UBS pilots new blockchain-based system for cross-border payments
The system settles international transactions using smart contracts on a private blockchain network.
Europe
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Groov, Fundcraft, VibePay, and more
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
UniCredit completes acquisition of 90.1% stake in Alpha Bank Romania
UniCredit says it will now commence a “gradual integration” of Alpha Bank Romania into UniCredit Group.
Marygold & Co UK selects Griffin to embed savings accounts into money management app
The app will launch for individuals and small businesses in the UK “later this year”.
Scottish paytech BR-DGE names Chun Ong as new COO
Ong moves from Dubai-based fintech Tarabut Gateway, where he was COO for under a year.
NatWest teams up with Capco to deliver new ISO 20022-compliant Bankline Direct Digital solution
The host-to-host solution is poised to assist corporates and financial institutions in complying with ISO 20022.
UK regtech Kaizen lands £42m investment from Guidepost Growth Equity
Guidepost’s investment marks Kaizen’s first external funding since its founding in 2013.
UK banks and mobile operators take on APP fraud with new Scam Signal solution
Delivered via API, Scam Signal enables banks to spot correlations between mobile data and fraudulent transfers.
Bumper enhances dealer partner insights with acquisition of AutoBI
The deal comes after Bumper raised a $48 million Series B in January.
MAS and Banque de France trial post-quantum cryptography to secure financial communications
The tests paired Microsoft Outlook with PQC plugin algorithms.
Banking-Platform-as-a-Service provider Monument Technology makes senior tech and sales hires
The new CTO joins from SC Ventures, while the CCO comes directly from Mambu.
FE fundinfo snaps up Matterhorn Reporting Services to boost AIFMD reporting capabilities
The deal is FE fundinfo’s third acquisition this year.
BCA Syariah goes live with Thought Machine’s Vault Core
BCA Syariah is a subsidiary of Bank Central Asia (BCA), one of Indonesia’s largest banks.
Bank of Namibia taps Konsentus to support open banking implementation
Konsentus is to “identify, recommend and facilitate” the development of API standards in Namibia.
Saldo Bank selects Lunar’s Nordic infrastructure to streamline payments for customers in Sweden
Vilnius-headquartered Saldo Bank is the first bank to adopt Lunar’s Nordic infrastructure.
NatWest debuts B2B virtual card solution Approval2Buy in partnership with Mastercard
NatWest has delivered the offering using Mastercard’s virtual card and tokenisation technology.
Netherlands-based Intersolve names Five Degrees co-founder Martijn Hohmann as provisional CEO
Hohmann takes the reins of the payment processor from managing director André Moen.
Ripjar names industry veteran Tom Obermaier as new CEO
Alongside its leadership change, Ripjar has also bagged a majority growth investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners.
UAE-based Commercial Bank International to explore digital asset sustainability with Zumo
The collaboration follows CBI’s MoU with Abu Dhabi-based digital assets infrastructure platform Fuze in February.
Standard Chartered taps Wise Platform for cross-border payment service upgrade
Standard Chartered intends to connect with Wise’s infrastructure “over the coming quarters”.
Mutual Trust Bank in Bangladesh revamps e-commerce acquiring services with Compass Plus Technologies
The migration was completed in six months with the assistance of ITC Consultants.
Trustly names former Sinch exec Henrik Wallström as new CTO
Trustly appointed former Deliveroo exec Adam Miller as its new group CFO last month.
How the rise of mobile is reshaping business banking for UK SMEs
The expectations of business customers are shifting, with mobile banking on the rise among UK SMEs.
UK’s Recognise Bank lands £25m investment amid leadership transition
CEO Jean Murphy will step down after two years, succeeded by Nomo Fintech’s Simon Bateman.
US BNPL fintech Affirm launches pay-over-time options for UK consumers
Affirm’s UK country manager Ruth Spratt says the UK is “the perfect place for the next phase of Affirm’s journey”.
Digitising mutuals: how building societies can use next-generation tech to transform the member experience
BPaaS technology can help building societies digitise while maintaining and even strengthening their core values.
Suzanne Rudnitzki named new Ixopay president and COO
Rudnitzki is credited with playing a key role in Ixopay’s April merger with TokenEx.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Brightwave, Mala, UnitPlus, Parachute, and more
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
Afin Bank partners with Thought Machine and Vacuumlabs to power digital launch
Last week, Afin Bank obtained an Authorisation with Restrictions (AwR) banking licence.
Santander reportedly cutting 1,425 UK jobs this year
Banco Santander CEO Hector Grisi previously ordered a group-wide restructuring last year.
nCino acquires FullCircl in $135m deal
nCino previously partnered with FullCircl in 2023 to integrate its data capabilities.
Triodos Bank’s UK CEO Bevis Watts to step down in 2025
Watts has worked at Triodos Bank for nearly 15 years across two separate tenures.
Africa’s “fastest-growing fintech” Moniepoint secures $110m Series C funding
The round was led by Development Partners International with participation from Google’s Africa Investment Fund.
Dutch paytech Online Payment Platform secures EMI licence in the UK
The company adds that the new licence “now allows OPP to offer a wallet solution” for businesses.
Alexandra MacMahon named new ING UK country manager
MacMahon has led Santander UK Corporate and Investment Bank since January 2023.
Santander launches e-commerce payments solution Getnet SEP for LatAm merchants
The solution is first being made available to merchants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
White paper: Switching analytics platforms – a checklist for banks & financial services in the EU
This checklist will help guide EU banks through the complex process of switching web analytics providers.
Gearing up for the bargain battle
Core banking modernisation can be done without a large migration team and without disruption to customers.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Authologic, Klasha, CardFlight, and Salt
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
Moneybox’s valuation climbs to £550m with new £70m investment
Moneybox says the investment will “mainly be facilitated through a secondary share sale”.
