Clancy Yeates is a Deputy Business Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, specializing in banking regulation and financial technology. Based in Sydney, his reporting influences national economic policy debates through rigorous analysis of monetary policy and digital finance trends.
“The true test of financial reform lies in its execution at branch level, not boardroom promises.” – Clancy Yeates, 2023 Banking Summit Keynote
We’ve followed Clancy Yeates’ work as a cornerstone of Australian business journalism, where his incisive analysis of banking and financial markets has shaped public discourse. Starting as a general business reporter, Yeates quickly specialized in financial services, leveraging his economics background to dissect complex policy changes. His promotion to Deputy Business Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age cemented his role as a trusted voice in corporate reporting, particularly during economic shifts like post-pandemic recovery and interest rate fluctuations.
This analysis of the RBA’s 2024 rate cut explores its immediate impact on mortgage holders and banking competition. Yeates combines central bank statements with data from Jarden and Moody’s Analytics to reveal how smaller lenders gained market share by undercutting major banks. His methodology interweaves quantitative lending statistics with qualitative interviews from borrowers switching providers, highlighting the human impact of macroeconomic decisions.
Yeates investigates the aftermath of Australia’s Royal Commission reforms, tracking compliance gaps in consumer lending practices. The article contrasts ASIC enforcement data with CEO statements from Commonwealth Bank and ANZ, exposing discrepancies between corporate rhetoric and implementation. His use of leaked internal memos revealed ongoing pressure on branch staff to meet sales targets, sparking parliamentary inquiries.
Profiling startups like Airwallex and Zepto, this piece maps Australia’s rapid adoption of real-time payment systems. Yeates benchmarks local progress against Singapore’s PayNow and India’s UPI, emphasizing regulatory collaboration between APRA and fintech firms. The article’s forward-looking analysis of blockchain integration in cross-border transactions remains a reference for policymakers.
Yeates prioritizes systemic analysis of banking laws and their market consequences, as seen in his coverage of the CDR rollout. Pitches should highlight how new technologies or services intersect with existing frameworks like BASEL III or APRA standards. Example: His 2023 series on buy-now-pay-later regulation avoided brand-centric angles, instead evaluating debt cycle risks.
He frequently uses RBA, ABS, and global datasets to contextualize stories. Successful pitches include proprietary models predicting housing market responses to rate changes or employment-linked credit demand. Avoid anecdotal-led pitches without statistical validation.
Yeates explores fintech beyond banking, such as its healthcare (claims processing) and energy (grid trading platforms) applications. A 2024 piece on Medicare billing APIs exemplifies this approach. Pitches should identify underreported industry convergences with verifiable use cases.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Business, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
