London calling
City firms can still access EU market despite no financial services deal.
Digital
Banking Tech Awards 2020 Winner: au Jibun Bank – Best Use of AI
Rebuilding consumer confidence in investments with an AI-driven market forecasting capability within a banking app.
It’s a matter of comms | Episode 2 | Strategy
The corporate comms strategy is the spine that would hold start-ups accountable to their investors.
ECB wants final say on stablecoin issuance under new EU regulation
This new regulation won’t apply in the UK following Brexit.
UK Finance plans future revamp for Open Banking body
The OBIE is morphing into a new organisation to support innovation.
Branch closures mount with latest Bank of Ireland and TD Bank cuts
Latest branches following the pandemic-induced shift to digital channels.
Croí Laighean Credit Union signs for Temenos SaaS platform
Temenos wins another Irish credit union for Community Banking platform.
Philippines-based neobank Uno boosts AI services with Xebia deal
The prospective bank is pushing its AI capabilities as a unique selling point.
Indian start-up Zaggle registers new fintech ZikZuk to offer SMEs credit
In the next two years, ZikZuk intends to take itself across the globe.
Goldman’s consumer head Omer Ismail leaves for Walmart’s fintech venture
Ismail architected the firm’s move into consumer digital banking.
Ben Davey departs from Barclays Ventures CEO role
Davey steps down to focus on independent investing and advisory services.
Regtech: watching personal mobile devices in financial services, but why?
The best policy is one which works. Soft policies, by their very nature, do not work as intended.
Fintech funding deals globally 22-28 February 2021
Featuring Chargebee, Tyme, TypTap Insurance, Anchorage, and Earnix.
Klarna is Europe’s highest-valued fintech after $1bn raise
Klarna claims its round was oversubscribed four times over.
Robinhood pushes on with IPO plans despite facing 49 GameStop lawsuits
Robinhood has held talks with underwriters about filing “within weeks”.
Ethical challenger algbra banks on tech to define it in “fintech gold rush”
“We’re building a backend on a global level,” says co-founder.
Black-owned First Boulevard bank secures $5m ahead of its official launch
Part of its goal with the new capital involves building out a Black business marketplace.
Banque Misr kicks off digital transformation plans with Atos
Atos to deliver new digital banking experiences for Egyptian bank’s customer.
UK challengers Monument, Pockit and TreeCard bank funding
Three UK banking services start-ups have landed investment recently.
Orenda plans BaaS shake-up with heavyweight banking execs at helm
Orenda says it’s as much as an “eighth” of the price of its competitors.
Insurance software: choosing wisely
Here’s how to navigate the abundance of insurance tech offerings to choose from.
Banking Tech Awards 2020 Winner: TMRW – Best UX/CX in Finance Initiative
Exclusive interview with Kevin Lam, head of TMRW Digital Group.
Video: Top fintech stories this week – 26 February 2021
FinTech Futures’ weekly news round-up.
The big fight: banking vs technology companies
In over 30-years of banking, I have never seen a more complex and competitive landscape as there is now.
Atom Bank plans £40m shareholder fundraise in prep for future IPO
The bank has raised £429 million to date from eight funding rounds.
Former international footballer Rio Ferdinand invests in Sokin
Ferdinand joins as a shareholder in the cross-border currency firm.
ICYMI funding round-up: Zolve, Symple Loans, Butn, FunGuard & more
We highlight a series of funding rounds that may have passed you by.
FCA boosts data strategy with new executive hires
Stephanie Cohen, Jessica Rusu, Sarah Pritchard, and Emily Sheppard all join the watchdog.
Kalifa report says UK’s fintech crown at risk from waiting competitors
To mitigate the risks posed to UK fintechs, the report lists a number of recommendations.
US credit builder Petal closes $125m debt facility
Petal has closed $440 million in debt and raised $100 million in equity.
Lloyds spends big on tech projects as profits slump 72%
The bank spent around £1.2bln on tech in 2020, equivalent to the profit it generated for the year.
Banking Tech Awards 2020 Winner: AFS – COVID-19 Response by Fintech
An innovative approach to urgently find solution to accommodate the US government’s Payroll Protection Program.
Report: The power of data analytics in fintech solutions
A deep-dive industry report focused on the priorities and use of data analytics at financial institutions.
Landmark pan-European payment system EPI calls on fintechs for build phase
European payment giants Worldline and Nets became shareholders in the EPI last year.
US fintech for gamers Zytara signs payments partnership with i2c
The deal follows Zytara’s launching of its own stablecoin.
Tyme lands $110m in Series B funding, plans Asia-Pacific expansion
TymeBank looks to expand beyond its South African headquarters.
What did the GameStop saga expose about UK trading regulation?
FinTech Futures unpacks the FCA’s published response to trading restrictions on 29 January.
Penta Bank raises €7.5m in extended Series B funding round
German challenger bank brings total raised this round to €30 million.
US corporate card provider Brex applies for banking licence in Utah
SVB’s former chief digital officer Bruce Wallace will head up Brex Bank.
Banking Tech Awards 2020 Winner: BTB – Best Use of IT in Private Banking/Wealth Management
BTB’s business model has brought annual average returns of 7% in the last seven years with low defaults.
