Top fintech stories this week – 15 March 2019
Catch up on FinTech Futures’ top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
US tariff threat to the German car industry
The German car industry is now in the President Trump’s cross-hairs.
South Africa’s Standard Bank to axe 1,200 jobs
It will also close 91 branches in the name of digitalisation.
Spanish stock market operator BME tests blockchain for collateral pledge
BME and Renta 4 Banco have carried out their first digitisation.
UK insurtech gets corporate fit with legal toolkit
Tech Nation and UK Insurtech Board are looking to give firms an easier ride.
Cosmos Network brings order to “internet of blockchains”
Interchain Foundation offers decentralised network of interoperable blockchains.
FCA urges end to exit fees on investment platforms
UK’s Financial Conduct Authority calls for feedback and more competition.
Barclaycard brings Alipay payments to UK retailers
To cater to the many Chinese Alipay users.
BNP Paribas Fortis dreams up Didid app for savings
The app is virtually linked to users’ current and savings accounts.
TickSmith powers CanDeal’s DataVault Innovations
The company will use the Data Pooling Platform to launch its Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering.
Cosimo Ventures invests in blockchain and digital assets firms
VC firm makes three investments in Gecko Governance, Lingar and Oneiro.
StanChart to set up digital SME platform in India
Will offers business loans, invoice/supply chain financing, and commercial insurance.
Bulgaria’s Municipal Bank gets core and payments tech from Oracle
EXCLUSIVE. It is understood new tech will replace CSoft’s VCSBank.
Same old banking and bananas
Good UX is like a joke. If you have to explain it, it ain’t that good.
HSBC backs insurtech CXA Group’s $25m funding
Singapore-based firm looking for expansion across Asia-Pacific region.
Kakao’s crypto business raises $90m funding
Ground X plans to raise a similar sum this week.
Navy Federal Credit Union sails on Broadridge’s SaaS platform
It’s the first credit union to go live on MBS Expert.
Aon gets Zesty.ai for insurance underwriting
San Francisco-based insurtech start-up brings some AI power.
Bcause picks Nasdaq for market surveillance cause
It will go live in H1 2019 with launch of its new spot cryptocurrency market.
US Fed bars ex-Goldman Sachs staff over 1MDB misuse
Two former employees are prohibited from the banking industry.
San Juan Mercantile Exchange partners up for digital assets solution launch
CQG, Elysium and Mercury Digital Assets will power exchange and banking tech.
UK pressures tech titans to face competition
The nation’s rules must be updated for the digital age.
Wirecard under fraud investigation by Singapore police
One employee has been suspended until the inquiries conclude.
Xena unleashes crypto-settled derivative contract for GRAM token
“This is a significant step for the entire crypto market.”
Open Banking one year on
Information Builders looks at how the initiative opened up new opportunities with data.
Fiserv powers NationalLink’s smart safe technology
To access the smart safes from anywhere.
First Data to acquire Brazilian paytech Software Express
The two companies expect to process more than 15 billion transactions this year.
Iraq’s Rafidain Bank revamps tech with Oracle
EXCLUSIVE. It is understood new tech will replace Finastra’s Fusionbanking.
Ukraine tops Science and Tech Global Index – that should come as no shock
Open and agile, Ukraine’s banking sector has been quick to embrace disruptive change.
The customer is at the heart of the Middle Eastern fintech revolution
Bahrain is quickly becoming a place for regional and international fintech firms to invest and succeed.
Stash piles on rewards with stock-back launch
New York-based financial services platform officially boots up.
PayPal pumps $750m into e-commerce firm MercadoLibre
The Argentine company is planning to raise $1.85bn in equity offerings.
Mastercard acquires Ethoca for e-commerce fraud protection
Follows on from Mastercard’s recent acquisition of Transfast.
BGL BNP Paribas offers digital wisdom via Genius AI
A “personalised and intelligent digital assistant” lands in Luxembourg.
UK’s Nationwide analyses customer interactions with SAS
AI will look at how emails are managed at the building society.
Dubai International Financial Centre launches $10m fintech fund
DIFC plans to invest in start-ups in Middle East and North Africa.
US-based Stockman Bank goes digital with NCR
The community bank targets businesses in Montana.
Tide seeks £60m funding following RBS grant
UK challenger bank also plans more funding rounds in next couple of years.
RCBC files defamation suit against Bank of Bangladesh over 2016 cyberattack
The aftermath of the $81 million cyberheist lingers on.
Hannover Re dives into insurance innovation
Hr | equarium is designed to help insurtechs break out in the industry.
