Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) has hired two senior bankers from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to slowly reach its final goal of establishing a bank. Two leading bankers, Omer Ismail and David Stark have joined the retail giant to steer its course in fintech services.
Omar Ismail, a substantive hire, for Walmart, may lead Walmart into filing an application to become a bank. Late last year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. tweaked its rules and created a path for non-financial firms to look for banking charters.
Banks have been against these charters as they will adversely affect their traditional business models. These new rules will allow companies to enter the banking sector without capital and additional liquidity demands that traditional banks have to meet.
On Sunday, a spokesperson said that Walmart is not planning to apply for the ILC status, as of now.
These inroads into the financial sector will help Walmart increase its profits. The company has done well during the pandemic by improving its online businesses but has also spent more as a result of COVID-19 protocol related expenses, an increase in employee wages as well as upgrades in its supply-chain operations.
Walmart saw a 10% dip in share value this year, despite its good performance during the pandemic.
Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart told analysts that customers were asking the retailer for affordable financial products a few weeks ago before these hires. He had also been looking for ways to “monetize” the huge troves of data available with Walmart.
Walmart has about 150 million customers. It has 5,300 stores across the nation, with many stores working 24X7. This provides the retailer with a consumer base and a network of branches that far exceeds those available with JP Morgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo & Co.
Walmart has not disclosed much about its recent financial partnership with Ribbit Capital. However, Meyer Malka, managing partner of Ribbit Capital said that the two firms together could create and deliver “financial offerings that are second to none.”
Burt Ely, a banking consultant in Alexandria, Virginia said that the banking industry is waiting and closely watching the unfolding saga as, “the minute you start talking about Walmart and banking, the alarm bells go off.”
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is a behemoth operating not only as a grocery store and also as a pharmacy. There is not a consumer staple product that Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) does not sell. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) also offers financial services such as check cashing, wire transfers, and bill payments.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s CEO Doug McMillon has been with Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) since 2014. He is considered the genius who took Walmart to the next level of e-commerce operations and soon in direct competition with Amazon. From 2009 to 2014 he was president and CEO of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) International. From 2005 to 2009 he served as president and CEO of Sam’s Club. He is an excellent example how working hard and being loyal pays off in order to be successful. He is an excellent role model for other employees who desire to rise up within the ranks of the company.
NYSE: WMT CWEB Analysts view the stock as a long and short term growth and a great addition to your investment portfolio with an upward momentum of $1000 by 2022 with direct competition to Amazon.
