News


Myth-Busting on Expanding into Europe

Craig James, CEO of London-based compliance consultancy Neopay, delivered a talk at the All Payments Expo in New Orleans on March 22 to help companies eyeing Europe as an international expansion market.

Mobile Wallets Need More Than a Payment Button

Mobile wallets command serious buzz in the payment and retail worlds, but at the All Payments Expo Tuesday in New Orleans, experts pointed out that the technology has yet to gain global traction and consumers will need more from such programs than the ability to make purchases.

Vibrant Community Credit Union completes core software overhaul

US-based Vibrant Community Credit Union (formerly DHCU) has completed its tech overhaul, with Fiserv’s DNA now supporting its core operations and Alkami’s ORB supporting digital banking activity at the front-end. The project was over a year in the making, and coincided with the brand overhaul at the credit union. It was formerly known as DHCU […]

Temenos software licensing grows by 45% in 2015

Temenos has reported a total software licensing growth of 45% for 2015 on the back of new deals and acquisitions. In its 152-page “Annual Report and Accounts 2015”, the Swiss software vendor also revealed a rise in non-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) revenue of 19.2% – moving from $468.7 million in 2014 to $559 million. […]

Santander “first” UK bank to launch voice banking technology

Santander says it has become the “first” bank in the UK to launch voice banking technology. The solution is provided by Nuance Communications. However, last month HSBC announced it was launching voice recognition and touch security services in the UK, which will be available to 15 million banking customers. This project is also being carried […]

Digital drives DNB to cut branches and staff numbers

DNB will close more than half its branch offices and lay off 600 employees as the rise of digital banking takes its toll on the physical world. The Norwegian bank says “almost all” of its customers have become digital and points to the success of its Vipps app – the number one downloaded app in […]

NIB Bank “first” to upgrade to latest Temenos T24 core banking system

Pakistan-based NIB Bank is the first to upgrade to the latest release of Temenos’ T24 core banking system – making a big leap from R7 to R15. National Data Consultants (NDC), Temenos’ regional partner and integrator, worked on the project. Ammara Masood, president and CEO at NDC, says the bank is the “first client” to […]

Swift launches global reference data platform for SEPA IBAN in UK

Swiftref, Swift’s global reference data utility, has delivered the IBAN/BIC reference platform for the UK community under the guidance of Payments UK. The project was initiated in early 2015, with Swift commissioned to design and build the platform. Swift says this new Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) International Bank Account Number (IBAN) Only (Sepaio) central […]

APEX Keynote: Blackhawk’s Roche on Payments as Engagement

As retailers and brands seek to deepen connections with their customers, emerging payment technologies represent a key opportunity for meaningful engagement with consumers, according to Talbott Roche, president and CEO, Blackhawk Network. Delivering a keynote address on the opening day of the All Payments Expo in New Orleans on Monday, Roche explained how the growing ubiquity of mobile devices and the rise of the connected consumer have created myriad new channels for messaging and engagement.

Federal Agencies Issue Guidance on Prepaid CIP

Federal financial institution regulatory agencies on March 21 issued guidance clarifying the applicability of the Customer Identification Program (CIP) rule to prepaid cards issued by banks.

APEX: The Gift Card Opportunity

Experts at the All Payments Expo talk up gift cards, and give advice on how to sell programs to superiors. They also set their sights on digital gift cards.

Neat trick as Hong Kong start-up uses selfies to verify payments

Hong Kong start-up Neat is setting its sights on the millennials’ market and will let customers open a payment account with a selfie. Neat founder David Rosa, a former MD at Citi, says the app and payment card will use facial recognition technology to confirm the holder’s Hong Kong identification card is correct. It’s not […]

Conference Program of IFINTEC 2016 Finance Technologies Conference and Exhibition is published

IFINTEC Finance Technologies Conference and Exhibition (www.ifintec.com) will be held on 12-13 April 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. IFINTEC is a dedicated conference focusing on banking solutions and finance technologies. IFINTEC is one of the biggest events in EMEA region in its category. Sponsorship and delegate registrations are open. The last day for sponsorship registration is […]

Digital banking software vendor QTS goes bust

QTS, a UK-based digital banking systems provider, has gone bust. Based on Companies House data (the UK’s registrar of companies), QTS’s accounts are long overdue and it has entered liquidation. Yesterday (21 March), Companies House announced an “extraordinary resolution to wind up on 26 February 2016” and the appointment of a voluntary liquidator. Calls and […]

IHS and Markit to merge

Data providers IHS and Markit have agreed an all-share merger of equals, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2016. The “implied” equity value of the transaction is more than $13 billion and the deal has been “unanimously approved” by the board of directors of each company. Jerre Stead, IHS chairman […]

Infographics: the most exciting thing about bitcoin isn’t bitcoin

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, but the blockchain protocol behind it can be used for a variety of non-currency purposes. People are using the blockchain to develop everything from ride-sharing services to voting applications to cloud storage. This nifty infographics sums up how the blockchain protocol works and how it’s being used. Source: Who is hosting this?

GMEX teams with FPT to launch first real-time clearing house in Vietnam

GMEX Group has partnered with Hanoi-based FPT Information System to launch the first derivatives market and “fully integrated” clearing house in Vietnam. The target go-live date is Q4 2016. Both companies will provide the technology, while the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has entrusted the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) and the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) to […]

USAA teams with Coinbase for Bitcoin

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a financial services group, has partnered with Coinbase to give Bitcoin usage a timely boost. Late last year, USAA launched a Coinbase pilot program, which allowed select USAA employees and members to view their Coinbase accounts on the USAA website and mobile app. Following the successful pilot, all account […]

European Commission asks for ESMA rethink on MiFID II

MiFID II is delayed yet again as the European Commission (EC) asks the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for a “rethink”. ESMA has received a letter from EC concerning certain parts of the regulation draft. EC wants a rewrite of three technical standards that govern trading on commodities, exemptions for companies providing support market […]

Polymer notes pose £45m problem for UK cash machines

High street banks in the UK will need to replace or upgrade thousands of cash machines at a cost of £45 million because they cannot grip the new “slippery” plastic notes, according to Bloomberg. Polymer notes are to be brought into circulation this year by the Bank of England, and the banknotes stay cleaner, are […]

Deutsche Bank reduces branch network in Germany

Deutsche Bank is cutting its retail outlets in Germany from 700 to 500 as it looks to lower costs and adapt to digital banking. Christian Sewing, head of private, wealth and commercial clients and member of management board, Deutsche Bank, says the cuts are “necessary as the retail bank’s profitability has decreased over the last […]

QIB goes live on Temenos’ T24 core banking system

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has finally gone live with a new core banking system, Temenos’ T24, nearly six years after signing the original contract. Gopi Krishnan, CIO at QIB, describes the implementation as the “fastest and most complex transformation programme in the Middle East region in the recent past”. Despite this, it actually was a […]

All Payments Expo Kicks off in New Orleans 

The All Payments Expo kicks off today in New Orleans! If you’re at the show, the exhibit hall opens at 10 a.m. Be sure to stop by and see Paybefore at Booth 201 and visit our 2016 Awards Winners Showcase to learn more about this year’s Pay Awards winners. Then, join us to celebrate the 10th annual Pay Awards at 6:15 p.m. to find out who will win top honors.

Rise of the megabanks

A great visual of how four US-based conglomerates – JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) – have grown to be the megabanks we know today. Source: American Banker

BPC’s SmartVista powers Warehouse Money cards, vendor’s largest retail project

BPC Banking Technologies says New Zealand’s largest retail chain – Warehouse Group – has chosen the SmartVista payments suite for its financial services business. The initiative is called “Warehouse Money” and offers the retailer’s consumers the chance to save 5% on purchases via a new Visa card or earn “purple dollars” via the Purple card. […]

Soneri Bank selects Temenos’ T24 core banking system

Pakistan-based Soneri Bank has chosen Temenos’ T24 core banking system to replace FIS Allprofits. National Data Consultants (NDC), Temenos’ regional partner and integrator, will deliver the project. Soneri Bank president and CEO Mohammad Aftab Manzoor, says: “With this technological transformation and our mission to provide innovative and efficient financial solutions, we aim to uplift our […]

Chase Bank Kenya migrates card portfolio to OpenWay’s Way4 platform

Chase Bank Kenya has migrated its full card portfolio to the Way4 payment software platform from Electra Card System. The solution is developed by Belgium-based OpenWay and Way4 will support the issuance of prepaid, debit and credit cards — under the MasterCard and Visa brands. Chase Bank Kenya is looking to grow its cards business […]

DNB’s P2P mobile payments app is Norway’s No 1

DNB’s “first” peer-to-peer (P2P) mobile payment solution in Norway has become the number one downloaded app in the country. Dubbed “Vipps”, and launched six months ago with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it is now used by 25% of Norway’s population. The app is available for use on all mobile devices and it allows short chat […]

ICAP caps blockchain proof of tech test for post trade ops

ICAP, a UK-based financial services firm, says its post trade risk and information (PTRI) division has completed a proof of technology test case for blockchain. Jenny Knott, CEO of ICAP’s PTRI division, says it has demonstrated one of the “first real world applications of distributed ledger technology that has the ability to significantly transform the […]

Top fintech stories this week – 18 March 2016

Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! Deutsche Börse and LSE to merge Two hearts beat as one. D+H Corporation joins US real-time payments rush Catches up with rivals FIS and Jack Henry. Deutsche Bank and Bank of China partner for cash management Becomes first […]

D+H Corporation joins US real-time payments rush

US-based banking and payments software vendor D+H has joined its rivals FIS and Jack Henry in partnering with The Clearing House (TCH) for real-time payments. D+H will provide US banks and financial institutions with access to TCH’s domestic instant payments system. The system is currently being built, with the “plumbing” provided by VocaLink. The vendor’s […]

Efma and SAP partner for SME AppsBank Portal

Efma, an association of 3,300 retail financial services companies in more than 130 countries, and SAP have launched a new online portal to help banks’ SME-related business. The portal – (unsurprisingly) hailed as “innovative” and “disruptive” by its creators – supports banks in developing new apps for their SME clients and also holds competitions to […]

Mondo signs with Thames Card Technology for debit cards; has problems with mobile app

A UK-based challenger bank, Mondo, has partnered with Thames Card Technology for debit card production and personalisation. Beta test cards will be issued to consumers this year. Mondo, which positions itself as a “mobile first” bank, will be offering a contactless debit card paired with a mobile banking app to its customers. The mobile app’s […]

LLB Group launches investment advisory solution with Avaloq

Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) and its subsidiary LLB Invest have launched an investment advisory solution underpinned by the Avaloq and the swissQuant Group software. LLB Invest uses the Avaloq Banking Suite for its software needs – the solution has been running at LLB since 2008 as its main core banking system. SwissQuant Group provides risk analysis […]

The United Bank of Egypt upgrades core software with Misys

A long-standing user of a host of Misys’ products, The United Bank of Egypt has committed to upgrade to the latest version of software. The project is penned for completion later this year. The bank will upgrade to FusionBanking Equation (core system), FusionBanking Trade Innovation (trade finance) and FusionCapital Opics (treasury and capital markets). It […]

Deutsche Börse and LSE to merge

Deutsche Börse and London Stock Exchange (LSE) have reached agreement on the terms of an all-share merger of “equals”. The deal follows recent speculation about the merger, and New York Stock Exchange owner, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), saying it may make a rival bid for LSE. The merger will create a Europe-based global markets infrastructure group […]

Wolters Kluwer signs new client in Poland, Bank Pocztowy

Poland-based Bank Pocztowy is implementing a new risk management system, OneSumX, supplied by Wolters Kluwer. The solution will support the following areas: asset and liability management (ALM), market risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk (for the Basel III capital charges calculation). The bank will also use Wolters Kluwer to provide funds transfer pricing (FTP) analysis […]

Industry: Report on Tax Refund Delays Misses Mark

A recent report claiming that heightened anti-tax fraud efforts have led to taxpayers suffering delays in receiving refunds via prepaid cards mischaracterizes the situation, industry observers say.