The B-word
I have never known a technology to divide opinion as much as blockchain.
Consumer/Personal Finance
Aussie BNPL firm Zip reportedly set to retreat from 10 international markets
Zip expects “significant” amounts of cash to roll in due to these exits, with positive cashflow expected by 2024.
Dogs Trust taps Currensea to launch debit cards and boost donations
Customers will be able to make donations to the charity by rounding up spending from the card.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Archway, Finway, iLex and more
A handy round-up of all the latest funding endeavours by fintech companies across the world.
Canadian insurance and investment fintech Equisoft lands $125m in funding
The funding saw participation from new investors Investissement Québec and the government of Québec.
BNPL giant Klarna posts £1bn loss for 2022
Despite the loss, the firm says it is edging towards profitability thanks to growth in its gross merchandise volume.
Tudi taps ThetaRay for transaction monitoring solution
Through the partnership, ThetaRay will provide Tudi its Sonar transaction monitoring solution.
Revolut records first full year of profitability, plots global expansion
In its long-awaited annual report, Revolut says it recorded £26.3 million in profit for 2021.
Climate tech firm Doconomy acquires financial wellbeing fintech Dreams
Doconomy will fold Dreams’ behavioural science platform into its environmental impact measurement tools.
Remitly to wind down digital banking app Passbook
All Passbook accounts will be closed on 1 May 2023.
What the FinTech? | S.4 Episode 3 | Generative AI in banking
In this episode, we’re joined by Miguel Navarro to discuss how generative AI could impact financial services.
Wells Fargo launches digital financial planning platform LifeSync
LifeSync, available from March, will sit within the Wells Fargo mobile app.
FinTech Futures Jobs: Four boundaries you should implement at work right now
Explore thousands of open roles on the Fintech Futures Job Board today.
Buy now, worry about it later: the future of BNPL
Buy now, pay later – is there a more apt fintech application for our times than BNPL?
UK car finance fintech Carmoola secures £95m debt facility from NatWest
The firm has also bagged £8.5 million in a Series A funding round led by QED Investors.
Chetwood’s SmartSave Bank partners cash deposit platform Flagstone
Under the new partnership, SmartSave’s fixed rate accounts will be made available to Flagstone clients.
Tesco reportedly exploring sale of banking business
According to Sky News, Tesco is launching a review of its UK banking activities.
Zopa acquires DivideBuy in “BNPL 2.0” push
Zopa’s “BNPL 2.0” offering will allow consumers to spread the cost of purchases worth between £250 and £30,000.
Citizens Financial Group taps Paymentus for bill pay and money movement services
Through the partnership, Citizens will deploy Paymentus Bill Center and Paymentus Loan Payments.
UK fintech Deko hires Joseph Tucker as new CFO
Tucker joins from NewDay, which acquired Deko in January 2020.
UK government lays out plans for BNPL legislation
The UK government is looking to bring BNPL into the regulatory sphere “in a proportionate way”.
New “cross-border neobank” in India: moneyHOP
FinTech Futures sits down for a chat with Mayank Goyal, founder and CEO of moneyHOP.
India’s PhonePe nets additional $100m in ongoing fundraise
The new capital infusion follows a $350 million fundraise from General Atlantic last month.
Laurentian Bank launches new credit card programme with Brim Financial
Laurentian Bank says the new credit card programme will “enhance the overall experience” of its customers.
NatWest Group snaps up UK fintech Cushon for £144m
The acquisition will enable NatWest to offer its commercial customers a suite of financial wellbeing products.
Ziglu founder and CEO Mark Hipperson resigns
Hipperson will remain on Ziglu’s board as a part-time non-executive director.
Ghana’s Fortek partners Codebase for Digibanc platform
It is hoped the partnership will “accelerate digitisation” and boost entrepreneurship in Africa.
ICYMI fintech funding round-up: Fierce, Wisor AI, Cenoa & Habitto
Our weekly In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) funding round-up for you to get the latest funding news.
US fintech funding round-up: Wink, Blip, Upwardli and Inkle
A handy round-up of the recent funding endeavours of fintech companies across the US.
BNPL fintech Affirm lays off 19% of workforce, nixes crypto offering
The company intends to double down on its core business while “sunsetting” initiatives including Affirm Crypto.
Inter&Co acquires real estate investment start-up YellowFi
Inter&Co provides financial services through its ‘super-app’ to more than 25 million users.
CFPB proposes new rule to curb excessive credit card late fees
According to CFPB estimates, excessive fees cost American families about $12 billion each year.
Non-profit Commonwealth begins second phase of partnership with JP Morgan Chase
Commonwealth and JP Morgan Chase are examining how new tech can reduce wealth inequality in the US.
Lloyds Banking Group appoints Martyn Atkinson as CIO, consumer relationships & mass affluent
Atkinson moves from merchant bank Close Brothers, where he was COO for four years.
South Africa to pilot national rapid payments programme this year
The national payment system forms part of South Africa’s Vision 2025 programme.
US fintech Stash appoints Liza Landsman as new CEO
Prior to joining Stash, Landsman served as general partner at NEA, a global venture capital firm.
In 2023, payments will provide momentum for open banking adoption
Today, regulators are very focused on promoting competition and alternatives to card payments.
Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan lands $400m investment
MNT-Halan claims it is the largest investment across Egypt and the Middle East over the past 12 months.
PayPal to lay off 2,000 staff over the next few weeks
The job cuts will see PayPal reduce its total staff headcount be around 7%.
New savings app for homeowners in the UK: Sprive
Sprive’s AI mortgage assistant, available through a mobile app, helps customers pay off their mortgage faster.
