Singapore


DBS creates lifestyle branch for tech generation

In a move to attract the tech generation to branches, Singapore’s DBS has launched a “lifestyle space” providing freshly brewed coffee, interactions with humanoid robots and a virtual reality (VR) area for retirement planning.

Robots have got OCBC’s retail banking backend covered

Hey humans! Feeling down? Well let’s get down some more. OCBC Bank has launched two robots to enhance internal backend processing speeds in its retail banking secured lending (CSL) and finance teams. The robot attached to the CSL team assists with housing loan re-pricing. This includes processing time, which “has been almost entirely reduced” (i.e. […]

Standard Chartered and Axis Bank launch cross-border payments via Ripple

Standard Chartered and Axis Bank have unveiled a real-time cross-border payment service for corporates using Ripple’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) solution. This offering is now commercially available between Standard Chartered (Singapore) and Axis Bank India, and, accessible through Standard Chartered’s corporate digital banking platform, Straight2Bank. Himadri Chatterjee, president, transaction banking, Axis Bank, says by using […]

Singapore regulator calls for more feedback on payments law

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched a second consultation on its proposed regulatory framework, known as the Payment Services Bill. According to MAS, the Bill will streamline the regulation of services under a single legislation, expand the scope of regulated activities to include virtual currency services and “calibrate regulation according to the risks […]

OCBC Bank in good shape with digital health insurance plan

Singapore’s OCBC Bank has unveiled the purchasing of health insurance plans via its mobile and internet banking channels. The bank says: “Typically, health insurance plans like critical illness, disability, hospitalisation and surgical are not sold via online channels as they require a health check-up to evaluate the applicant’s medical condition. However, with ‘Early Cancer Care’, […]

OCBC Bank takes AI-m at financial crime

When crime comes calling OCBC Bank won’t be bawling as it has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for the big fight. The Singapore-based bank says: “On any one typical work day, an OCBC Bank anti-money laundering (AML) compliance analyst would log into the bank’s transaction monitoring system and find up to […]

ITF to become “the world’s first fintech bank”

A new bank, Into the Future (ITF), is gearing up for launch in Hong Kong and Singapore. Among its investors is Jim Rogers, an American businessman based in Singapore and the co-founder of the Quantum Group of Funds (which he started with George Soros).

Standard Chartered gets personalised for investment ideas in Asia

This time it’s personal. Standard Chartered has launched a digital wealth management tool that can customise investment ideas in a lively and rapid manner. Called Personalised Investment Ideas (PII), the idea is to help “priority banking” clients respond faster to market opportunities with automated investment ideas based on considerations such as their risk profile and […]

Ayondo pursues IPO after reverse takeover deal lapses

Social trading company Ayondo has announced that, despite an earlier reverse takeover bid falling through, it is determined to become the first fintech company to IPO on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX).

DBS readies for IFRS 9 with Z-Risk Engine roll-out

Singapore-based DBS is deploying Aguais and Associates’ (AAA) Z-Risk Engine (ZRE) to generate future credit losses on the bank’s wholesale credit portfolio, as it complies with imminent IFRS 9 requirements. According to AAA, the new financial regulations, effective from 1 January 2018, call for banks and other lenders to deliver a regular, predictive point-in-time (PIT) […]

Singapore and Thailand mull digital payments alliance

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Bank of Thailand are in discussions about connecting their national digital payment systems as officials step up efforts to curb the use of cash, according to Bloomberg. The link would bring together Southeast Asia’s first national digital payment platforms, Singapore’s PayNow and Thailand’s PromptPay, says Naphongthawat Phothikit, […]

Singapore sets Phase 2 to stun for blockchain inter-bank payments

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) say that the consortium which they are leading has developed software prototypes for improved payments on blockchain. The prototypes included three different models for decentralised inter-bank payments and settlements with liquidity savings mechanisms. The project, conducted together with 11 financial institutions […]

Funding Societies interns introduce chatbot Miyu

Funding Societies, a Singapore-based crowdfunding platform, has launched its chatbot Miyu. A first for such a chatbot created by a crowdfunding company in Southeast Asia. Developed by two interns at Funding Societies using bot platforms meya.ai and api.ai, combined with machine learning and natural language processing, Miyu works round the clock to answer queries about […]

Singapore payments start-up Instarem lands in Lithuania

Singapore-headquartered start-up Instarem has entered the European paytech arena and will now provide international money transfer services from Vilnius in Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania has issued an approval for the electronic money institution (EMI) licence. As reported last year, the bank, the country’s central bank and regulator, promised to provide preliminary answers to financial […]

Ayondo remains private company after reverse takeover bid lapses

Social trading company Ayondo may no longer be the first fintech company to go public on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX), reports Julie Muhn at Finovate (Banking Technology‘s sister company). That’s because the reverse takeover (RTO) bid offer from Singapore-based property developer, Starland Holdings, lapsed this week. The RTO bid, initiated in June of 2016, was for $117 […]

Swift’s gpi powers DBS cross-border payments tracking debut

Corporates and SMEs in Singapore and Hong Kong can now track their cross-border payments via DBS, using Swift’s global payments innovation (gpi). DBS says it is the first bank in the two countries to execute cross-border payments with end-to-end tracking, “helping corporates and SMEs become more efficient in their cash management”. In the past, DBS […]

Bambu wins strategic investment from Franklin Templeton

Singapore-based B2B robo-advisor Bambu has completed a funding round, featuring a strategic investment from Franklin Templeton Investments and venture capital funding from Wavemaker Partners, part of the Draper Venture Network.

Singapore’s Payments Council seeks road to common QR code

The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) new Payments Council plans to set up interoperable electronic payments and has unveiled a taskforce to develop a common QR code for the city-state. As reported earlier this month, the Council launched and comprises 20 people from banks, payment service providers, businesses, and trade associations. MAS says the setting […]

LGT in regtech revamp with Wolters Kluwer

Liechtenstein’s private bank and asset manager LGT is working on a regtech project with Wolters Kluwer. LGT is implementing the vendor’s OneSumX platform for the regulatory reporting and risk management of its Asian operations – in Singapore and Hong Kong.

CFTE brings fintech education initiative to Asia with MAS

UK-based Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) is looking to expand to Asia and plans to set up its first international hub in Singapore. The newly launched organisation says it “has been working closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to formalise plans to expand CFTE’s education initiative to ASEAN”.

Monetary Authority of Singapore plans payments council

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) says it will establish a Payments Council with the plan to create an “e-payment society” for the city state. The new council will comprise 20 people from banks, payment service providers, businesses, and trade associations. Members are appointed for a two-year term. MAS says the setting up of the […]

Visa expands with data centres in Singapore and UK

Visa is expanding its transaction-processing capabilities with two data centres in Singapore and the UK, reports Paybefore, Banking Technology‘s sister publication. The new global processing hubs will “increase the speed, resilience and geo-diversity of Visa’s infrastructure, while strengthening the company’s ability to deliver new and more sophisticated ways to pay in today’s hyper-connected global economy,” […]

Visa Expands with Data Centers in Singapore, U.K.

Visa Inc. is expanding its transaction-processing capabilities with two data centers in Singapore and the U.K. to “increase the speed, resilience and geo-diversity of Visa’s infrastructure, while strengthening the company’s ability to deliver new and more sophisticated ways to pay in today’s hyper-connected global economy.”

OCBC Bank fights money laundering with AI double act

Singapore’s OCBC Bank has piloted two fintech solutions from a pair of start-ups as it looks to combat money laundering and terrorism financing via artificial intelligence (AI). The two firms involved – BlackSwan Technologies and Silent Eight – were part of OCBC’s second fintech accelerator programme, Open Vault, which was launched last year. Both companies […]

Thailand ties the fintech knot with Singapore

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have signed a fintech co-operation agreement and updated an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) on banking supervision. The agreement aims to help develop a “richer financial ecosystem” in Thailand and Singapore as well as in ASEAN. The pair will share information on emerging […]

Singapore regulator urges law change for sound financial system

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is calling for a second reading of a Bill that it says will ensure a sound and resilient financial system for the city-state. MAS is pushing for “The Monetary Authority of Singapore (Amendment) Bill 2017″ because it says it needs to update its laws and regulations that deal with […]