PayPal brings crypto further into mainstream with wallet update
PayPal landed the first conditional crypto licence from the NYSDFS.
Business-to-Consumer/B2C
Line launches messenger-based banking platform in Thailand
Line has developed and operates the service in collaboration with Thai bank Kasikornbank.
Mexico’s credit alternative challenger Klar lands $15m Series A
“We help people build credit by looking at how and where they spend their money.”
Commercial Bank of Dubai serves ‘low-income’ customers with Now Money
“[We’re offering a] much more advanced and cost-effective alternative”.
European lender Capitalbox buys rival Dutch arm of Spotcap
The deal marks Spotcap’s exit from the direct lending market.
UK challenger Lanistar lands £15m from CEO’s family
“Lanistar is not only planning to stand out, but step over all the other start-ups”.
Canadian robo-advisor Wealthsimple lands unicorn status with $87m raise
Wealthsimple serves some 1.5 million users.
Fronted joins Yobota’s first cohort of core banking clients
The fintech is just “a couple of months” away from going live on Yobota’s core banking platform.
JP Morgan Chase partners with Greenlight for kids account
The JPMorgan Chase app has around 39 million ‘active’ customers.
Aussie trading app Stake makes leap to LatAm with Brazil launch
“LatAm looks to the US as a beacon,” says COO.
PayPal adds interest-free instalments to its UK wallet in BNPL play
Two thirds of British millennials use BNPL services.
Klarna under investigation by UK regulator for ‘unsolicited’ emails
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating the claims.
US rapper Killer Mike unveils Black and Latino-focused challenger bank Greenwood
Each month, the digital challenger promises to gift $10,000 to Black or Latinx businesses.
Ternio becomes Visa’s first crypto enablement partner for debit cards
“This shows Visa’s commitment to onboard other companies which develop crypto.”
Former Barclays execs to launch challenger bank Pennyworth for UK’s “aspiring affluent”
The start-up promises impressive rates considering the current 0% interest climate.
Crédit Agricole subsidiary Linxo unveils bank transfer payment solution
The solution is already connected to the main banks in France which have opened up their APIs.
Russia’s Tinkoff launches messenger service in its app
Tinkoff claims to have acquired 1.7 million new credit accounts since the beginning of this year.
Affirm files IPO application, but financials are confidential
Fintechs in the BNPL space have seen their valuations rocket.
Texan challenger Viva First to launch for Latinos before year end
The fintech is piggybacking off Texas-based Spur Security Bank.
Global card spend grows 13% in 2019, mostly down to China’s UnionPay
That’s according to a new report by Retail Banking Research (RBR).
UK challenger Monument lands restricted banking licence
Monument has raised £20 million to date.
LendingClub shuts retail P2P offering as it focuses on institutional investors
The fintech allowed consumers to invest in Notes, corresponding to fractions of loans.
Sibos 2020: ING’s CEO urges regulators to give banks a PSD2 equivalent
Van Rijswijk is “strongly advocat[ing]” that regulators come up with an equivalent for banks.
FinTech Scotland on hunt for new CEO
The industry organisation was formed with the help of Lloyds and HSBC back in 2018.
Goldman Sachs-backed Kaspi revives London IPO plans
The fintech holds a 65% market share of Kazakhstan’s digital payments flow.
Sticking their necks out
Until now, no established, Black-owned, UK-founded bank has existed.
Sibos 2020: Chinese central bank processes CBDC worth $162m in 2020
Some 113,300 personal digital wallets have been opened.
Argentina’s money management app Ualá launches in Mexico
“It’s a much better product than we had in Argentina [upon launch],” says the CEO.
Private banking challenger Letter set to land in California
The start-up is spearheaded by GoDaddy engineer Drew Wilson.
Aussie neobank Douugh lists on ASX ahead of US launch
The plan is to launch in the US before Christmas.
NatWest to offer customers CO2 calculator with fintech CoGo
The bank recently found 70% of its customers are concerned about climate change.
Sberbank drops the “bank” from its name to take on tech firms
Sber has launched a series of digital services alongside its tech company revamp.
US challenger One launches all-in-one card to serve middle class
One’s debit card offers a mixture of current, savings, and credit services.
Crypto exchange Gemini launches in UK armed with EMI licence
UK customers can now make GBP deposits to fund their Gemini account.
Robinhood’s valuation continues climb with $460m funding
Robinhood it will use the funding to improve its customer experience.
Mode CCO: Alipay success can be replicated in the UK
With an IPO looming, Mode has got a busy year of business ahead of it.
Tech Nation’s third fintech cohort challenges London bubble
“What was striking is the increase of such businesses set up outside London and by women.”
Illimity and Banca Sella buy into each other for open banking venture
A flurry of share issuance, exchanges and buyouts as illimity nabs half of fintech firm Hype.
Ireland’s An Post launches new app to take on Revolut
By 2025, An Post wants to hit one million customers.
Gaming friendly challenger Xace lands FCA licence
The start-up is active in both the UK and wider Europe.
