FinTech


IBM Cloud launches new developer tools for financial services

IBM has unveiled its IBM Cloud for Financial Services for creating finserv apps. Users will get access to APIs, data and content to build and monetise cognitive-enabled apps for fintech firms, banks, wealth management firms and insurance companies. Initially available in beta, developers will also have the ability to build in customer insights, regulatory compliance […]

IBM Cloud comes to China

Wanda Internet Technology and IBM have signed an agreement for the former to enter the public cloud business in China. This will be done via a new firm – Wanda Cloud Company – built on the IBM Cloud Platform.

Automation in US banking – part 1

Art Gillis, a seasoned banking technology consultant (working in the computer industry since 1958 – and listed as a top 25 tech consultant by the American Banker) and author, presents his latest “Automation in Banking” report (#31!), which looks at the US core banking and ancillary software market.

Branches to go in Alior Bank’s 2020 digital dream, but tech to get $100m investment

Poland’s Alior Bank has unveiled its growth ambitions and number of branch closures over the next three years with its “Digital disruptor” strategy. In its 65-page report, the bank does the usual trick of praising itself and its disruptive qualities, calling itself the “largest ever start-up” in Central and Eastern Europe in the financial services […]

Warba Bank first in Kuwait for e-signatures and online account opening

It’s a digital double as Warba Bank has launched the “first” e-signature function and online account opening in Kuwait. Called “Express Finance”, the e-signature is the result of an agreement between Warba and Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Information. It allows users to authorise the bank to view their information on the credit network (Ci-net) […]

Introducing the internet of McThings

McDonald’s has made its first step towards the internet of things (IoT) with the introduction of a mobile ordering app as a means of streamlining the in-store customer experience. Banking Technology‘s sister publication telecoms.com reports that using apps to deliver services in this segment is hardly a new idea, though experiences to date have been […]

Inter-American Development Bank launches Finconecta ecosystem

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Florida-based fintech firm Above & Beyond (A&B) have unveiled “Finconecta”, a ten-month programme which integrates fintechs and financial institutions (FI) in an interconnected ecosystem. The technology platform behind it is called “Forward”, which was built by A&B, and is described as an app store-styled marketplace that allows firms to expose […]

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority calls for greater responsibility

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out its plan for improved banking standards and financial services with its new “Senior Managers and Certification Regime”. In a speech “Culture in financial institutions: it’s everywhere and nowhere” delivered today (16 March) by Andrew Bailey, FCA chief executive, to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Annual […]

N26 mobile bank powers to 300,000 users

Berlin-based mobile bank N26 says its user base grew to more than 300,000 over the last year, tripling in size since the last announcement of 100,000 users in January 2016. As Banking Technology reported late last year, N26 took its business fully across 17 European countries, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland and Slovakia. Before that […]

Poland’s mBank to invest €50m in fintech start-ups

Poland-based mBank will set up the “first” fund in Central and Eastern Europe that will specialise in developing and selling new technologies. The Polish bank says it has an ambition to influence digital transformation in the banking sector and its mAccelerator project will provide €50 million in investment to start-ups. mBank CEO Cezary Stypułkowski says […]

Bangkok Bank and Nest unveil fintech start-up programme

Bangkok Bank has launched its fintech accelerator programme, Bangkok Bank InnoHub, in partnership with venture capital firm Nest. The 12-week programme will take place in the bank’s home market and will cater for eight early-stage companies. Nest has run similar programmes with corporates in Hong Kong, Singapore and Nairobi in Kenya. Bangkok Bank president Chartsiri […]

Shrewd surfer dude behind Visa’s contactless payment sunglasses move

An Australian start-up has been revealed as the key technology partner of Visa’s new contactless payment sunglasses which were launched at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival. Visa unveiled the WaveShades sunglasses at the festival in Austin, Texas. Behind the scenes, the bright idea came from FinTech Australia member Inamo who came up with the […]

Starling Bank spreads its beta wings

UK challenger bank Starling has unveiled its mobile app and is welcoming the first customers through its digital doors to join a beta testing programme. As Banking Technology previously reported, the bank has been getting ready for this moment. Yesterday (15 March), it chose TransferWise to provide money transfer services to its customers. It will […]

BBVA launches fintech challenge for start-ups

BBVA has launched the ninth edition of its “Open Talent” fintech competition – and is looking for start-ups from across the globe. The Spanish bank says this year its programme has grown from one competition to five. It will be hosting three focused world-wide competitions, more than a dozen country-specific opportunities, two specialist challenges for […]

Atidot unveils big data platform for insurtech

Israel’s insurtech provider Atidot has launched the “first” Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based predictive analytics platform for the life insurance sector. The firm says its big data modelling and decision making tools will “accelerate the pace” at which life insurance executives can use intelligence in their decision making. Existing company data is loaded to the proprietary Atidot […]

Double delight for Accenture innovation in US and Singapore

Accenture has opened innovation centres in New York and Singapore for finance and risk, and software application development cycles respectively. The New York hub focuses on developing solutions for finance and risk data management, data engineering, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and reporting. It will offer consulting, development and operations services, and Accenture says it already […]

China’s CredEX Fintech lending app surges past $4.3bn mark

China-based CredEX Fintech says its mobile lending app’s total credit extended has exceeded CNY 30 billion ($4.3 billion) since its launch ten months ago. According to the firm, its user base has gone beyond five million, daily credit has been extended up to CNY 100 million ($14.4 million), and the average credit extended stands at […]

Do collect $200 on Android, don’t get out of Gmail

Google has revealed that Android payments can now be made within the Gmail app. Whether it is “splitting a dinner bill or planning a group trip”, it offers a “fee-free way” to work out the details and settle up without leaving the Gmail app on Android. Users can exchange money with “anyone” – and are […]

TransferWise to power Starling Bank payments

TransferWise will provide money transfer services to customers of UK challenger bank Starling when it launches later this month. As Banking Technology has previously reported, the bank is getting ready for its 2017 launch. It will host its first hackathon, opening up its API to outside developers. It has received its UK banking licence, joined […]

Analysis: banking innovation in the US

Banking Technology puts the banking innovation in the US under the spotlight. The market is not short of digital offerings: Simple, Moven, Kabbage, Acorns, Earny, Debitize, MagnifyMoney and more – take your pick!

Commercial Bank of Africa goes Loop-y for millennial entrepreneurs

Kenya-based Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) has unveiled its mobile-based banking service as it targets millennial entrepreneurs. The new service, created in collaboration with software provider Strands, is called CBA Loop and core banking services will be available on the mobile phone app. Users can manage their personal finances, send money, schedule utility bills payments, […]

Cachet Prices Public Offering, Looks toward a $9.3 Million Payday

Cachet Financial Solutions expects to raise nearly $9.3 million in its public offering this week, according to an SEC filing. The Minneapolis-based financial technology provider and Pay Award winner, which priced its offering at $4.50 per share, plans to use the proceeds for working capital, to pay down debt and other, unspecified purposes.

Investment Roundup: Fintech Financing Heats Up

With funds flowing from some of the biggest names in payments, including PayPal and Ant Financial, March got off to a hot start for worldwide e-commerce and fintech investment. Providers around the globe have landed hefty financing rounds from some venture capital, payments and financial services heavyweights during the first half of the month.

Fintech funding round-up: 14 March 2017

Life needs less noise. So here words are destroyed. A round-up of key events in fintech funding. Featuring Autobooks, University of British Columbia, Scotiabank and more. Michigan-based start-up Autobooks has raised $5.5 million in funding. This follows an earlier $2 million seed funding round. Draper Triangle Ventures led the latest round and was joined by […]

Euronet bugs Ant Financial with MoneyGram move

Payments firm Euronet has proposed to buy money transfer operator MoneyGram International for $15.20 per share – in turn becoming a pest to Ant Financial’s acquisition plans. As Banking Technology reported in January, Alibaba’s affiliate Ant Financial planned to splash out $880 million for MoneyGram – its first acquisition of a US-listed company. Euronet says […]

Singapore and Japan set up fintech framework

The Financial Services Agency of Japan (JFSA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have established a co-operation framework for fintech links between both countries. The framework enables MAS and JFSA to refer fintech companies in their countries to each other’s markets. It also outlines how the referred companies can initiate discussions with the regulatory […]

Barclaycard gets Uber momentum

Barclaycard and Uber have agreed a new commercial agreement that will see Barclaycard customers get “exclusive offers” when they use their personal card to pay for their Uber rides. The deal means Barclaycard’s personal credit card customers can get a free Uber ride, up to the value of £15, for every ten that they take […]

EquensWorldline bags Degussa Bank payments processing deal

Payments firm EquensWorldline, a subsidiary of Worldline, has secured a long-term contract to process all payments for Degussa Bank in Germany, starting Q2 2017. Degussa Bank will outsource its end-to-end payments processing to EquensWorldline. This includes SEPA processing, cross-border payments, high value payments, compliances services, investigations, archiving and a full channel service suite including Swift […]

Next Insurance launches chatbot on Facebook Messenger

California-based Next Insurance has unveiled its new insurance chatbot that will enable personal trainers to quote and buy insurance via Facebook Messenger. Next partnered with SmallTalk, a chatbot developer, to become the “first company to provide full service insurance via a social channel”. It also says it has developed a direct link with small business […]