The Royal Bank of Scotland is working on "secret plans" to create a standalone digital challenger bank, reports Sky News. Sky says few people even within RBS are aware of the plans, which are being led by Mark Bailie, the bank's former chief operating officer, and are so far in an early stage of development. RBS would not confirm the reports. Seven major watch companies have agreed to imbed Barclay Bank's bPay contactless payment chip into numerous devices, from traditional watches to fitness trackers, reports Finextra. Barclays said spending via bPay jumped 129 per cent over 2017. It is teaming up with Guess Watches, Mondaine, Timex, Kronaby, Suunto, Adexe and LBS on the new wearables. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority has announced it will start work this week with other regulators in Europe, the US and the Far East on a blueprint for a "global sandbox" to speed up fintech growth, reports the FT. The FCA hopes that a sandbox allowing fintech companies to test new products without going through a full regulatory process would make it easier for fintechs to expand internationally. Spanish bank BBVA is testing a facial recognition system at its in-house cafeteria that will recognise customers and their orders and charge their cards, reports Finextra. App users can already make a coffee order and come to the cafeteria to pick it up without waiting in line or taking out a card or cash. Now the bank is piloting a system which recognises a user's face and the meal and products on their tray and directly charges the card associated with that face's profile.