ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Blend, Canza, IMAN, NayaPay, NymCard, Plinqit, & Tiiik
Our weekly fintech round-up for you to get the latest funding news.
Consumer/Personal Finance
Banking on spreadsheets
Banks and fintechs need to step up their game to serve customers better when it comes to money management.
Fronted appoints new CTO as co-founder Simon Vans-Colina joins Singapore’s BigPay
Fronted’s lead software engineer Jonathan Kim has been promoted to the role of CTO.
What the FinTech? | S.3 Episode 1 | Talking open banking
To kick off season three, we’re joined by John Natalizia, co-founder and CEO of Snoop.
UK’s Money and Pensions Service seeks new tech leadership for digital transformation
MaPS is searching for a chief operating officer (COO) and chief digital and information officer.
Kenyan start-up MarketForce lands $40m Series A funding
The oversubscribed round was led by Africa-focused investment vehicle V8 Capital Partners.
Seven ways “saving” has changed during the pandemic
Seven changes we’ve seen during the pandemic that will drive long-term changes for savings providers.
Colombian neobank Plurall launches to serve LatAm’s SMEs and entrepreneurs
Plurall was founded in August last year and has raised $1.3 million in pre-seed funding.
Education financing platform Propelld raises $35m Series B
The start-up intends to add another 100 to 150 employees to its already 150-strong workforce.
Askari Bank taps Hysab Kytab for personal financial management tech integration
The integration of the PFM solution forms part of the bank’s ongoing digitisation strategy.
Digital bank Wio set to launch in UAE following central bank approval
The digital bank will initially cater to the country’s SMEs, with a beta launch expected in Q1 2022.
Digital-first “bank for youth” LINC launches in Jordan
The neobank has been built by Cairo Amman Bank, a full-service bank in Jordan and Palestine.
Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank invests $100m in digital finance platform Akulaku
Akulaku CEO William Li says the companies share a vision for banking that is “expansive and inclusive”.
Challenger bank Blink appoints Zein Malhas as CEO
Malhas moves from Capital Bank of Jordan, where she was chief digital officer.
SAIB rolls out Moneythor’s PFM solution
The Saudi Investment Bank has implemented Moneythor’s personal financial management tools.
Qatari financial management app Karty set to launch in MEA region
Karty allows users to spend, save and manage their money.
Banking tech vendor Thought Machine receives £40m investment from Intesa Sanpaolo
Thought Machine’s Vault system will underpin Intesa Sanpaolo’s new digital banking service, Isybank.
Spanish banking giant BBVA invests $300m in Brazilian neobank Neon
“Digital is opening new ways for us to grow in very attractive markets,” says BBVA chairman.
UK challenger Revolut secures Aussie credit licence
Revolut Australia CEO says the firm is creating the “world’s first truly global financial platform”.
Danish neobank Lunar welcomes new investor – Hollywood actor Will Ferrell
Actor “excited to take part in Lunar’s mission to give people more power from their money”.
Paysera appoints new CEO, awaits banking licence
Gintautas Mezetis is Paysera’s new CEO as it plots a move into the banking business.
Mos secures $40m Series B funding to drive product expansion
The cash will go towards hiring new staff as Mos looks to maintain its recent growth spurt.
Germany’s Vivid Money raises €100m Series C to turbocharge super-app plans
Vivid Money doubles its valuation in less than a year to €775m.
Lowering the ladder: how NY fintech Xrent plans to help millennials become homeowners
“We have seen a widening wealth gap trend without much sign of slowing down,” says Xrent.
UK fintech Selina Finance raises $150m in Series B funding round
The funding is made up of $35m in equity and $115m in debt to fund further expansion.
New neobank Coupl set to launch in India
Start-up allows couples to set up joint accounts and manage their money together.
Canadian fintech Koho lands $165m Series D funding
The firm says the investment is one of Canada’s largest fintech funding rounds.
New US debit card fintech Xrent aims to help renters get on the property ladder
The fintech’s ‘rent-to-mortgage’ programme is designed to direct rent payments toward homeownership.
Black-owned wealthtech start-up Esusu hits $1bn valuation following $130m Series B
Esusu is now one of just a handful of Black-owned unicorn start-ups in the world.
Garden of Eden: how Africa’s digital transformation promises to boost the continent
Demographics, technology and opportunity have set the stage for Africa to become a global fintech powerhouse.
Video: fintech news pick of the week – UBS, Katana Labs and Walmart
Our top pick of news from the world of finance and tech in bitesize video format, every week.
ICYMI funding round-up: ApexEdge, DirectID, Everything, NALA, Tuum, & OZÉ
Our weekly round-up for you to get the latest fintech funding news.
Walmart-backed Hazel snaps up fintech platforms Even and One in super app push
Walmart CEO says the app will allow users to “manage their money in one place”.
UBS agrees $1.4bn deal to acquire wealth management platform Wealthfront
Millennial and Gen Z-focused Wealthfront caters to “the next generation of investors”.
BNPL provider Splitit appoints new CEO, Nandan Sheth
Nandan Sheth moves from Fiserv, where he was head of global digital commerce and the firm’s Carat business.
UK credit card Keebo launches for “credit invisibles” in “passion economy”
Keebo tackles financial exclusion in the “passion economy” – an economy built around “creators with a purpose”.
Santander enters BNPL market with launch of new platform Zinia
Already live in Germany, Santander now plans to roll out the service in the Netherlands and Spain.
Banking Tech Awards 2021 Winner: Snoop – Best Open Banking Solution
What’s next for the award-winning app that helps people “live smarter”.
Fifth Third snaps up green energy lendtech Dividend Finance
Dividend Finance offers financing solutions for renewable energy focused home improvement projects.
Indian fintech start-up M2P raises $56m in Series C1 round
M2P claims to have raised more than $100 million in the past year alone.
