Australia


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. […]

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 […]

Payments: Australia gives Swift instant results

Off the back of its involvement in Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP), Swift has entered the instant payments market in Europe, with plans to launch a gateway solution in November 2018. The solution will enable instant payments to be made over the Swift network using a single gateway to connect to multiple instant payments systems across Europe.

Australia calls for risk-loving fintech firms

The Risk Management Association of Australia (RMA) has partnered with KPMG and match-making firm Matchi to offer three fintech companies the opportunity to pitch their solutions to forty chief risk officers (CROs) from various Australian banks. KPMG is arranging this year’s CRO roundtable event for the RMA members with the theme “Generation Next”. Matchi says […]

Abu Dhabi and Australia ally for fintech innovation

The Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have signed a co-operation agreement for financial innovation. This agreement, which follows on from recent deals with Hong Kong and Japan, expands ASIC’s network to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – which are “currently […]

Australia has a go at removing citizens’ security

The Australian Government is developing its own anti-encryption legislation, modelled on the UK’s Snoopers Charter, a set of rules deemed unfit by the European Court of Justice, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). The move, which was announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been built on anti-terrorism messages, as yet another government uses the element […]

Sydney and Melbourne launch fintech start-up hubs

It’s a double development delight in Australia with Sydney and Melbourne unveiling fintech start-up hubs for innovation across the nation. Industry body FinTech Australia says Sydney’s proposed new 11-floor start-up hub – set to be the largest in the southern hemisphere – “should help build even stronger links between the Australian fintech industry and global […]

Tic:Toc tactic is 22 minutes for home loan approval

Australia-based start-up Tic:Toc has launched an online home loan platform, offering customers approval in 22 minutes, instead of 22 days. The firm is backed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, as well as the State Government in South Australia, which approved a $900,000 grant to Tic:Toc through its Investment Attraction Agency’s (IASA) Economic Investment Fund. Tic:Toc’s […]

SocietyOne surpasses $300m in loans issued

Australian P2P lending platform SocietyOne reached a milestone this week. The company has surpassed $300 million in loans issued since it was founded in 2011, reports Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). During a time when P2P lending in the US is under scrutiny, SocietyOne is reporting an increasing demand for P2P lending in Australia. In the […]

Mizuho trials Australia-Japan trade transaction on blockchain

Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, trading and investment firm Marubeni Corporation, and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance have completed a trade transaction between Australia and Japan using blockchain. The participants say all trade-related processes, from issuing the letter of credit to delivering documents, were completed entirely via a digital platform in this project. (See image below […]

Japan and Australia regulators to co-operate on fintech

The Financial Services Agency of Japan (JFSA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will work together to promote innovation in financial services in Japan and Australia. Both have completed a framework and they will share information and support the entry of fintech firms into each other’s markets. ASIC says this framework will “help open […]

FinTech Australia releases fintech ecosystem map

Industry body FinTech Australia has released its first member ecosystem map, to show the nation’s “strengths and diversity”, particularly in wealth generation and lending. The map (see image below) lists 119 members of FinTech Australia, along with the nation’s key financial services regulators. Danielle Szetho, FinTech Australia CEO, says: “The broad range, depth and quality […]

Avoka wins ATB Financial’s innovation challenge

Australia-based digital banking software vendor Avoka has won ATB Financial’s Customer Onboarding Global Innovation Challenge. As reported in March, ATB joined forces with KPMG in Canada and fintech matchmaking firm Matchi to run the event. In fact, in May, KPMG acquired Matchi. The pair had worked together since 2015, so the deal “cements” their relationship. […]

Australia and Hong Kong get it on for fintech innovation

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have signed a co-operation agreement for financial innovation. Both parties play up their “already close ties” and the Australia-Hong Kong trade and investment relationship “more broadly”. ASIC says Hong Kong is Australia’s seventh most important destination for services exports, valued […]

Four Australian banks sign up for Swift’s global payments innovation

Four Australian banks, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac are now live or planning to implement Swift’s global payments innovation (gpi) initiative. According to Swift, these Australian banks represent over 80% of cross-border payments flow for Australia. The banks all say the same stuff – so […]

EY to acquire Australian cybersecurity firm Open Windows

Consulting firm EY will acquire Australian cybersecurity and identity and access management (IAM) provider Open Windows. EY says Melbourne-based Open Windows’ expertise and tools will form the basis of a new Asia-Pacific regional IAM advisory platform within EY, to help assess, design, build and operate solutions. Lynn Kraus, Oceania managing partner advisory, EY, says it […]

Deutsche Bank feels the fourth on GBST Syn system in Australia

Securities processing software vendor GBST has migrated the back and middle-office operations of Deutsche Bank from the legacy GBST Shares platform to GBST Syn for processing the bank’s equity market trades in Australia. This is GBST’s fourth live Syn installation in the country. Other users are Macquarie Bank, Citi Australia and brokerage and investment firm […]

ASIC boosts Australia’s regtech innovation scene

It’s smiles all around as two fintech groups are welcoming the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) initiative for more regtech innovation. The RegTech Association and FinTech Australia joined forces to welcome the release of the report, “ASIC’s Innovation Hub and our approach to regulatory technology”. This latest bout of happiness follows nicely on from […]

MyState in core banking system consolidation

Australia-based MyState Bank has moved onto a single core banking platform, replacing two separate installations. The solution is understood to be TCS Bancs from TCS Financial Solutions.

Xinja drops ninja mode to reveal new mobile-only bank

Australia-based Xinja has emerged from the shadows to unveil its plans for a mobile-only digital bank. Xinja has raised in excess of AU$2 million ($1.5 million) in its first-round funding to launch a pre-paid debit card as a precursor to establishing Australia’s first fully digital, independent “neobank” built for mobile. The bank will have no […]

Westpac takes first steps in cloud core system plan

Australian bank Westpac has gone live with the first stages of its tech overhaul in Australia to move its core processes from its own premises and into the cloud. According to the Australian Financial Review, it “has already moved two core banking processes to the cloud since the end of March, and intends to have […]

Australia’s UBank unveils virtual assistant for home loans

UBank, a subsidiary of National Australia Bank (NAB), has launched RoboChat, Australia’s “first virtual assistant” for online home loan applications. RoboChat will guide customers through the online mortgage form by providing real-time input on questions like “what term do you offer on home loans?” and “do you offer redraws and how do they work?”. Lee […]

Exclusive interview: Luis Uguina, Macquarie

Everyone loves a dreamer, except in the world of banking – where digital aspirations are swiftly cut down to size by the reality of legacy systems. That is until Luis Uguina, chief digital officer for Macquarie’s Banking and Financial Services Group, comes along and challenges everything you thought you knew about banks’ digital offerings.

Acorns Australia goes live with Moneythor for personal finance

Micro-investing service Acorns Australia has chosen Moneythor’s machine-learning solution to help it analyse customers’ spending patterns and offer insights into savings. The new “My Finances” features of the Acorns app were developed with Moneythor’s engine. The solution’s predictive analytics and data classification techniques are also used to provide customers with an estimate of their future […]

Apple Pay ready to go for HSBC Australia

With the battle of the four banks won, Apple Pay’s fight to retain its Australian smartphone market continues as HSBC Australia is now offering support for its customers for the first time. Back in March, Apple Pay emerged victorious in its long-running feud with four domestic banks over their permission to collectively bargain with Apple […]

Australia’s Mosaic to unveil “bank account on steroids”

An Australian start-up is set to launch a “bank account on steroids” by offering investment, transaction and savings accounts in one product. Called Mosaic, the bank will allow a user to invest in any asset class if they’re an active investor or be risk profiled to determine a passive fund “best suited to their situation”. […]

Voice biometrics take ANZ higher for mobile payments

Australia and New Zealand-based banking group, ANZ, has announced it will be the first Australian bank to introduce voice biometrics on mobile devices to allow higher value transactions. From the middle of this year, customers transferring more than $1,000 through ANZ’s mobile apps will be able to use their voice to automatically authorise high value […]

Apple Pay defeats Australian banks in payments punch-up

Apple Pay has emerged victorious in its long-running feud with four domestic banks over their permission to collectively bargain with Apple and boycott Apple Pay. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a determination denying authorisation to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Westpac, National Australia Bank (NAB), and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank […]

Accenture to acquire payments consulting firm First Annapolis

Accenture will acquire First Annapolis, a privately held payments consulting and advisory firm. Alan McIntyre, senior managing director, and head of Accenture’s Banking practice, says the acquisition “will enhance our capabilities in the payments sector”. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close […]

New Avaloq go-live for BT Financial Group

Australia-based BT Financial Group, a wealth management subsidiary of Westpac, has added new functionality – superannuation administration – to its core banking platform, supplied by Avaloq.

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 […]