German wealthtech Trade Republic lands full EU banking licence from the ECB
The new licence means the firm can now offer essential banking services such as deposits and lending.
Financial Services/Finserv
And sometimes… less is just less
Doing more with less often reaches a point where it is no longer possible.
Canadian regulator fines RBC $5.5m for “administrative violations” of its AML rules
FINTRAC says it uncovered three administrative violations by RBC during an examination last year.
Indian BNPL fintech ZestMoney is reportedly closing down
ZestMoney’s leadership team has reportedly informed employees of its decision to wind down by the end of the month.
Trading Technologies names former Broadridge exec Justin Llewellyn-Jones as new COO
Llewellyn-Jones was previously chief product officer, capital markets at Broadridge.
Demystify Podcast: Demystifying BaaS banking with NatWest Boxed
Demystifying what is holding BaaS back from broader adoption and what it takes to create a successful BaaS venture.
Allica Bank partners Wise Platform for cross-border payment solution
The partnership will enable Allica’s business customers to make “transparent and low-cost” international payments.
The future of financial wellness: banks need to do more to support Gen Z in 2024
Gen Z is facing the bleakest financial outlook of any generation for the last century.
IDB Invest and IFC team up to launch the Amazon Finance Network
The global network aims to boost the economic development of the Amazon region.
Monzo co-founder Jonas Templestein departs after nine years
Templestein shared a letter he sent to his co-workers announcing his departure last week.
John O’Beirne takes the reins as executive director of Square’s Europe operations
O’Beirne joins from Bank of Ireland, where he spent almost 20 years in various senior roles.
Credit Union 1 migrates core to Jack Henry’s Symitar platform
Jack Henry says its open banking infrastructure was the decisive factor for CU1 to migrate its core.
Konstantin Zaripov resumes role as managing director of Nebeus after five-year break
Zaripov initially departed the platform in October 2018, after a 15-month tenure as managing director.
Crypto.com lands EMI licence from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority
Crypto.com says it now plans to roll out a suite of e-money products customised for the UK market.
Italian competition authority interrupts migration of 2.4m Intesa Sanpaolo accounts to Isybank
The watchdog says more than 5,000 of Intesa Sanpaolo’s own customers sought its intervention.
UK fintech Plum signs strategic partnership with Greece’s Eurobank, lands €10m investment
Plum intends to grow its presence in Greece as well as the surrounding region.
Eurosystem eyes up alternative payment solutions in latest retail payments strategy update
The aim of the strategy is to “develop pan-European solutions for payments at the point of interaction”.
Valley Bank CIO Stuart Cook leaves to join start-up True Digital Network as CEO
Cook previously served as chief innovation officer at Valley National Bank for 11 months.
UAE fintech start-up Flow48 lands $25m pre-Series A funding
Founded in 2022 by Idriss Al Rifai, Flow48 provides revenue-based financing to SMEs.
New UK fintech start-up Kaldi aims to help millennials and Gen Z save and invest
Through an “easy-to-understand” app, Kaldi hopes to encourage people to start saving and investing earlier.
How Europe’s PSPs are bracing for SEPA instant payments
The European Parliament approved final implementation deadlines for SEPA instant payments on 7 November.
Congratulations to the winners of the Banking Tech Awards 2023
Check out the winners and highly commended from the 24th annual Banking Tech Awards ceremony.
FinTech Futures: Top five stories of the week – 1 December 2023
Here’s our pick of five of the top news stories from the world of finance and tech this week.
SoFi set to end crypto services, taps Blockchain.com as “strategic crypto partner”
SoFi’s cryptocurrency services will formally end on 19 December.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: PhiCommerce, Yabi, Enfuce and more
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
UK fintech Paysend lands $65m in fresh funding round
The round includes strategic investments as well as participation from existing investors.
Why AI won’t solve legacy problems
Not every problem is a nail that needs a hammer when it comes to AI.
Metro Bank to axe 20% of jobs and review branch opening hours in push to cut costs
The bank is due to cut around 800 jobs as it looks to save up to £50 million per year in costs.
Denmark’s Mazepay taps ex-Mastercard exec Kevin Stanton to lead US drive
Stanton previously spent the best part of two decades in senior roles at Mastercard.
UK challenger Aldermore Bank enters strategic partnership with Mambu
Aldermore joins 18 regulated UK banks and 22 non-bank lenders and EMIs which run on Mambu.
Nucleus Commercial Finance secures £200m funding facility from NatWest
The new facility brings its total lending capacity to date to £900 million.
US fintech start-up CapitalOS emerges from stealth with $39m in equity and debt financing
The San Francisco-based firm has launched with $9m in equity funding and $30m in debt financing.
The ‘Boots’ theory of socioeconomic unfairness
The people who need fair credit products the most may not have access. That’s economic unfairness.
Video: Highlights from FinTech Futures’ AI Insights panel and networking event
Watch our highlights video from the FinTech Futures AI Insights event on 22 November.
State of play: GenAI in financial services
Generative AI is currently in the ‘experimental phase’ in the financial services industry.
HSBC appoints CEO and COO for new embedded finance JV
HSBC executives Vinay Mendonca and Shehan Silva have been appointed as CEO and COO of the new JV, respectively.
Codebase launches BaaS solution in Egypt with Visa and eFinance
The BaaS model will enable Egypt’s non-bank firms to integrate banking services into their product lines.
JP Morgan receives approval from ADGM to upgrade licence, plots UAE expansion
The US banking giant is aiming to boost its presence and service offerings in the UAE.
ASR Nederland explores sale of digital bank Knab
ASR first acquired the brand in July this year after buying up Aegon’s domestic operations in the Netherlands.
Australian banks join forces to protect customers from scammers with new Scam-Safe Accord
The industry will also make an AUD 100 million investment towards a new confirmation of payee solution.
