FinTech


Innovate Finance contest calls for fintech start-ups

Innovate Finance, a UK-based fintech membership association, is seeking start-ups for its latest Pitch360 competition. The contest is open to any start-up in the following sectors: Distributed ledger technology (DLT) Financial inclusion Cybersecurity Cross-border payments Peer-to-peer and alternative funding Regtech Personal finance management and robo-advice Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning Sandboxes The winner will […]

BNP Paribas is a Smart Chaser for AI-powered trade

BNP Paribas Securities Services is implementing Smart Chaser, a trade matching tool using artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analysis, to further automate trade processing services it provides to investment managers. According to BNP Paribas Securities Services, trade matching – the comparison of trade details between the client and its broker – must be performed in […]

It’s official – Siri is a simpleton

It is true, but might be a bit mean to single out the iLeader, as researchers have put various artificial intelligence (AI) programmes to the test, figuring out what the IQ of each one is. Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication) reports that Liu Feng of Beijing Jiaotong University, Yong Shi from the Chinese Academy of […]

Abu Dhabi wants eyes open wide via digital currency guide

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has set out its approach to initial coin offerings (ICOs) and virtual currencies under the Financial Services and Markets Regulations (FSMR). It cites the usual stuff that distributed ledger technology (DLT) has “extraordinarily wide application to financial services and markets as a whole” […]

EC investigates Dutch and Polish banking groups over fintech access

The European Commission (EC) has confirmed its officials carried out unannounced inspections in “a few member states” concerning online access to bank account information by competing service providers. The EC doesn’t name the countries involved, but “according to people familiar with the matter” that spoke to the Financial Times, Poland and the Netherlands are among […]

DBS readies for IFRS 9 with Z-Risk Engine roll-out

Singapore-based DBS is deploying Aguais and Associates’ (AAA) Z-Risk Engine (ZRE) to generate future credit losses on the bank’s wholesale credit portfolio, as it complies with imminent IFRS 9 requirements. According to AAA, the new financial regulations, effective from 1 January 2018, call for banks and other lenders to deliver a regular, predictive point-in-time (PIT) […]

UK’s Faster Payments Scheme seeks tenders for infrastructure competition

The UK’s Faster Payments Scheme (FPS) is asking for expressions of interest for the renewal and management of its infrastructure – the services that enable the nation’s 24/7 real-time payment service. This is the first of a three-phase competition for the infrastructure for up to ten years. The renewal will migrate the Faster Payments Service […]

Nymbus unveils digital banking platform, SmartDigital

Banking software start-up Nymbus has launched its digital banking platform – SmartDigital – offering open architecture and APIs to enable financial institutions to integrate with third-party applications.

Tascet teams with Secured2 to launch Algo5 data security offering

Identification technology company Tascet is partnering with Secured2 to launch a new data security offering. The product, Algo5, aims to protect data against both internal and external breaches, hacks, and disasters, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). The new data storage solution combines Tascet’s SuperToken, which verifies a user’s identity, with Secured2’s Beyond Encryption, […]

Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 6 October 2017

Blockchain funding, Pubcoin blockchain rewards programme, network and technology sharing and platform test launching. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features Anryze, Leanpub, MicroMoney, Karma and Zilliqa.

Bank of England fintech accelerator feels the fourth for innovation

The Bank of England’s (BoE) fintech accelerator has unleashed four new initiatives in the fields of distributed ledger technology (DLT), data storage and analysis, machine learning and cybersecurity. As reported in July, BoE revealed the third stage – such as its work with machine learning Mindbridge AI, DLT darling Ripple, and regtech bouncer Enforcd. Now […]

MuniFin shows Acumen for Profile Software’s treasury platform

Helsinki-based credit institution Municipality Finance (Kuntarahoitus) has gone live on Profile Software’s Acumen treasury solution to manage and automate its operations. Acumen will be used to manage deal capture, pricing, middle office, reporting, collateral management, back office and risk management processes. Profile says Acumen can integrate with “numerous” systems and pricing platforms to import real […]

Infographic: how businesses submit invoices to customers

Everyone’s heard the proverbial drill that the cheque is invariably in the mail. But even as we head toward the end of 2017, it’s becoming clear just how true this statement is. In fact, many industries are still processing their customers’ payments using postal mail and paper cheques! This despite the array of accounts payable […]

The tech is there so why aren’t we doing better?

New technology has been billed as a means to make us more efficient in the work place, but we are actually becoming less productive. So what’s missing from the equation? Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication) reports. The point was made by Joshua Meltzer from the Brookings Institute at the “Nordic Digital Business Summit” in Helsinki. […]

Just because it can be connected, that doesn’t mean it should be

Technology breakthroughs are great things; they present the opportunity for ideas, creativity and innovation. But there is always the risk of enthusiasm running away with itself, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). That was certainly evident at this year’s “Nordic Digital Business Summit”, where internet of things (IoT) was at the top of the agenda. […]

Nacha’s American API payments dream pushes on

Nacha, the backbone for the electronic movement of money and data in the US, and its Payments Innovation Alliance (PIA), have named the first five APIs for their big payments push. The API Standardization Industry Group, created in spring 2017 and sponsored by Nacha’s PIA, is working to further efforts to standardise the use of […]

Infographic: the world’s most cashless countries

What countries among the 20 largest economies are adapting quickest to using cashless systems like phones and contactless cards? New research (and nifty infographics) from global trading site Forex Bonuses reveals that Canada takes the top spot, narrowly edging out Sweden for the top position.

Tibco acquires Cisco’s data virtualisation business

Integration, analytics, and event-processing software company Tibco has agreed to acquire Cisco Data Virtualization (formerly Composite Software), reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). The solution powers enterprise-scale data virtualisation and offers associated consulting and support services. Tibco will leverage the new solution to “enhance its portfolio of analytics products and will help clients onboard analytics […]

Temenos teams with MuleSoft to accelerate open banking

Banking software provider Temenos has teamed up with Mulesoft, a platform provider for building application networks. The move is intended to break down barriers to the open banking initiative by facilitating API connections, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister publication). As a part of the partnership, Temenos will develop a core banking adaptor […]

Central banking and fintech: a brave new world?

This is a moment to celebrate 20 years of independence during which the Bank of England has been a stabilising force for the UK economy, inspiring others in the world of central banking.

Singapore and Thailand mull digital payments alliance

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Bank of Thailand are in discussions about connecting their national digital payment systems as officials step up efforts to curb the use of cash, according to Bloomberg. The link would bring together Southeast Asia’s first national digital payment platforms, Singapore’s PayNow and Thailand’s PromptPay, says Naphongthawat Phothikit, […]

Singapore sets Phase 2 to stun for blockchain inter-bank payments

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) say that the consortium which they are leading has developed software prototypes for improved payments on blockchain. The prototypes included three different models for decentralised inter-bank payments and settlements with liquidity savings mechanisms. The project, conducted together with 11 financial institutions […]

Google bids for AI leadership with new Pixel 2 smartphone

Internet giant Google’s big gadget unveil is all about positioning itself for the artificial intelligence (AI) era, not becoming an iPhone killer, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). The flagship product is the Pixel 2 – a product so important for Google that it blew a billion bucks on beefing up its R&D team. As […]

The United Nations of Data – an interesting idea

One of the big problems of the digital economy is unity. Everyone is out for themselves which could mean no one wins, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). What we’re talking about here are the rules – the legislation and regulation which defines how a company can operate in the connected economy. There sure are […]

Hey big lender! Finastra, R3 and seven banks have blockchain plan

Finastra, R3 and seven banks – including BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, HSBC, ING and State Street – are working together to create a blockchain-fuelled online marketplace for the syndicated loan market. Underpinned by Corda, R3’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) based platform, Fusion LenderComm exposes real-time credit agreement, accrual balances, position information and transaction data to […]

UK government continues quest to ruin reputation of encryption

The UK’s Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, is a woman on a mission, and that mission is to mutilate the reputation of platforms like WhatsApp in the pursuit of the destruction of end-to-end encryption, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). It isn’t new. Rudd must have been wronged by an online troll at some point and […]

Standard Chartered takes TradeIX and Infor route for digital trade finance drive

Standard Chartered is using TradeIX’s TIX blockchain platform and Infor’s GT Nexus Commerce Network for two separate digitalisation efforts in trade finance. The TradeIX platform enabled Standard Chartered’s unnamed client to “help its customers increase their payment terms whilst maintaining the company’s receivables at current terms”. The financing was offered by Standard Chartered with credit […]

Poland’s Bank Millennium unveils Visa tokenisation

Warsaw-based Bank Millennium has launched “Europe’s first issuer wallet” using Visa tokenisation – so its customers can use the mobile app to create a virtual equivalent of their card. The bank says virtualising the card and using the service is free of charge, and cardholders can pay with their phone via HCE (host card emulation). […]

Fintech funding round-up: 5 October 2017

Four of the latest stories in one for a fast fintech funding round-up. Features SalaryFinance, Featurespace, Worldpay, Invoke Capital, ESF Capital and ThinCats.

Navient’s $155m acquisition shows the importance of being Earnest

US asset management firm Navient will acquire education finance company Earnest for $155 million in cash as it hunts out new markets. As part of Navient, Earnest will continue as a “distinct brand” and will be led by its current management team, including founders Louis Beryl and Ben Hutchinson. Navient says Earnest clients will continue […]

SaaS-y Mambu powers New10’s Dutch SME lending

New10, ABN Amro’s newly launched fintech firm, has selected Mambu’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) engine to power a range of SME lending products in the Netherlands. Like many start-ups, speed is part of the sales pitch, and New10 says it aims to provide credit decisions for SMEs within 15 minutes and offers a fully digital application process. […]

Google’s Deepmind sets out to tackle AI ethics

If you ask the world of technology to slow down a bit, you’re instantly branded as a technophobe. But perhaps a bit of reflection is needed in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Google’s Deepmind is one of those which is starting to think a bit deeper about the big, […]

Interview: Vijay Oddiraju, Volante Technologies

In an exclusive interview with Vijay Oddiraju, co-founder and CEO of payments processing software provider Volante Technologies, speaks on the topics of agility, automation and how the ambitious company intends to prosper in the fast moving and competitive world of payments.

IBM teams with big banks for blockchain-powered trade finance platform

Tech giant IBM has partnered with five banks – UBS, Bank of Montreal, CaixaBank, Commerzbank and Erste Group – to launch a blockchain-based trade finance platform. The new platform, called Batavia, is built to be accessed by organisations of all sizes anywhere in the world.

Amazon is latest focus of Europe’s tax raid on US tech companies

The European Commission (EC) has ruled that Luxembourg illegally let Amazon off €250 million of taxes and must now get them back, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). This is the latest round of a general purge by the EC of European countries effectively bribing US tech companies to use them as their European hub by dangling […]