Qatari financial management app Karty set to launch in MEA region
Karty allows users to spend, save and manage their money.
Consumer/Personal Finance
Banking tech vendor Thought Machine receives £40m investment from Intesa Sanpaolo
Thought Machine’s Vault system will underpin Intesa Sanpaolo’s new digital banking service, Isybank.
Spanish banking giant BBVA invests $300m in Brazilian neobank Neon
“Digital is opening new ways for us to grow in very attractive markets,” says BBVA chairman.
UK challenger Revolut secures Aussie credit licence
Revolut Australia CEO says the firm is creating the “world’s first truly global financial platform”.
Danish neobank Lunar welcomes new investor – Hollywood actor Will Ferrell
Actor “excited to take part in Lunar’s mission to give people more power from their money”.
Paysera appoints new CEO, awaits banking licence
Gintautas Mezetis is Paysera’s new CEO as it plots a move into the banking business.
Mos secures $40m Series B funding to drive product expansion
The cash will go towards hiring new staff as Mos looks to maintain its recent growth spurt.
Germany’s Vivid Money raises €100m Series C to turbocharge super-app plans
Vivid Money doubles its valuation in less than a year to €775m.
Lowering the ladder: how NY fintech Xrent plans to help millennials become homeowners
“We have seen a widening wealth gap trend without much sign of slowing down,” says Xrent.
UK fintech Selina Finance raises $150m in Series B funding round
The funding is made up of $35m in equity and $115m in debt to fund further expansion.
New neobank Coupl set to launch in India
Start-up allows couples to set up joint accounts and manage their money together.
Canadian fintech Koho lands $165m Series D funding
The firm says the investment is one of Canada’s largest fintech funding rounds.
New US debit card fintech Xrent aims to help renters get on the property ladder
The fintech’s ‘rent-to-mortgage’ programme is designed to direct rent payments toward homeownership.
Black-owned wealthtech start-up Esusu hits $1bn valuation following $130m Series B
Esusu is now one of just a handful of Black-owned unicorn start-ups in the world.
Garden of Eden: how Africa’s digital transformation promises to boost the continent
Demographics, technology and opportunity have set the stage for Africa to become a global fintech powerhouse.
Video: fintech news pick of the week – UBS, Katana Labs and Walmart
Our top pick of news from the world of finance and tech in bitesize video format, every week.
ICYMI funding round-up: ApexEdge, DirectID, Everything, NALA, Tuum, & OZÉ
Our weekly round-up for you to get the latest fintech funding news.
Walmart-backed Hazel snaps up fintech platforms Even and One in super app push
Walmart CEO says the app will allow users to “manage their money in one place”.
UBS agrees $1.4bn deal to acquire wealth management platform Wealthfront
Millennial and Gen Z-focused Wealthfront caters to “the next generation of investors”.
BNPL provider Splitit appoints new CEO, Nandan Sheth
Nandan Sheth moves from Fiserv, where he was head of global digital commerce and the firm’s Carat business.
UK credit card Keebo launches for “credit invisibles” in “passion economy”
Keebo tackles financial exclusion in the “passion economy” – an economy built around “creators with a purpose”.
Santander enters BNPL market with launch of new platform Zinia
Already live in Germany, Santander now plans to roll out the service in the Netherlands and Spain.
Banking Tech Awards 2021 Winner: Snoop – Best Open Banking Solution
What’s next for the award-winning app that helps people “live smarter”.
Fifth Third snaps up green energy lendtech Dividend Finance
Dividend Finance offers financing solutions for renewable energy focused home improvement projects.
Indian fintech start-up M2P raises $56m in Series C1 round
M2P claims to have raised more than $100 million in the past year alone.
Iroquois Federal and Nymbus launch banking brand for newlyweds, Hitched
“Niche banking is the most significant innovation opportunity for financial institutions today,” Nymbus says.
SoFi realises ambition to become national bank with US regulatory approval
The firm filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in July 2020.
UK fintech start-ups WealthKernel, Fintech Farm and Bink attract funding
The trio of UK-based fintechs have attracted investment from a range of firms.
Fintech funding deals globally 10 January – 16 January 2022
Featuring Checkout, Qonto, CAIS, Qraft Technologies and SEBA Bank.
Retail finance platform Divido appoints Todd Latham as CEO
Latham has also held senior positions at American Express and Microsoft.
Indian fintech FPL Technologies raises $75m in Series C round
Pune-based FPL’s products are designed to create a credit-savvy population.
FinTech Futures Jobs: Three exciting companies that are hiring in 2022
Exciting open vacancies at Klarna, Seedrs and Starling Bank. Apply today!
UK consumer lender Oplo acquired by challenger bank Tandem
Together, Tandem and Oplo will “create a fairer, greener digital bank”.
Travel BNPL fintech Fly Now Pay Later lands $75m debt funding package
The funding package will finance the UK fintech’s expansion into the United States.
Accrue Savings raises $25m to offer consumers “a responsible purchasing option”
The Series A funding round was led by Tiger Global.
Fintech funding deals globally 3 January – 9 January 2022
Featuring OpenSea, PayFit, Petal, Sygnum and Starling Bank.
Why the key to effective engagement banking lies in behavioural science
Banks should look to utilise behavioural science to design digital experiences that promote better decision-making.
Credit building start-up Petal raises $140m in Series D, faces lawsuit
Petal CEO says firm is hiring across the board for more than 100 positions this year.
Colombian BNPL firm Addi raises $200m to support LatAm expansion
Addi CEO Santiago Suarez says: “Business is accelerating a lot faster than expected.”
Financial wellness and savings app Flamingo launches in Australia
Flamingo aims to help the 31% of Australians who reported being under financial stress.
