Cometh the Digital Bank
The only banking activity that is digital is taking money out of clients’ accounts, which is performed in real-time with 100% consistency. After that the banking journey is far slower and less consistent.
Industry Comment
Digital: serve better, not just serve more
Look at most technology initiatives around you, most are obsessed with taking the cost out e.g. ATMs, online banking or selling more e.g. marketing automation, emails. As a business it’s important to manage the cost, but when cost becomes the primary driver, it creates more problems than it solves
Blog: What the Blockchain Can Do for Gift Cards
While the role of bitcoin itself is still in question, there is a growing industry consensus that the blockchain—bitcoin’s underlying technology—may become to value, what the Web has been to information. And, the gift card industry may be the first to reap the benefits.
Reinforcing supply chain links
Despite the squeeze on capital created by the increased global regulatory burden, treasurers must still provide ample working capital for daily commercial flows, with minimum damage to their balance sheets. At the same time, the continuing rise in cross-border trade – frequently with relatively unknown and distant markets – increases exposure to geo-political and environmental risks. In such an environment, and particularly in light of post-crisis sensibilities, liquidity is more of a concern than ever, both to lubricate the daily machinations of trade and to act as a buffer for potential financial or supply-related shocks
Blog: Fighting Fraud Starts with Common Sense on the Front Lines
Some cybercriminals are geniuses, I’m sure, but my recent personal experience with fraud suggests there is a gaping chasm between the promises of high-tech fraud-prevention methods and the existing, low-tech reality.
Caught on the defensive: why the financial sector needs to reevaluate its approach to cyber risk
Contrary to popular belief, the financial sector is now far more aware and better prepared for cyber attacks. The Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report, issued 1 July, states that threat awareness has grown exponentially and the sector is leading efforts to combat cybercrime. Perhaps this isn’t surprising given 90% of large businesses across the sector had suffered a malicious attack over the past year. But what is worrying is that the financial sector is falling into a familiar trap: by focusing so much on defence, it has failed to make provisions for an effective recovery
Biometrics and authentication – a new world of possibilities
With governments, retailers, banks and (not least) consumers increasingly crying out for a means of confirming someone’s identity beyond any doubt, the search for a common, international standard of payment authentication is in full flow.
Cloud – not just the remit of the financial technology start-up
Over the past few years the financial industry has started to reinvent how it operates. Organisations are changing the way they serve their potential and existing customers, while maintaining the high levels of compliance and security that their customers and regulators require. The technologies available today mean that financial services organisations aren’t constrained in the way they once were. They can now access secure and compliant technology, on-demand, in the cloud which is helping them to create new ways to bring value to customers. But not all financial institutions have been able to take advantage of these technologies in the same way as newer entrants to the market have
Clearing the path to BPO adoption for international trade finance banks
The release in 2013 of Universal Rules for Bank Payment Obligation by the International Chamber of Commerce effectively endorsed and formalised the structure for international trade finance processes. Despite this, the volume of completed BPO transactions remains low
Viewpoint: Canada’s Digital Privacy Act Receives Royal Assent, but Breach Notification Provisions Lag Behind
It’s now law, but not all of the act is in force yet.
Viewpoint: Amendments to Canada’s AML Legislation: What’s New and What’s Next
Regulated entities that verify identity in connection with the issuance of stored value cards may find more flexibility in the principle-based approach to identity verification outlined in the proposed regulations.
Viewpoint: The 3 Pyramids of Customer Success in E-Gifting
As retailers prepare for the year’s biggest gifting season, there are some key principles to guide digital gifting strategies that maximize revenue and loyalty.
World Class Payments take shape in the UK
advances in technology, and particularly consumer demand, are driving change and making the payments environment an interesting place to be in the years ahead
Viewpoint: 3 Keys to Sustainable Public Sector Programs
Public sector programs usually offer predictable loads and transaction volumes, and that information can be a plus. But reliable load patterns don’t guarantee overall success, especially if you price yourself out of profitability and sustainability.
Viewpoint: How the Ripple Protocol Could Change Payments
Unless you’re a mathematician or a bitcoin fan, trying to understand what Ripple is—and why it’s so revolutionary—requires a bit of research (not to mention a double espresso!). That being said, here at Hyperwallet, we definitely think this new technology is worth investigating. In fact, I’d wager a bet that, within just a few years, Ripple could become as important to the world of payments as the Internet is to the world of information today.
The role of intelligent analytics in retail banking
Since the financial crash retail banks are faced with more regulatory and financial restrictions than could have been envisioned. This is coupled with increased levels of competition and much reduced consumer trust. Intelligent analytics may offer part of the solution.
The fintech revolution heads for the clouds
Over the last decade the financial markets industry has experienced significant regulatory upheaval. We have witnessed a new approach to supervising financial institutions, with regulators moving from a “light touch” approach to an “interventionist” one
The new payments landscape: we need a new mind-set
Popmoney, Dwolla, Square Cash, Funding Circle, Venmo, Nutmeg, Transferwise, Stellar, Kabbage … this is not a list of the latest box office hits or some weird shopping list, but a handful of the emergent FinTech companies that are sprouting up everywhere like wild mushrooms. These companies are, to a certain extent, beginning to reshape and […]
Harmonisation of ISO 20022 is crucial – but who should be in charge?
It seems not a day goes by without seeing those three little letters and five numbers – ISO 20022 – appearing in headlines or articles. But hang on a minute, what’s all the commotion about? It’s just another message format that I need to make sure my systems can handle, right?
Cloud: lit from within
Cloud-based technologies are spreading rapidly through the business world: the research firm IDC expects the cloud software market to be worth more than $100 billion by 2018, implying compound annual growth of more than 21%, roughly five times faster than traditional packaged software. It is clear that cloud computing is on course to become an […]
Banks gain ground after customers’ confidence hits rock bottom
The global financial crisis devastated the reputation of the UK banking industry and it is not hard to understand why public trust in banks is at a low ebb. Since 2008, there have been at least five major scandals involving one or more banks operating in the UK, writes Peter Duffy Along with the reputational damage […]
A bank you can’t speak to or visit – coming in 2015
Talking used to be a positive thing. For many years, BT reminded us that it was “good to talk”; whilst in the 1980s the Midland Bank (since acquired by HSBC) promoted itself extensively as “the listening bank”. Now, there is a new breed of bank coming to the UK; one that doesn’t have branches or want a ‘physical’ interaction with its customers
The looming possibility of Brexit underscores the need for data clarity
Tactical regulatory firefighting has distracted banks from their long-term strategic shift to an enterprise view of data. Looming issues such as the possible Brexit highlight the urgency of this task
Blog: 5 Ways to Make Prepaid Card Onboarding Less Painful for Consumers
Identity verification by financial institutions is necessary—but it doesn’t have to be a necessary evil. Combining mobile technology with knowledge-based authentication can help improve activation rates with a process that’s simple for the cardholder and secure. Here’s how.
Blog: Goodbye Passwords, Hello Biometrics
As the consumer demand for remote login and flexibility continues to rise, organizations are struggling to find and deploy authentication methods that are effective, easy to use, impervious to theft and scalable. Say hello to biometrics.
Funds Transfer Pricing: confronting a mosaic of risk
The need for financial institutions to accurately gauge their exposure to myriad sources of risk has seldom, if ever, been greater. The credit crisis toward the end of the last decade must have made that clear, and if bankers managed to avoid getting the message back then, the point has been driven home ever since by regulators around the world
Paybefore CEO Says Goodbye
Seven and a half years ago, I wrote my first communication as the CEO of Paybefore, and now I’m writing my last. I’ve made the very difficult (but exciting) decision to retire from Paybefore.
Planning the digital transformation journey
For the new banks now is the chance to disrupt the banking industry. No legacy systems or existing processes or old thinking – they can jump straight to the new. Except, of course, those new banks that are being spun out of existing banks, where that infrastructure, IT and operations are supported by the current systems of the existing bank …
Derivatives exchanges slam regulators over open clearing
Regulators should not define how markets are structured when it comes to innovation and open access to clearing. Instead, it should be left up to the market to define how services are provided, according to speakers at the IDX FIA Europe conference in Europe this week.
7 Signs You Should Invest In Business Process Automation for financial services
Financial services has come under huge pressure in recent years particularly since the financial crisis. Competition, silo’d business units, efficiency in operation, compliance are just a few key issues being raised. With efficiency and competitiveness hand-in-hand and customer service as a bi-product of this, business process management (BPM), has shown just how this solution has driven cost efficiencies and overall resource efficiencies down.
Viewpoint: Why Banks Still May Be Nervous about Banking Nonbank Money Services Businesses
The FDIC draws attention to a standard fraud claim without offering much guidance.
EU Payment Services Directive 2: counting the costs and benefits
EU lawmakers reached a political consensus last week on a proposal for a new EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2). This follows several months of negotiations between European Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Ministers and marks a significant step in regulatory development within the payments market
Blog: The Mobile Device: Solution or Form Factor?
For the first time since the financial crisis, banks are investing in digital strategies. That’s a step in the right direction, but how banks incorporate mobile into those strategies, ultimately, will determine their success.
Blog: How Does Android Pay Differ from Apple Pay and Samsung Pay for Banks?
Google’s open approach contrasts starkly with Apple’s, which has continued to maintain tight control over all integrated hardware and software components. But what does Android Pay really mean for banks?
20 questions you should ask to ensure you’re doing enough on cyber-supply chain risk management
With reports suggesting hackers have siphoned off up to $1 billion from 100 banks across 30 countries as part of a targeted attack, there are heightened concerns over the cyber-threat facing the banking sector. Supply chains are a potential weak link and banks have been stepping up their pressure on vendors and suppliers to do more to protect themselves from online intrusion.
Digital commerce has to get its payment priorities right
The ability to browse limitless shops and purchase goods and services from almost anywhere in the world has revolutionised commerce. Yet this revolution is unfinished because no matter what the choice, no matter what the shopping experience, the critical moment of entering personal and payment details can be so complex and lead to the customer abandoning the sale
Take the Banking Platforms Quiz and win an iPad
In the digital age, banks must adapt to new processes and customer expectations quickly. Yet many banks still operate legacy batch systems and have not yet transformed their ITO infrastructure. In association with SAP, Banking Technology is conducting a survey of the number of different systems banks have, and how long it takes for various transactions to occur.
Viewpoint: The Processing Market Is Ripe for Disruption
Processors are poised to ignite innovation by rethinking traditional business models and devising solutions for an emerging customer-centered approach to payments.
Viewpoint: Acting NOW to Deliver Faster Payments
When it comes to faster payments, the U.S. has reached a tipping point with new technology driving advances that are fueling consumer demand for real-time payments.
CBEST will help UK financial institutions lead in IT security
Banks will always be targeted by criminals and cyber attacks have become their most vulnerable attack surface. It isn’t simply about technology. It extends through people and process, and reaches from the central infrastructure all the way out to end users conducting online banking or financial transactions on laptops, tablets or smart phones. Because banks and financial firms have very large and sophisticated systems, this means that end-to-end security is notoriously difficult
