Sohar International adds biometrics to banking app
Very few details have been revealed about the implementation.
Middle East
Emirates NBD plays matchmaker for start-ups and investors
Private banking arm sees no harm in The LaunchPad.
Pagaya shows off its AI-powered $100m ABS
Asset-backed securities looking toned and honed.
Capitalise goes live with Interactive Brokers
Capitalise enables traders to automate their strategies using natural language.
TCS Bancs core system shows Solidarity in Bahrain
Insurance firm plans digital revamp.
Saudi Arabia and UAE unite for digital currency dream
Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority and UAE’s central bank unveil Aber project.
Almoayed and Moven go for digital banking advance
Duo team up for fintech ambitions in MENA region.
AXA Venture Partners gets $150m for fintech funding
Aiming to support start-ups and digital health firms.
New Iraqi bank Al Mustashar goes live with ICSFS core system
Platform was launched and rolled out in three months.
Hapoalim first bank in Israel to sign up for Swift gpi
Global payments innovation makes its debut.
Kuwait’s central bank goes live with TCS Bancs
After a five-year upgrade.
Emirates NBD upgrades payments system with TCS
TCS Bancs scores again.
QNB revamps payments systems with Infosys Finacle
Qatar National Bank consolidating across various countries with unified hub.
ACI Worldwide plugs National Bank of Kuwait into Swift’s gpi
First bank in the country signing up to gpi.
Arrow Capital goes with Profile Software
It will use the Axia platform for wealth management.
FundedByMe gets the nod for UAE crowdfunding debut
Sweden-based platform granted approval for 2019 start.
Isracard plots banking action with Temenos T24 core system
Credit card company gets ambitious and wants to simplify its systems architecture.
Hammurabi Commercial Bank in Iraq signs for ICS Banks
As the core banking supplier extends its footprint in Iraq.
UAE and Saudi Arabia trial cross-border payments on blockchain
Despite some media reports it’s not a digital currency.
Standard Chartered cutting jobs in UAE
Its digital activity comes at a heavy price.
First Abu Dhabi Bank goes live on Temenos T24 core system
The consolidation of FGB and NBAD systems is now complete.
Bahrain Credit goes omnichannel with Clayfin
Tech firm Computer World will take these services to the Microsoft Azure cloud.
Kuwait plots payment system and digital Dinar
Central bank will take its time with fintech initiatives.
Paytech Verrency brings life to mobile bank Liv
Multi-year agreement means Liv will use Verrency’s cloud-based payments.
Israel’s API integrator OpenLegacy gets $30m funding
Investors Include CommerzVentures and Silverhorn Investment Advisors.
Initiative Q queues up new payments network
Israeli entrepreneur Saar Wilf first wants to create a critical mass of users.
Israel’s XM Cyber closes $22m funding
Series A round includes participation from Macquarie Capital and Nasdaq Ventures.
Emirates NBD debuts API sandbox
Says it’s the first bank in the UAE to introduce such a platform.
Fintech Sharegain raises $5m and rolls out securities lending platform
It has raised a total of $12m so far.
Ahli United Bank signs up for retail payments with AFS
Utilising Android as PoS.
Blockchain start-up INVioU looks to raise $2m
INVioU looks to “create new possibilities of factoring for small businesses by using blockchain technology”.
BML Istisharat in new insurtech and banking tech projects
An insurtech project in Algeria and a core banking tech one in Jordan.
First National Bank of Lebanon centralises compliance systems with FICO
FNB has migrated to the FICO Tonbeller Siron anti financial crimes suite.
Newcomer Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank to shake up trade finance market
“The world’s first digitally-enabled trade bank” will open for business in early 2019.
Bank of Beirut hits IFRS 9 goals with Wolters Kluwer
Bank of Beirut opts for Wolters Kluwer’s OneSumX regtech.
BLOM Bank first in Lebanon to launch Swift gpi service
BLOM Bank says it’s “now more than ever ready for the future of cross-border payments”.
Al Rajhi Bank signs for Murex treasury tech
One of the world’s largest Islamic banks signs for Murex’s MX.3 platform.
Bahrain to raise $100m for fintech ventures
Will be complementary to an already-existing $100m fund of funds.
Broadridge intensifies interest in Israel
Digital centre of excellence follows ActivePath acquisition.
Emirates NBD to launch chat banking via WhatsApp
Bank says it is first in region to integrate its core systems with WhatsApp.
