Centurium Bank.

Centurium Bank is pleased to announce the relocation of Sid Ludbe, a highly experienced private banker from its Isle of Man office to its award-winning representative office in Dubai, strengthening the company’s presence in the Middle East.

The move follows the appointment last year of private banker, Darren Hooker, who also joined the growing team in Dubai. Both appointments underscore Centurium Bank’s commitment to serving its clients in the Middle East and Asia.

Sid Ludbe brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Having closely collaborated with the Dubai team over the past few years, he is well-versed in the local market dynamics. His insights into the expat and non-resident Indian community, coupled with his UK connections, perfectly position him to serve this growing client group in the region.

Andrew Bates, Head of Private Banking for the Middle East and Asia, said: “By welcoming Sid to our representative office in Dubai, we enhance our ability to provide a cohesive wealth planning service to our clients. Both he and Darren bring valuable expertise to our growing Middle East team, which continues to go from strength to strength. We are confident in our ability to deliver exceptional service with our ever-growing, talented team as we provide a bespoke experience to our clients. This was underlined last year when we again won the coveted WealthBriefing MENA award for Best Private Bank Client Service.”

The expansion of Centurium Bank’s representative office in Dubai is in response to the sustained demand from high-net-worth individuals seeking financial services in the region. Many of these expats lead international lives in multiple jurisdictions and Centurium Bank is ideally positioned to help them manage and grow their wealth.

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December’s investment market commentary https://centuriumbank.com/decembers-investment-market-commentary/ https://centuriumbank.com/decembers-investment-market-commentary/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:54:45 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8225 The fourth quarter of 2023 was virtually the mirror opposite of the prior quarter, starting poorly but a very good period for markets overall. This was primarily due to a big move lower in government bond yields during November and December, which came after the US 10-year government bond yield peaked at just over 5%… Continue reading December’s investment market commentary

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The fourth quarter of 2023 was virtually the mirror opposite of the prior quarter, starting poorly but a very good period for markets overall. This was primarily due to a big move lower in government bond yields during November and December, which came after the US 10-year government bond yield peaked at just over 5% in October, a level not seen since the 2008 Financial Crisis.

As we have highlighted before, moves in bond yields impact most financial assets as investors try to value investments through the present valuing of future cashflow streams. If the discount rate (government bond yield) moves lower, the present value of those cashflows increases. As such, markets generally like falling bond yields, especially if economic growth is also not slowing too much.

There were several good reasons during the quarter for the sharp fall in bond yields. Firstly, there were signs that inflation is decreasing in the US, Eurozone, and even the UK. This reduced concerns about inflation being difficult to control in the near future due to tight labour markets. Secondly, declining oil prices not only helped with the wider falling inflation picture but also the ‘soft landing’ growth outlook, as high energy prices are essentially a tax on activity. Finally, and perhaps most importantly was the more ‘dovish’ central bank language coming from the US Federal Reserve. Its tone seemed to change (over the space of a few policy meetings) regarding interest rates, from ‘higher for longer’ to ‘higher for not much longer’. The market took this as a signal to price in a significant number of interest rate cuts for 2024. However, whether all these cuts will occur may be asking too much. Nonetheless, it was very supportive for virtually all markets in the last few months of 2023.

Beyond inflation and interest rates, geopolitical risk also eased during the last few months of the final quarter. The Israel-Hamas war looked to be contained. While there was an awful loss of life, this reduced the risk of a much broader regional conflict; with both sides agreeing to a temporary truce combined with a release of some hostages towards the end of November. Signs of easing US-China tensions were also seen in November, with a meeting between US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in San Francisco. The hope is that the more positive tone that came from this meeting (the first time the two have met in about a year) can translate into a reduction in uncertainty and a better economic relationship going forward.

How did all this translate to financial markets?

Well, overall it was a very good quarter for market returns. Global equities increased by +9.4%, with US equities (+11.8%) the best performing, helped by the strong performance of technology stocks. Emerging markets (+5.6%), and Europe ex-UK (+5.6%) also performed well, while the UK (+2.3%) lagged due to its higher exposure to commodities (especially oil) which fell during the period. In terms of equity styles, growth stocks (+12.8%) outperformed value (+9.3%), and small-cap stocks (+12.1%) outperformed large caps, mainly because interest rate expectations fell. This was reflected in sector performance, with information technology (+17.6%) and real estate (+15.0%) the strongest two sectors, although industrials (+13.4%) and financials (+12.6%) were not far behind, while energy (-2.7%) lagged significantly as oil prices fell.

Fixed income markets were also strong. In fact, certain bond markets posted their best quarterly return in decades, with the global aggregate bond index rising +6.0% over the quarter. Looking at the detail, global government bonds (+5.3%) performed well but lagged behind riskier fixed income bonds, which were supported by the strong increase in equities. This was seen in global investment grade credit (+7.5%), global high yield (+6.7%), and especially, global emerging market debt (+9.3%).

In the real assets space, both global real estate (+15.6%) and global infrastructure (+11.2%) performed very strongly, reflecting their sensitivity to falling interest rate expectations. Commodities displayed mixed performance in the quarter. While the broad index was negative (-4.6%), there was significant variance within the index. Crude oil (-17.5%) fell back further due to higher-than-expected supplies, lower demand outlook and declining geopolitical risk, whereas gold (+11.4%) increased on the back of the market’s expectation for steeper cuts by central banks and a weaker US dollar.

 

 

Date Index Price Up/Down Compared to
UKX Index 29/12/2023 FTSE 100 7733.24 Up 30/11/2023
INDU Index 29/12/2023 DJ Ind. Average 37689.54 Up 30/11/2023
SPX Index 29/12/2023 S&P Comp 4769.83 Up 30/11/2023
NDX Index 29/12/2023 Nasdaq 100 16825.93 Up 30/11/2023
NKY Index 29/12/2023 Nikkei 33464.17 Down 30/11/2023
GBPUSD Curncy 29/12/2023 £/$ 1.2731 Up 30/11/2023
EURGBP Curncy 29/12/2023 €/£ 0.86691 Up 30/11/2023
EURUSD Curncy 29/12/2023 €/$ 1.1039 Up 30/11/2023
UKBRBASE Index 29/12/2023 £Base Rate 5.25 No Change 30/11/2023
COA Comdty 29/12/2023 Brent Crude 77.04 Down 30/11/2023
GOLDS Comdty 29/12/2023 Gold 2062.98 Up 30/11/2023

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Welcoming Richard Sayers https://centuriumbank.com/welcoming-richard-sayers/ https://centuriumbank.com/welcoming-richard-sayers/#respond Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:20:58 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=8186 Richard Sayers has joined our Jersey office as a Head of Client Development. He brings over 30 years of experience in the offshore wealth management and private client sectors and will be primarily focusing on further developing relationships with professional intermediaries. Richard started his career as a stockbroker and later moved into wealth management with… Continue reading Welcoming Richard Sayers

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Richard Sayers has joined our Jersey office as a Head of Client Development. He brings over 30 years of experience in the offshore wealth management and private client sectors and will be primarily focusing on further developing relationships with professional intermediaries.

Richard started his career as a stockbroker and later moved into wealth management with two private banks before co-founding the investment oversight business, Enhance Group. He spent five years in Singapore, including three as Managing Director for the local office of an international professional services business. Richard has worked with private clients and professional intermediaries across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Richard joins our growing Jersey team, which is headed up by Cameron Walker, who has over 30 years’ experience in financial services for high-net-worth clients. The highly experienced team of private bankers and wealth management specialists offer a bespoke service, personalised to clients’ individual needs. As a result, they have been trusted by clients for over 25 years.

Cameron Walker, Head of Private Banking, Jersey, said: ‘Richard has extensive experience in the wealth management and trust sectors which is an excellent fit for our 2024 growth strategy. His expertise and international connectivity will help us enhance and expand our client-focused services.’

Richard Sayers added: ‘I have admired Centurium Bank for many years and look forward to working with Cameron and the Jersey team as well as the teams in London, Isle of Man and Dubai. Centurium Bank offers exciting opportunities, innovative options and solutions for clients, as well as a dedicated team and positive culture.

‘We have ambitious targets with plans already taking shape and a lot of work to do. I look forward to using all my experience from working with clients and intermediaries from many sectors around the world.’

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Confirmation of Payee https://centuriumbank.com/confirmation-of-payee/ https://centuriumbank.com/confirmation-of-payee/#respond Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:38:45 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=4356 Confirmation of Payee

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Our new service for sterling Faster Payments offers you more confidence that your payments are being sent to the intended recipient, helping to avoid making accidental, misdirected payments to the wrong accountholder, as well as providing another layer of protection against fraud and scams.

This new service offers you more confidence your payments are being sent to the intended recipient, helping to avoid accidental, misdirected payments to the wrong accountholder, as well as providing another layer of protection against fraud and scams.

The changes are being made in two phases:

Phase one – incoming payments

When someone is setting up to make payments into your Centurium Bank bank account for the first time, they’ll be asked to provide some details about who they are paying. Their bank will immediately check with us that the details match against the details we hold for your account. The response they get means they can make an informed decision about whether or not to continue. This will help to ensure the money arrives into your account safely.

It is important to provide the right information to the person sending money to your account – this is relevant for personal and joint accountholders. You need to give your full first name and last name to the person or business paying you. This could differ from how your name appears on your bank or Visa card, which might just show your initials.

Phase two – outgoing payments

When you set up a new payee in the mobile app or desktop version of Online Wealth Services, the payee’s account name you enter will be checked against the details held at the recipient’s bank. You will be notified on screen if the details you have entered are a ‘match’, a ‘partial match’ or ‘no match’.

Yes Close Match No Match Unavailable
You’ll receive confirmation that the details match. This means the name on the account doesn’t exactly match the details you have entered and you’ll be provided with the name of the account you have closely matched with. It is not a match and you’ll need to contact the person or business you are trying to pay to confirm the correct details. There may be occasions when a Confirmation of Payee check is not available.

From this result, you can then decide whether to go ahead with the payment, or double check any of the details entered before you proceed.

The system will perform these checks in real time and will not cause any delay in payments being sent or received but will add an extra layer of protection so you can be confident that the payment you are making is sent to the correct person.

The exact timing of the introduction of this service will be confirmed in due course.

Frequently Asked Questions

For outgoing payments, if the Confirmation of Payee doesn’t find a match, can I continue with the payment?

Where the result is a Partial Match or a No Match, you can continue with the payment. But you should be aware that there may be an error in the details you have entered, which may mean that the payee will not receive the funds you are sending.

Can I opt out of this service?

You cannot opt out of Confirmation of Payee when you’re making a payment to someone else. If you have a personal account, you can request to opt out of having your details checked when other people try to pay you. We would strongly recommend you do not opt out, as Confirmation of Payee is a valuable anti-fraud measure.

Business customers may not opt out of the service.

Risks of opting out:

Confirmation of Payee is being introduced to improve payments between UK banks, and to reduce instances of fraud and payments going to the wrong account. To be effective, it’s essential that everyone can receive a Confirmation of Payee response when they make a payment.

By opting out of the service, it means your Centurium Bank account will not be checked when another person or business tries to make a payment to it. Individuals or businesses making payments to your account will get a message that your details can’t be checked. This could result in delays in payments getting to you, as those setting up new payments may be reluctant to proceed without confirmation of details.

If you still want to opt out of the Confirmation of Payee service, a form will be published online once we have the exact timings for the introduction of this service.

Does Confirmation of Payee apply to Visa card payments?

No, the service doesn’t apply to card payments, only interbank transfers.

Is this service available for payments in currencies other than sterling?

At this stage, it’s only for sterling payments between UK banks.

 

Centurium Bank seeks to ensure we have the appropriate physical and technological security measures in place to protect your information, regardless of where it is held. These include, but are not limited to, enterprise firewalls, endpoint protection, two factor authentication, a 24/7 cyber monitoring service, annual cyber training for staff, strict access controls and a penetration testing programme.

For more information on how you can protect yourself against fraud, please click here.

Any information about cyber security may reference Centurium Bank’s products and services and should not be taken as advice or a recommendation. We may include details of products and services that Centurium Bank does not offer in your country of residence or that are suitable based on your personal circumstances. You should seek individual advice from a professional adviser before making any financial decision.

 

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Visa card transaction notifications https://centuriumbank.com/visa-card-transaction-notifications/ https://centuriumbank.com/visa-card-transaction-notifications/#respond Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:08:18 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/?p=7881 Helping you detect potential fraudulent card activity with SMS notifications for Visa card transactions. Earlier this year we wrote to you to let you know you can receive an SMS notification each time your Visa card is used. This service allows you to monitor your Visa card transactions more efficiently and helps detect potential fraudulent… Continue reading Visa card transaction notifications

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Helping you detect potential fraudulent card activity with SMS notifications for Visa card transactions.

Earlier this year we wrote to you to let you know you can receive an SMS notification each time your Visa card is used. This service allows you to monitor your Visa card transactions more efficiently and helps detect potential fraudulent card activity earlier.

How to turn on SMS card notifications

  • Login to Online Wealth Services via our mobile app or on desktop.
  • In the “More” menu, choose “Card Management”
  • Swipe through the list of cards to your required card.
  • Select ‘Card Preferences’, then ‘Manage Notifications’.
  • To receive SMS notifications for all card transactions, whether approved or declined, switch on the ‘Receive Notifications’ button.

To stop receiving SMS notifications for card transactions, switch the ‘Receive Notifications’ button off.

What to do if you suspect Card Fraud?

  • If you suspect card fraud, you can report it via our 24-hour Visa helpline which is incorporated in the SMS text you receive.
  • In Online Wealth Services, you can report your card lost or stolen, or you can place a ‘freeze’ on your card.

Click here to find out more about using the card features in Online Wealth Services.

Our client services team are also on hand to assist, and are available between 8am and 8pm (UK time), Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays), by calling:

We will ask you for characters from your security password to identify you when you call us. You can also contact the team via email using the following email address: client.services@centuriumbank.com.

 

Centurium Bank seeks to ensure we have the appropriate physical and technological security measures in place to protect your information, regardless of where it is held. These include, but are not limited to, enterprise firewalls, endpoint protection, two factor authentication, a 24/7 cyber monitoring service, annual cyber training for staff, strict access controls and a penetration testing programme.

For more information on how you can protect yourself against fraud, please click here.

Any information about cyber security may reference Centurium Bank’s products and services and should not be taken as advice or a recommendation. We may include details of products and services that Centurium Bank does not offer in your country of residence or that are suitable based on your personal circumstances. You should seek individual advice from a professional adviser before making any financial decision.

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Fraud awareness update https://centuriumbank.com/fraud-update-september-2023/ Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:45:23 +0000 https://centuriumbank.com/expedita-eligendi-optio-et-distinctio-repudiandae/ Fraud awareness update

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It is always important to stay aware of the types of scams out there to avoid falling victim to these fraudsters – avoid becoming a victim of fraud by knowing what to look out for allows you to stay safe.

Fraud scams continue to plaque the general public and though they keep evolving they also remain the same in many instances. It is always important to stay aware of the types of scams out there to avoid falling victim to these fraudsters.

The following scams are quite common and knowing what to look out for allows you to stay safe.

Scam 1 – WhatsApp “Family Emergency Scam”

How it works

“Mom/Dad, I lost my phone, and this is my new number”

“Hi Mum, I dropped my phone and its broken this is my new number till I get my phone fixed.”

  • The fraudster targets victims by messaging them through WhatsApp.
  • This kind of message has variations of “this is an emergency and I need your assistance” .
  • The message usually involves the fraudster impersonating a close acquaintance or family member with a request to send money, either to them or on their behalf.
  • The reason behind the request often involves the fraudster stating that they can’t gain access to their own funds, they have a bill they aren’t able to afford or there is a current emergency that they need help with.
  • The perpetrators usually pretend to be in a hurry, hoping the urgency will entice their victims to act immediately.
  • More advanced fraudsters may target victims at specific times of day to enhance the urgency i.e. late evening just before banks close or on a Friday afternoon.
  • The urgency will put stress on the victim and encourage them to make rash decisions they may not usually take under normal circumstances.

How to spot this type of scam

  • In most cases, the phone number used to commit WhatsApp fraud is unknown, but will use a familiar profile picture, convincing the victim that they are communicating with a friend or family member.
    Criminals can easily copy a photo from other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram.
  • The fraudster creates a sense of urgency and pressures you to pay quickly.
  • HOWEVER, fraudsters can also continue the scam over an extended period of time if they think they will eventually convince the person to pay them an amount.
  • The fraudster may reference the change of phone number but quickly talks about needing assistance.
  • Their message may include poor English but that is not always the case!
  • The fraudster does not want to be called, always communicates through messages and finds excuses for not being able to take a call.
  • The fraudster asks for money to be transferred to an unknown account often stating it belongs to a friend or someone they owe money to etc.

What to do?

  • DO NOT PANIC or respond immediately.
  • ALWAYS contact the person on the number you know, to confirm they are not really in an emergency.
  • Do not engage with the fraudsters if at all possible.
  • Report the number to Action Fraud UK, it assists them to determine numbers that belong to fraud syndicates.
  • If you have got to a stage where the person has provided bank details, report those details to Action Fraud UK to enable investigations related to fraudulent accounts.
  • If you have made a payment, immediately inform your bank.
  • We (or any bank) will never ask for your full password
  • We (any other bank or the police) will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, or to move money to another account
  • Just because someone knows some of your personal information doesn’t mean they’re legitimate
  • Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud
  • Always call your bank back on the usual and trusted telephone number, such as the one on the back of your bank card. This is also true for anyone that contacts you out of the blue from an unfamiliar number claiming to be someone you trust.

Scam 2 – Interception fraud

How it works

  • Interception fraud is when criminals steal information such as email usernames and passwords allowing them to hack personal or business email accounts.
  • Email interception can happen in a number of ways including phishing, spoofing, phone cloning or hacking or putting malicious software (such as key loggers) onto a computer.
  • The main purpose of the interception is to impersonate a legitimate person/business.
  • It is common for this method to be used to change bank details contained in a legitimate invoice, so money is sent to a fraudster’s account.

How to spot this type of fraud

  • A change in email address. In most instances the fraudulent address has a single letter difference to the legitimate address, which is not easy to spot – for example a slight spelling difference in the name using “a” instead of “o”. In rare instances the email domain name differs completely.
  • Beneficiary details within the invoice have changed (if you have paid this beneficiary before).
  • Spelling mistakes within the invoice, sometimes this is overt, but at other times this is not as obvious.
  • The fraudster may create a sense of emergency to put the victim under increased stress
  • The bank might reject the first payment – the fraudster then typically asks you to make the payment into a different account. The amount of the payment might be the same, or different.

What to do?

  • Before making payments to invoices sent by email, contact the company on their publicly available phone number to confirm the bank details provided in the invoice.
  • Check that bank details match previous details if you have paid the person/business in the past. Question them if the details have changed. There are times when it is a legitimate change.
  • Check the email address and domain for errors.
  • Consider the type of account you are making the payment to – for example the account details might belong to an individual, but you are making a payment to an organisation
  • If a payment has been made to one of these accounts and it does not appear to be legitimate contact your bank immediately.

In both these types of scam, the fraudsters trick a person into making the payment. They will often withdraw funds immediately after it is received making it almost impossible to recover the funds paid.

 

Centurium Bank seeks to ensure we have the appropriate physical and technological security measures in place to protect your information, regardless of where it is held. These include, but are not limited to, enterprise firewalls, endpoint protection, two factor authentication, a 24/7 cyber monitoring service, annual cyber training for staff, strict access controls and a penetration testing programme.

For more information on how you can protect yourself against fraud, please click here.

Any information about cyber security may reference Centurium Bank’s products and services and should not be taken as advice or a recommendation. We may include details of products and services that Centurium Bank does not offer in your country of residence or that are suitable based on your personal circumstances. You should seek individual advice from a professional adviser before making any financial decision.

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