Top fintech stories this week – 3 March 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
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Fintech funding round-up: 3 March 2017
Fintech funding without the tub-thumping. A realistic and brief round-up of key events. Featuring WhenFresh, Euronext, Algomi and Sensibill.
Netspend Hires Veteran Jeff Johnson to Lead Commercial Prepaid Channel
Netspend has landed a 20-year prepaid industry veteran in Jeff Johnson to manage the financial services provider’s commercial prepaid channel, the company announced March 2. The freshly minted senior vice president for commercial prepaid will oversee Netspend’s programs for paycards, incentives, disbursements and awards, as well as the Tip Network, which serves businesses whose employees supplement their incomes with tips.
Mastercard Continues Masterpass Push with Postepay Integration
Mastercard and Poste Italiane have struck a new deal under which the Italian postal service’s Postepay app has integrated Masterpass to enable users to make mobile purchases—a deal the companies hope will appeal to Postepay’s large base of younger users.
Bots and Biometrics: The Mobile World Congress Shows the Future of Payments
Bots, biometrics and wristbands stood out as examples of payments innovation this week at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Judging by the product releases and displays, the future promises to involve more use of fingerprints in payments, and technology that allows quick purchasing from social media.
Race to patent Bitcoin tech heats up
The man who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, is now working on filing patents for the currency, according to Reuters. In a lengthy investigative report, Reuters says Craig Wright is “working with a fugitive online gambling entrepreneur to file scores of patents relating to the digital currency and its underlying technology, […]
Japan edges towards blockchain commercialisation
SBI Ripple Asia and the Japan Bank Consortium have “successfully” completed a pilot implementation of RC Cloud, Ripple’s unified blockchain platform for domestic and cross-border payments. As Banking Technology reported last year, the consortium (full name “The Japan Bank Consortium to Centrally Provide Domestic and Cross-border Payments”) officially launched with 42 member banks. As of […]
Ex-R3 members behind new blockchain alliance
Banco Santander, BNY Mellon, Intel, JP Morgan and Microsoft are some of the big names behind the launch of a new blockchain alliance. Called the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), it plans to drive Ethereum blockchain technology best practices – “focusing on security, privacy, scalability and interoperability”. This development creates another rival for the R3 blockchain […]
Survey smiles on worldwide payment schemes
Developing new services, adopting the latest technologies and collaboration are the top priorities among payment schemes worldwide, according to a new study.
Société Générale extends partnership with Lombard Risk to global markets
UK-based regtech and risk management vendor Lombard Risk has extended its “global strategic partnership” with Société Générale. The bank will roll out Lombard Risk’s collateral management system, Colline.
Mastercard makes global mobile payments go Qkr
Mastercard says it will significantly expand the scope and capabilities of its Qkr with Masterpass mobile payment service. Not only is the technology set to debut in the US and five other countries, but it will now integrate with retail software provider Oracle, reports Banking Technology‘s sister publication Paybefore. At the Mobile World Congress in […]
Prepaid Complaints Remain Low in Latest CFPB Monthly Snapshot
Complaints about prepaid products went down again from November 2016 through January 2017, with the CFPB reporting a monthly average of 206 prepaid-related complaints in that period, down from 237 per month during the same period a year earlier.
People on the Move: Lisa McFarland, Craig Eckstrom, William Zielke, Ingo Money
Push payments technology specialist Ingo Money has announced several leadership changes as it looks to expand its business.
Mastercard, Transport Authority Test Contactless Cards While Eying Mobile Payments
Mastercard and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore have teamed up to launch a pilot program enabling commuters to pay for transit fares using contactless payment cards through an account-based ticketing (ABT) system. Although the tap-and-go pilot hasn’t begun yet, the next step of enabling consumers to use mobile wallets and wearables already is in the works.
Survey Finds Payment Schemes Worldwide Optimistic, Looking to Cooperate
Developing new services, adopting the latest technologies and collaboration are the top priorities among payment schemes worldwide, according to a new study.
Study: Big Box Stores, Plastic Cards Dominate in Loyalty, Corporate Rewards
In a sign that many consumers use gift cards to purchase everyday household items, big box retailers continue to lead loyalty points and rewards redemptions in the U.S., according to a new study from the National Gift Card Corp. (NGC).
Nordea releases new automated FX handling tool
Nordea Cash Management and Nordea Markets have launched AutoFX, an automated FX handling tool. Nordea says it is the first bank in the Nordics to offer this type of solution. AutoFX was developed in collaboration with a “large Nordic customer in the media industry”, in an effort to help modern treasury functions automate their daily […]
Baloise to invest $50m in insurance and risk management tech start-ups
Switzerland-based insurance provider Baloise Group has forged an investment partnership with Anthemis Group, a digital financial services investment and advisory firm. Together, they will curate European and American tech start-ups developing insurance (insurtech) and risk management solutions, with a mandate is to invest CHF 50 million ($50 million).
DTCC steps up DLT trial for repo transactions
The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) announced that the proof-of-concept to improve the netting process for repo transactions using distributed ledger technology (DLT) has been successfully completed.
Bank for International Settlements issues analytical framework on DLT
The committee on payments and market infrastructures at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), an international financial institution owned by central banks, has issued an analytical framework on distributed ledger technology (DLT) in payment, clearing and settlement.
First New Clearing Bank in 250 years Enters U.K. Market
There’s a newcomer on the U.K. challenger bank scene, but it’s not wooing consumers. As a bank for banks, other FIs and fintech companies, ClearBank will offer customers access to U.K. payment systems and core banking technology to support current account capabilities.
Santander employs IBM for employee digital boost
IBM’s MobileFirst for iOS apps will be used by Santander as the bank looks to revamp its digital banking services and help its employees work better. The custom-built, native apps made for iOS will be rolled out across more than 11,000 iOS devices, and will be used by Santander’s commercial network employees, including those supporting […]
Mastercard Gives its Mobile Payments a Bigger Global Stage
Mastercard significantly will expand the scope and capabilities of its Qkr with Masterpass mobile payment service, the network said Feb. 27. Not only is the technology set to debut in the U.S. and five other countries, but it will now integrate with retail software provider Oracle.
Infographics: the biggest bitcoin crashes in the last decade
Bitcoin underwent a lot of ups and downs in its brief history. This nifty infographics (courtesy of Investoo.com) offers a lowdown on major crashes during the early years of this digital currency experienced by Bitcoin traders.
Barclays’ banking takes weekend off
Customers at Barclays Bank suffered a worrying weekend due to problems with cash machines, debit cards and phone banking. At 2pm (UK time) on 25 February, Barclays become aware of the issues and advised customers to use other banks’ cash machines. The customers would probably have worked that out for themselves. Technical issues are affecting […]
ITSS delivers Temenos’ T24 core banking system to SAFA Bank
SAFA Bank, a new Islamic bank in Ramallah Palestine, has gone live on the Islamic version of Temenos’ T24 core banking system. The project was delivered by the vendor’s partner ITSS Global.
Poll Results: Will the CFPB’s Prepaid Rule Be Repealed?
Congress is considering a joint resolution to repeal the rule, which was released last year. If that happens, what will be the result? Our readers respond.
Top fintech stories this week – 24 February 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! IBM and Northern Trust debut blockchain for private equity Uses the Hyperledger Fabric. Visa opens new innovation centre in London It’s the latest and largest one. Digital gets a spurt with Natwest and RBS experts Every branch gets […]
Fintech funding round-up: 23 February 2017
Let’s put the fun in funding by keeping it mercifully brief. A round-up of key events. Featuring Tala, Nymbus and Monzo. US micro-loan start-up Tala (formerly InVenture), led by founder and CEO Shivani Siroya, has raised $30 million in Series B funding. The money will support its expansion plans in South Asia and Latin America. […]
Must-Reads of the Month: February
See what’s hot on Paybefore.com this month, including Global Cash Card’s win against onerous payroll card regulations in New York; the CFPB fending off attacks on multiple fronts; a new Blackhawk same-day rebates program; and more.
ING and Société Générale oil up on blockchain
ING and Société Générale have used blockchain to carry out a live oil trade between parties with Mercuria, the global commodity trading group. The platform, called “Easy Trading Connect”, is designed for paperless trading and aims to digitalise and standardise commodity transactions in order to “increase speed and efficiencies” in the trade process. The prototype […]
Mogo’s New Prepaid Product Taps into Growing Canadian Market
Mogo, a Canada-based fintech firm, has launched what it describes as the country’s first prepaid digital spending account managed through a mobile app. The debut of the Mogo Spending Account and the Mogo Platinum Prepaid Visa comes amid robust growth in prepaid transactions in Canada.
US fintech slides, Asia and Europe rise says KPMG
Last year was a challenging one for fintech. The Brexit vote, the US presidential election, the slowdown of the Chinese economy, and fluctuations in exchange rates forced investors to tread cautiously, according to KPMG’s latest report “The Pulse of Fintech Q4 2016”. Despite a decline in overall fintech investments, 236 M&A transactions were recorded worth […]
People on the Move: Mark Connolly, The Bancorp
The Bancorp has appointed Mark Connolly as executive vice president and head of credit markets.
People on the Move: Xavier Ballarin, Gerardo Talavera, Evolis
Evolis, a global provider of personalization systems for plastic cards, is reorganizing its U.S. operations, opening a new office near Boston to be headed by Xavier Ballarin.
People on the Move: Mark Engels, Hyperwallet
Mark Engels has joined global payments provider Hyperwallet as chief revenue officer.
Company on the Move: InComm, InComm Canada, Vendor of the Year Awards
Prepaid services provider InComm and its Canadian affiliate InComm Canada each have won vendor of the year recognition by a retailer partner.
People on the Move: Brian Randolph; Jason Holderness; Jacob Bennett, National Merchants Association
The National Merchants Association (NMA) has filled three key leadership roles, appointing Brian Randolph as chief operating officer, Jason Holderness as chief technology officer and Jacob Bennett chief risk officer.
People on the Move: Michael Scully, Passport
Parking and transit technology payment systems provider Passport has appointed Michael Scully chief product officer.
Company on the Move: PaymentsCompliance, Card & Payments Awards
PaymentsCompliance, a provider of business intelligence to the global payments industry, was named “Best Payments Industry Newcomer” at The Card & Payments Awards 2017, which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Feb. 2.
