Dear Luc: Should I use influencers to target Gen Z?
This week someone asks: we’re targeting Gen Z, how can we utilise our spend on marketing and influencers?
Business-to-Consumer/B2C
Paysafe makes second LatAm acquisition with $441m SafetyPay deal
Paysafe plans further push into growing region for payments.
UK challenger Kroo lands licence to build social bank
Kroo, formerly B-Social, plans a full launch in 2022.
Social finance app Frich launches in the US
NYC-based Frich offers a savings wallet and no-fee overdraft for Gen Z users.
Razer plans shutdown of Razer Pay service three years after launch
Payment service launched in Malaysia in 2018 and Singapore in 2019.
Apple partners Affirm Holdings to launch Canadian BNPL service
Apple will allow customers to pay in instalments to buy iPads, iPhones, and Macs.
ICYMI funding round-up: Snoop, Easy, Wildfire Systems, Ritmo & more
Another batch of funding rounds that might have flown under your radar.
Teachers Building Society selects Finastra’s Fusion Essence Cloud
UK building society becomes first mutual to pick Finastra system.
Dear Luc: Should I pick a fintech specialist or a jack-of-all-trades?
This week someone writes in to ask: should I pick a fintech specialist or a holistic provider to partner?
NCR to acquire crypto ATM firm LibertyX
The deal will see NCR deploy LibertyX across its software suite.
Nigerian challenger Kuda raises $55m in Series B funding round
Kuda lands valuation of $500 million, and total raised of $91m.
FCA investigating Monzo as challenger reports £115m yearly loss
The FCA is investigating Monzo over potential breaches of money laundering laws.
Robinhood falls short of $35bn valuation target in subdued IPO debut
Shares fell in value by as much as 12% before recovering last week.
Report: Self-service banking – the key to customer acquisition and retention
Fintech Futures investigates how self service banking has changed and what firms can do to keep up.
Klarna builds out retailer support with APPRL acquisition
The deal adds a platform for linking creators and retailers to Klarna’s retail ecosystem.
Square plans $29bn acquisition of Aussie BNPL firm Afterpay
The deal will become Australia’s largest ever acquisition.
ICYMI funding round-up: Cobee, Sila, Vincent, WhenThen, Clara & more
Another batch of funding rounds that might have flown under your radar.
Solarisbank raises €190m in Series D, acquires Contis for UK foothold
German BaaS provider hits unicorn valuation and looks towards the UK.
Swift launches low-value payments service Swift Go
Payments network aims to make things easier for small businesses.
Lloyds and Mastercard sign open banking payments partnership
The new platform, PayFrom Bank, utilises Mastercard’s Payment Gateway technology.
Former Absa exec joins NAB as new chief security officer
Sandro Bucchianeri announced his departure from Absa at the start of the month.
Klarna acquires German payments fintech Stocard
Rumoured deal is valued at around €110 million.
ICYMI funding round-up: Credit Fair, Plooto, Xclaim, Weavr & more
Another batch of funding rounds that might have flown under your radar.
Dear Luc: What’s the deal with embedded finance?
This week someone writes in to ask: how can I get on the embedded finance bandwagon?
Cardless raises $40m in Series B funding
Cardless has now raised $50 million in total funding.
FCA levies £90m penalty against Lloyds Bank General Insurance for misleading comms
Insurer offered “competitive pricing” the FCA found to be false.
Wise finalises record-breaking £8.75bn direct listing
Cross-border payments company debuts on the LSE in largest-ever listing for a tech firm.
Willa raises $18m in Series A funding to help freelancers get paid
The fintech claims to have 150,000 people on its waitlist.
Deutsche Bank plans 440 job cuts for Irish operations
The bank is planning to cut three-quarters of its workforce in Ireland.
Dear Luc: Should I prepare for a wearable payments comeback post-COVID?
This week our writer asks: are wearables set for a comeback as social distancing eases?
AirAsia subsidiary BigPay bids for Malaysian banking licence
E-wallet firm aims to capture one of five offered by the Malaysian central bank.
ICYMI funding round-up: Zeepay, Aliaswire, Daylight, Neon & more
Another batch of funding rounds that might have flown under your radar.
Housing fintech Tomo raises $70m in Seed funding
Tomo aims to “digitise the homebuying experience”.
Maroo launches in US to spread the cost of weddings
New fintech offers wedding payment plans for up to 24 months.
FINRA orders Robinhood to pay $70m penalty for “false and misleading information”
The sanction is the largest financial penalty issued by the regulator.
Customer-centric fintechs will reshape South East Asian commerce
There are huge opportunities right now for fintechs looking to South East Asia.
Voyager Innovations raises $167m to power digital banking push
Tech firm aims to provide banking to 38 million customers.
Architecture heads at Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan leave months into their jobs
John Smith and Gavin Leo-Rhynie depart from major banks.
ICYMI funding round-up: LOQR, MOCA Financial, Bueno Finance, Glint Pay & more
Another batch of funding rounds that could have flown under your radar.
Raisin and Deposit Solutions merge to create pan-European fintech giant
The newly formed Raisin DS is already turning its eyes towards the US.
