Innovation


Where top US banks are investing in fintech – CB Insights

Since 2012, the top ten US banks (by assets under management) have participated in 72 rounds totaling $3.6 billion to 56 fintech companies, according to CB Insights. While investment activity dropped on a quarterly basis in Q1 2017, four of the last five quarters have seen over $1 billion invested into fintech start-ups in the US backed by venture capital firms.

Skye Bank revamps omnichannel banking with Oracle FSS

Nigeria-based Skye Bank has launched a new digital banking platform, SkyeXperience, built on the Oracle FSS tech. The bank plans to enrol over two million clients on the new solution by the end of next year.

The Monday mindset: 14 August 2017

Fintech zeitgeist! This week, Banking Technology’s editor Tanya Andreasyan muses about the growing trend of celebrity endorsement in the fintech world.

HoneyDue tackles major PFM challenge: collaborative spending

Managing a relationship is stressful enough without introducing unnecessary miscommunications about day-to-day spending. This is one reason why many couples maintain separate spending accounts with pre-defined responsibilities (e.g. you pay the rent, I’ll pay the utilities, etc).

Russia’s CSD develops blockchain platform with Waves

National Settlement Depository (NSD), Russia’s central securities depository (CSD), and Waves, a decentralised platform for launching crowdfunding campaigns and issuing digital assets, have embarked on a blockchain project.

Barclaycard pilots Alipay payments in eight retail stores across UK

EXCLUSIVE: Barclaycard is launching a pilot that enables merchants in the UK to accept in-store Alipay transactions. The pilot will commence on 14 August 2017 in eight retail stores across the UK, with Barclaycard providing the POS solution for payments via Alipay.

WhatsApp to introduce payments feature

Facebook-owned messenger app WhatsApp submitted a new update through the Google Play Beta Programme, which will make payments available in the app’s new version.

HSBC digitises global trade with IBM

HSBC and IBM are working on a project “to develop a cognitive intelligence solution combining optical character recognition with advanced robotics to make global trade safer and more efficient”.

CFTE brings fintech education initiative to Asia with MAS

UK-based Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) is looking to expand to Asia and plans to set up its first international hub in Singapore. The newly launched organisation says it “has been working closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to formalise plans to expand CFTE’s education initiative to ASEAN”.

Banking Technology Awards: how to write a winning entry?

With less than one month left to nominate for the Banking Technology Awards, now is the time to polish up on your entry. The question we get asked often is how to write a winning entry. Well wonder no more, we have a few tips for you on what to include. The more detail the better! Dates […]

Payments: Australia gives Swift instant results

Off the back of its involvement in Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP), Swift has entered the instant payments market in Europe, with plans to launch a gateway solution in November 2018. The solution will enable instant payments to be made over the Swift network using a single gateway to connect to multiple instant payments systems across Europe.

Efigence designs interface for Emirates NBD’s new digital banking platform

Emirates NBD has launched a new digital banking platform with interface design developed by Efigence Group, a Poland-based customer experience (CX) specialist. Efigence, through its Artegence business, worked on “enhanced information architecture, re-designing user experience with a new graphical user interface (GUI) and supporting the implementation of front-end technology”.

Getting to experience thinking

“We’ve got a great idea we think you’re going to love.” Despite its manifest flaws, this is the approach that has long dominated the development of new products and services. While introducing products that people love is an exemplary goal, real omniscience has proven to be distressingly rare.

Barclays Africa looks for innovation heads-up with nine start-ups

Barclays Africa will collaborate with nine firms to explore new technology-based solutions to improve its banking services. The nifty nine are not just fintech but include Abe.ai and Kapitalwise from the US; FOMO Group and Byte Money from South Africa; and FlexPay, Spatialedge, Sun Exchange and Avenews-GT. Details below if you want the full show. […]

Banking Technology Awards: celebrating people that make things happen

This year’s Banking Technology Awards will be taking place on 13 December in London and once again we will be celebrating people that make things happen! The Leadership Awards will recognise individuals and teams that made a considerable contribution to our industry. What are the categories you can nominate in? Woman in Technology (W.I.T.) Award, in partnership with FemTechGlobal, will […]

Monetary Authority of Singapore plans payments council

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) says it will establish a Payments Council with the plan to create an “e-payment society” for the city state. The new council will comprise 20 people from banks, payment service providers, businesses, and trade associations. Members are appointed for a two-year term. MAS says the setting up of the […]

Banks look to immediate payments to drive revenue

Immediate payments is a key revenue driver for 66% of banks in markets with IP schemes, according to new benchmark data from processor ACI Worldwide and UK consultancy and Banking Technology’s sister company Ovum. Paybefore, Banking Technology’s sister publication, writes that the benchmark report, “2017 Global Payments Insight Survey: Retail Banking,” also found that although […]

Abu Dhabi and Kenya form fintech bridge

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Kenya have signed a co-operation agreement for fintech innovation. The agreement provides a framework for information sharing; and keeping abreast of regulatory and relevant economic or commercial developments in the respective markets. They will also support fintech […]

Klarna unveils free P2P payment service, Wavy

Klarna has unveiled Wavy, a new, free P2P payments service. Available in iOS and Android as well as online, the free app enables users in more than 30 European markets to transfer euros between friends and family.