ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Habitto, Norbr, Tembo, and more
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
Japan
The latest fintech news, resources and expert analysis in Japan by the leading intelligence provider for the worldwide fintech community.
Santander taps Japan’s Dentsu to build new SME international trade platform
Set to launch in Q2 2025, the platform will aim to “simplify international trade for the world’s SME community”.
Modifi raises $15m, inks MoU with Japan’s SMBC to support SMEs with cross-border financing solutions
Modifi and SMBC will seek to assist Asia’s SME exporters in expanding international trade operations.
Japan’s SmartBank secures $27m in mix of equity funding and debt financing
SmartBank says it is “actively recruiting” for roles in marketing, compliance, data analysis, and engineering.
Chiba Bank adds personalisation features to Chibagin app through Moneythor partnership
The updates leverage Moneythor’s financial services personalisation engine; deployed by the bank in May.
Mitsubishi acquires 50% of Ayala’s stake in Mynt for $320m
Mitsubishi is set to snap up half of Ayala’s 13% share in Mynt.
Wise joins Japan’s domestic payment network Zengin
Wise will be able to process real-time payments in Japan directly, without intermediaries.
India’s DMI Finance lands a further $334m investment from MUFG
The new capital injection brings MUFG’s total investment in DMI Finance to $565 million.
Philippines-based fintech Mynt sees valuation top $5bn with MUFG and Ayala funding
Both MUFG and Ayala Corporation have invested $393 million each in the company.
Daiwa Capital Markets Europe selects Delta Capita for CLM solution
Delta Capita previously purchased LSEG’s CLM compliance solution, Client On-Boarding, in April.
Thailand’s Ascend Money lands $195m investment led by MUFG
Ascend Money became Thailand’s first fintech unicorn back in 2021.
Chiba Bank to deploy Moneythor personalisation engine for Chibagin app
The partnership aligns with Chiba Bank’s mid-term plan to shift to a customer-focused business model.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Mimo, TransferGo, Smartpay, Adro and more
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the globe.
UBS and SuMi Trust joint venture to acquire Credit Suisse wealth management business in Japan
The JV will absorb Credit Suisse’s Japanese advisor base and wealth management assets.
Japan’s Rakuten Group plans to consolidate its fintech and banking businesses
Rakuten is discussing plans to integrate all its fintech units, including Rakuten Bank, into one unified entity.
Blackstone set to acquire majority stake in Japan’s Sony Payment Services
Sony Bank will roll over a certain portion of its equity and continue to remain a minority investor in SPSV.
Mastercard taps Japan’s NEC to roll out biometric checkouts across APAC
Mastercard first launched its Biometric Checkout Programme last year with NEC as an early partner.
Japan’s MUFG pens multi-year partnership with AWS for digital transformation
By moving to the cloud, AWS claims that MUFG has been able to reduce IT operational costs by 20%.
Regulators of UK, Singapore, Switzerland and Japan launch collaborative effort to explore digital asset use cases
Project Guardian aims to share knowledge about the benefits and risks of asset and fund tokenisation.
Japan’s 77 Bank taps Fujitsu to launch in-store banking tablets
The in-store tablets are backed by Fujitsu’s customer engagement solution Chordship.
Brokerage platform Alpaca plots Asian expansion with SBI partnership
As part of the strategic partnership, SBI Group has also made a $15 million investment in Alpaca.
Fujitsu launches joint trials with Hokuhoku Financial Group to explore generative AI use cases
The trials are being held with two subsidiaries of Hokuhoku Financial Group – Hokuriku Bank and Hokkaido Bank.
Japanese challenger Habitto launches mobile app
Founded in late 2021, Habitto has so far raised $7.3 million in funding.
Wise Platform inks first Japan deal with GMO Aozora Net Bank
The bank said it received a “high volume” of requests for a fast and inexpensive overseas remittance service.
DMI Finance bags $400m equity funding led by MUFG
Also taking part in the round was existing investor Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.
Mizuho and Line call off plans to launch mobile bank in Japan
Both firms say dissolution and liquidation proceedings of the mobile bank project will now go ahead.
Consumer finance firm JIVF taps OpenWay for credit products platform
This is the first OpenWay installation of its Way4 platform on Oracle Cloud in Southeast Asia.
Thought Machine plans to boost headcount by 20% in 2023
Thought Machine intends to hire across India, Japan and South Africa for the first time.
Bank of Japan to launch CBDC pilot programme in April
The pilot will test the technical feasibility of a CBDC and leverage the “skills and insights” of private industry.
Mizuho Bank in core banking tech overhaul with Oracle
Oracle’s solutions will support “critical” functions, including direct deposit accounts and liquidity management.
Zodia partners SBI DAH for Japan-based crypto custodian venture
The joint venture, SBI Zodia Custody, is owned 51% by SBI DAH and 49% by Zodia Custody.
Fujitsu and Mizuho Bank partner for ESG data management project
The new service will visualise CO2 emissions across supply chains and help customers move towards de-carbonisation.
Akulaku secures $200m from Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
The funding will support Akulaku’s anticipated growth as it looks to provide banking services across Southeast Asia.
Japan’s Smartpay launches open banking digital payments service
Smartpay claims it is the first digital consumer finance firm to utilise Japan’s open banking system.
Japanese paytech unicorn Opn acquires US firm MerchantE
Both firms will share technology and best practices, as well as jointly develop new products and services.
ZDF launches new cloud-based core banking system
Minna Bank, Japan’s first digital bank, is the first user of the new core system developed by ZDF and Accenture.
US Bancorp gets US regulatory approval for MUFG Union Bank acquisition
The firm has received approval from the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Japan’s SMBC Group to launch Jenius Bank in the US
Jenius Bank will initially offer personal loans before expanding with savings and checking products.
Japan’s Iyo Bank picks DTCC to automate post-trade services
Iyo Bank has tapped DTCC to achieve “no touch” post-trade processing for equities and fixed income transactions.
Credit fintech Liquidity lands $775m to fuel growth
Apollo partner Joshua Black will also join Liquidity’s board of directors.
