COVID-19: Highlight of the week
This week, we focus one particular coronavirus news item affecting the fintech industry.
SME
What the Fintech? Episode 3 | Digital disruption: Bitcoin and stable coins
Tune in to hear what Gemini’s MD for Europe, Julian Sawyer, thinks about digital currencies.
More than 275 accountancy firms ask UK government to plug gaps in SME aid
“Entrepreneurs face their business being crushed,” says the letter.
Tide launches Coronavirus Government Support Eligibility Checker
Its aim is to help SMEs get access to the financial aid during this time of crisis.
VibePay opens up APIs to SMEs, lands £1.25m funding
Originally planned for Q3 of 2020, the fintech brought the launch forward
PayTech Awards deadline extended! Submit your entry by 30 April
We have received more requests for extensions than ever before, so we are extending the entry deadline again until the end of April.
Square, PayPal and Intuit QuickBooks approved to hand out SBA loans
“This is a race to save jobs in the present and for the future,” says PayPal.
COVID-19: Weekly wrap
FinTech Futures’ weekly coronavirus news wrap.
Video: Top fintech stories this week – 10 April 2020
FinTech Futures’ weekly news round-up.
Top 10 coronavirus initiatives by fintechs
Many fintechs have used this pandemic as an opportunity to show their mettle.
App-based payment solutions to delight merchants and their customers
The world of commerce is abuzz with the need to delight customers by providing a digitally enhanced shopping experience.
China calls on banks to lend more aggressively to small businesses
Analysts say cheaper loans will help the broader Chinese economy weather the current slowdown.
Japan’s $1tn stimulus offers $18,000 to small businesses
It includes more than JPY 6 trillion for cash pay-outs to households and small businesses.
Visa pours $210m into the coronavirus effort to help SMEs
Visa will split the money between NGOs and investment partners.
Banking Technology April 2020 issue out now
All things equal: Closing the gender gap in fintech.
Judo Bank lands $307m from government to support SMEs
“This is a really substantial additional signal of support by the government,” says co-CEO.
NatWest’s Mettle gives users access to FreeAgent’s accounting software
User will need to make one transaction per month minimum for the free service.
Will fintech CEOs follow in the footsteps of Dan Price post-coronavirus?
Monzo and Moven’s CEOs have both taken a 100% pay cut.
Manchester’s fintech scene needs a homegrown unicorn, says report
Manchester is already home to five homegrown ecommerce unicorns.
Flux and Pleo partner to deliver “invisible” expensing tool to UK SMEs
The new co-created tool is set to launch later this year.
PayTech Awards deadline extended! Submit your entry by 10 April
Premier awards for banks, financial, payment & e-commerce institutions, paytech vendors, individuals & teams!
MatchMove buys strategic stake in Shopmatic to build SME offering
MatchMove is slowly building up its armoury to morph into a full digital bank.
US non-bank financial firms push Congress for SME lending relief
Legislators are currently working on a bill which addresses small business loans.
FCA sets out guidance for mortgage providers & lenders on COVID-19-related loan scheme
This supports the announcements made by the Chancellor last week.
MatchMove applies for one of Singapore’s full digital bank licences
The company has teamed up with three other bidders.
Disrupting small business banking
I think what we (business owners) really want is an experience driven bank.
Square lands conditional banking licence from FDIC
The bank will be based in Utah.
Citadele Bank invests €10m in SME Finance
The partnership will offer factoring and banking services.
Bank of England dips into US repo to lend banks $15bn
It’s the largest sum the central bank has issued since the financial crisis.
Iwoca launches lending platform to help banks and fintechs tap UK SMEs
The platform has already bagged Monese and Xero as a partners.
What the Fintech? A new podcast from FinTech Futures | Episode 1
Trending topics, useful insights, strong opinions, and a fintech jailhouse – all in our brand new podcast!
Monzo launches first business banking accounts
UK challenger bank steps into the business space with new accounts.
SpotOn raises $50 million in Series B featuring former Twitter CEO
Payments firm plans to extend product development.
SME challenger bank NorthOne raises $21m Series A
New York-based challenger plans to splash the cash on customer acquisition.
Metro Bank partners with ezbob to launch SME lending platform
The bank claims businesses will receive loans in minutes.
Greensill buys Aussie payday advance app Earnd
The acquisition marks Greensill’s move into payday finance.
Banking Technology March 2020 issue out now
Keep calm and carry on: Where does COVID-19 leave the Chinese fintech market?
“If you want it, go get it!”
Nancy Butler at B-North, shares her experience in banking this international women’s day.
Is the future of banking not open but closed?
Europe and USA have to create their own ecosystems to compete with the East.
CreditEnable announces $2m pre-Series A investment round
The investment will allow it to develop and launch a second-generation product.
