North America


RBC’s video MyAdvisor makes banking clients wiser

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has launched a live video service to let its clients connect in real time with its advisors. Called MyAdvisor, it uses an online advice platform to digitally connect a client to an advisor, where both can view and adjust a dashboard showing the client’s savings and investment goals and establish […]

Fiserv brings the max to PyraMax tech overhaul

Wisconsin-based mutual savings bank PyraMax has chosen Fiserv to modernise its retail banking operations. The bank will move to the DNA account processing platform and add integrated mobile, online and branch banking solutions, including palm-vein biometric authentication. The software will be supplied on an outsourced basis, from a Fiserv data centre. Richard Hurd, CEO and president, […]

Automation in US banking – part 2

Art Gillis, a seasoned banking technology consultant (working in the computer industry since 1958 – and listed as a top 25 tech consultant by the American Banker) and author, presents his latest “Automation in Banking” report (#31!), which looks at the US core banking and ancillary software market.

Accenture to acquire payments consulting firm First Annapolis

Accenture will acquire First Annapolis, a privately held payments consulting and advisory firm. Alan McIntyre, senior managing director, and head of Accenture’s Banking practice, says the acquisition “will enhance our capabilities in the payments sector”. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close […]

SEC says “no” to Winklevoss Bitcoin exchange-traded fund

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dashed the hopes of internet entrepreneurs and venture capitalists Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who were hoping to create an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for the virtual currency Bitcoin.

District of Columbia takes top US tech innovation spot

The District of Columbia (DC) can claim bragging rights as it has been deemed the most innovative part of the US, according to a study by personal finance website WalletHub. WalletHub says innovation is a principal driver of US economic growth. In 2016, the country spent an estimated $514 billion on R&D – “more than […]

United States of happiness for two-day settlement rule

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is being vigorously back slapped and group hugged by the finserv industry for finalising rule changes to help achieve a two-day settlement cycle (T+2). With an avalanche of acronyms, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Investment Company Institute (ICI) and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), […]

Payments Canada picks Accenture for revamp plan

Payments Canada, an organisation that operates the country’s payment clearing and settlement system, has selected consulting firm Accenture to help it lead “Modernization” – its initiative to improve Canada’s payments ecosystem. Jan Pilbauer, executive director of Modernization and CIO at Payments Canada, calls Accenture a “strong consulting partner”. In December, Payments Canada released its plans […]

Illinois regulator joins global distributed ledger consortium R3

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has become the first US regulatory agency to join the R3 Consortium, a global partnership of banks and other parties working to develop distributed ledger-based applications for financial services.

Deutsche Bank opens innovation lab in New York

Deutsche Bank has opened an innovation lab in New York, its fourth globally. The lab is part of its five-year plan for €1 billion investment in digital initiatives. It is sited in Lower Manhattan’s Fulton Center and will explore new technologies focused on several areas, including artificial intelligence, cloud technology and cybersecurity. Elly Hardwick, head […]

IBM turns up heat in cloud pricing war

The last couple of months have been relatively quiet for the major cloud players, though it looks like the lurking pricing war is just beginning to heat up, reports telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication). Speaking at IBM InterConnect in Las Vegas, the team announced a horde of new offerings, as well as a number of […]

IBM unveils blockchain-based digital identity network

IBM and SecureKey Technologies are working together to enable a new digital identity and attribute sharing network based on IBM Blockchain. When launched later this year, consumers can use the network to verify their identity for services such as new bank accounts, driver’s licences or utilities. IBM’s Blockchain service is built on top of the […]

Automation in US banking – part 1

Art Gillis, a seasoned banking technology consultant (working in the computer industry since 1958 – and listed as a top 25 tech consultant by the American Banker) and author, presents his latest “Automation in Banking” report (#31!), which looks at the US core banking and ancillary software market.

Introducing the internet of McThings

McDonald’s has made its first step towards the internet of things (IoT) with the introduction of a mobile ordering app as a means of streamlining the in-store customer experience. Banking Technology‘s sister publication telecoms.com reports that using apps to deliver services in this segment is hardly a new idea, though experiences to date have been […]

Inter-American Development Bank launches Finconecta ecosystem

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Florida-based fintech firm Above & Beyond (A&B) have unveiled “Finconecta”, a ten-month programme which integrates fintechs and financial institutions (FI) in an interconnected ecosystem. The technology platform behind it is called “Forward”, which was built by A&B, and is described as an app store-styled marketplace that allows firms to expose […]

Shrewd surfer dude behind Visa’s contactless payment sunglasses move

An Australian start-up has been revealed as the key technology partner of Visa’s new contactless payment sunglasses which were launched at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival. Visa unveiled the WaveShades sunglasses at the festival in Austin, Texas. Behind the scenes, the bright idea came from FinTech Australia member Inamo who came up with the […]

Double delight for Accenture innovation in US and Singapore

Accenture has opened innovation centres in New York and Singapore for finance and risk, and software application development cycles respectively. The New York hub focuses on developing solutions for finance and risk data management, data engineering, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and reporting. It will offer consulting, development and operations services, and Accenture says it already […]

Do collect $200 on Android, don’t get out of Gmail

Google has revealed that Android payments can now be made within the Gmail app. Whether it is “splitting a dinner bill or planning a group trip”, it offers a “fee-free way” to work out the details and settle up without leaving the Gmail app on Android. Users can exchange money with “anyone” – and are […]

Analysis: banking innovation in the US

Banking Technology puts the banking innovation in the US under the spotlight. The market is not short of digital offerings: Simple, Moven, Kabbage, Acorns, Earny, Debitize, MagnifyMoney and more – take your pick!

Euronet bugs Ant Financial with MoneyGram move

Payments firm Euronet has proposed to buy money transfer operator MoneyGram International for $15.20 per share – in turn becoming a pest to Ant Financial’s acquisition plans. As Banking Technology reported in January, Alibaba’s affiliate Ant Financial planned to splash out $880 million for MoneyGram – its first acquisition of a US-listed company. Euronet says […]

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 […]

JPMorgan Chase acquires MCX payments technology

The technology behind CurrentC, the QR-based mobile payment service created by MCX, a consortium of the largest merchants in the US, has been acquired by JPMorgan Chase. The bank says it will help expand Chase Pay, the mobile and digital wallet for Chase customers.

Flagship Community Bank buys BankMobile for $175m

Florida-based Flagship Community Bank has bought mobile-only BankMobile from Customers Bancorp for $175 million. As Banking Technology reported last month, BankMobile, which was launched by Customers Bancorp two years ago, was expected to be sold this quarter, according to Customers’ president and CEO, Jay Sidhu. Customers Bancorp says after accounting for all expenses, the deal […]

LendIt USA: the British are coming

Fintech is developing a distinctly British accent and the US is in danger of losing out, according to remarks made by Congressman Patrick McHenry, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, at the LendIt USA conference in New York.