Latest Innovation News: Finextra Research

UBS taps startup community with Future of Finance Challenge

Giant Swiss bank UBS has launched a global innovation challenge with cash prizes of $300,000 at stake for entrepreneurs, start-ups or growing companies with ideas that could change the way finance works.

12 August 2015

News/Innovation

TD, MasterCard and Nymi pilot heartbeat-authenticated contactless payments

Canada's TD Bank, MasterCard and tech firm Nymi have completed what they claim is the world's first wearable contactless credit card payment to authenticate the user through their heartbeat.

11 August 2015

News/Innovation

Blockchain poised to become banking's biggest disruptor yet - BBVA Compass economists

With dozens of the world's biggest banks already investing heavily in the blockchain, it is just a matter of time before the technology creates far-reaching disruption in the financial services industry, says a new report from BBVA Compass economists.

11 August 2015

News/Innovation

PE fund for African and Asian fintech startups raises $150m

A London-based private equity firm, Apis Partners, has raised $157 million for a new fund focused on fintech startups in Africa and South Asia.

10 August 2015

News/Innovation

Taiwan bank trials face-recognition ATM

Taiwan's CTBC Bank has launched a pilot version of an ATM that uses both facial recognition and finger-vein scanning to verify identity.

10 August 2015

News/Innovation

Credit scoring startup wins BBVA financial inclusion award

A Chilean start-up that allows users to build a credit score based on their history of paying utility bills has won the BBVA Open Talent 2015 Special Financial Inclusion Award.

07 August 2015

News/Innovation

Flip-flops are for startups, not banks; Barclays boss dresses down scruffy staff

While other banks try to emulate the dress-down culture of the tech startup sector, Barclays is going in the reverse direction, banning jeans, t-shirts, trainers and flip-flops at its head office.

07 August 2015

News/Innovation

Floating bank branch sets sail in Indonesia

Indonesia's first floating bank branch has set sail on its maiden voyage, bringing financial services to inhabitants of the some of the country's more remote islands.

07 August 2015

News/Innovation

Silicon Valley Bank acquires startup team to build out API platform

Silicon Valley Bank has hired the team from startup company Standard Treasury to jump start its efforts to build an API-based banking platform.

06 August 2015

News/Innovation

SavingsGlobal, an Amazon for EU savings, raises EUR20 million in funding

SavingGlobal, a German startup that enables savers to access the best deposit rates across Europe, has closed €20 million Series B financing led by Palo Alto-based Ribbit Capital and Index Ventures with participation from Yuri Milner and Tom Stafford, bringing the total amount raised to €30 million.

06 August 2015

News/Innovation

Asic extends Innovation Hub initiative

An 'Innovation Hub' established by Australian financial watchdog Asic to help fintech startups navigate the regulatory landscape is reporting strong demand for its services from budding businesses keen to break into financial services.

06 August 2015

News/Innovation

Visa opens development centre in India; preps new m-payment service

Visa is opening a new technology development centre in Bangalore that will house 1000 staff, as the card scheme prepares for the roll out of a new mobile payment service for the Indian market.

05 August 2015

News/Innovation

Samsung engineers payments for TV

Samsung is to equip its television sets with a new way for viewers to pay for goods and services from the comfort of their armchair.

05 August 2015

News/Innovation

Open University and Innovate Finance launch Fintech 101 course

The Open University has teamed up with UK fintech trade body Innovate Finance to launch the world's first introductory course to financial technology.

04 August 2015

News/Innovation

DBS Hong Kong kicks off inaugural accelerator programme

Innovations in Big Data analytics, payments, risk management, security, and P2P lending are to the fore among the ten startups selected to participate in the inaugural DBS Accelerator programme in Hong Kong.

04 August 2015

News/Innovation

Deutsche Bank backs blockchain potential

Deutsche Bank is the latest major financial institution to laud the potential of the blockchain, confirming that it is exploring the use of distributed ledger technology for everything from securities clearing and settlement to anti-money laundering registries.

31 July 2015

News/Innovation

George Galloway proposes 'MayorsChain' to track city finances

Radical anti-establishment politician and prospective London mayoral candidate George Galloway is proposing to use the blockchain to track the capital's $17 billion budget in real time.

30 July 2015

News/Innovation

Commerzbank venture fund invests in iwoca

The venture capital arm of Germany's CommerzBank has joined in a $20m funding round for UK-based SME lending platform iwoca.

30 July 2015

News/Innovation

David Cameron backs UK fintech manifesto

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has lent his support to a fintech manifesto issued by industry think tank Innovate Finance which lays down a bold vision for the country to become a dominant force in financial technology investment and job creation globally.

30 July 2015

News/Innovation

ING Bank introduces voice-activated mobile payments

ING Bank in the Netherlands is introducing voice-activated payments through its mobile app, enabling customers to authorise transactions by conversing with a virtual assistant on their phone.

29 July 2015