Open Banking: Revolut and N26 enter S-Net

On 1 October, the 3rd edition of the ALFI–Fund Finance Association Leaders' Dinner brought the Luxembourg fund finance community together for an evening of presentations and debate. Spuerkeess was proud to sponsor the event and to open it. Harika Sombhatla, from our Lending – Fund Finance team, looks back on the evening with Philippe Hennes, Head of Institutional Relationship Management.

After several years marked by rising interest rates, slower transaction volumes and challenges in the construction sector, the Luxembourg property market appears to be gradually regaining stability. Buyers now benefit from greater visibility and stronger support thanks to the introduction of several government measures aimed at improving access to housing. That said, the environment remains challenging: property prices are still high in many parts of the country, and becoming a homeowner remains a significant financial commitment. Should prospective buyers wait a little longer or take advantage of the opportunities available today? We asked Bruno Mendes, Team Manager Lending at Spuerkeess.

How does the stock market work, and how can you make informed investment decisions? With the “Stock Market Learning” stock market simulation game, young people aged 15 to 29 have the opportunity to discover exactly that in a realistic environment and without any financial risk. We spoke with Claude Hermes and Florence Flener from the Spuerkeess Marketing department to learn more about the “Stock Market Learning” and gather their advice.

It's a December evening, 11 pm. The filing deadline is looming, and you're ticking boxes somewhat randomly just to get it over with. Sound familiar? You're certainly not alone. Yet a tax return completed in haste often means money left on the table. So, how much can a truly well-prepared tax return save you? We put the question to Patrick Malget, co-founder of taxx.lu, the platform already helping tens of thousands of taxpayers in Luxembourg.

Passing on your business to a third party or within your family is a crucial stage in the life of your company, just as taking over a business marks the start of a new life for a business owner. At Spuerkeess, these two important steps are taken with the advice and support of dedicated experts. Whether you are the assigner or assignee, our experts Johny Basher and Franck Alter, both business transfer advisors at Spuerkeess, reveal the keys to a successful transfer in this article. Happy reading!

In this short extract from the “Evergreens by Spuerkeess” podcast, we give the floor to Nick Huberty, Portfolio Manager at Spuerkeess, to explain what is driving the financial markets in 2025. He discusses the mixed performance of equities, the effects of US monetary policy, the challenges of diversification and emerging trends such as commodities and cryptocurrencies. He gives a lucid and qualified analysis on prudence and opportunities.

In this short extract from the "Evergreens by Spuerkeess" podcast, Julien Kohn, Investment Portfolio Manager at Spuerkeess, shares his analysis of the financial markets in the first half of 2025. He discusses the effects of China’s DeepSeek AI, tensions related to US monetary policy, European dynamics and the outlook for the months ahead, with a balanced vision of prudence and opportunities in a changing global context.

In this short extract from the “Evergreens by Spuerkeess” podcast, David Schmit, Private Banking Advisor at Spuerkeess, shares his perspective on changes in customer portfolios, the impact of geopolitical and monetary tensions, and emerging investment trends. He discusses the challenges of diversification, the comeback of commodities, and the importance of keeping a cool head during periods of volatility. A pragmatic and forward-looking perspective.

In this short extract from the "Evergreens by Spuerkeess" podcast, we talk to Francesco Ferrero, Head of Artificial Intelligence Research, Data Science, Software Development and Artificial Intelligence Strategy at LIST. He shares his views on the technological, ethical and strategic challenges posed by generative AI. Learn about his views on the importance of frugal, sovereign and responsible AI, and find out about the European initiatives that are shaping the future of this technology.

In this short extract from the "Evergreens by Spuerkeess" podcast, we talk to Nicolas Griedlich, Partner at Deloitte Luxembourg in charge of artificial intelligence and data management, to explore the aims of artificial intelligence in business. He shares his views on the rapid evolution of generative AI, and the challenges associated with digital sovereignty, data quality and employee training. Learn about his analysis of emerging trends, such as agentic AI, and his call for a strategic, responsible and European adoption of this technology.

In this short extract from the "Evergreens by Spuerkeess" podcast, Rachid M'haouach, Chief Data Officer and Head of Business Unit Data Management at Spuerkeess, shares his experience of integrating generative artificial intelligence across the Bank. He considers the enthusiasm of the employees, the structuring of a pragmatic approach based on use cases and the challenges associated with infrastructure, regulation and acculturation. Find out how Spuerkeess is building a sustainable AI strategy, centred on people and aligned with European challenges.

EU Regulation 2024/886 will enter into force on 9 October 2025, disrupting some well-established practices in the world of payments. This regulation aims, among other things, to further secure SEPA euro transfers with the implementation of the “Verification of Payee” scheme (VoP, often also referred to as “name check”). What is important about this change? And what can we do to ensure its success? We spoke to Claude Wurth, Head of Business Unit Account- Based Payments to find out more.