Square launches in UK
San Francisco-based payments specialist Square has landed in the UK. This is the fifth market for Square, following the US, Canada, Australia and Japan.
SME
QNB Finansbank’s tablet the right dose for core banking
QNB Finansbank, QNB Group’s subsidiary in Turkey, has developed TouchFinans, a core banking application for the bank’s SME division to carry on their Windows tablets.
Next Insurance launches chatbot on Facebook Messenger
California-based Next Insurance has unveiled its new insurance chatbot that will enable personal trainers to quote and buy insurance via Facebook Messenger. Next partnered with SmallTalk, a chatbot developer, to become the “first company to provide full service insurance via a social channel”. It also says it has developed a direct link with small business […]
Penta and SolarisBank team for business bank accounts for German SMEs
Two Berlin-based fintech firms, Penta and SolarisBank, have joined forces to provide German businesses with “fast access to bank accounts”.
China’s Chained Finance brings blockchain boost to SME funding
Chinese fintech firms Dianrong and FnConn have launched Chained Finance, the “first-ever” blockchain platform for supply chain finance. According to the pair, supply chain finance companies have been limited by existing technology and, to date, have only served about 15% of suppliers needing financial resources. They claim the vast majority of the 40 million SMEs […]
Mfinance concludes integration platform tender
Kenya-based banking tech provider and integrator NLS Banking Solutions has won the bid to supply an integration platform to Madison Finance Company (Mfinance) in Zambia.
US challenger Clear launches AI-powered bank
Clear, a New York City start-up, has launched the “first” artificial intelligence (AI) powered bank for start-ups. The Clear account is designed specifically for start-ups and small business owners to manage their finances through a single banking portal. Its platform lets users ask questions and receive answers without having to look at any spreadsheets or […]
WIR Bank launches new payment card for SMEs in Switzerland
Switzerland-based WIR Bank has launched a new payment card for domestic SMEs, with tech provided by SIX Payment Services. It combines the existing functions of the proprietary WIRcard and internationally accepted Visa’s V PAY debit card.
Data gets greater with new Singapore group
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has set up a new Data Analytics Group (DAG) with effect from 15 March 2017 as it looks to improve the financial sector and digital economy. DAG will use data analytics for insights, “enhance the supervision” of financial institutions, make regulatory compliance better for financial institutions, and improve work […]
Trade finance and blockchain: the right time
Financial institutions and technology companies have tinkered with trade finance for years, but progress has been slow. Despite automation advances in many areas of financial services, trade finance remains a largely paper-based, manual process. But it could be one area where blockchain technology will be successfully applied.
New SME bank for “millennipreneurs” comes to Europe, BankUP
BankUP, a new fintech venture based in Kontich, Belgium, looks to tap into the European SME banking market.
The Monday mindset: 6 February 2017
Fintech zeitgeist! Welcome to the third in a new series of brief reports. 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 we welcome the views of guest writer Soumik Roy on India’s latest budget and its implications for e-payments and digital economy.
Top fintech stories this week – 3 February 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Dubai ponders regulatory framework for loan-based crowdfunding platforms
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has issued a consultation paper, “Crowdfunding: SME Financing Through Lending”. The paper proposes a regulatory framework for anyone looking to operate a loan-based crowdfunding platform in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Berlin-based online lender Spotcap starts operations in New Zealand
Spotcap, an online lending company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, has announced it is now operating in Auckland, New Zealand, as a registered financial services provider and is accepting applications for credit of up to NZD 250,000 ($182,000) from eligible businesses.
New mobile banking service Tide launches in UK
UK-based mobile banking firm Tide has launched with its business account app for SMEs. As Banking Technology reported in July 2016, Tide was gearing up for its launch and said it will offer a “nimble small business current account”, with a swift set-up and no monthly fees. It claims to be among the “world’s first” […]
FairFX gains e-money licence with takeover of digital banking service for SMEs, Q Money
FairFX, a London-based multicurrency payments service, has acquired Q Money and its e-money licence.
Seven European banks join forces for blockchain platform for SMEs
Seven European banks – Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Natixis, KBC, Rabobank, Société Générale and UniCredit – have agreed in principle to develop a blockchain-based shared platform for domestic and international commerce for SMEs.
Japanese start-ups head abroad for innovation programme
The Japanese government is sending 55 SMEs and start-ups abroad as part of its new innovation programme. Called the Hiyaku Next Enterprise programme, it is part of the Silicon Valley-Japan Bridge Project, set up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). That project was announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in April 2015 […]
Commerzbank unveils first digital platform for German SMEs
Commerzbank has developed the first digitalisation platform for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Called “#openspace”, and located in Berlin-Schöneberg, it offers long-term co-operation between SMEs, “innovation partners”, and start-ups with the objective of “tackling the challenges posed by the digital future together”. Holger Werner, CEO and founder of #openspace, says “digitalisation dominates the media, sciences, […]
Capital One joins forces with fintechs Gusto and Bill.com
Capital One Spark Business has announced “strategic partnerships” with two fintech companies, Bill.com and Gusto. The aim is “to build and deliver better financial management, HR and cash flow tools designed for small businesses”, Capital One says.
Top ten digital bank initiatives in 2016
Look back at some of the major digital bank initiatives across the globe in 2016, with Banking Technology’s top ten.
Top five banking tech case studies in 2016
Our pick of banking tech and fintech case studies – published by Banking Technology in 2016.
Wyelands Bank in ownership, brand and core banking software overhaul
Wyelands Bank (formerly Tungsten Bank) is relaunching in 2017 with a new core banking system.
Santander InnoVentures invests in Tradeshift
Business commerce and supply chain finance platform Tradeshift has got an investment from Santander InnoVentures.
British Business Bank pledges £400m to UK fintechs and other businesses
The UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a plan to invest £400 million of venture capital funds into the British Business Bank, a government vehicle to lend money to British businesses. The idea is to support the home-grown business sector – including fintech firms – and to prevent them from being snapped up by international companies.
Mahindra Finance launches SME fintech challenge
Mahindra Finance has launched a global SME challenge with KPMG and fintech matchmaking service Matchi. Companies are invited to respond with a solution that fits any of the SME-focused categories listed below. Balaji Rangachari, head of SME finance at Mahindra Finance, says the challenge is a “step towards finding existing solutions which we can adapt […]
Challenger BFC Bank readies for UK launch
BFC Bank, a subsidiary of the Bahrain Financing Company money transfer group, has received authorisation from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as it finalises its launch as a UK bank. For its technology, BFC will be using an outsourced “bank in a box” version of ERI’s Olympic core banking system. […]
IbanFirst raises €10m and launches Banking-as-a-Service for SMEs
Payments firm IbanFirst has raised €10 million for its growth plans and launched Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) for SMEs in Europe. IbanFirst offers an online multi-currency platform “in BaaS mode” – which it calls “an alternative to banks”. It was founded in 2013 by Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier (former head of Western Europe at Saxo Bank) under the name […]
UK challenger Amicus applies for banking licence
Amicus Finance, a UK financial services group, has submitted a banking licence application to the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It hopes to get the banking licence in 2017. In advance of authorisation, Amicus will convert £30 million of the debt currently used to fund its lending activities into equity […]
UK challenger Redwood submits banking licence application
Acorn Financial Partners (AFP) has submitted a banking licence application to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). On authorisation, AFP will be called Redwood Bank, a new UK-based SME challenger bank, and it anticipates receiving its licence early in 2017 and opening to customers later the same year. AFP’s majority […]
Fundflow and Wirecard launch invoice discounting platform for SMEs
Wirecard and fintech start-up Fundflow have launched an invoice discounting platform for SMEs in Germany. The firms say that SMEs and freelancers can sell their outstanding invoices on the Fundflow website, which then enables refinancing with institutional investors. Wirecard Bank has provided its German banking licence and will handle the payment process. Joachim Kaune, MD […]
New mobile banking service for SMEs gears up for UK launch
UK-based Tide will offer a “nimble small business current account”, with a swift set-up and no monthly fees. It claims to be among the “world’s first” mobile-first banking services for SMEs. Tide’s CEO George Bevis says the company will open its virtual doors for business in autumn this year. Tide is currently in the “private alpha […]
Opinion: fintech taking business banking back to the good old days
John Davies, CEO of The Just Loans Group, an alternative lender to UK businesses, argues that rather than being disruptive, fintech is enabling a return to how business banking used to be: a business would have a dedicated account manager who was genuinely interested in a customer’s business and had the time to give it guidance. Clever […]
Holvi launches MasterCard card for SMEs
Finnish fintech start-up Holvi has launched a debit card, Holvi Business MasterCard. It is available to customers in Germany, Austria and Finland. This follows on from the launch of a mobile banking app for iOS and Android last summer. Holvi, which was founded in 2011, provides entrepreneurs and SMEs with a range of financial and […]
Atom Bank goes public on new tech addition, Phoebus lending system
As first reported by Banking Technology in early May, Phoebus Software has gained a new customer – UK challenger bank Atom. The five-year deal will see Phoebus’ lending software supporting Atom’s secured business lending and account servicing for Atom’s residential lending. The new platform will be used by the bank’s team to originate loans for […]
Fiserv launches real-time alerts solution for bank customers, Notifi
Fiserv has launched Notifi, a platform for the delivery of real-time alerts for retail and SME bank customers. Home Federal Bank and C&F Bank are among the first takers. The solution consolidates information from across a financial institution’s systems – including core account processing, online banking and mobile banking, lending software, debit and credit cards […]
Commerzbank launches peer-to-peer lending platform for SMEs, Main Funders
Commerzbank says it’s the first major bank in Germany to develop this type of digital financing marketplace. Main Funders is aimed at SMEs. Main Funders enables clients of Commerzbank’s Mittelstandsbank (MSB) business division (which caters for SMEs) to present concrete investment projects to potential investors and secure financing. The financing volumes are between €200,000 and […]
Seven major financial institutions in blockchain project for European SMEs
The participants are BNP Paribas Securities Services, Caisse des Dépôts, Euroclear, Euronext, S2iEM, Société Générale and Paris Europlace. They have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study and develop a post-trade blockchain infrastructure for SMEs in Europe. The agreement is open to other interested parties. The aim is “to improve SME’s access to capital […]
Myanmar Oriental Bank in banking software revamp
Myanmar Oriental Bank (MOB Bank) is looking to modernise its core banking software. Banking Technology understands that the new system of choice is Temenos’ T24. Temenos provided a “no comment” response. MOB Bank was set up in 1993 and is privately owned. It has 26 branches and offers savings, remittances and SME financing. The bank […]
