Invitation for tender: bank & non-bank institutions supervision BI/DW in Iran
Informatics Services Corporation (ISC) invites bidders.
Middle East
Bahrain Middle East Bank chooses Wolters Kluwer’s OneSumX for Finance
Will provide the basis for its core banking and reporting system.
Emirates NBD appoints chief digital officer, seeks fintech partnerships
Emirates NBD’s new chief digital officer is on the lookout for partnerships with fintechs.
NetGuardians teams up with Masaref Business & Systems Consulting
Will bring the Swiss fintech’s anti-fraud solutions to FIs in the Middle East.
Viola plans to pull strings with $100m fintech fund
Israeli investment group Viola has tuned up nicely with an initial closing of $100 million toward a target of $120-$150 million for its new global fintech fund.
Saudi stock exchange in post-trade tech revamp with Nasdaq
The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) has chosen Nasdaq to overhaul its post-trade technology infrastructure, which includes registry, depository and risk management technologies.
ADGM goes out to Plug and Play for Middle East innovation
The agreement by Silicon Valley accelerator Plug and Play and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is the latest sign that the hot MENA fintech sector is about to get a lot warmer, reports David Penn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). The new partnership calls for Plug and Play to open a new office in Abu Dhabi […]
East vs. East: a comparison of regional fintech trends
With our newest conferences – FinovateAsia and FinovateMiddleEast – back-to-back, we wanted to examine unique trends to those regions, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). Each place has its own distinctive culture, and with that comes not only individual financial needs, but also a particular set of regulatory rules. These factors not only create […]
Kamco to revamp investment tech with Finastra
Kamco, an investment company in Kuwait with $10.4 billion in assets under management (AUM), has selected Finastra’s Fusion Invest platform.
Bahrain launches largest fintech hub in MENA region
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and FinTech Consortium (FTC) have launched Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB), the “largest dedicated fintech hub in the Middle East and Africa”. The new hub aims to further the development and acceleration of firms as well as the interaction between investors, entrepreneurs, government bodies and financial institutions. BFB, with an […]
BMB Investment Bank in treasury tech revamp with TCS Bancs
Bahrain-based BMB Investment Bank has opted to modernise its treasury operations with the TCS Bancs system from TCS Financial Solutions.
Abu Dhabi wants eyes open wide via digital currency guide
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has set out its approach to initial coin offerings (ICOs) and virtual currencies under the Financial Services and Markets Regulations (FSMR). It cites the usual stuff that distributed ledger technology (DLT) has “extraordinarily wide application to financial services and markets as a whole” […]
Mashreq launches Neo digital bank for millennials
Dubai-based Mashreq has confirmed its future as a branchless bank, with the launch of its digital entity Mashreq Neo. As reported in May, Mashreq was mulling the branchless route in a speech by CEO Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair at its 50th anniversary ceremony. At that time, Banking Technology expected this to be a digital bank […]
Calypso lands IT overhaul deal with Invest AD
Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD) is implementing new treasury and asset management software from Calypso, front-to-back office.
Temenos vs Finacle in Union Bank of Israel’s core banking system search
EXCLUSIVE: Union Bank of Israel (also known by its Hebrew name – Bank Igud) is looking for a new core banking system and supplier.
Bank of Khartoum turns to Path Solutions core banking system for UAE move
Bank of Khartoum (BOK) is implementing Path Solutions’ iMAL Islamic core banking system for its new branch in the United Arab Emirates – BOK International UAE. As reported last year, BOK opened its first international branch (in Bahrain), underpinned by Path’s iMAL. Path Solutions is a long-standing tech supplier to the Sudanese bank, but says […]
Commercial Bank of Dubai in core banking platform upgrade
International Turnkey Systems (ITS) has upgraded its core banking system, Ethix, at Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD).
Mashreq Bank revamps with NCR tablet and video banking tech
Dubai-based Mashreq Bank will revamp its banking services in the UAE with the help of NCR technology over the next six months. NCR says Mashreq will be the first in the region to deploy its tablet-based Interactive Banker, which lets tellers come out from behind their counters to help customer’s complete transactions. Sandeep Chauhan, head […]
Bahrain’s fintech sandbox fires up with dynamic duo
Anything UAE can do, we can do better. No you can’t, yes we can. The UAE has got some competition as the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has welcomed the first members to its new regulatory sandbox – mobile banking firm Now Money and finserv provider Tramonex. As reported in June, CBB announced new regulations […]
Dubai and Hong Kong hug for fintech innovation
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong have entered an agreement to establish a framework of co-operation for fintech innovation. Both authorities will share information on developments and the agreement “also intends to encourage both regulators to refer innovative firms to one another’s markets and to […]
Dubai’s FinTech Hive accelerator kicks off
Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) inaugural FinTech Hive accelerator programme has started with the first batch of 11 finalists. As reported in April, DIFC called for applications for its FinTech Hive. The 12-week programme is designed to help early and growth-stage firms accelerate product and business development by gaining exposure to financial institution executives. Raja […]
Abu Dhabi Global Market and UAE Exchange partner for “vibrant fintech ecosystem”
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi and UAE Exchange have teamed up “to support, develop and promote the fintech” ecosystem in the country.
Al Masraf to swap ITS Ethix for Temenos T24 core banking system
UAE-based Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade (Al Masraf) is modernising its front-to-back office technology with Temenos. On the way out is the Ethix core banking system from regional vendor International Turnkey Systems (ITS).
Abu Dhabi’s first fintech innovation challenge for start-ups launched
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and KPMG are launching the first Fintech Abu Dhabi Innovation Challenge – a five-week programme for “innovative and mature start-ups across the globe”.
Efigence designs interface for Emirates NBD’s new digital banking platform
Emirates NBD has launched a new digital banking platform with interface design developed by Efigence Group, a Poland-based customer experience (CX) specialist. Efigence, through its Artegence business, worked on “enhanced information architecture, re-designing user experience with a new graphical user interface (GUI) and supporting the implementation of front-end technology”.
Abu Dhabi and Kenya form fintech bridge
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Kenya have signed a co-operation agreement for fintech innovation. The agreement provides a framework for information sharing; and keeping abreast of regulatory and relevant economic or commercial developments in the respective markets. They will also support fintech […]
LogMeIn buys AI and chatbot provider Nanorep for $45m
Massachusetts-based software provider LogMeIn has acquired Nanorep, a chatbot and virtual assistant company, for $45 million to boost its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ambitions in customer engagement. Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel, Nanorep uses AI and patented natural language processing technologies for self-service solutions. A number of companies, such as financial software firm Intuit, Vodafone, and non-fintech […]
Abu Dhabi and Malaysia make friends for fintech fantasia
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre of Abu Dhabi, Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) and Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) have partnered to boost their financial ecosystems in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. Labuan is a federal territory of Malaysia – and its capital, Victoria, is used as an […]
Abu Dhabi and Australia ally for fintech innovation
The Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have signed a co-operation agreement for financial innovation. This agreement, which follows on from recent deals with Hong Kong and Japan, expands ASIC’s network to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – which are “currently […]
Emirates NBD raises profile with FaceBanking launch
Emirates NBD has launched FaceBanking, a “first-to-market service” offering video and live chat with advisors on its revamped online banking platform and mobile banking app. The new 24×7 service lets its customers connect with a personal banking advisor for queries and transactions by clicking a button on the online banking platform, “thus effectively bringing in […]
UAE gives all clear for unified clearing house
A unified clearing house could be on its way to the UAE, with a trio of organisations making noise that they’re working together to make it happen. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX), and its parent company, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre […]
Saudi British Bank selects Bolero electronic trade document solutions
The Saudi British Bank (SABB) has chosen Bolero International’s electronic trade document solutions for its corporate clients. According to Bolero, SABB is the first bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to let its clients initiate transactions electronically – and so “eradicate time-consuming inefficiencies associated with paper documents”. David Dew, managing director, SABB, says the […]
Oman Arab Bank upgrades core banking system with Finastra
Oman Arab Bank (OAB), a long-standing customer of Finastra (formerly Misys), is implementing the Fusionbanking Essence core banking system. It will replace Misys’ Equation platform, in operation at the bank for over three decades.
The rise of Islamic fintech, global opportunities for Bahrain
In its recent survey of the Islamic finance industry, S&P estimated that the sector’s total assets have now reached just over $2 trillion. Given that the modern version of Islamic finance is only decades old, this represents exceptional growth over a comparatively short period of time.
Workup a fintech sweat with Isbank’s start-up programme
Turkey’s largest private bank, Isbank, has unveiled its entrepreneurship programme for fintech start-ups in the country. Since forming an innovation team within its Digital Banking Unit, the bank says it has become “much closer” to tech entrepreneurs in the republic. The innovation team is working remotely at Kolektif House Levent (a co-working space for Turkish […]
Bahrain’s central bank creates sandbox for fintech start-ups
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has announced new regulations to create a regulatory sandbox for fintech start-ups and firms to test and experiment their banking ideas and solutions. The framework provides a “virtual space” and it is open to existing CBB licensees and other local and foreign firms. The testing duration is nine months, […]
Turkey’s Garanti Bank wins BBVA fintech ideas challenge
Turkey-based Garanti Bank’s new mobile app has won BBVA’s “Open Talent Ideas” fintech competition. BBVA launched the competition in February, and yesterday (5 June) the ten finalists presented their idea to experts from BBVA’s senior management. The winning idea was GarantiStore, a mobile app able to identify products automatically. Through image recognition techniques or by […]
NCR makes it nice and Eazy for Bahrain’s biometric payments
Bahrain-based Eazy Financial Services will launch the region’s “first” biometric payment network powered by NCR. Consumers will be able to register their fingerprint through any bank linked to Eazy’s network and then use that at any device (ATM or POS) to start a transaction rather than using a card. In the first phase, NCR will […]
ICSFS signs National Bank of Yemen for ICS Banks core system, goes live at BOND Savings and Loans
ICS Financial Systems (ICSFS) has signed a core banking software deal with National Bank of Yemen, and has gone live at BOND Savings and Loans in Ghana.
Dubai regulator unveils fintech innovation licence to thrill
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will allow firms to apply for a financial services licence as it seeks to boost innovation in the region. As reported in March, DFSA issued a new consultation paper and proposed its licence plans. The licence, known as an Innovation Testing Licence (ITL), will allow qualifying firms to develop […]
