Latest Innovation News: Finextra Research

Contactless cards set to further displace cash on London Tube

Commuters using the London tube network can now tap their contactless bank cards on the ticket barriers to pay for their journeys, further displacing cash on the capital's transit system.

16 September 2014

News/Innovation

ING adds voice controls to mobile app

Holland's ING has become the first bank in Europe to add a voice control mode to its mobile app, enabling customers to issue commands by speaking.

15 September 2014

News/Innovation

Amex invites applications for financial inclusion innovation lab

American Express is inviting academics and non-profit groups dealing with financial inclusion to submit ideas for commercial testing at a new 'Financial Innovation Lab'.

15 September 2014

News/Innovation

French bank preps Twitter-based P2P payments service

French banking group Banque Populaire Caisse d'Epargne (BPCE) has teamed up with Twitter to let customers tweet money to each other.

15 September 2014

News/Innovation

Blockstock bitcoin festival gets ready to rock

A ten-day festival promoting the use of bitcoin kicks off with a round of drinks at the Old Shoreditch Station pub in London on Friday evening.

12 September 2014

News/Innovation

Tink personal finance app raises $4 million

Swedish personal finance app outfit Tink has raised $4 million in Series A funding to expand internationally and recruit new staff.

12 September 2014

News/Innovation

BBVA to invest $1.2 billion to become South America's leading digital bank

Spain's BBVA is to invest $1.2 billion on technology projects in South America over the next two years as it looks to grow the number of customers using digital and mobile channels to access the bank.

12 September 2014

News/Innovation

Bank of England takes a closer look at bitcoin potential

Digital currencies do not currently pose a material risk to monetary or financial stability in the United Kingdom, says the Bank of England, but the underlying technology does have the potential to transform the financial system more generally.

11 September 2014

News/Innovation

Bitcoin ATM network introduces palm vein authentication

Bitcoin ATM manufacturer Robocoin is to use PalmSecure biometric technology from Fujitu to strengthen authentication in its worldwide network of kiosks.

11 September 2014

News/Innovation

Sabadell opens API to developers in first hackathon

Spain's Banco Sabadell is hosting its first hackathon, providing competing teams of developers with open access to its bank service API to generate fresh ideas and innovative financial applications.

10 September 2014

News/Innovation

Surprise! Apple makes payments play

After weeks of rumour, hype and speculation, Apple has made its long-awaited entry into the payments business with a compelling mix of NFC technology, tokenisation, biometrics and must-have mobile form factors, including the new iPhone 6 and forthcoming Apple Watch.

10 September 2014

News/Innovation

PayPal pips Apple with One Touch mobile and bitcoin payments

With the Apple juggernaut about to steamroller all other payments-related news, PayPal has pushed the innovation bar a little higher by announcing plans to enable 'One Touch' transactions on iOS and Android phones and adding support for bitcoin purchasing.

09 September 2014

News/Innovation

Twitter starts testing 'buy' button

Twitter has begun testing a 'buy' button that merchants can embed in tweets so that shoppers are able to make purchases from within the social network.

08 September 2014

News/Innovation

New Zealand's Heartland Bank invests in P2P lending platform

New Zealand's Heartland Bank has bought a 10% stake in local online peer-to-peer lending platform HarMoney. Financial terms were not disclosed.

08 September 2014

News/Innovation

Barclays launches biometric reader for corporate client login

Barclays corporate customers will soon be able to log into their online accounts by scanning their fingers with biometric readers that use vein authentication technology from Hitachi.

05 September 2014

News/Innovation

Fintech players back UK's Startup Manifesto

Heavy hitters from the fintech community have backed a 'Startup Manifesto' offering recommendations to the next UK government on everything from tax to visas to bitcoin.

04 September 2014

News/Innovation

Money20/20 founders to advise on $500 million healthcare and fintech fund

Money20/20 founders Anil Aggarwal and Jonathan Weiner have joined with Oak Investments on the launch of a $500 million healthcare information and fintech venture fund.

03 September 2014