Tagged: covid-19

June 26, 2020 @ 1:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A new report recommends that the Indian government should bring back subsidies for digital payments for transactions valued at less than INR 2,000 (appr. $26.50) and also implement Aadhaar-based electronic KYC checks for Fintechs, non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) and mutual funds. The report has been… Read More

June 25, 2020 @ 11:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ezra, a project that leverages its partner network to support global aid initiatives through Fintech and other emerging technologies, is planning to work cooperatively with mobile operators, NGOs, and various foundations and organizations in order to enable greater financial inclusion through digital platforms. Allan Green,… Read More

June 25, 2020 @ 5:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

LendingClub (NYSE:LC) has published a blog post and affiliated 8-K updating on platform performance during a challenging market pummeled by COVID-19. During the last earnings report, LendingClub reported loan originations down in April by a whopping 90%. Today’s missive is a bit more optimistic as… Read More

June 24, 2020 @ 11:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Business software provider ScaleFactor is reportedly shutting down, after securing $100 million in capital during the past year from major investors including Bessemer Venture Partners and Coatue Management. In March 2020, the financial services company began experiencing challenges due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, which… Read More

June 23, 2020 @ 9:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Max Chuard, CEO at Temenos (SIX: TEMN), a Switzerland-based banking software company, notes that the COVID-19 outbreak has accelerated the demand for the latest banking technologies and other cost-cutting performance efficiencies. Chuard says Cloud technologies and AI could potentially help banks weather significant socio-economic changes… Read More

June 23, 2020 @ 9:58 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Breeze announced on Tuesday it has teamed up with Assurity Life to launch an API-driven disability insurance product with a digital application and underwriting process. Through the new service, individuals may request a personalized disability insurance quote and complete a secure application process online in 10-15… Read More

June 23, 2020 @ 9:25 am By JD Alois  |  

The British Business Bank has distributed data on the Future Fund indicating £236.2 million worth of convertible loans have been approved for 252 companies. Launched on May 20, 2020, the Future Fund is a government plan designed to aid entrepreneurial young firms that did not… Read More

June 22, 2020 @ 10:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Narayanan Ganapathy, a financial analyst, angel investor, and the CEO at Angivest Ventures, recently noted that significantly more people are using smartphone apps and other types of software to make digital payments, because of the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting challenges. Ganapathy, whose comments came during… Read More

June 22, 2020 @ 3:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Peer to peer (P2P) business lender ArchOver recently claimed that it has seen a significant increase in demand from retail investors as the platform prepares to begin lending again via its secured loan offering. According to its website, ArchOver has funded over £119 million for… Read More

June 22, 2020 @ 1:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently caught up with Jay Nair, Senior Vice President of Financial Services at Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in digital services and consulting. The company has clients in 45 countries who use its services to develop their digital transformation strategies. The firm has… Read More

June 21, 2020 @ 3:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bank branches and ATMs might continue to disappear across Australia as the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to accelerate the shift towards a cashless economy. Local news outlet 7NEWS Sydney reports that the use of cash has been reduced by over 50% due to the Coronavirus… Read More

June 21, 2020 @ 1:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Technological advancements, money and payment systems have been closely linked from the earliest days of society and human civilization. However, technology is now transforming money and global payment platforms “to an extent and speed never before seen,” according to recent paper titled, “After Libra, Digital… Read More

June 21, 2020 @ 12:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The COVID-19 outbreak has created significant socio-economic challenges, which have impacted individuals and businesses across the globe. More people are now spending time at home due to government-enforced nationwide lockdowns. Certain segments of the Fintech industry, including digital, mobile, and contactless payments,  have seen increased… Read More

June 20, 2020 @ 4:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Eight tech firms in developing and emerging world economies will reportedly receive investments from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in order to “solve local and global challenges.” The fund now includes cryptocurrencies. In October 2019, UNICEF created a crypto-asset fund in order to receive,… Read More

June 20, 2020 @ 2:32 pm By Ronald Kleverlaan and Erik Stam  |  

Bernhoven Hospital was on the frontlines as the first Dutch cases of COVID-19 surfaced in the southern province of Brabant. The hospital made positive headlines due to its warm relationships with staff and local residents. This is one of the main reasons the health care… Read More

June 18, 2020 @ 1:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

  A record $1.8 billion was invested in Israel’s Fintech sector in 2019, which represented a 107% increase compared to 2018 when financial technology firms attracted $800 million in total investments. Israel is currently ranked fifth, globally, in terms of total Fintech investments, according to… Read More

June 17, 2020 @ 8:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Banking challenger Branch, a service provider that works with employers, has teamed up with Mastercard in order to provide cardholders instant access to their funds. Customers may directly add their Branch Mastercard debit cards to their mobile wallets, which supports Apple Pay and Google Pay…. Read More

June 15, 2020 @ 8:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Joint study to provide timely data and actionable insights on how the pandemic has affected the Fintech industry globally The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School is partnering with the World Bank Group and the World Economic… Read More

June 15, 2020 @ 7:28 am By Omar Faridi  |  

WhatsApp Payments, an in-chat payment feature that lets customers perform transfers through the messaging app to anyone in their contact list, may finally be on track to achieve mass adoption in India. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, (NASDAQ:FB) who bought the social media platform in… Read More

June 14, 2020 @ 10:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

San Francisco-based Fintech firm SynapseFI has reportedly cut down the number of employees on its payroll. The company is also planning to expand its operations in Texas in order to diversify its business strategy and survive the COVID-19 crisis. Synapse offers several back-office financial products… Read More