Banking


Will 2017 be the year financial services improve their UX?

2016 has been a big year for user experience (UX). The web, as a whole, became easier to use, apps became more intuitive, and services became a lot more engaging and purposeful. But could the same be said for financial services? Perhaps…

Emerging payments hot topic on social media, Mastercard study finds

Consumers are expressing interest in and enthusiasm for emerging payment methods in their social media conversations, according to a new Mastercard report. Paybefore (Banking Technology‘s sister publication) reports that Mastercard’s fifth annual Digital Payments Study analysed more than 3.5 million public interactions in 2016 between consumers on social media channels – including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter […]

Hellenic Bank to launch open APIs

Cyprus-based Hellenic Bank is readying the first project by its recently unveiled innovation lab – open application programming interfaces (APIs).

The big fight brewing over strong customer authentication

Late last year, Visa fired a volley – unlikely to be the last – over new rules that it and all providers of online transactions will soon need to follow as part of the EU’s revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). It has some doom-laden predictions.

Banks not fine with $321bn paid in fines

Banks are stumbling along amidst the cumulative financial penalties of $321 billion handed out to them since the financial crisis. In a new report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – “Global Risk 2017:  Staying the Course in Banking” – it says “prudent operations will be required to avoid the errors of the past” and […]

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, […]

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 […]

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.

Mobile: the banking industry’s biggest ultimatum

An app is no longer a “nice to have”. As consumers expect businesses to engage with them at the right time, in the right manner, and over the right channel, a bank’s mobile app will be a crucial first point of contact for many customers. But it’s important to remember that an app by itself is not some wonder-cure that will instantly give a financial organisation perfectly satisfied customers.

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 […]

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 […]

Cybersecurity: computers or humans – where does the threat lie?

Digitalisation plays a key role in the fight against payment fraud. Yet Commerzbank’s cybercrime specialists in cash services show that even in this technologically advanced environment, security threats persist. Companies must take steps to ensure that human beings – as well as computers – are protected against crime.

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 […]

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 […]

The Monday mindset: 20 February 2017

Fintech zeitgeist! 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 Richard Stevenson, CEO, Red Box Recorders, on the future of banking. Real-time converge, capture and analyse! This […]

How to make a success out of blockchain

There is pressure for CEOs to decide how distributed ledger technology (DLT) fits into their business strategy. Regulators also recognise that blockchain could advance their own processes. So what is all the excitement about? Blockchain is an exciting innovation but the technology has flaws…

Mobile payments in the age of the customer

The mobile payment market is getting more congested every day. For banks, it’s the most frequent touchpoint – one that can help (re) establish everyday relevance and drive engagement. How can banks develop their strategy and prioritise the capabilities that will help them remain valuable to their customers?

IBM in major IoT drive with new partners

IBM has unveiled a large ecosystem initiative as it opens the doors of its new $200 million global headquarters for its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) business in Munich, Germany. BNP Paribas, Capgemini and Tech Mahindra are some of the firms who will place development teams at the IBM centre. Harriet Green, general manager, IBM […]

Mobile money: the state of play

With mobile money technology widely available, and so many citizens having access to a mobile phone, how many are actually banking in this way? What are the benefits available to them when using mobile money? And what does the future hold for this fintech innovation?

Fintech accelerator round-up: 14 February 2017

You can read about fintech accelerators quickly with our latest round-up. Featuring RBS, BNP Paribas, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the info on how to apply. Scotland has got its “first” fintech accelerator with the launch set for May. The new hub will be based in Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) Entrepreneurial Spark business centre […]

The Monday mindset: 13 February 2017

Fintech zeitgeist! Welcome to our 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 our editor Tanya Andreasyan. Dear PR, we know you […]

FinovateEurope 2017: designing good finance

Last week’s FinovateEurope was full of the broad range of exciting and innovative companies that we have come to expect at the show. Although the 72 companies showcasing their solutions operated right across the fintech landscape, they all sing from a common hymn sheet of improving the customer experience.