Rabobank builds cross-border payments hub with Finastra
Rabobank is modernising and centralising its cross-border payments operations. The software supplier for the new payments hub is Finastra (formerly Misys and D+H).
Worldwide
Fintech funding round-up: 21 June 2017
Some people have got deep pockets, because the funding fun never ends. Our latest round-up features Soldo, Atom Bank, British Business Bank, BlackRock and Scalable Capital. Multi-user spending account, Soldo, has reported a Series A funding round of $11 million, led by Accel and includes participation from Connect Ventures, InReach Ventures, U-Start and R204 Partners. […]
Wirecard Lends Speed, Functionality to Partner VEON
Amsterdam-based mobile network operator and technology company VEON has partnered with Wirecard AG as part of a global payments and processing agreement. Wirecard, a Germany-based provider of global payments solutions, now manages third-party payments functionality and airtime top-up on VEON’s Internet platform, enabling customers to upload funds and update mobile payment accounts within seconds, according to an announcement.
Report: How Banks Can Beat the Fintech Threat
Facing disruption from fintech providers, traditional banks must embrace APIs and the open-source model to avoid losing their place at the center of consumers’ financial lives, a new report warns. Capgemini’s 2017 World Retail Banking Report polled thousands of retail banking customers around the world to gauge how the rise of fintech-based financial services has changed the game when it comes to banking.
Eight Fledgling Fintech Providers Win Capital with CFSI Awards
Eight fledgling fintech companies have won $250,000 each from the Center for Financial Services Innovation. Each FinLab winner in this third annual competition from the CFSI receives $250,000 in capital, along with resources to test, enhance and scale their products, in part via the expertise of JPMorgan Chase, a founding lab partner.
BBVA taps into biometrics with new firm Veridas
BBVA and start-up Das-Nano have formed Veridas, a new firm specialising in biometrics for client identification and authentication systems. Veridas, which will be directed by Eduardo Azanza, who is also co-founder of Das-Nano, will research and develop software for the digital verification and authentication of personal identity, through facial, voice, image or document recognition, or […]
Who is the greatest fintech leader of 2017?
This year’s Banking Technology Awards are taking place on 13 December in London and once again we will be recognising individuals for leading and playing an instrumental role in devising and/or delivering the technology strategy to support the key business objectives of an organisation. The Tech Leadership Award category is open to all industry participants worldwide – those […]
Executive Profile: One on One with Richard Steggall, Urban FT
Richard Steggall didn’t even set foot in the U.S. until he was approaching 30. So, what prompted the native Aussie by way of London to set up a fintech shop in New York—first as Waspit, then as Urban FT, the SaaS-based digital payments platform he now heads? It was, of course, American optimism.
Tate Takes Reins at NBPCA
Brian Tate has been named president and CEO of the NBPCA, replacing Brad Fauss, who in May stepped down from his role at the helm of the prepaid industry association to join Wirecard North America. Tate has served with the NBPCA since 2013 as vice president of government affairs, helping lead the organization’s legislative and regulatory policy agenda, including managing the federal political strategy and building relationships with policymakers on the national and state levels.
Instant Payments Set to Displace Cards in Europe, Report Says
More than $809 billion is set to switch to the fledgling instant payments system in Europe by 2027, representing a significant threat to cards, according to a new report from Ovum, a London-based consultancy. Instant, or real-time, payments enable account-to-account bank transfers in seconds instead of days.
Microcred looks ahead with BankBI business intelligence software
Microfinance entity Microcred has chosen BankBI’s business intelligence software applications as part of its move into retail banking. As reported last year, Microcred said it plans to become a fully-fledged retail bank and grow its presence from nine to 17 countries by 2020. It has opted to keep its long-standing technology provider, Temenos, and upgrade […]
The Monday mindset: 19 June 2017
Fintech zeitgeist! Every Monday, we might look back at last week; look ahead to this week; share a few thoughts (our own or others); or discuss anything that catches our eye. This week, Anita Liu Harvey, VP for strategy and innovation at Barclaycard, fires us in the direction of “the magic bullets of future retail”. […]
Blockchain fuels IBM and Standard Chartered insurance policy pilot
American International Group (AIG), IBM and Standard Chartered have piloted the “first” multinational, smart contract based insurance policy using blockchain. The trio converted a controlled master policy written in the UK, and three local policies in the US, Singapore and Kenya, into a smart contract that provides a shared view of policy data and documentation […]
Voice is a natural step in the technology evolution – Amazon
If there is any doubt in which direction the technology world will head next, its being brushed aside by Amazon Web Services (AWS); voice is the natural progression. Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication) reports. Speaking at TechXLR8 in London, David Low, “principal evangelist” at Amazon Alexa EU, highlighted that the voice user interface will be […]
Banking Technology Awards 2017 now open for entry!
Know any innovative products, inspirational projects, skilled teams or visionary leaders that deserve a special recognistion this year? Nominate them for a Banking Technology Award!
A Closer Look at the Future of Cash
No, cash is hardly sexy, not in this era of mobile payments, bitcoin and biometrics. But here’s some proof about its endurance.
CFPB Seeks Comment on Proposed Changes to Prepaid Rule
The CFPB has issued a request for comment on proposed changes to its final rule on prepaid accounts that would adjust requirements for resolving errors on unregistered accounts and provide greater flexibility for credit cards linked to digital wallets.
Making the Case for More ACH
ACH payments are on course for exponential growth in the government sector, reducing costs for agencies and appealing to younger consumers.
Are Plastic Cards Headed for Extinction?
Probably not. Even so, the case for virtual prepaid accounts is growing stronger. A journey through the landscape—including a stop at a recent Apple conference—shows why.
Finastra heads to IBM cloud for digital banking
Fintech titan Finastra is turning to IBM to power its banking operations with cloud and cognitive technologies. As reported yesterday (14 June), Misys and DH Corporation (D+H) joined forces to create Finastra, the third largest financial services technology company in the world. With Finastra now officially alive and kicking, it’s wasted no time in showing […]
2017 Pay Awards Results Are In
Today, June 14, Paybefore reveals the Best-in-Category winners in 21 categories and the two recipients of its highest individual recognition, Industry Achievement, for the 2017 Pay Awards.
People on the Move: Wayne Mitchell, AFEX
Global payment and risk management solutions provider AFEX has appointed Wayne Mitchell as general manager, EMEA.
People on the Move: Geert Ensing, Fidor Solutions
Digital banking solutions provider Fidor Solutions has named Geert Ensing to the role chief information officer.
People on the Move: Nicolette Kost De Sevres, Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown LLP has added Nicolette Kost De Sevres to the firm’s Washington D.C., office, where she will serve as a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice.
People on the Move: Arthur Kirsten, MFS Africa
Arthur Kirsten has joined mobile money transfer provider MFS Africa as head of risk and compliance.
People on the Move: Mark Bolsom, Moneymailme
Social money transfer provider Moneymailme has appointed Mark Bolsom as business development director.
People on the Move: Brun, Mimran, Croteau, nexo Standards Board
nexo Standards, the global industry association dedicated to enabling fast, interoperable and borderless payments acceptance, has elected a new board of directors at its recent general assembly.
Misys and D+H merge to launch fintech titan Finastra
Misys and DH Corporation (D+H) have joined forces to create Finastra, the third largest financial services technology company in the world. As reported in March, D+H was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $3.6 billion. The venture capital firm, which owns UK-based banking software vendor Misys, beat rival Advent International to acquire D+H. Finastra will […]
Q&A with Andrew Buckley, Mastercard
When the self-described skeptic took over as global head of prepaid for Mastercard earlier this year, Andrew Buckley wasn’t quite convinced that the opportunities ahead were worthy of all the hype. Five months later and he’s among the converted, preaching the gospel of democratization—not just of payments but of innovation.
Avaloq Community Conference 2017: not trapped in a geography
Avaloq has hit back at Temenos’ claims that it is “trapped in a relatively small geography” by pointing to its revenue rise and innovation drive as reasons for something to be cheerful about.
Mastercard, Oxford Plan Helps Banks Breathe Life into Biometrics
With increasing global smartphone penetration and a willing consumer base, financial institutions recognize the potential of biometrics to offer more convenience and security to their customers—but a lack of familiarity with the still-new technology among top banking brass remains a significant barrier to adoption, a new report from Mastercard and Oxford University found.
Walmart Pay Offers Instant Credit Access
Can a mobile payment service gain users by offering instant access to credit card accounts? Walmart is about to find out. The retail giant has launched a program that enables Walmart Pay customers to spend via their credit lines immediately upon approval instead of waiting for plastic cards to arrive.
TSYS launches fraud prevention tool that learns
Global payments provider TSYS announced June 12 it has launched TSYS Foresight Score with Featurespace, a fraud-prevention and risk-scoring product that integrates artificial intelligence, enabling the software to learn and improve its ability to detect fraudulent behavior while reducing false positives, the company says.
Avaloq Community Conference 2017: embracing blockchain and Bitcoin innovation
Swiss core banking software vendor Avaloq is prepared to tap into the potential of blockchain and Bitcoin over the next 12 months as it seeks to experiment and innovate more in these areas.
Fiserv sets sights on mobile payments tech vendor Monitise
US tech giant Fiserv has offered to buy Monitise, a UK-based mobile payments software and solutions provider. The cash offer to acquire is at 2.90 pence per share – valuing Monitise at approximately £70 million.
White paper: choosing the right in-memory computing solution
As in-memory computing (IMC) gains momentum across a wide range of applications, from fintech and ecommerce to telecommunications and internet of things (IoT), many companies are looking to IMC solutions to help them process and analyse large amounts of data in real time.
House Passes Dodd-Frank Reform Minus Interchange Reform
The Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10), legislation to overhaul the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, was approved along party lines by the U.S. House of Representatives 233-186 on June 8. The legislation focuses on ending big-bank bailouts and supporters say it provides more accountability for Washington and Wall Street, while removing barriers to economic growth.
Preview: Prepaid Power Players to Gather in D.C.
Prepaid stakeholders from around the U.S.—and beyond—are set to converge on Washington, D.C.’s Mayflower Hotel next week for the NBPCA’s sixth annual Power of Prepaid. We’ve got a sneak peek of what’s in store at the prepaid industry’s most important event of the year, including some surprises from industry pioneer Steve Streit.
Calastone completes first phase of blockchain project
Global funds transaction network Calastone says it has “successfully” completed the first phase of its blockchain distributed market infrastructure proof-of-concept (PoC).
Softbank continues spending spree, grabbing smart robotics firm from Google
Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank continued its drive to take centre stage in the evolution of the tech industry with the acquisition of Boston Dynamics from Google/Alphabet. Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication) reports that Boston Dynamics has been a fairly high profile robotics pioneer in recent years, specialising in humanoid and quadrupedal machines apparently designed to […]
