Latest Innovation News: Finextra Research

Lending Club preps $500m IPO

Peer-to-peer loan specialist Lending Club has filed with US regulators for an initial public offering in which it hopes to raise $500 million.

28 August 2014

News/Innovation

Westpac NZ licenses Moven money management tech

Westpac New Zealand is integrating money management technology from New York-based Moven into its new digital banking platform.

26 August 2014

News/Innovation

Santander commissions study on bitcoin's impact on banks

The bitcoin-curious - both enthusiasts and sceptics - are being invited to help put together a report for Santander on the impact that cryptocurrencies will have on banks.

26 August 2014

News/Innovation

Banks and retailers sign on for new Australian Payments Council

Australian banks, retailers and payments specialists have signed on to a new co-ordination body that aims to step up the pace of innovation in the country's payments industry.

26 August 2014

News/Innovation

Wells Fargo to invest in fintech startups through accelerator

Wells Fargo has become the latest bank to launch an accelerator programme, promising mentoring and hard cash to selected fintech startups.

20 August 2014

News/Innovation

PayPal taps Venmo for one-touch in-app payments

PayPal has taken advantage of technology from its Braintree unit to build a system which lets mobile shoppers make in-app purchases with a single touch.

20 August 2014

News/Innovation

BBVA unveils European startup contest finalists

Spanish bank BBVA has named the 20 finalists for the European leg of its startup competition, whittling down the chosen few from more than 400 entrants.

18 August 2014

News/Innovation

Braintree could soon accept bitcoin

EBay is preparing to integrate bitcoin into its Braintree payments service, according to the Wall Street Journal, giving the crypto-currency a firm nudge into the mainstream.

15 August 2014

News/Innovation

Barclaycard takes bPay wristbands beyond payments

Barclaycard is bidding to increase the reach of its bPay contactless wristbands beyond payments by offering businesses customer behavioural data gleaned from the wearable devices.

14 August 2014

News/Innovation

Bank Leumi to run fintech hackathon

Israel's Bank Leumi is joining the fintech hackathon craze, calling on developers to come to Tel Aviv and build financial services-related apps for the chance to win a cash prize.

12 August 2014

News/Innovation

Intesa Sanpaolo backs Startupbootcamp fintech accelerator

Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo has become the latest big name bank to throw its weight behind the Startupbootcamp fintech accelerator programme.

12 August 2014

News/Innovation

Finextra Leadership: The rise of the bank challengers

After stints at some of the world's biggest banks, Udayan Goyal is now helping to build up a new generation of challengers through his roles at Anthemis Group and Apis Partners. He talks to Finextra about how technology is changing the financial services industry and what the established players need to do to prosper in the digital age.

11 August 2014

News/Innovation

VCs join fintech gold rush

There has been a surge in venture funding for fintech firms over the last six months, culminating in a number of big bets in July, according to data from CrunchBase.

08 August 2014

News/Innovation

Vilnius street fair to use bluetooth beacons and QR codes to test mobile payments

More than 250 merchants at the annual Vilnius City Fiesta will be offering discounts to customers who pay for their goods with mobile phones, in an event billed as the world's first 'smart street fair'.

08 August 2014

News/Innovation

Rocket Internet scores EUR333m investment for emerging markets payments push

German Internet-focused VC and incubator Rocket Internet has sold a 10% stake to Philippines-based telco PLDT for EUR333 million in a deal that will also see the two firms team on building online and mobile payments services in emerging markets.

07 August 2014

News/Innovation

IndusInd Bank opens 'Video Branch'

IndusInd Bank has taken a novel approach to the 'branch of the future' concept with the launch of a purely video-based channel connecting customers on mobiles and desktops to staff representatives for face-to-face communications.

07 August 2014

News/Innovation

Rakuten launches Transfer by Facebook

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has launched a money transfer service for friends using Facebook.

07 August 2014

News/Innovation

UK fintech industry bands together to push innovation agenda

An industry body promising to be the 'voice of UK fintech' launched today, with more than 50 founding members onboard and the backing of government.

06 August 2014

News/Innovation

Osborne looks to virtual currencies in bid to make UK world fintech capital

The UK government is setting up a review into the potential of virtual currencies, and whether they should be regulated, as part of a wider push to make the country the fintech capital of the world.

06 August 2014

News/Innovation

Paym sees over one million users and £6.5 million spend in first 100 days

More than one million people have registered with their bank or building society for Paym, the UK bank-backed mobile number payment service that was launched in late April.

06 August 2014