As Fintech Ramps Up, Europe’s Banking Regulator Is On the Move
The EBA has to move out of London because of Brexit. With an influx of tech, startups and financial services providers, Ireland is making a case for Dublin.
Payments
Bank of the West in major tech modernisation
EXCLUSIVE: Bank of the West, a large regional bank in the US and a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, is embarking on a major tech overhaul with Infosys, it is believed.
Mastercard Wants to Help Issuers Fight Card Fraud Faster after Data Breaches
On the heels of Equifax’s massive data breach that compromised 143 million identities, Mastercard today (Oct. 2) announced the launch of Early Detection System, which alerts banks to high-risk cards and accounts that are exposed in security incidents or data breaches.
Hong Kong regulator’s no phoney for banking plans
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has unveiled a number of initiatives as it looks to improve the region’s use of payments, APIs and innovation. In a speech delivered during the Annual Banking Conference of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers, Norman Chan, chief executive of the HKMA, outlined its grand ambitions. Chan says: “The […]
Timex and Barclaycard collaborate to create contactless payment watch
Timex and Barclaycard have partnered in true style to produce a new range of contactless payment watches. The Fairfield Contactless promises to be a perfect fusion of style and smart functionality. Coming in at a retail price of £159, it’s all about the leather bPay embedded strap, which brings wearable technology to the wrist. bPay […]
Chime Pulls in $18 Million, Surpasses 500,000 Bank Accounts
Chime, a mobile banking challenger co-founded by Green Dot and Visa veteran Chris Britt, has raised $18 million in Series B financing, led by global venture fund Cathay Innovation.
Whole Foods Market Reports Breach
On Sept. 28, Whole Foods Market announced it had recently received information regarding unauthorized access of payment card data used at certain venues such as taprooms and table-service restaurants located within some of its stores.
Stockpile raises $30m to boost millennial stock ownership
Millennial-focused brokerage firm Stockpile has pulled in $30 million this week in a Series B funding round led by Fidelity.
Top fintech stories this week – 29 September 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
CFPB Financial Well-Being Report Underscores Industry Opportunity
More than 40 percent of U.S. adults struggle to make ends meet, according to new data from the CFPB. While not great news on its own, the findings could help financial services providers design products directed at improving financial well-being.
CPI Names Scott Scheirman CEO
CPI Card Group, a provider of financial card production and related services, announced the appointment of Scott Scheirman as president and CEO, effective Oct. 5, 2017. He succeeds Steve Montross, who is retiring from the company.
Singapore payments start-up Instarem lands in Lithuania
Singapore-headquartered start-up Instarem has entered the European paytech arena and will now provide international money transfer services from Vilnius in Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania has issued an approval for the electronic money institution (EMI) licence. As reported last year, the bank, the country’s central bank and regulator, promised to provide preliminary answers to financial […]
Pindrop Releases ‘Next-Gen’ Phoneprinting with Machine-Learning Might
Pindrop, an Atlanta-based voice security and authentication firm, says its latest technology release is improving clarity and accuracy and increasing fraud detection by 20 percent.
Saxo Payments Banking Circle Backs Project International Trade
Saxo Payments Banking Circle, has become the benefactor of an Emerging Payments Association (EPA) project to support the growth of early stage fintech companies around the world.
Alexa Is Making ‘Her’ Presence Known
While Google is doing its impression of a petulant child, storming home from the park with its football tucked under its arm by barring Amazon Echo Show access to YouTube, Amazon has drafted a host of reinforcements for its Alexa offensive.
Rodney C. Adkins Joins PayPal’s Board of Directors
PayPal has welcomed Rodney C. Adkins to its board of directors. Adkins is president of 3RAM Group LLC, a privately held company specializing in capital investments, business consulting services and property management.
Payment Trends: BAI Beacon 2017 Preview
Cut through the noise and examine the payment trends most likely to affect your bottom line.
Wirecard Continues Alipay Push with Merchant Deals
Wirecard has announced two partnerships this week to expand Alipay acceptance in Europe, one with Schustermann & Borenstein and another with Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
CK Hutchison and Ant Financial form JV for Hong Kong payments plan
Conglomerate CK Hutchison and Ant Financial have formed a joint venture (JV) to offer a digital wallet under the AlipayHK brand, with the aim to integrate online and offline payments in Hong Kong. Ant Financial says AlipayHK got over 100,000 active users in the first two weeks after its launch last May. The mobile app […]
Hawk Incentives Launches Mastercard Prepaid Incentive Card for Mobile Wallets
Hawk Incentives, a Blackhawk Network business that provides rewards and incentive solutions, has unveiled a new open-loop Mastercard prepaid card that can be added to major mobile wallets.
SunTec Xelerates its open banking ambitions
SunTec has unveiled its out-of-the-box open banking solution, offering preset configurations and definitions, through its Xelerate billing system. With the rise of open banking, SunTec wants to join the throng looking to prosper in a very competitive and crowded market. The firm says banks can use the layer to get business value from their APIs […]
BBVA analyses urbanites for big data dynamite
BBVA has launched Urban Discovery, an interactive tool open to everyone that analyses the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Mexico City through the prism of their commercial activity. The bank says the analysis led to the creation of new maps that redraw urban borders and identify the most touristic and residential areas or those where […]
InComm expands transit business
InComm, a prepaid and payments technology company, continues to expand its tolling and transit payments business nationwide with the launch of the RiverLink Starter Kit.
Seylan Bank to swap legacy trade finance tech for Finastra’s Fusionbanking Trade Innovation
Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank is modernising its trade finance technology with Finastra’s Fusionbanking Trade Innovation system. On the way out is the legacy China Systems’ Eximbills system, Banking Technology understands.
Swych seals Series A funding
Digital gifting platform Swych has closed its Series A round with a “major strategic capital investment” from UAE Exchange Group. The amount of the investment was undisclosed, reports David Penn at Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). “Swych’s global gifting technology and vision fits well with our strategy to foster purpose-based money transfers,” UAE Exchange Group […]
First Tech Credit Union Goes Live with Zelle
First Tech Federal Credit Union announced that the Zelle P2P service is live in its mobile banking app, enabling payments for more than 110,000 First Tech mobile banking members.
Tech dominates Interbrand global rankings
Interbrand has released its rankings of the most valuable brands in the world, and the technology sector has a lot to boast about, occupying six of the top ten spots, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Every now and then we just need a reminder of how important technology is for today’s society. In previous […]
Mastercard, Swarovski Launch VR Shopping
Mastercard and Swarovski have teamed up to launch a virtual reality (VR) shopping app for the Atelier Swarovski home décor line. The app immerses consumers in a home where they can browse and purchase the pieces with Masterpass.
Cashplus Expands with £30 Million Debt Facilities Led by RBS
Cashplus, a London-based alternative financial services provider—and Top 5 Best Challenger Bank—has announced two new, three-year funding arrangements totaling £30 million (US$40.52 million). The company will use the credit to expand its lending products for SMEs.
Banks going Kodak
When was the last time you visited a bank branch? While the rise of the internet, banking shifted the customer interaction from the branch to the web, the business was still owned and run end-to-end by the bank and at lower cost. For a few years now, the landscape has altered significantly bringing Kodak to […]
American private equity firm makes $5.3bn offer for Nets
In response to media speculation, Nordic payments processor Nets has confirmed that it has received a DKK 33.1 billion ($5.3 billion) takeover offer. Evergood 5, a newly formed firm controlled by funds managed and advised by American private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, has made a recommended voluntary takeover offer to acquire Nets – offering […]
How millennials are shaping the future of payments
For the millennial generation, paying for a latte using a contactless card, transferring money to a family member or friend online or buying a pair of trainers with “one click” has become the norm. This generation has not only shaped and driven the payments revolution, but is also playing an active role in developing a lot of the payment technologies emerging today.
UK watchdog approves Cardtronics purchase of ATM provider DCP
Cardtronics’ $460-million purchase of rival ATM provider DirectCash Payments (DCP) has finally been approved by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Back in May 2017, Cardtronics had to offer undertakings due to competition concerns, and initially didn’t. The CMA said at the time: “As Cardtronics has not offered these undertakings, the CMA will now […]
Fintech funding round-up: 22 September 2017
There was a round-up yesterday because fintech funding won’t go away. More action featuring Tuition.io, Apiax and Etch. Tuition.io, a US-based employer-funded student loan repayment assistance platform, has announced a $7 million Series B funding round led by Wildcat Venture Partners with participation from existing investors Mohr Davidow Ventures and MassMutual Ventures, the corporate venture […]
FinovateFall 2017: a look back at the four-day flow
Adding a pair of discussion days to Finovate’s traditional demo days format, has made it that much easier for FinovateFall attendees to answer the question perennial post-conference question: “So. What did you think?”
Will fintech cause the next financial crisis?
Payments experts weigh in on the analysis and offer their own two cents on fintech, innovation, regulation and risk.
Digiliti Money plans to delist from Nasdaq
Digiliti Money (DGLT), which is in merger negotiations with Urban FT, is planning to delist from the Nasdaq, according to its most recent SEC filing.
Top fintech stories this week – 22 September 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Innovators’ Spotlight: SPENT Money
Rather than being top of wallet, SPENT Money wants to help consumers manage and earn rewards from what’s already there—at least for now.
Fintech funding round-up: 21 September 2017
Following swiftly on from the fintech funding round-up on 19 September, here’s more concise, cash-coated action. Features CivilisedBank, HighRadius, Swirlds and Luno. UK challenger CivilisedBank, which got its banking licence in May, has agreed terms for a further round of funding from current investor Warwick Capital Partners. No more details on that but the bank […]
