UK’s New Payment System Operator appoints board
Following the recent appointment of CEO Paul Horlock, the UK’s new payment system operator has named its first five board members.
News
Spafinder Improves Gifting Options ahead of Holidays
Spafinder, a marketing, gifting, incentives and rewards brand owned by Blackhawk Network, has unveiled new gift card technology, expanded distribution and additional partner services to make giving the gift of spa and beauty experiences easier for consumers and businesses.
Barclays US Tests Personal Finance Tool
Barclays US is dipping its toe into the financial health business, testing a personal financial management tool that aggregates all of a customer’s Barclays credit cards, personal loans and savings products—as well as accounts with other banks—in one place.
Starling Bank Expands with Business Accounts
The competition to serve the financial needs of small businesses is heating up in the U.K., where consumer banking challenger Starling Bank is expanding into the business market,
E-book: Principles of data wrangling
Through the last decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, data was largely a medium for bottom-line accounting: making sure that the books were balanced, the rules were followed, and the right numbers could be rolled up for executive decision-making. Attitudes toward data have changed radically in the past decade, as new people, […]
DiverCity Podcast: diversity and inclusion in financial services
A new bi-weekly podcast is coming to the financial services sector – DiverCity Podcast – the first to showcase the industry’s progress and shortcomings in diversity and inclusion.
Truphone raises $339m to fuel global expansion
What would you do with $339 million? London-based mobile operator Truphone gets to answer that question today as it closes its $339 million (£255 million) private equity round.
Snapsheet, KeyBank Launch Virtual Insurance Payouts
Snapsheet, a provider of virtual claims technology for the insurance marketplace, is partnering with KeyBank, a top 30 U.S. bank by assets, to launch an electronic payment solution for insurance claims.
A blockchain smartphone – the future of devices or a buzzword parasite?
Sirin Labs is a recognisable name if you know where to look. Last year, it brought you a £11,400 smartphone with “military grade” security, and now it wants to bring you a blockchain smartphone called Finney.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 2 October 2017
Blockchain-based commercial bonds on the Russian market, Bitcoin recognition in Japan and new digital currency in Dubai. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features National Settlement Depository, bitFlyer and Dubai Economy. Starting off in Russia, the National Settlement Depository (NSD) has unveiled the first blockchain-based commercial bonds on the Russian market based on Hyperledger Fabric […]
Wirecard Gives boon a Boost with Virtual Prepaid, P2P and Overdrafts
Pay Award-winning payments technology company Wirecard is expanding its mobile payment app boon with new features to make it an “all-embracing app in everyday life.”
Credo Bank completes Temenos T24 core banking system upgrade
Credo Bank, a Georgia-based bank providing sustainable financial services for micro businesses and SMEs, has moved to the latest version of Temenos’ T24 core banking system.
Mastercard Wants to Help Issuers Fight Card Fraud Faster after Data Breaches
On the heels of Equifax’s massive data breach that compromised 143 million identities, Mastercard today (Oct. 2) announced the launch of Early Detection System, which alerts banks to high-risk cards and accounts that are exposed in security incidents or data breaches.
Timex and Barclaycard collaborate to create contactless payment watch
Timex and Barclaycard have partnered in true style to produce a new range of contactless payment watches. The Fairfield Contactless promises to be a perfect fusion of style and smart functionality. Coming in at a retail price of £159, it’s all about the leather bPay embedded strap, which brings wearable technology to the wrist. bPay […]
Chime Pulls in $18 Million, Surpasses 500,000 Bank Accounts
Chime, a mobile banking challenger co-founded by Green Dot and Visa veteran Chris Britt, has raised $18 million in Series B financing, led by global venture fund Cathay Innovation.
Whole Foods Market Reports Breach
On Sept. 28, Whole Foods Market announced it had recently received information regarding unauthorized access of payment card data used at certain venues such as taprooms and table-service restaurants located within some of its stores.
Top fintech stories this week – 29 September 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
CFPB Financial Well-Being Report Underscores Industry Opportunity
More than 40 percent of U.S. adults struggle to make ends meet, according to new data from the CFPB. While not great news on its own, the findings could help financial services providers design products directed at improving financial well-being.
CPI Names Scott Scheirman CEO
CPI Card Group, a provider of financial card production and related services, announced the appointment of Scott Scheirman as president and CEO, effective Oct. 5, 2017. He succeeds Steve Montross, who is retiring from the company.
Alexa’s footprints are starting to appear all over the place
While Google is doing its impression of a petulant child, storming home from the park with its football tucked under its arm by barring Amazon Echo Show access to YouTube, Amazon has drafted a host of reinforcements for its Alexa offensive, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). For the most part, the majority of the news […]
Pindrop Releases ‘Next-Gen’ Phoneprinting with Machine-Learning Might
Pindrop, an Atlanta-based voice security and authentication firm, says its latest technology release is improving clarity and accuracy and increasing fraud detection by 20 percent.
Saxo Payments Banking Circle Backs Project International Trade
Saxo Payments Banking Circle, has become the benefactor of an Emerging Payments Association (EPA) project to support the growth of early stage fintech companies around the world.
Alexa Is Making ‘Her’ Presence Known
While Google is doing its impression of a petulant child, storming home from the park with its football tucked under its arm by barring Amazon Echo Show access to YouTube, Amazon has drafted a host of reinforcements for its Alexa offensive.
Rodney C. Adkins Joins PayPal’s Board of Directors
PayPal has welcomed Rodney C. Adkins to its board of directors. Adkins is president of 3RAM Group LLC, a privately held company specializing in capital investments, business consulting services and property management.
TCS makes Intel-ligent move for new AI centre
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will set up an artificial intelligence (AI) “Centre of Excellence” (CoE) with Intel as they join the horde hoping to prosper in this highly competitive market. The new AI CoE will be equipped with the usual technologies and experts to assist “Intel Nervana AI Academy” members – including developers, data scientists, […]
TransferMate Appoints Former Intuit Exec as Director of Strategic Partnerships
TransferMate, a Dublin-based B2B payments platform, has named Fabrizio Zanollo as director of strategic partnerships.
Wirecard Continues Alipay Push with Merchant Deals
Wirecard has announced two partnerships this week to expand Alipay acceptance in Europe, one with Schustermann & Borenstein and another with Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
R3 and TradeIX plan open account trade finance DLT network
Enterprise software firm R3 and trade finance specialist TradeIX are developing an end-to-end open account trade finance business network which will be powered by TradeIX and R3’s Corda distributed ledger platform. The initiative is a joint undertaking between the duo, and 12 financial institutions including Bangkok Bank, Barclays, BBVA, Bladex, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, CTBC Bank, […]
Hawk Incentives Launches Mastercard Prepaid Incentive Card for Mobile Wallets
Hawk Incentives, a Blackhawk Network business that provides rewards and incentive solutions, has unveiled a new open-loop Mastercard prepaid card that can be added to major mobile wallets.
Intel unveils self-learning “neuromorphic” AI chip
It might not have totally nailed artificial intelligence (AI) yet, but with its new research project, Loihi, Intel claims to have crossed a bridge which many are still trying to build; on-chip learning, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). In its search for a new growth area, Intel has focused on the burgeoning world of […]
SunTec Xelerates its open banking ambitions
SunTec has unveiled its out-of-the-box open banking solution, offering preset configurations and definitions, through its Xelerate billing system. With the rise of open banking, SunTec wants to join the throng looking to prosper in a very competitive and crowded market. The firm says banks can use the layer to get business value from their APIs […]
InComm expands transit business
InComm, a prepaid and payments technology company, continues to expand its tolling and transit payments business nationwide with the launch of the RiverLink Starter Kit.
White paper: From traditional bank to marketplace bank
Many industries have already been technologically disrupted. Financial services and banking won’t be any different. New digital banking platforms will emerge with an automated, compliant core and a connection layer for all kinds of third party services to tap into. This is API banking, or marketplace banking.
First Tech Credit Union Goes Live with Zelle
First Tech Federal Credit Union announced that the Zelle P2P service is live in its mobile banking app, enabling payments for more than 110,000 First Tech mobile banking members.
Fintech alliance round-up: 25 September 2017
Move closer, move your fintech body real close, until we feel like we’re really making innovation. Our latest super-friendly fintech alliance round-up features Switzerland and Hong Kong; Japan and Abu Dhabi Global Market; and the UAE loving itself. The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) under the Swiss Federal Department of Finance and the […]
Tech dominates Interbrand global rankings
Interbrand has released its rankings of the most valuable brands in the world, and the technology sector has a lot to boast about, occupying six of the top ten spots, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Every now and then we just need a reminder of how important technology is for today’s society. In previous […]
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 25 September 2017
Exchange traded funds, certification, a rewards network and a new cryptocurrency. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features Evolve Funds Group, DNV GL, Deloitte and Codemojo. Evolve Funds Group has filed a preliminary prospectus with the Canadian securities regulators for Canada’s first cryptocurrency exchange traded funds (ETFs), Evolve Bitcoin ETF (aka BITS). “Accessing Bitcoin is […]
Mastercard, Swarovski Launch VR Shopping
Mastercard and Swarovski have teamed up to launch a virtual reality (VR) shopping app for the Atelier Swarovski home décor line. The app immerses consumers in a home where they can browse and purchase the pieces with Masterpass.
Cashplus Expands with £30 Million Debt Facilities Led by RBS
Cashplus, a London-based alternative financial services provider—and Top 5 Best Challenger Bank—has announced two new, three-year funding arrangements totaling £30 million (US$40.52 million). The company will use the credit to expand its lending products for SMEs.
State Street unveils Quantextual Idea Lab for investment research
State Street has launched its Quantextual Idea Lab, a hybrid of machine learning and human knowledge, for improved investment research. According to the firm, investment professionals are inundated with research reports from the sell side, the buy side and academia. It reckons financial research teams can produce enough content to consume 24 reams or 12,000 […]
