News


Trustees Australia merges with deposit marketplace Cashwerkz

Financial services group Trustees Australia and deposit marketplace Cashwerkz have merged as they seek to tap into the cash, term deposit and fixed income investments markets. According to the duo, the new entity has access to over 30 Australian banks, and it will be able to compete well in the $2.1 trillion cash deposit market. […]

Get Smart: BofAML Brings AI to Accounts Receivable

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is launching a new solution—Intelligent Receivables—that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and other software to help companies “vastly improve” their straight-through reconciliation of incoming payments to help them post their receivables faster.

Barclays Enables ‘Voice Pay’ with Siri

Barclays announced on Aug. 21 that it’s the first U.K. high street bank that lets mobile banking customers make a payment by asking Siri. The payment, which relies on TouchID for authentication, can be completed without opening the Barclays Mobile Banking app.

Samsung’s Bixby AI expands to more countries

Look out Siri and Alexa, but Samsung says its artificial intelligence (AI) powered Bixby’s voice system has now expanded to more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to South Korea and the US, it is now available in the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa, among others. As reported in March, Samsung unveiled the […]

Rabobank builds 3D model of its own IT landscape

Mapping the IT landscape of a large organisation is probably not an easy task and Rabobank is attempting to resolve this via the construction of a 3D model of its own structure and supporting IT systems. In a LinkedIn post by Hans Tesselaar, executive director of the Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN), a not-for-profit fintech […]

Ondot Systems unveils card control integration platform

Card control firm Ondot Systems has released its multi-interface card control integration platform. The California-based company has combined a server-side API, mobile apps, and an HTML5 framework to give financial institutions (FIs) the ability to add card control technology to their mobile banking solutions, reports Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). “Much as Facebook Messenger fits […]

US Consumers Union calls for more prepaid regs; NAFCU wants them rescinded

Plagued by delays, threatened by US Congressional repeal and finally opened to further comment and changes, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) final rule on prepaid accounts now has some consumer groups calling for the bureau to “strengthen” consumer protections with additional changes, while one credit union association wants the rule rescinded. To refresh your […]

Dubai’s FinTech Hive accelerator kicks off

Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) inaugural FinTech Hive accelerator programme has started with the first batch of 11 finalists. As reported in April, DIFC called for applications for its FinTech Hive. The 12-week programme is designed to help early and growth-stage firms accelerate product and business development by gaining exposure to financial institution executives. Raja […]

Fintech funding round-up: 21 August 2017

A short time ago, in a round-up near here (i.e. 18 August) we covered the lively world of fintech funding. Yet again, we have more cash action. Featuring Xinja, Capital Float and Prodigy Finance. Australia-based Xinja, which recently emerged from the shadows to unveil its plans for a mobile-only digital bank, is in the news […]

Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 21 August 2017

Hot on the heels of the round-up on 18 August, here’s another blockchain and Bitcoin report. Featuring D+H Corporation (now Finastra), Visa, BTCS and Blockchain Global. A patent filing frenzy seems to be occurring at present. Following on from Bank of America filing three new patents using blockchain earlier this month, we now have D+H […]

Fiserv buys payments software vendor Dovetail

Fiserv has acquired payments software vendor Dovetail as it pushes deeper into the payments infrastructure sector. Financial terms were not disclosed. Through the acquisition, Fiserv says it will combine Dovetail’s real-time payments platform, services and business processing with its payment capabilities. Dovetail had been one of the very few independent fintech beacons in the industry, […]

App economy dodges bullet as Uber wins in court

It’s a rare ray of sunshine for the under-fire Uber, as it won a key battle as the US Second Court of Appeals ruled its Terms and Conditions (T&C) were legally binding, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication). Uber has proved to be a difficult ally to have in recent months with the firm facing […]

Taiwan goes in big on AI craze

The Taiwanese Ministry of Science and Technology has put its money where its mouth is to make a mark on the world of artificial intelligence (AI) with a TND $16 billion ($527 million) investment, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication). The AI craze is very quickly gathering pace in every aspect of our lives, and […]

Consumers Union Calls for More Prepaid Regs; NAFCU Wants Them Rescinded

Plagued by delays, threatened by Congressional repeal and finally opened to further comment and changes, the CFPB’s final rule on prepaid accounts now has consumer groups calling for the bureau to “strengthen” consumer protections while a credit union trade group wants the rule rescinded.

Aotearoa Credit Union goes live on Oracle FSS Flexcube core banking system

Aotearoa Credit Union (ACU), a Māori financial institution in New Zealand, has implemented Oracle FSS’s Flexcube core banking system. ACU, started by the MUMA (Manukau Urban Māori Authority) 28 years ago, is the first Māori financial institution to launch a “tier one” banking platform for its 15,000 members. ACU branches are located in South Auckland […]

Infographic: why your moat is no longer enough to protect your castle

In the 1600s, Spain built an impregnable defence system to protect the San Juan Bay in Puerto Rico. This defence in-depth system fortified San Juan with three lines of defence, marking a high point in military engineering for the time period. A similar model could be used to protect your institution’s account holders from today’s cyberattacks. But with 15.4 million Americans falling victim to identity fraud last year, three lines of defence are no longer enough.

Fintech funding round-up: 18 August 2017

We’ve got your back if you want to keep track of financial backing. Our latest fintech funding round-up features Options, Instamojo, AnyPay, Aegon and Funding Circle. Options, a provider of cloud-enabled managed services to capital markets, has received nearly $100 million in investment from New York-based private equity firm Bregal Sagemount. The money will be […]

Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 18 August 2017

Quickly following on from the round-up on 16 August, here’s more blockchain and Bitcoin action. Features the Australian government, Blockchain (as in the firm), ShapeShift, Bitstamp and Payza. The Australian government has launched a crackdown on money laundering and terrorism financing – including the digital currency exchange sector being regulated for the first time. The […]

Mobile Contactless Hits £370 Million in U.K. in H1 2017

Mobile contactless transactions in the U.K. topped £370 million (US$476 million) in the first six months of 2017, a whopping 336 percent year-on-year increase, according to the latest transaction data from payments processor Worldpay. (Infographic included.)

PIF Welcomes GPS

The Prepaid International Forum has added another member to its roster. Global Processing Services, whose managing director Suresh Vaghjiani is an Industry Achievement Award recipient in the 2017 Pay Awards, has joined the nonprofit trade group.

Top 5 Best Challenger Banks: Revolut

Last month, we asked Paybefore.com visitors to vote for the Best Challenger Banks—the ones shaking up the status quo with a legit chance to become consumers’ preferred accounts, not just a stepping stone to the big banks. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our spotlight articles on these challengers. First up is Revolut.

Fintech layoffs round-up: 18 August 2017

A distinctly cheerless round-up as we highlight some key moments regarding fintech layoffs. Features Simple and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). US-based digital banking service Simple has fired 33 staff members (about 10% of its workforce), including several executives, according to The Oregonian. Simple’s CMO, chief people officer, VP of operations, and VP of engineering […]

LendingRobot joins NSR Invest to form biggest roboadvisor in marketplace lending

P2P lending roboadvisor LendingRobot will join NSR Invest, creating what it calls “the largest independent roboadvisor in the alternative lending space”, reports Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). LendingRobot explains in its blog that the “websites, operating, and trading systems” of each platform will continue to function as usual for the time being as the companies prepare […]

Infosys CEO quits after personal attacks

Infosys’ MD and CEO has resigned, citing a continuous stream of distractions and disruptions, and personal and negative attacks on his performance. In his notice of resignation, Dr Vishal Sikka, complained of “false, baseless, malicious and increasingly personal attacks” from the company’s founders. Sikka’s exit pushed Infosys shares down around 8% – and follows a […]

HSBC teams with Capita for new broker platform

HSBC is introducing a new improved software platform for brokers and also confirms Personal Touch Financial Services as its next intermediary partner. The new software, provided by Capita, replaces the current system and provides a single platform which “drives greater automation, making it easier for brokers to transact, upload documents, and track details of mortgage […]

Hong Kong regulator grins thanks to financial inclusion wins

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is in a happy mood as the region’s financial inclusion initiatives are progressing well. Norman Chan, HKMA chief executive, visited three retail bank branches in northern Tin Shui Wai area of Hong Kong today (17 August) to understand the situation of branch services from bank representatives and staff, and […]

CIBC goes it alone with new Simplii Financial banking brand

Canada’s banking group CIBC has unveiled Simplii Financial, its new direct banking brand, signalling the end of its President’s Choice (PC) Financial consumer banking business with retailer Loblaw. Mike Boluch, EVP, direct banking, innovation and payments, CIBC, says Simplii will deliver “straightforward, no-fee everyday banking” and offer services by telephone, online, or through mobile and […]

Mobile banking service Lunar Way fearless for feeless travel

Denmark-based mobile banking service Lunar Way has launched its travel card – and the chance to experience the world without fees. Its newest feature, called the Lunar Way Travel Card, is its attempt to stand out in a world of roaming charges. Lunar Way says: “One area where the consumer has always been stung is […]

Infographic: 58 insane facts about Bitcoin

Did you know that the FBI owns 1.5% of the world’s Bitcoin!? Get ready for some super scrolling with “ten years of the world with Bitcoin” – and 58 insane facts. Infographic and research courtesy of Bitcoin Casino. Source: Bitcoin Casino

Jemstep the right roboadvisor step for KeyBank

When roboadvisor firm Jemstep was acquired by investment management company Invesco a year and a half ago, Invesco CEO Martin Flanagan highlighted the importance of combining technology and human insight to produce better investment outcomes for customers. Now Jemstep has partnered with KeyBank’s Key Investment Services (KIS), to provide another opportunity for Invesco’s roboadvisor to […]

Credit Union Australia pivots with Pivotus Ventures’ digital banking

Credit Union Australia (CUA) has joined a group of banking providers, becoming the exclusive Australia and New Zealand partner of Pivotus Ventures. The deal – which also includes the UK’s Nationwide Building Society, US bank Umpqua and the Netherlands’ De Volksbank – will let CUA develop new digital banking opportunities. The ideas are being developed […]

Nordea and Danske Bank being investigated for money laundering

Nordea is now keeping people informed about an ongoing investigation by the Danish Prosecution Service into its alleged anti-money laundering (AML) violations. By way of recap, it follows criticism by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA) in June 2016 regarding AML transgressions by Nordea Bank Danmark. According to Danish newspaper Berlingske, the money laundering involves […]