USA


Wells Fargo turns to SigFig for robo-advisory tech

SigFig, a San Francisco-based fintech start-up, is partnering with Wells Fargo to provide the bank’s clients with its robo-advisory tech and wealth management tools. A pilot version will be rolled out in H1 2017.

No dispute with Citi mobile app innovation

Citi has unveiled a new feature to let credit card members dispute certain posted charges directly within the Citi mobile app for iPhone in the US. It says it is the only major US credit card issuer to provide this feature on mobile, and the new feature is designed to provide “increased peace of mind” […]

US Treasury looks to control innovation

The US Department of the Treasury has unveiled an “Office of Innovation” as it looks to assert its control on regulations in this fintech space. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), an independent bureau within the Treasury, says it is “making certain that institutions with federal charters have a regulatory framework that […]

Cognizant works with KeyBank on Oracle Banking Platform project

Cognizant has assisted KeyBank in implementing Oracle Banking Platform (OBP) from Oracle FSS as part of the bank’s tech revamp. Cognizant says it redesigned KeyBank’s core systems, applications, business processes and customer interfaces to “simplify transactions”. Vipin Gupta, EVP and CIO of Key Community Bank (KeyCorp’s division that includes retail, business and commercial middle market […]

Digital-only MemoryBank launches in US

US-based MemoryBank, a national branchless banking platform, has opened its “digital doors”. Founded this month, it is digital only and targets “generation-X customers” – born between 1965 and 1982 – described as “an often-ignored group, pushed aside by millennials”. The bank is a subsidiary of Kentucky-based Republic Bank & Trust Company. For its tech, Republic […]

Farm Credit Services of America digs Fiserv’s DNA for lending

Nebraska-based Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) has chosen Fiserv’s DNA core account processing platform to support its agricultural lending operations. After evaluating 20 systems, FCSAmerica selected DNA to replace its existing core system. Banking Technology understands the lender has been using Misys’ FusionBanking Loan IQ system for the last five years or so, for […]

SS&C to acquire CRM software provider Salentica

SS&C Technologies will acquire customer relationship management (CRM) software provider Salentica. Canada-based Salentica will become a platform partner to the firm’s Black Diamond wealth platform and so provide more support to SS&C – such as its Global Wealth Platform. The latter recently went live at Seattle-based Smead Capital Management. Dave Welling, managing director and co-general […]

Chain unchains open source blockchain platform

US-based blockchain specialist Chain Inc has released its Chain Core Developer Edition, a free and open source version of its distributed ledger platform. Users have the option to run their prototypes on a test network, or “testnet”, operated by Chain, Microsoft, and the Initiative for Cryptocurrencies and Contracts (IC3), a collaboration of Cornell University, Cornell […]

TD Ameritrade to buy Scottrade for $4bn

Nebraska-based online broker TD Ameritrade is to acquire US discount brokerage firm Scottrade in a cash and stock transaction valued at $4 billion, resulting in its branch network more than quadrupling in size. For TD Ameritrade, it says it will get a network of nearly 500 branches employing more than 1,000 investment consultants. It will […]

US Fed calls for cybersecurity feedback

The US Federal Reserve has approved an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) and wants comments on its cybersecurity risk-management and resilience standards. In its 48-page report “Enhanced Cyber Risk Management Standards”, the Fed says the standards will apply to large and interconnected entities under their supervision, as well to services provided by third parties […]

US Bank finds geolocation innovation for anti-fraud

US Bank is offering a Visa-developed geolocation service, a new, opt-in technology integrated into the bank’s mobile apps that enable the location of a card transaction to be matched to the location of the user’s phone. By matching the location, US Bank says it can help ensure that transactions on customers’ cards are approved and […]

Goldman Sachs launches new online personal loan platform, Marcus

Goldman Sachs has unveiled Marcus, an online platform offering unsecured personal loans to consumers. Named after Marcus Goldman, one of the firm’s founders, the platform provides consumers with a way to “consolidate their high-interest credit card debt”. Borrowers can apply for fixed-rate, no-fee personal loans of up to $30,000 for periods of two to six […]

Morgan Stanley lends $100m to start-up lender Affirm

San Francisco-based start-up lender Affirm has got a $100 million credit line from Morgan Stanley as it looks to boost its business, according to The Wall Street Journal. The firm is “adding debt” as it “seeks to grow its loans for tickets, trips, and other big online purchases as an alternative to paying with credit […]

MasterCard selects super six for fintech accelerator

Silicon Valley Bank and MasterCard have selected six start-ups to participate in Class 5 of Commerce.Innovated, a virtual accelerator designed to help commerce, payments and fintech start-ups grow their businesses. The six US start-ups will go through the four-month virtual programme and are in various stages of funding and development: Domuso, a payment financing platform […]

Capital One buys online price tracker Paribus

Capital One continues its fintech acquisition spree with the purchase of price tracking service Paribus. Emilia Lopez, managing vice-president, US Card at Capital One, says its “focus right now is on merging Paribus into the broader Capital One family”. Paribus will also be added into its broader set of technology and tools, such as CreditWise […]

BCEE selects SmartStream for custodian data and IRS regulations

Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg (BCEE) has implemented SmartStream’s Corona Universal Data solution to help complete audit trails and meet US regulatory requirements. SmartStream says in order to comply with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), banks “only have a few weeks to reconcile annual data before the legal cut off”. It says its […]

JP Morgan Chase unveils new blockchain

JP Morgan Chase is developing its own blockchain, called Quorum, on the Ethereum network. Amber Baldet, program lead, blockchain centre of excellence, JP Morgan Chase, says it is working with Ethereum “because it has been around a while and banks are familiar with it”. With Quorum, the firm says all public and private smart contracts […]

Idaho Central Credit Union opts for Alkami ORB platform

US-based Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) has launched on Alkami Technology’s ORB digital banking platform – integrating with ICCU’s Fiserv DNA core platform. The new platform offers features such as automated clearing house (ACH), wires, bill pay, external transfers, dual authorisations, entitlements and payment templates. Shannon Marshburn, ecommerce product manager at Idaho Central Credit Union, […]

Loved up couples get the Simple Shared account touch

If you and your partner can never be apart or believe your love has more intensity than Romeo and Juliet, then keep holding hands and read on. US-based Simple, “a tech company, not a bank”, has launched the “Simple Shared” account. It’s a bit like a joint account, but people get two cards and one […]

IBM Power8 infrastructure to support US real-time payments system

The Clearing House (TCH), the driving force behind the real-time payments modernisation in the US, has opted for IBM’s hardware. IBM’s Power8 based system infrastructure – running Linux and AIX operating systems – was selected as the hosting platform.

Top ten mobile banking apps in the US – August 2016

What were the most popular mobile banking apps (on Android) in the US in August 2016? We reveal the stats for the top ten apps in the US, ranked taking into account two engagement metrics – current installs and active app users.

East West Bancorp deploys cloud-based risk solutions from SS&C

East West Bancorp is implementing SS&C’s integrated risk and finance solution, Evolv, to manage reserving under current US GAAP and new CECL accounting standards. The solution is delivered in the cloud. The contract was signed with Primatics Financial, a subsidiary of SS&C. “Preparation for CECL is critical for our business,” Sharon Cheung, controller at East […]

Six start-ups speed up on Barclays NY accelerator programme

Six start-ups have signed contracts with Barclays after using its New York accelerator programme to showcase their innovations. After thirteen weeks of product development, mentoring and networking, the demo day in New York marked the culmination of the second class of the Barclays Accelerator. In total. ten teams were selected from a pool of nearly […]

Desert Schools FCU tech modernisation on track

Desert Schools Federal Credit Union is modernising its digital channels with specialist vendor Alkami Technology. Alkami’s flagship digital platform, ORB, will support the credit union’s 22,000 online banking users.

Goldman Sachs in free software gambit

In a new gambit, Goldman Sachs is giving its most valuable software away for free to win more business from clients. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Michael Dubno, who was CTO at Goldman Sachs for 20 years, discussed how the investment bank makes “billions of dollars in well-timed trades, and sidestep billions […]

Chase Bank chooses Android Pay for payments

It’s expansion time for Android as it reveals that US-based Chase Bank customers can now add their eligible Chase Visa cards to Android Pay. The cards include Freedom, Slate, Sapphire, United Mileage Explorer and Hyatt Credit Card. On top of this American development, in the UK, Android says Santander and TSB customers “will soon be […]

Wells Fargo fined $185m for fake bank account scam

Fake it until you make it… unless you get caught. Employees at Wells Fargo have been found guilty of creating millions of fake bank accounts and credit card numbers over the past five years, as an unsubtle attempt to boost sales figures. For this illegal activity, the bank has been fined $185 million, including a […]

USAA launches online virtual assistant

USAA, a provider of banking and insurance services to the US military personnel and their families, has launched a virtual assistant for its website. The solution is based on the Nina artificial intelligence (AI) technology, supplied by Nuance Communications. It will provide immediate online support and answers to USAA’s member’s “most critical needs”, says Nuance, […]

US credit union consortium plots blockchain use

Watch out R3, another US-based consortium is waking up to the potential uses of blockchain. CULedger, a collaborative effort among Credit Union National Association (CUNA), Best Innovation Group, the Mountain West Credit Union Association, PSCU and other industry partners are examining blockchain with a view to piloting applications. The organisations and Glenbrook Partners, a consulting […]

Wells Fargo and Amazon abruptly kill off US student loan partnership

It only lasted six weeks but Amazon and Wells Fargo Education Financial Services have ended their partnership to offer US college students a discount on private student loans. The deal, launched in July, was Amazon’s first venture into the lending market for college students. For Wells Fargo, it was an attempt to build up its […]

New US clients for Temenos’ Akcelerant subsidiary

Banking technology vendor Temenos says 16 financial institutions in the US have signed for its account and loan origination, collection and recovery software in the last six months. The suite of products originates from a local specialist vendor, Akcelerant, which Temenos acquired in early 2015; and 600+ credit union clients with it. Jay Mossman, formerly […]

Tier 1 US bank live with Temenos core and payments software

Temenos says it has gone live with its flagship T24 core banking system at a “top 20 US bank”. Banking Technology understands this is Ally Financial. The bank is also now live with the vendor’s newly-built payments hub, Temenos Payments Suite (TPS). It is “the first tier 1 bank to do so in the US”, […]

TIAA launches voice biometric authentication

New York-based financial services provider TIAA has launched its new voice biometric authentication. With the voice recognition functionality, TIAA customers can create a “voiceprint” to identify themselves when they call to speak to a representative, transfer funds or check their account balances. TIAA says the technology eliminates the need to “remember yet another password, PIN […]

Who will win the battle for millennials – Zelle or Venmo?

As a Gen Xer, I have always had difficulty relating to the obsessive appeal social media has to millennials. Tweeting and Facebook posting of mundane daily events seemed like over-sharing and just a little narcissistic to me. This is not an intellectual problem of understanding the concepts or technologies, but a kind of generational disparity […]

Randolph Savings Bank in early contract renewal with Fiserv

Massachusetts-based community bank, Randolph Savings Bank, has renewed its long-term contract with Fiserv for a host of back and front office solutions. The renewal was spurred on by the bank’s IPO. Randolph Savings Bank floated its shares in July. It also completed the integration of its earlier acquisition – First Eastern Bankshares Corporation and its […]