#bank statement analysis

[novelpatterns]

How Can CART Revolutionize Bank Statement Analysis for Financial Institutions?

Novel Patterns’ CART (Credit Assessment and Robotic Transformation), is an AI-powered solution that automates bank statement analysis, delivering faster and more accurate insights into an applicant’s financial history. This article explores how CART revolutionizes the process of credit underwriting by providing accurate data, preventing fraud, and improving overall operational efficiency.

Automated bank statement analysis for faster credit decisions.

Detects fake bank statements and fraudulent activity with AI.

Provides real-time insights into financial health and spending patterns.

Improves decision accuracy with advanced data parsing and machine learning.

Reduces Turnaround Time (TAT) by 40–70%, speeding up loan approvals.

Predictive analytics to reduce Non-Performing Assets (NPA) by 40–60%.

Helps lenders make informed financial decisions with clear, actionable data.

Scales effortlessly to handle high application volumes with cloud-based infrastructure.

What is a Bank Statement Analysis? : A Key to Financial Health and Risk Management

With CART, this process is automated and enhanced with machine learning. The system collects data from bank statements, processes it through bank statement analyzers, and generates real-time reports on financial behavior. CART does more than just include monthly figures for income and expenses — it delivers actionable insights, flagging any anomalies that could indicate potential fraud or fraudulent activity.

Key Features of CART for Advanced Bank Statement Analysis

1. Advanced AI-Powered Data Parsing for Financial Data

In addition to processing traditional bank statement analysis, CART is designed to detect fake bank statements by identifying inconsistencies or missing transaction patterns. This ensures the accuracy of the financial data used to assess credit risk and improves overall decision-making.

2. Automated Credit Decision Support

The system highlights key risk factors, such as missed payments or irregular deposits, and suggests whether further investigation is needed. This automation reduces the manual workload and improves processing times by up to 70%. CART has been shown to cut Turnaround Time (TAT) by 40–70%, leading to quicker loan approvals.

3. Real-Time Decision-Making with AI-Driven Insights

This not only improves credit assessment but also aids in the detection of potential fraud. For instance, if an applicant attempts to manipulate their financial health by submitting fake bank statements, CART can quickly detect discrepancies and flag the application for further review.

4. Reducing Non-Performing Assets (NPA) Through Predictive Analytics

How CART Optimizes the Credit Underwriting Process

1. Fraud Detection and Prevention

One of the most significant challenges for financial institutions is the detection of fraudulent activity and fake bank statements. CART employs anomaly detection algorithms that learn from past fraudulent cases to identify new threats. It flags inconsistencies in financial data, unusual transaction patterns, and other red flags that could signal fraud.

For instance, the system is adept at spotting sudden, large deposits that don’t align with the applicant’s regular income. Such anomalies are flagged for manual review, allowing lenders to mitigate the risk of fraud early in the credit assessment process.

2. Enhanced Workflow and Scalability

CART integrates seamlessly with existing core banking and loan management systems, making it an ideal solution for financial institutions of all sizes. The platform’s API-based architecture ensures real-time communication between different systems, optimizing workflow and reducing bottlenecks in the credit underwriting process.

As financial institutions grow, the demand for scalable solutions increases. CART is built on cloud-based infrastructure, which enables it to scale effortlessly to accommodate high volumes of applications. This scalability is crucial for large lending institutions that handle millions of loan applications each year.

3. Customizable Credit Risk Framework

Every financial institution has its own credit risk policies. CART offers a customizable rule-based engine that allows lenders to tailor their credit scoring models based on their unique requirements. Whether it’s assessing personal loans, business loans, or mortgages, CART adapts to meet the specific needs of the institution.

Technical Architecture: The Engine Behind CART

1. Data Ingestion Layer

The data ingestion layer is responsible for extracting financial data from various document formats. CART uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert unstructured data into a readable format, enabling the system to extract income, expenses, and account balances from bank accounts.

2. AI and Machine Learning Core

Once the data is ingested, it passes through the AI and machine learning layer, which categorizes transactions and detects anomalies. The system is trained to identify fraudulent activity, flagging any unusual behavior in financial data that could indicate potential fraud.

This layer ensures that CART integrates seamlessly with external systems, such as Loan Origination Systems (LOS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms. The integration layer is essential for ensuring real-time data flow between various systems, making CART a vital part of any lending institution’s digital ecosystem.

The Business Case for CART: Why Choose This Bank Statement Analyzer?

Time and Cost Efficiency: By automating bank statement analysis, CART reduces manual labor costs and accelerates the loan approval process. This results in significant cost savings — up to 55%—for financial institutions.

Fraud Prevention: CART is equipped with advanced algorithms to detect fake bank statements and prevent financial fraud, ensuring that lenders only approve legitimate applicants.

Data-Driven Insights: The AI-powered system offers detailed insights into income, expenses, and spending patterns, allowing lenders to make better financial decisions. The ability to track effective cash flow management also enables institutions to assess an applicant’s capacity to repay loans.

Regulatory Compliance: CART adheres to stringent data security and compliance standards, making it suitable for financial institutions that deal with sensitive customer information. The system ensures that all data is encrypted and handled in compliance with regulations.

Re-wind up: Transforming Bank Statement Analysis with CART

The future of bank statement analysis lies in automation and AI-driven insights. Novel Patterns’ CART offers financial institutions a solution that not only improves effective cash flow management and credit decision-making but also mitigates risks such as potential fraud and fake bank statements.

With its advanced AI models, customizable framework, and robust fraud detection systems, CART is poised to redefine the credit underwriting process, ensuring that financial institutions can make more informed decisions with speed and precision.

[scoremeijiu98]

Understanding Bank Statement Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide

Bank statement analysis is an essential practice in both personal and professional finance management. It involves reviewing and interpreting the information in bank statements to understand financial health, track expenses, and identify trends. In this blog, we will explore what bank statement analysis entails, its importance, and how to perform it effectively.

What is Bank Statement Analysis?

Bank statement analysis is the process of examining the details of bank statements to gain insights into financial transactions over a specific period. Bank statements typically include information such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers, fees, and the opening and closing balances for the account. Analyzing this information helps individuals and businesses make informed financial decisions.

Importance of Bank Statement Analysis

1. Financial Health Assessment

Regular analysis of bank statements allows individuals and businesses to assess their financial health. By understanding income, expenses, and cash flow, one can make better financial decisions and plan for the future.

2. Expense Tracking

Bank statement analysis helps in tracking expenses and identifying spending patterns. This understanding can lead to better budgeting and financial planning.

3. Fraud Detection

Regularly reviewing bank statements can help detect unauthorized transactions and potential fraud. Early detection is crucial in preventing significant financial losses.

4. Loan Applications

Lenders often require bank statements for loan applications. A thorough analysis of bank statements can ensure that all transactions are accurately recorded and presented, improving the chances of loan approval.

5. Tax Preparation

Analyzing bank statements can simplify tax preparation by providing a clear record of all financial transactions. This can be particularly helpful for identifying deductible expenses and ensuring compliance with tax regulations.

How to Perform Bank Statement Analysis

1. Gather Bank Statements

The first step in bank statement analysis is to gather all relevant bank statements for the period you want to analyze. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your needs.

2. Categorize Transactions

Next, categorize all transactions into different groups, such as income, expenses, savings, and investments. This helps in understanding the distribution of funds and identifying spending patterns.

3. Identify Regular Income and Expenses

Identify regular income sources, such as salary, business income, or investment returns, and regular expenses, such as rent, utilities, and groceries. This helps in understanding the fixed components of your financial situation.

4. Analyze Cash Flow

Analyzing cash flow involves looking at the inflow and outflow of money. This helps in understanding how money is being managed and identifying areas where cash flow can be improved.

5. Look for Trends and Anomalies

Identify any trends or patterns in your financial transactions. Look for anomalies, such as unexpected charges or significant changes in spending patterns, which may require further investigation.

6. Use Financial Tools

There are various financial tools and software available that can assist in bank statement analysis. These tools can automate the process, provide visual representations of data, and offer insights that may not be immediately apparent.

Tips for Effective Bank Statement Analysis

1. Regular Review

Perform bank statement analysis regularly to stay on top of your financial situation. Monthly reviews are recommended for most individuals and businesses.

2. Keep Records

Maintain organized records of your bank statements and analysis reports. This can be useful for future reference and for preparing financial statements or tax returns.

3. Seek Professional Help

If you are unsure about how to perform bank statement analysis or need detailed insights, consider seeking help from a financial advisor or accountant.

4. Use Technology

Leverage technology and financial software to streamline the analysis process. Many tools can automate transaction categorization, generate reports, and provide actionable insights.

Conclusion

Bank statement analysis is a powerful tool for managing personal and business finances. By regularly reviewing and analyzing bank statements, you can gain valuable insights into your financial health, track expenses, detect fraud, and make informed financial decisions. With the right approach and tools, bank statement analysis can become an integral part of your financial management strategy.

[shanayasharma11]

OneInfini's online course on General Banking is the perfect way to kick-start your career in the banking industry. Our expert instructors will guide you through the essentials of banking, from customer service and financial analysis to investment strategies and portfolio management.

[perfios]

Take the best bank statement analysis tool in India and analyze bank statements from Perfios. We have the best teams to analyze all your bank statements.

[mxtxfanatic]

No, every interpretation is not valid in a piece of media unless the creator has explicitly said somewhere that they have left their work open to interpretation. If you wanna “choose your own adventure” your way through a story, Minecraft exists, The Sims 4 was made free, a blank Word/Google document is a few clicks away, a pen and paper are easily found in the supplies section of most stores. A story for adults with a plot, characters, and conclusion is not your build-a-bear. You are looking for fanfics.

Someone else took the time to make a thing and share it with you so that you could understand the thing they are trying to communicate to you. If an author writes, “The sky is purple,” you don’t get to go, “Well, in the world that I live in, the sky is blue, so the sky in the story must be blue, too. Let’s discuss!” and treat that as “valid interpretation” that should be discussed with equal weight as the people discussing “ok, what’s the significance of the sky being purple? 🤔” I don’t give a singular fuck about whether you are familiar with the "cultural context" of the story or whether you can understand the original language it was written in or whether or not you know the creator on a person level. None of that shit matters, because nobody consumes media for the express purpose of finding out whether or not it conformed to the bank of knowledge Rando Number User #24,232 has learned in life. No person engaged in real critique ever has to take you seriously if your attempts at "analysis" begin and end at "I don't know the author irl to know what their intentions were, so anything goes!" That is a lazy copout, nothing "critical" to be found. Not everything in a general fandom space has to be canon-exclusive, no, but every claim to canon has to align with what is in the actual source material. There’s nothing wrong with either of those statements.

So no, you don’t get to waltz into a canon space going “Jiang Cheng is a great brother and uncle, let’s discuss” and then get upset when told “In this book, Jiang Cheng is an abusive uncle and childhood friend, and round these parts, we discuss the book.” Don’t wanna discuss Jiang Cheng's canon characteristics? The main tags never went anywhere. Get from round these parts.

[beelmons]

Hotch being like Garcia and Morgan whenever they call each other. Oh imagine it during the case✨😮‍💨

Hotch: what have you got sweetheart?

R: *chuckling*……this my soon to be husband

This just a came out of nowhere, i gotta say I literally L O V E your writing.

Change it However I like

I Hope that botch sides of your pillow are always cold. Bye<3

Not-so-professional

cw: hotch x fem!reader, link on the text lead's to my wife's fic 'honey bun' since it's a reference to her work!!! read it!!!

You loved helping the BAU out, you didn't often have the chance to, but every once in a while, when your poor friend Penelope was overworked, you would be assigned to help out with data analysis. You were forever thankful for that annoying day in which you first aided the BAU, ever demanding of new information, since it allowed you to meet Aaron Hotchner, fall in love, and end up engaged with just a couple of days to go for your wedding.

But there would be time to dwell into all that later, since today you had to be top of your game; they were getting close, and you were certain they would ask for information soon. And at last, the phone rang.

"This is future Mrs. Hotchner speaking, how can I be of help?" you said with a wide smile on your face.

His subordinates expected a scowl, or at least a reprimand for your unprofessional behavior, but they were pleased to see that, instead, their boss's lips had curled up into a smitten crescent.

"Mrs. Hotchner, we need information on Javier Perez's bank account transactions." halfway through the sentence, his tone had gotten back to the stern one he was accostumed to. "Coming right up, sweet cheeks," you paused for a second as you clicky-clacked your way through the bank systems "Seems like little Perez has been up to some naughty deeds. He spent around a hundred dollars in a hardware store, ropes, tape, your usal beginner kidnapper kit, and— Oh, my, my," you exclaimed in surprise, catching their attention.

"What is it?" you heard Rossi ask from the other side of the line.

"He spent about five hundred dollars at a place called Ms. Honey Bun's Toys For Adults. And I'm guessing they don't exactly sell over-complicated legos." you clarified.

They all exchanged amused looks at your statement, everyone but Hotch who simply kept his eyebrows furrowed.

"Anything else?" the boss finally asked.

"Nothing relevant, my love. Hope that helped." you said, your tone going back to professional since his seemed to be so as well.

"Swetheart, you always know how to help me." his tone had switched unpromted to a flirty one, indicating that there was a hidden meaning behind his words "And while you're free why don't check around if Ms. Honey's store has a website?" he indicated.

You beamed in your place and exclaimed a quick 'on it' as you hung up the phone.

On the other side of the line, Hotch kept hopelessly smiling at the speaker that had recently gone dead, with his particular i'm-not-really-smiling face that he so stubbornly wore at the office. He was too entranced to notice the entire team had gone quiet, simply staring in his direction. He finally raised his sight and realized he was the center of attention, which caused a confused look out of him.

"Honeymoon preparations?" Derek asked with his usual teasing tone.

Aaron had to clear his throat, trying to impose his authority again, before he spoke. "Everyone get back to work."

Needless to say, after Morgan texted the entire exchange to her, Penelope was very proud.

[kp777]

By Jake Johnson

Common Dreams

Sept. 3, 2024

"Apartheid Israel is targeting Gaza and the West Bank simultaneously, as part of an overall process of elimination, replacement, and territorial expansion," said United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

An independent United Nations expert warned Monday that "Israel's genocidal violence risks leaking out of Gaza and into the occupied Palestinian territory as a whole" as Western governments, corporations, and other institutions keep up their support for the Israeli military, which stands accused of grave war crimes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories, said in a statement that "there is mounting evidence that no Palestinian is safe under Israel's unfettered control."

"The writing is on the wall, and we cannot continue to ignore it," said Albanese, who released a detailed report in May concluding that there are "reasonable grounds to believe" Israel is guilty of genocide in Gaza.

Albanese's new statement came as the Israeli military's largest assault on the West Bank in decades continued into its second week. At least 29 Palestinians have been killed during the series of military raids, according toAl Jazeera, including at least five children.

"Apartheid Israel is targeting Gaza and the West Bank simultaneously, as part of an overall process of elimination, replacement, and territorial expansion," Albanese said Tuesday. "The longstanding impunity granted to Israel is enabling the de-Palestinization of the occupied territory, leaving Palestinians at the mercy of the forces pursuing their elimination as a national group."

"The international community, made of both states and non-state actors, including companies and financial institutions, must do everything it can to immediately end the risk of genocide against the Palestinian people under Israel's occupation, ensure accountability, and ultimately end Israel's colonization of Palestinian territory," Albanese added.

Defense for Children International–Palestine noted Monday that "dozens of Israeli military vehicles" have "stormed" the West Bank city of Jenin over the past week as "Israeli forces deployed across the targeted refugee camps, seizing Palestinian homes to use as military bases and stationing snipers on the roofs of buildings, subjecting their residents to field investigations."

"The military bulldozers began destroying the civil infrastructure in Jenin city and camp, which led to the destruction of the main water networks and power outage in several neighborhoods in Jenin and surrounding villages," the group said. "Israeli forces besieged several hospitals in Jenin and impeded the movement of ambulances and paramedics."

Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed more than 620 people in the occupied West Bank since October 7, on top of the roughly 40,800 killed by the Israeli military in Gaza.

Unlawful Israeli land seizures have also surged in the West Bank as settlers and soldiers wipe out entire Palestinian communities. The BBCreported Monday that, according to its own analysis, there are "currently at least 196 across the West Bank, and 29 were set up last year—more than in any previous year."

Israel's multi-day attack on the West Bank that began last week has intensified fears that unless there's a permanent cease-fire, the assault on Gaza could expand to the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories and throughout the Middle East.

David Hearst, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye, wrote Monday that "even with the obvious reluctance of Hezbollah and Iran to get involved, all the ingredients are there for a much larger conflagration."

"An Israel in the grip of an ultra-nationalist, religious, settler insurgency; a U.S. president who allows his signature policy to be flouted by his chief ally, even at the risk of losing a crucial election; resistance that will not surrender; Palestinians in Gaza who will not flee; Palestinians in the West Bank who are now stepping up to the front line; Jordan, the second country to recognize Israel, feeling under existential threat," Hearst wrote.

For U.S. President Joe Biden or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, he added, "the message is so clear, it is flashing in neon lights: The regional costs of not standing up to Netanyahu could rapidly outweigh the domestic benefits of being dragged along by him."

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, similarly argued Tuesday that "the U.S. must reverse course—and do so dramatically."

"A long-overdue cut-off of U.S. arms to Israel and recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination would provide exactly the shock to the system that is needed," Zogby wrote. "It would force an internal debate in Israel, empowering those who want peace. It might also serve to send a message to the Palestinian people that their plight and rights are understood."

These actions, especially if followed up with determination and concrete steps, won't end the conflict tomorrow," Zogby continued, "but they would surely put the region on a more productive path towards peace than the one it is on now."

[darkmaga-retard]

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Aiesha Henyard, who has been dubbed "America's Worst Mayor"

By Tyler Durden

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Aiesha Henyard, who has been dubbed "America's Worst Mayor", has disappeared after an investigation into the village's spending revealed more than $3.5 million in debt, "out of control" credit card spending and $40,000 spend on Amazon purchases in one day. 

Believe it or not, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was hired to lead the investigation into the Dolton, Il mayor. 

Village trustees hired Lightfoot to address concerns about excessive spending, including taxpayer-funded billboards, ads, lavish dinners, and trips, according to CBS. Earlier this year it was reported Henyard spent $7,650 on hair and makeup after taking office and billed the city for it. 

Dolton Trustee Brittney Norwood told CBS News in February that trustees were denied access to bank statements. Lightfoot uncovered further questionable spending, including out-of-control credit card use with few receipts provided.

"These are somebody using one of the credit cards," Lightfoot said to CBS. "The village has been unable to pay all of its monthly expenditures with its available cash balance." Riveting analysis, Lori. 

Dolton Trustee Brittney Norwood said: "The last time I received the bank statement was in September of last year, and we were $7 million in debt at that time. So at this current moment, we're saying, 'Hey, where are the bank statements? So we can know where we are.'"

[dizzymoods]

[Link to original article]

I do not disagree with the sentiment expressed by Malm in this article nor in the excerpted quote. However, how it is expressed and celebrated is bothersome.

i was in middle school when the war on terror started. The use of "civilian" is not a neutral descriptor. "Civilian" has a connotation denoting whiteness, ascribed with a degree of innocence. Civilians killed by the US in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, [pick a country] are "collateral damage" not "civilians". We've seen israelis call Palestinian babies born in the months after October 2023, Hamas ie enemy combatants.

Almost all israelis are ex-colonial soldiers. How do we describe them as "civilians" when they partook in violent military action against Palestinians? Those that are not ex-idf still maintain the colonial society. Religious, pacifist objectors to service rarely renounce their citizenship. The idf, even if they brutalize these objectors, nevertheless protect their spot on the land — ironically the very reason for the punishment, "you're only here bc of us dummy". And then you have civilians, who may not be active military but become avatars of the colonial army when they call upon the idf to help them kick Palestinians out of their homes in the West Bank.

I met someone who is descended from the family who enslaved my maternal family. We are related and to borrow a phrase from James Baldwin, "my grandmother is not a rapist." Even though slave owners or settler/colonizers may not be official government employees, they authorize the state. We see this expressed in 1776 and 1948, for example.

Calling israelis settlers is not an indictment of their morality or an indication of the level of violence they've personally conducted. It is a descriptor of the violence inherent to their class position in the way bourgeois is. Calling them "civillians" is invoking a moral sentiment that the people they are colonizing, the Palestinians, are not afforded. Zionist rag The Atlantic literally said it is okay to kill babies the day before the firebombing of Rafah where we actually saw people burned alive and decapitated babies. That's one.

Two: Why are we re-litigating 7 October over half a year into a genocide?

"Critically" supporting Palestinian armed resistance 184 days and 75 years after Al-Aqsa Flood is a bit late, no? (Malm's original article was published on 8 April 24) So how is this statement exactly brave when people were supporting Palestinian armed resistance for decades? I mean Wu Tang Clan was rapping about PLO style 31 years ago. Chavez, Mao, Malcolm, the Panthers, Castro, Mandela, Shakur, Jordan etc etc etc have all supported not just the Palestinian cause but the righteousness of their armed struggle. Unequivocally, mind you. It's only been settler-supporters of Palestine that equivocate on this matter.

Liberal supporters of Palestine still wince at the celebrations of Al-Aqsa Flood. And of the Haitian Revolution and of the FLN, ANC, etc etc. They think it is a celebration of killing settler-"civilians". It's not. It's a celebration of the advancement of or the success of the liberation movement.

It sounds callous but everyone has a matter of fact relationship to violence. It's not cause for celebration. it's actually a tragedy. Violence is a sign non-violent means we're ineffective. It means the endurance people have of death without concessions has been exhausted.

The zionist Jabotinsky understood this in 1923. It doesn't matter if the jewish settlers are benevolent or malicious: there is a contradiction between the zionists who want to settle the land and the Palestinians who refuse to cede the land, which can only be reconciled through violence. And if the zionists were to be successful, he said they will need to ceaselessly employ offensively defensive violence to maintain their settlements. Hence the mowing of the lawn in Gaza every two years, the ever expanding settlements in the West Bank. Jabotinsky's analysis is 40 years older than Wretched of the Earth btw. Straight from the colonizer's mouth. So again, what is brave about this statement?

[edited for spelling]

[thatpodcastkid]

Magnus Archives Relisten 11, MAG 11 Dreamer

If someone came to my place of work proclaiming they had a prophetic dream about my death I would simply believe them. RIP to Gertrude but I'm just built different ig.

MAG 11 analysis, spoilers ahead!

Facts: Statement of "Antonio Blake" regarding his dreams of Gertrude Robinson, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute (Head Archivist is another odd and foreshadowing usage of proper nouns in the transcript). Statement given March 14th, 2015.

Statement Notes: Oliver I love you but I also hate you so so much.

It's so strange relistening to this statement. On my first listen, I was very sympathetic to "Antonio." He was this innocent man who suddenly developed psychic abilities that tormented him. Even in 121 when he describes what he did on the voyage to Point Nemo, he seems to be driven by fear and desperation. But knowing what happens after Point Nemo and who he becomes in the Eyepocalypse, I wonder how much influence the power of the End had on him. As Jon develops his abilities, he becomes less confident in "normal" social situations, but more confident and stronger in dangerous horror-based scenarios. This seems true with Blake/Banks as well. He's very nervous as his abilities are developing when he tries to talk to Gertrude or Jennifer from Grifter's Bone. As he becomes more attuned with his abilities and gives in to his desires, he becomes more powerful, shown when he is strong and devoid of emotion enough to kill the actual Dr. Pritchard. He becomes strongest when he "gives in" to the End, being most clear and charming as he gives his statement in 121 and the Coroner's Report in 168. Just being able to track this change so clearly from this first statement to the last speaks not only to Jonny Sims skills for character development, but also the power of the Entities to draw out the worst in a person.

Blake describes his dream world as an "overexposed" or "washed out" photograph. The fading imagery was very profound and strong to me. Death is a fear, a horror represented by the black tendrils, but also a simple force of nature, slowly sucking life and color from all things. Unstoppable.

I don't know why I'm harping on this, but I can't understand why Blake's dreams always begin at the top of Canary Wharf. Does that come up again in the show? Is it personally significant to Blake?

Character Notes: I already got into Blake, so my other main character concern for this episode is Gertrude.

Did she ever see this statement?

Did she simply miss it? Was she busy and didn't get a chance to look at it before it was too late? Did she read it and attempt to prepare? She was smart. She knew which statements were real and which weren't. She would have understood what Blake was capable of. Did she attempt to prepare and defend herself but just couldn't manage it? Did Elias hide it from her? Did she read it and just accept the inevitable?

But of course, I have to bring up the Graham mention. I always thought the Graham/Oliver ship was just a fun fan thing, but I didn't realize Oliver had broken up with a Graham in cannon. Moreover, I didn't realize that it was confirmed to be Graham Folger until reading about the Season 5 Q&A when working on this post.

This raises an interesting point about original Graham. Blake describes having a mental breakdown due to his job, and Amy Patel describes her office job degrading her mental health as well. Is there something about Graham that attracts people losing their minds in an office? While it could be something spooky, I do understand why people stuck in mind-numbing careers would be drawn to someone with the time and resources to explore what he actually wants to do with his life, rather than what he has to do.

Entity Alignment: This is very clearly an End episode. I very much believe that, while he may not be the most powerful or dangerous avatar in the series, Oliver Banks was one of the most deeply connected to his entity. His psyche, his spirit, and his physical body were all so entrenched in death. It's interesting that there is no "inciting incident" that causes Graham to become an avatar of the End, as usually there is one event that acts as the root of an avatar's development. You could possibly argue it was his mental health breakdown, but that seems unrelated to death or anything associated with the End.

[novelpatterns]

Enhancing Financial Security and Informed Credit Underwriting with Bank Statement Analysis

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, financial institutions face an ever-increasing challenge in combating fraud and making well-informed credit underwriting decisions. As fraudsters continually devise new and clever tactics, the need for advanced tools and technologies to safeguard assets and reputation has become paramount. Among these tools, the Bank Statement Analyser (BSA) emerges as a vigilant sentinel, equipped with advanced capabilities to detect potential fraud and streamline credit underwriting processes. This article explores the transformative role of the Bank Statement Analyser in revolutionizing credit underwriting and deciphering the intricate financial narratives within bank statements.

The Significance of Bank Statements:

Before delving into the capabilities of the Bank Statement Analyser, it's crucial to grasp the fundamental importance of bank statements in the financial world. Financial statements act as comprehensive financial biographies, documenting one's financial life. These statements unveil income sources, annual earnings, interest payments, and other financial commitments. Financial institutions analyze these statements to piece together an individual's or business's financial situation, aiming to understand financial stability, spending habits, and the ability to manage additional debt responsibly.

Key Functions of the Bank Statement Analyser (BSA):

The Bank Statement Analyser is a multifaceted financial detective, surpassing what manual analysis can achieve. Its vital functions include:

Transaction Sorting and Grouping: Efficiently categorizes and groups financial transactions, aiding in identifying patterns and trends in financial management.

Fraud Detection: Employs sophisticated algorithms to identify potentially fraudulent transactions, safeguarding both borrowers and lenders.

Creditworthiness Rating: Calculates a creditworthiness rating for loan applicants, a critical factor in precise lending decisions.

Insights into Borrower's Activities: Provides in-depth insights into recurring transactions, income sources, and loan payment history, aiding underwriters in assessing repayment capacity.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR):

One pivotal feature of the Bank Statement Analyser is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. OCR acts as a bridge, converting diverse bank statement formats into an editable and searchable format. This ensures efficient analysis of financial data, regardless of the original format.

Bank Statements for Account Holders: Bank statements are indispensable for account holders as well. They help individuals track spending, manage personal finances, and guard against erroneous or fraudulent charges.

Why a Powerful Bank Statement Analyser is Crucial:

Accurate Credit Assessment: Enhances precision in assessing credit risk, crucial in today's data-driven lending landscape.

Regulatory Compliance: Assists institutions in meeting stringent regulatory requirements consistently.

Efficiency Gains: Automates analysis, reducing workload and boosting overall efficiency.

Enhanced Profitability: Informed decisions lead to better loan strategies, lower default rates, and increased profitability.

Improved Customer Experience: Speedier loan processing enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Competitive Edge: Institutions adopting advanced tools like the BSA gain a competitive advantage by offering quicker approvals and better terms.

Error Reduction: Automation reduces the likelihood of costly human errors.

The Evolving Financial Landscape:

In the digital age, data, automation, and advanced analytics are pivotal in finance. Bank Statement Analysers are essential for financial institutions to stay competitive and relevant, offering customizable reports and scalability to handle growing loan volumes.

Detecting Lending Fraud with Bank Statement Analysis:

Bank Statement Analysis software effectively detects various forms of fraud, including identity fraud, documentation fraud, financial fraud, home loan fraud, and commercial fraud.

Identity Fraud: Identity fraud involves borrowers assuming the identity of another person to secure a loan. Skilled professionals often execute such impersonations, making them difficult for human scrutiny. Bank Statement Analysis software can uncover inconsistencies and subtle errors, exposing instances of impersonation.

Documentation Fraud: Documentation fraud occurs when borrowers present counterfeit or altered documents during the loan application process. This can range from minor alterations to the creation of entirely fictitious documents. Bank Statement Analysis software can flag discrepancies in font usage and formatting inconsistencies, helping identify fraudulent documents.

Financial Fraud: Financial data analysis can unearth irregularities in accounting practices. While a business's financial statements may appear sound on paper, bank statement analysis software can identify anomalies and reveal financial shortfalls. This essentially functions as an electronic audit, exposing instances where a business has manipulated its financial records.

Home Loan Fraud: Home loans are susceptible to a distinctive form of fraud. Fraudsters may falsify information related to residential properties to obtain a loan or increase the amount of an existing home loan. This may involve providing incorrect details about a property's assessed value. Bank Statement Analysis software, incorporating machine learning capabilities, can recognize these inconsistencies effectively.

Commercial Fraud: Commercial entities occasionally engage in deceptive practices to obscure various internal fraudulent activities. Examples of commercial fraud encompass falsified reports of a business's financial performance, illicit kickbacks received from third parties, insider trading, and the misappropriation of company funds.

Introducing CART - Your Complete Credit Underwriting Solution:

To optimize credit underwriting and fraud detection, CART, a product by Novel Patterns, emerges as an innovative solution. CART, an AI-driven Bank Statement Analyser, offers streamlined credit assessments, efficient data extraction, customer financial insights, robust fraud detection, and comprehensive financial statement analysis.

Let's delve into the impact that CART can have on financial institutions:

Streamlined Credit Assessments: In today's competitive market, the ability to swiftly evaluate creditworthiness is a significant advantage. CART is engineered to expedite credit assessments, enabling financial institutions to make quicker, more accurate lending decisions. By leveraging AI, CART provides invaluable support in this critical area.

Efficient Data Extraction: Gone are the days of manual data entry and time-consuming document reviews. CART automates the analysis of financial documents, ensuring precision and reducing the scope for human error. This not only saves time but also enhances the overall efficiency of financial operations.

Insights into Customer Financial Transactions: Understanding your customers' financial behavior is vital for tailoring services and offerings. CART empowers you with deep insights into your customers' financial transactions, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and offer personalized solutions that meet their unique needs.

Robust Fraud Detection: Fraud remains an ever-present threat in the financial sector. CART's advanced fraud detection capabilities act as a shield against fraudulent activities. It is equipped to identify unusual patterns and discrepancies, thereby mitigating the risk of financial losses due to fraudulent transactions.

360-Degree Financial Statement Analysis: CART goes beyond mere bank statement analysis; it enables you to create a comprehensive financial statement 360-degree view. This holistic perspective of your customers' financial profiles helps in making well-informed decisions and managing risk effectively.

CART - Beyond Bank Statement Analysis:

CART is not limited to bank statement analysis; it offers additional layers of capability that further enhance its value and impact on financial institutions. These capabilities include:

Account Aggregator Enabler: CART facilitates the aggregation of financial data from various sources into one platform, eliminating manual entry and improving convenience. It streamlines consent management, enabling users to control data access and simplifying permissions for institutions, ensuring data security.

Complete Credit Underwriting Solution: CART serves as a complete credit underwriting solution, covering a wide range of financial data analysis needs. It encompasses functions such as credit bureau analysis, financial spreading (balance sheet, P&L), goods and service tax return analysis, income tax and return analysis, and employee salary slip analysis.

The Proven Track Record of CART:

CART's expertise in fraud detection and cost-saving measures has garnered it a remarkable reputation in the industry. With over 80+ major clients placing their trust in CART, it currently processes more than 250 million transactions every month. These staggering numbers underscore the significant impact CART can have on safeguarding your institution's financial health.

CART's efficient fraud detection techniques have been instrumental in averting potential losses exceeding INR 100 million on a monthly basis. These numbers not only showcase CART's reliability but also highlight its role in ensuring financial institutions' stability and security.

Why Choose CART for Your Business:

In an era where data reigns supreme, making informed decisions is non-negotiable. Here are compelling reasons why you should consider integrating CART into your financial institution's operations:

Speed and Efficiency: CART accelerates your lending process, ensuring quick turnarounds without compromising on accuracy. In today's fast-paced world, the ability to make swift decisions can make all the difference.

Risk Mitigation: Robust fraud detection mechanisms protect your institution from financial losses due to fraudulent activities. CART's advanced capabilities act as a formidable defense against fraudsters.

Customer-Centric: Understanding your customers' financial behavior enables you to tailor your offerings and services to their specific needs. CART empowers you with the insights needed to enhance the customer experience.

Cost Savings: By automating manual processes and preventing fraud-related losses, CART leads to significant cost savings. These savings can be reinvested in growth initiatives or improving customer services.

Proven Track Record: CART's success stories with major clients and its consistent performance speak for themselves. It has a track record of delivering results and ensuring the financial well-being of institutions.

Bank Statement Analysers in the Digital Age:

As we navigate the digital age, the importance of tools like Bank Statement Analysersbecomes increasingly evident. In a world driven by data and automation, financial institutions that embrace these tools are better equipped to thrive and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Customization is a key advantage offered by Bank Statement Analysers. The ability to generate tailored reports and categorize transactions according to specific requirements allows lenders to make lending decisions that are finely tuned to the unique needs of individual borrowers. This level of customization enhances customer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of loan approvals.

Scalability is another critical feature of Bank Statement Analysers. As financial institutions grow, the need for efficient and scalable tools becomes paramount. Bank Statement Analysers can handle a growing volume of loan applications without a significant increase in resources. This scalability ensures that financial institutions can meet increasing demand while maintaining operational efficiency.

Embracing the Future of Financial Management:

In conclusion, Bank Statement Analysers have revolutionized financial management. CART takes these advantages to the next level, offering a powerful, customizable, and user-friendly solution. Embrace the future of financial management with CART and unlock the full potential of financial analysis and credit underwriting for your institution's success

[scoremeijiu98]

A Comprehensive Guide to Bank Statement Analysis

In today’s financial landscape, understanding your bank statements is crucial for effective money management and financial planning. Bank statement analysis not only helps individuals track their spending but also aids in detecting errors, budgeting, and making informed financial decisions. This comprehensive guide provides insights into how to analyze bank statements effectively, ensuring you maximize their utility and maintain financial health.

What is Bank Statement Analysis?

Bank statement analysis involves reviewing and interpreting the details contained in your bank statements. This includes transactions, balances, fees, and other pertinent financial data. The goal is to gain a clear understanding of your financial habits, identify discrepancies, and make informed decisions based on your financial behavior.

Why is Bank Statement Analysis Important?

Track Spending HabitsAnalyzing your bank statements helps you understand where your money is going. By categorizing expenses and income, you can identify spending patterns, adjust your budget, and find areas where you might save more.

Detect Errors and FraudRegularly reviewing your bank statements helps spot errors or unauthorized transactions. Early detection of these issues allows you to address them promptly with your bank, minimizing potential financial loss.

Improve BudgetingWith a clear picture of your income and expenses, you can create a more accurate and realistic budget. Bank statement analysis helps ensure that your budget reflects actual spending and income trends.

Plan for the FutureAnalyzing past transactions provides insights into your financial behavior, which can guide future financial planning. Whether saving for a major purchase or planning for retirement, understanding your financial patterns is essential for setting and achieving goals.

Steps for Effective Bank Statement Analysis

Gather Your StatementsCollect all relevant bank statements for the period you wish to analyze. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your needs. Most banks provide online access to statements, making it easy to download and review them.

Categorize TransactionsBreak down your transactions into categories such as groceries, utilities, dining out, and entertainment. Many financial software tools and apps can automate this process, but it can also be done manually. Categorization helps in understanding spending patterns and identifying areas where adjustments can be made.

Review Balances and TransactionsExamine the opening and closing balances on each statement. Ensure that all transactions are correctly recorded and that there are no discrepancies between your records and the bank’s records. Pay attention to fees, interest charges, and any unusual transactions.

Identify Trends and PatternsLook for recurring expenses and income sources. Identify any trends in your spending that could indicate a need for adjustment. For instance, if you notice a consistent overspending in a particular category, consider revising your budget or spending habits.

Check for Errors and FraudScrutinize each transaction to ensure it matches your receipts or records. Report any discrepancies, such as unauthorized transactions or errors, to your bank immediately. Keeping an eye out for fraudulent activities is crucial for safeguarding your finances.

Summarize FindingsCreate a summary of your analysis, highlighting key findings such as total expenses, income, and any areas for improvement. This summary can serve as a basis for budgeting and financial planning.

Tools and Resources for Bank Statement Analysis

Financial Software and AppsMany financial tools and apps can help automate bank statement analysis. These tools often offer features like expense categorization, budget tracking, and financial reporting.

SpreadsheetsIf you prefer a manual approach, using spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can be effective. Create a template to track and categorize your transactions, and use built-in functions to analyze spending patterns.

Banking ToolsSome banks offer built-in tools and features for analyzing transactions and managing budgets. Explore your bank’s online platform to see if such tools are available.

Tips for Successful Bank Statement Analysis

Be ConsistentRegularly review your bank statements to stay on top of your financial situation. Monthly reviews are recommended to catch any issues early and maintain an accurate budget.

Keep DocumentationMaintain receipts and records for significant transactions. This documentation can help verify transactions and resolve any discrepancies.

Set Financial GoalsUse insights from your bank statement analysis to set and track financial goals. Whether saving for a vacation or paying off debt, having clear goals can help you stay focused and motivated.

Conclusion

Bank statement analysis is a vital practice for managing your finances effectively. By understanding your spending habits, detecting errors, and making informed decisions, you can take control of your financial future. Whether you use financial software, spreadsheets, or manual methods, regular analysis of your bank statements is key to maintaining financial health and achieving your financial goals.

[tieflingkisser]

Israel Is Currently Imprisoning at Least 240 Children in West Bank, Group Says

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society says that many children have been subjected to torture while imprisoned.

Israel has detained at least 640 Palestinian children in the West Bank since October, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported on Monday, as Israeli officials have escalated their violence and suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank during their genocide of Gaza. At least 240 of these children are still in Israeli detention, according to the group. Israeli officials are also imprisoning a group of children in Megiddo prison in northern Israel, PPS reported. Megiddo prison, like many other Israeli detention centers, is rife with abuse, reports have found, for both children and adults held there. These children have been “exposed to all kinds of retaliatory measures, including abuse, torture, as well as medical negligence” while imprisoned, the group said. This includes a 7-year-old child, Baha Kazem Haj Mohammed, who PPS said was arrested on Sunday, the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday. He was reportedly detained along with several other children while in the town center of al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah in the West Bank, and was beaten and then released hours later, according to the group. Israel has a long history of abusing Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza, as Palestinians say that Israeli officials view children as the future of Palestine, which they must extinguish. According to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), Israeli forces have detained 13,000 Palestinian children since 2000 — typically boys between the ages of 12 and 17. In an analysis of affidavits from 766 of these arrests in recent years, DCIP found that 75 percent of these children were subject to violence while detained, while 97 percent were interrogated without family or a lawyer present. A quarter of them are then imprisoned in solitary confinement — a brutal form of torture — for two or more days before trial, one expert recently told Reuters.

[...]

The arrests are part of Israel’s escalating violence in the West Bank. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently reported that it has recorded the deaths of at least 505 Palestinians in the West Bank since October, marking a period of “unprecedented bloodshed” in the region while Israel has been indiscriminately slaughtering Palestinians in Gaza. The acceleration of brutality against Palestinians in the West Bank has alarmed some advocates against Israel’s apartheid and occupation. “While the world is understandably focused on the destruction unfolding in Gaza, we should not lose sight of what is happening in the West Bank — actions which are in violation of both American and international law,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) in a statement on Friday. “Let’s be clear: the right-wing, extremist [Benjamin] Netanyahu government is not only breaking international law in Gaza, they are doing the same in the West Bank, where they are pursuing illegal annexation by force,” Sanders continued. “Netanyahu should be facing serious consequences for these violations, not receiving an invitation to address a joint session of Congress.”

[mariacallous]

For more than three weeks, Gaza has faced an almost total internet blackout. The cables, cell towers, and infrastructure needed to keep people online have been damaged or destroyed as Israel launched thousands of missiles in response to Hamas attacking Israel and taking hundreds of hostages on October 7. Then, this evening, amid reports of heavy bombing in Gaza, some of the last remaining connectivity disappeared.

In the days after October 7, people living in Gaza have been unable to communicate with family or friends, leaving them unsure whether loved ones are alive. Finding reliable news about events has become harder. Rescue workers have not been able to connect to mobile networks, hampering recovery efforts. And information flowing out of Gaza, showing the conditions on the ground, has been stymied.

As the Israel Defense Forces said it was expanding its ground operations in Gaza this evening, internet connectivity fell further. Paltel, the main Palestinian communications company, has been able to keep some of its services online during Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attack. However, at around 7:30 pm local time today, internet monitoring firm NetBlocks confirmed a “collapse” in connectivity in the Gaza Strip, mostly impacting remaining Paltel services.

“We regret to announce a complete interruption of all communications and internet services within the Gaza Strip,” Paltel posted in a post on its Facebook page. The company claimed that bombing had “caused the destruction of all remaining international routes.” An identical post was made on the Facebook page of Jawwal, the region’s biggest mobile provider, which is owned by Paltel. Separately, Palestinian Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, said on X (formerly Twitter) that it had lost contact with its operation room in Gaza and is “deeply concerned” about its ability to keep caring for people, with landline, cell, and internet connections being inaccessible.

“This is a terrifying development,” Marwa Fatafta, a policy manager focusing on the Middle East and North Africa at the digital rights group Access Now, tells WIRED. “Taking Gaza completely off the grid while launching an unprecedented bombardment campaign only means something atrocious is about to happen.”

A WIRED review of internet analysis data, social media posts, and Palestinian internet and telecom company statements shows how connectivity in the Gaza Strip drastically plummeted after October 7 and how some buildings linked to internet firms have been damaged in attacks. Photos and videos show sites that house various internet and telecom firms have been damaged, while reports from official organizations, including the United Nations, describe the impact of people being offline.

Damaged Lines

Around the world, the internet and telecoms networks that typically give web users access to international video calls, online banking, and endless social media are a complicated, sprawling mix of hardware and software. Networks of networks, combining data centers, servers, switches, and reams of cables, communicate with each other and send data globally. Local internet access is provided by a mix of companies with no clear public documentation of their infrastructure, making it difficult to monitor the overall status of the system as a whole. In Gaza, experts say, internet connectivity is heavily reliant on Israeli infrastructure to connect to the outside world.

Amid Israel’s intense bombing of Gaza, physical systems powering the internet have been destroyed. On October 10, the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which oversees emergency responses, said air strikes “targeted several telecommunication installations” and had destroyed two of the three main lines of communications going into Gaza.

Prior to tonight’s blackout, internet connectivity remained but was “extremely slow and limited,” Access Now’s Fatafta says. People she has spoken to from Gaza say it could take a day to upload and send a few photos. “They have to send like 20 messages in order for one to go through,” Fatafta says. “They are desperately—especially for Gazans that live outside—trying to get through to their families.”

“Every time I try to call someone from family or friends, I try to call between seven to 10 times,” says Ramadan Al-Agha, a digital marketer who lives in Khan Yunis, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. “The call may be cut off two or three times,” he told WIRED in a WhatsApp message before the latest outages. “We cannot access news quickly and clearly.” People in the region have simultaneously faced electricity blackouts, dwindling supplies of fuel used to power generators, and a lack of clean water, food, and medical supplies. “It is a humanitarian disaster,” Al-Agha says.

Connectivity in Gaza started to drop not long after Israel responded to the October 7 Hamas attack. Rene Wilhelm, a senior R&D engineer at the nonprofit internet infrastructure organization Ripe Network Coordination Center, says based on an analysis of internet routing data it collects that 11 Palestinian networks, which may operate both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, began to experience disruption after October 7. Eight of the networks were no longer visible to the global internet as of October 23, Wilhelm says. Ahead of this evening’s blackout, there was around 15 percent of normal connectivity, according to data from Georgia Tech’s Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project. That dropped to around 7 percent as reports of the blackout circulated.

One office belonging to Paltel in the Al Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City has been destroyed in the attacks, photos and videos show. Floors have been destroyed and windows blown away in the multistory building, and piles of rubble surround the entrances. (It is unclear what equipment the building housed or how many floors Paltel occupied.) Another internet provider, AlfaNet, is listed as being based in the Al-Watan Tower. The company posted to its Facebook page on October 8 that the tower had been destroyed and its services have stopped, with other online posts also saying the tower has been destroyed.

Multiple Palestinian internet and telecoms firms have said their services have been disrupted during the war, mostly posting to social media. Internet provider Fusion initially said its engineers were trying to repair its infrastructure, although it has since said this is not continuing. “The network was destroyed, and the cables and poles were badly damaged by the bombing,” it wrote on Facebook. JetNet said there had been a “sudden disruption” to access points. SpeedClick posted that the situation was out of its control. And HiNet posted that it has “no more to offer to ensure” people could stay online following “the attacks and destruction our internet servers have suffered.”

Across Paltel’s network on October 19, according to an update shared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 83 percent of fixed line users had been disconnected, with 53 percent of sites providing fixed line connections also being offline. Half of the company’s fiber optic internet lines in Gaza weren’t operational, the update says. The connectivity disappeared this evening, according to Paltel’s Facebook post, which says there has been a “complete interruption” of all its services. Paltel, AlfaNet, Fusion, and SpeedClick could not be reached or did not respond to requests for comment.

Lost Connections

In recent years, governments and authoritarian regimes have frequently turned to shutting down the internet for millions of people in attempts to suppress protests and curtail free speech. Targeting the communications networks is common during conflicts. During Russia's war in Ukraine, its forces have decimated communications networks, tried to take over the internet, and set up new mobile companies to control information flows. When Hamas first attacked Israel on October 7, it used drones to bomb communications equipment at surveillance posts along the borders of the Gaza Strip.

Monika Gehner, the head of corporate communications at the International Telecommunication Union, says the body is always “alarmed” by damage inflicted on any telecommunications infrastructure during conflicts. The ITU, the United Nations’ primary internet governance body, believes “efficient telecommunication services” are crucial to peace and international cooperation, and its secretary-general has called for respecting infrastructure in the Middle East, Gehner says.

Officials in Israel have consistently claimed they are targeting Hamas militants within Gaza, not civilians, while responding to the Hamas attacks, which killed more than 1,400 people in Israel. The Hamas-run Health Ministry within Gaza has said more than 7,000 people have been killed there and released a list of names. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces did not respond to WIRED’s questions about internet disruptions within Gaza.

Hanna Kreitem, a senior adviser for internet technology and development in the Middle East and North Africa at the Internet Society, an open internet advocacy nonprofit, says Palestinian firms have a “big reliance” on Israeli internet firms. “Palestinians are not controlling any of the ICT infrastructure,” says Mona Shtaya, a non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Mobile networks in the Gaza Strip rely on 2G technologies. Al-Agha, the digital marketer, shared a screenshot showing mobile internet speeds of 7.18 kilobytes per second; average mobile speeds in the US in 2022 were 24 megabits per second, according to mobile analytics firm Statista.

“The internet is vital in times of war in crises,” says Fatafta, the Access Now policy manager, who adds that there can be “terrible consequences” linked to connectivity blackouts. The UN’s OCHA said rescue workers have had a harder time “carrying out their mission” partly due to the “limited or no connection to mobile networks.” Al-Agha says he has lost some clients due to the disruptions. The lack of connectivity can obscure events that are happening on the ground, Fatafta says. News crews have told WIRED they have footage from the ground but are “losing the story because of the internet.”

Kreitem says that a lack of electricity and access to the equipment will have made an impact on top of any physical damage to communications networks. “We don't know how many of the people that actually operate these networks are still alive,” Kreitem says. “The network operators are part of the world there, there's no place for them to run. They are as affected as any other person.”

[perfios]

The Perfios bank financial statement analysis tool is the best tool for analysing bank statements. The Perfios Bank Statement analyzer is a very powerful tool that can help you manage your finances better.

[odinsblog]

For all the time Republicans spend complaining about the economic struggles faced by everyday Americans, they remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring major corporations can continue squeezing their customers.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the GOP-controlled House Financial Services Committee voted to advance a bill that would repeal a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that drastically reduces the caps on credit card late fees - from $30-$41 to $8.

The legislation would also repeal the CFPB's ban on automatic adjustment of late fees due to inflation. In the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the bill is expected to fail, a similar repeal measure was introduced by Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — who has recently devoted most of his energy to fawning over Donald Trump — and co-sponsored by 12 other Republicans.

“Credit card companies penalize consumers with exorbitant late fees that far exceed their actual costs, raking in billions of dollars in profits on the backs of those who can least afford it,” said Chuck Bell, advocacy program director for Consumer Reports, in a statement urging Congress to reject the repeal.

According to Republicans on the committee, however, lowering late fees will “harm consumers by shifting costs to responsible consumers who pay on time in the form of higher annual fees and higher interest rates,” while removing incentives for timely payments.”

An analysis published this week by the watchdog group Accountable.US found that Republicans on the committee have “received over $7.9 million from industry groups against this rule and the largest credit issuers.”

(continue reading)