Consumer Banking & Card Payments

Own the businesses that hold consumer deposits, extend household credit, and process card purchases rather than the software vendors selling into finance. American Express's announced workforce cuts put operating efficiency and automation in focus, while the basket combines payment-network economics with deposit-funded lending. Credit losses and pressure on lending margins remain the principal risks; automation savings are an opportunity, not an assumed outcome. Catalysts: - 2026-10-23 American Express to cut about 5% of staff to prepare for AI (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/22/stock-market-today-live-update.html) Launch basket (equal weight): V, MA, NU, BAC, JPM, AXP, COF Rules: 1. No inverse, leveraged or volatility ETFs. 2. Only names tradable at the enrolled brokers (Moomoo): no OTC listings, no dead tickers, nothing on the refused list.