FinTech


Commerzbank chooses Infosys for investment banking tech revamp

Financial systems vendor Infosys has been awarded a five-year contract with Commerzbank to remodel its investment banking IT architecture. Along with the remodel, Infosys will improve IT processes and evaluate a potential post-trade processing utility. The later would then “focus on the clustering of trade processing platforms across various product types”. Stephan Müller, group CIO, […]

Gieom e-learning platform now on Temenos MarketPlace

India-based provider of e-learning and change management software Gieom Business Solutions has become a Temenos certified fintech provider for “operational efficiency and regulatory compliance”. Gieom’s cloud-based platform will now be available on Temenos’ MarketPlace store that can be accessed by over 2,000 customers of Temenos and its subsidiaries. The announcement was made at Temenos’ annual […]

Temenos Community Forum 2016: Temenos CEO targets US growth

Temenos is going all out in its plans to grow its US market share with a top 25 bank expected to implement the T24 core banking system soon. About 1,200 delegates were at the Temenos Community Forum 2016, held at the Palau De Congressos, in Barcelona from 17-19 May. The event enabled vendors, potential vendors, […]

VPBank revamps omnichannel banking with SAP; plans new digital bank

Vietnam’s mid-tier banking player, Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank), has implemented a new digital solution, SAP’s Omnichannel Digital Platform. Omnichannel Digital Platform stems from the Sybase 360 product that came SAP’s way with the acquisition of Sybase in 2010. The new solution was deployed in one year at VPBank, with online and mobile components for retail […]

RISE develops new blockchain solution for post-trade sector

UK-based RISE Financial Technologies claims to be “the first technology firm to launch the second generation of blockchain for the post-trade sector”. The solution is now undergoing testing with a number f banks, custodians and CSDs. The results will be published in H2 2016. RISE develops multi-asset class, multi-currency distributed financial ledger technology for the […]

Bangkok Bank enhances mobile banking ops with Fiserv’s Mobiliti Edge

Bangkok Bank has launched new mobile banking functionality, based on Fiserv’s Mobiliti Edge mobile banking and payments platform. The bank’s mobile solution is known as Bualuang mBanking. It enables Bangkok Bank’s customers to access financial services via a mobile phone, tablet or the Apple Watch. Fiserv and Bangkok Bank have been working together for a […]

Three vendors join forces for new digital banking platform

Unisys, Sandstone Technology and Payment Card Technologies (PCT) are bringing to market a new digital banking solution. The solution, called USP, will consist of the “best of breed” products from each vendor, all “seamlessly” integrated. USP is aimed at new market entrants and established players. The participating vendors describe it as “cost-effective”. It will support […]

Android Pay now in the UK; Australia and Singapore are next

Android Pay is now available in the UK, and more countries are on the way. Banking Technology first reported on this initiative in March this year. UK consumers can now pay for goods and services with their Android smartphones. Retailers like Boots, Waitrose and Starbucks are already onboard, and so is Transport for London (underground, […]

Standard Life and ING Australia working with IBM on digital projects

UK-based investment company Standard Life and ING’s Australian subsidiary are working with IBM on a range of digital and data management initiatives. Standard Life: it’s personal Standard Life is personalising its financial services capabilities “to each of its 3.8 million UK customers”, IBM states. Using IBM’s analytics tools Standard Life “can accurately track a person’s […]

Finca and First Access join forces for microfinance fintech

Microfinance organisation Finca and credit scoring specialist First Access have unveiled “the world’s largest microfinance fintech collaboration”. The two companies say this partnership “will create the largest and most sophisticated alternative credit-scoring approach by a microfinance institution (MFI) in the world.” It will also vastly improve Finca’s outreach to excluded populations. First Access will analyse existing […]

MyState in digital banking transformation

Australia-based financial services group, MyState, is gearing up to launch a new digital banking system, provided by domestic vendor Rubik Financial. The new solution is set to go live in August and promises to transform MyState’s digital channels and customer experience, according to Rubik. It will provide “superior digital experience” to customers, the vendor says, […]

Beaten British banks need to modernise and improve software quality management

Following outages at some of the UK’s leading banks including Barclays and, most recently, HSBC which left customers unable to access funds for up to two days, means system failures are a hot topic. The amount and frequency of these damaging failures emphasises the growing issue of poor software quality management in the UK banking […]

Infographics: the efficient treasury

The treasury function plays a pivotal role within a bank, and with great power comes great responsibility… and the need for automation. Misys and Banking Technology conducted a survey to find out about the changing role of the banks’ treasury and the degree of support received from current systems. How can technology help treasurers cope […]

VocaLink signs ATM deal with UnionPay

VocaLink, the payment systems provider, has signed a five-year deal with China’s UnionPay International, which will enable UnionPay cardholders to access ATMs in the UK and continental Europe. Under the deal, VocaLink will provide ATM transaction processing and UnionPay sponsored access. VocaLink says on average, the value of UnionPay card withdrawals from UK ATMs are […]

UK challenger banks: who’s who

With so many new banks trying to muscle into the UK banking sector, spurred on by the reduced barriers to entry and calls for competition, Banking Technology wonders: will this boom be followed by a bust? In the meantime, make hay whilst the sun shines! Here is our guide to who’s who in the UK […]

Barclays swerves Android Pay with smartphone NFC payments

Banking giant Barclays has announced the launch of its own mobile contactless on Android, and confirmed it will not be joining Android Pay, reports Tim Skinner at Telecoms.com. The bank has been one of the UK’s more innovative financial institutions harnessing mobile payments, and specifically the integration of payment technology into wearable or alternative devices. […]

Fidor Bank and Telefónica Germany to launch O2’s first mobile bank account

Telefónica Germany, in association with Fidor Bank, will be launching its mobile banking offering, “O2 Banking”, in Germany in late summer 2016. Matthias Kröner, CEO of Fidor Bank, says the collaboration offers “the best of two digital worlds”. Namely, banking services via a mobile app and additional services from an O2 mobile contract. Fidor says […]

Banking Technology May 2016 issue out now

The latest edition of our flagship magazine – Banking Technology – is out now, packed with news, analysis and insights, case studies, research and expert commentary.

European Banking Federation pushing for global policy on cybersecurity

The European Banking Federation (EBF), the Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA) and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) are planning global policy measures on cybersecurity, data and technology through a new set of common principles. In its paper, “International Cybersecurity, Data and Technology Principles”, the organisations want to create a “starting point for dialogue […]

DTCC teams with Korea Exchange for trade repository solution

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and the Korea Exchange (KRX), the securities exchange operator in South Korea, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-operate with each other on a trade repository solution in South Korea. Under this deal, both organisations will explore linking DTCC’s global trade repository (GTR) solution directly to […]

IBM Watson to bring cognitive computing to South Korean banking

IBM and SK Holdings C&C, a South Korean IT services company, are planning to bring IBM’s Watson cognitive technology language services to South Korean banking. The alliance, which includes training Watson to understand Korean, is designed to “dramatically accelerate” the adoption of cognitive computing throughout the region, giving South Korea-based developers a set of localised […]

NCR and Huntington Technology Finance team up for ATM lease financing

NCR Corporation (NCR) has signed a strategic alliance agreement with US-based Huntington Technology Finance to provide lease financing for NCR ATMs, including “ATM-as-a-Service” type options, for financial institutions (FIs). The new relationship gives FIs a single, monthly (or quarterly) payment for their NCR equipment, deployment, service, administration and software. Gordon Fraser, remote services management director, […]

Sopra Steria partners with DataStax for data storage tools for banks and FIs

Sopra Steria has teamed with DataStax, a provider of database software for cloud applications, as they target finserv organisations across the retail banking, investment banking and trading sectors. Working with DataStax, Sopra says it will provide solutions to some of the “biggest challenges” currently facing traditional banking institutions, such as compliance with “ever more stringent […]

Top fintech stories this week – 6 May 2016

Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! Atom Bank adds another system to its tech set-up; readies mobile app Bank has just launched, but already has problems. Monitise looks to be profitable in H2 2016 But did it grow too big too fast? EFG and BSI […]

Atom Bank adds another system to its tech set-up; readies mobile app

UK challenger bank, Atom Bank, has added another solution to its burgeoning IT architecture. This is a lending system from domestic specialist provider Phoebus Software, Banking Technology understands. The bank has just launched, but is yet to launch a fully-fledged mobile app. The app is yet to be available on Android. Meanwhile, the iOS app […]

Persia International Bank implements new trade finance software

London-based Persia International Bank is replacing its legacy trade finance system, supplied by Surecomp. The new system is Eximbills, provided by Surecomp’s rival, China Systems. Surecomp’s product, IBSNet, has been running at the bank’s London and Dubai locations for over 15 years. It is integrated with the bank’s long-standing core banking platform, Misys’ Bankmaster. It […]

Julian Hodge Bank live with new core banking system, Sword Apak’s Aurius

The new core banking platform, Aurius, supplied by UK-based fintech vendor Sword Apak, has ousted Misys’ Bankmaster at Julian Hodge Bank. Aurius is now fully live at this privately-owned bank in Cardiff, Banking Technology understands. The implementation started in spring 2014 and was initially expected to last 12 months. However, in reality the project took twice as […]

Monitise looks to be profitable in H2 2016, appoints new COO, launches new product

UK-based payments vendor Monitise seeks to turn its fortunes around with a new digital payments offering, new COO and a new, re-focused business structure. Banking Technology investigates. Choppy waters The mobile payments vendor has had a difficult few years, partly attributed to growing too big too fast. By 2014, it had to write off £128.5 […]

Federal Bank in treasury management software overhaul, looks to replace Intellect

Federal Bank in India is looking to replace its legacy treasury system, supplied by Intellect Design Arena. It issued a request for proposal (RFP) for procurement and migration of treasury management. The bank currently runs its treasury operations from its Mumbai office, and is active in domestic, FX and derivative sectors. Since 2009, these have […]

Calypso teams with Sernova for cloud-based clearing

Calypso Technology, a provider of treasury and capital markets (TCM) software, and Sernova Financial, a turnkey post-trade services provider, have partnered to deliver cloud-based clearing services. Sernova Financial will use the Calypso platform, which “recreates the shared infrastructure and service elements of a traditional clearing broker”. Charles Marston, executive chairman of Calypso, says: “As capital […]

Finca Bank Georgia in digital banking system revamp

Finca Bank Georgia, an affiliate of Finca International, a global microfinance organisation, is looking to modernise its online and mobile banking systems. The bank has recently issued a tender to find a new provider and software. Banking Technology understands that the selection is in its final stages at present, with contract negotiations underway. Once the […]

ABA Bank looks for new digital banking platform

Cambodia-based ABA Bank is looking for a new omnichannel banking solution and has issued a request for proposal (RFP). Interested parties should be able to offer “an integrated, multichannel platform” that supports internet and mobile banking for retail and corporate business lines. Current set-up At present, ABA Bank has two separate portals for corporate and […]

Inter-American Development Bank ponders tech overhaul

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is looking for a new back office system, Banking Technology understands. The bank is a long-standing customer of Misys. It has been using its Opics treasury and capital markets (TCM) system for many years, and in 2014 it also signed for Summit, another back office system from Misys’ portfolio of TCM […]

Siraj Finance to oust ITS’s Ethix core banking system in favour of Path Solutions’ iMAL

UAE-based Islamic financial institution, Siraj Finance, is replacing ITS’s Ethix core banking system with iMAL from Path Solutions. The new platform will cover all main operations of Siraj Finance, including transaction processing, treasury, trade finance, investment management, profit calculation, credit bureau interface, Swift, electronic cheque clearing, provisioning and reporting. Abu Dhabi-based Siraj offers consumer and […]

EFG and BSI to merge on Temenos’ T24, Avaloq to be ousted

With the takeover of BSI by rival EFG International, Switzerland will see the creation of the country’s fifth largest private bank. Banking Technology looks at the IT implications, and the winners and losers of the deal. EFG is buying BSI from Brazil’s troubled Grupo BTG Pactual for CHF 1.33 billion ($1.38 billion). In its turn, […]

UK’s oldest bank, C Hoare & Co, goes digital with Backbase

C Hoare & Co, Britain’s oldest bank (and the fourth oldest in the world), is modernising its front-end operations with Backbase, a specialist provider of omnichannel banking software. London-based C Hoare was founded in 1672 by Sir Richard Hoare and remains family-owned and run today. It focuses on private banking and investment management. It employs around […]

IBM launches “first secure” blockchain services on cloud

IBM has launched a new framework for “securely” operating blockchain networks, as well as new services on the IBM Cloud that are designed to meet existing regulatory and security requirements. Working with teams of security experts, cryptographers, hardware experts and researchers, IBM says it has created new cloud services for “tamper-resistant, trusted” blockchain networks. Jerry […]

Capgemini launches test automation platform for finservs

Tech consultancy firm Capgemini has launched its Intelligent Test Automation Platform for financial services, promising quality assurance savings of up to 30%. The platform uses frameworks and robotic agents, and Capgemini says it speeds up the release of new products and services by providing “much shorter test cycles and better collaboration between development and test […]

LzLabs partners with Cobol-IT for world’s “first” software-defined mainframe

Swiss software start-up LzLabs is collaborating with Cobol-IT to deliver the world’s “first” software-defined mainframe, designed to move legacy mainframe applications and data to open Linux server and cloud platforms. Cobol-IT will act as an integrated software provider for the solution as it is implemented for LzLabs’ customers across the world. Announced at CeBIT 2016, […]