Career overlap among Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance; fintech funding to rebound

Retracing the career paths of the Most Powerful Women in Banking: While many banks and financial service companies play out on the global stage, the industry itself can be smaller than it seems. Here is a look at the connections among the honorees on this year's list.

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Second Trump era expected to breathe life into fintech funding: The pro-business, deregulation-friendly administration is taking office at a time when economic conditions are improving for fintechs and their investors.

Banks warily optimistic on mortgages but volatile rates a concern: Some lenders are once again hiring mortgage lenders, but memories of the painful staffing cuts they were forced to make over the past two years remain top of mind.

BankThink: Private credit markets are a $1.7 trillion ticking time bomb: Huge portfolios of outstanding private credit, issued by lenders completely free of banklike supervision and safety and soundness requirements, are almost certainly of lower quality than banks' loan portfolios. If they implode, the damage could be extensive.

Klarna's IPO tests the strength of BNPL: Buy now/pay later popularity has been on the rise as more consumers are turning to short-term installment lending to finance everyday purchases. The Swedish financier will find out if that momentum will be a winner with investors in the U.S.