Fintech
This Week in Fintech: TFT’s bi-weekly news roundup 6/18
Welcome to The times of fintech Bi-weekly news roundup Tuesday 18 June 2024 with the latest updates from around the world.
Company updates
Atomic bank, the UK’s app-based bank, has unveiled its strongest financial results ever, driven by a significant increase in lending while keeping costs low. Operating profit grew to £27m, a 600% increase on last year, with costs rising 4%. Atom raised £100m from existing investors last year and the additional capital has been used to accelerate balance sheet growth and further scale the business.
Stax LLC, a global strategy consultancy specializing in commercial due diligence, value creation and exit planning for private equity firms, PE-backed companies, hedge funds and investment banks, has opened a new office in central London. This expansion follows the January hiring Phil Dunne as managing director to lead the company’s UK and EMEA operations and strategic growth efforts.
Digital care, a device protection and services company based in Poland, has been rebranded Bolttech Polonia sp. z oo and renamed Bolttech. This follows the completion of Bolttech’s acquisition of Digital Care in October 2023, when Digital Care became part of the international insurtech group. All existing services and agreements will remain in effect.
Meaning, a provider of digital identity and identity fraud prevention solutions, has launched a new feature in its MobileID product: facial authentication. MobileID is Signicat’s flagship product for secure user authentication via mobile apps. This new addition is designed to improve security and prevent fraud in the regulated financial and services industries.
Insights
UK Finance has released card spending data for March 2024, covering the monthly value and volume of debit and credit card transactions. Data shows that the number of contactless cards in circulation in the UK exceeded 150 million (150,172,000) for the first time in March 2024. This means contactless cards now make up 93% of cards in circulation in the UK .
The 10 largest sectors of the FTSE350 they hold £295 billion worth of data within their organisations. According to research by , this equates to almost 20% of their market capitalization Anmut, a strategic data asset management company. The widespread failure to value data means that British companies have mismanaged their data assets to the detriment of the British economy.
IDora, a provider of identity verification services in Europe, has seen a significant increase in the number of gambling customers requesting identity verification. Between June 14 and 16, IDnow reported a 750% increase in the number of verified players at a European gambling operator. This increase coincided with the opening match of UEFA EURO 2024 on 14 June.
The UK economy grew more in May than at any time in the last 15 months, according to the latest data. Lloyds Bank UK industry tracker. While the overall rate of output growth across the economy slowed marginally in May, 11 of the 14 UK sectors tracked by the Tracker reported output growth, up from eight in April and the highest since February 2023.
Further details
One study found that up to 87.5% of financial advice on TikTok could be “potentially misleading.” The search for a pension consultant Financial Almond found that content creators producing advice-driven content on TikTok rarely encourage viewers to do their own financial research, and some give advice under the guise of selling online courses, e-books, or subscriptions to “exclusive” investment advice.
With rental prices rising by 9% in the last 12 months, three in ten (28%) renters across the UK have been forced to turn to subsidies due to rising costs, research from a lender reveals responsible Creditspring. ONS data shows average rents have risen by 8.9% in the last 12 months, with tenants paying on average over £100 more per month than last year.
BUT
Abaco Groupacquired , a provider of managed IT services to financial services companies globally Tribeca Technology Group (Tribeca), a UK-based IT MSP that also serves the financial services sector, to further strengthen its presence and existing capabilities in the UK market. The acquisition will see the two companies collaborate to pool their expertise, diversify their portfolios and broaden their offerings.
Partnerships
Digital identity verification company IDVerse (formerly known as Global OCR Labs) has joined AWS Marketplace to offer a fully automated identity verification solution to AWS customers. IDVerse’s technology enables AWS Marketplace buyers to leverage AWS Lambda for scalable, cost-effective, event-driven execution, integrating seamlessly with other AWS services to provide robust security and reliability.
SteelEye, the integrated surveillance provider used by more than 150 financial firms worldwide, has entered into a strategic partnership with Intelligent voice, a specialist in voice transcription and financial services analytics technology. This strategic partnership aims to address financial companies that need to archive and monitor all communications for compliance purposes, but often ignore voice transcription because regulations are unclear.
BlueFlame AIthe generative artificial intelligence platform for alternative investment managers, has integrated with Encore compliance, a compliance software solutions company. The integration incorporates that of Encore
generative AI call surveillance technology in BlueFlame’s AI platform, enabling alternative investment managers to transform operations management workflows and critical investment research compliance.
BNP Paribas Personal Finance in the UK has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting innovation in the financial services sector by welcoming the latest cohort to its Fintech Incubator program in the UK to address the insights and data-driven challenges impacting the sector. Following a competitive application process for this year’s program, several technology organizations were placed in the program.
Two Scandinavian companies, Lunar and SAS, have entered into a new partnership to launch Scandinavia’s first debit card. It allows customers to earn EuroBonus points on everyday purchases such as trips to the supermarket, morning coffee and summer experiences – in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and abroad – without using credit.
More partnerships
GBST, a global provider of wealth management and advisory technology solutions to the financial services industry, and Wipro Limited, a technology services and consultancy firm, have entered into a strategic partnership to provide end-to-end administrative services for wealth and pensions firms transitioning from legacy IT environments.
Appointments
TrueLayer, the European open banking payments network, has strengthened its management team by appointing Lisa Scott as chief strategy officer. In this new role, Scott will oversee the company’s expansion into new markets, drive consumer engagement and accelerate the adoption of its innovative open banking solutions. Scott joins TrueLayer from fintech Bankedwhere she was CEO for Europe.
CAB paymentsthe holding company of Crown Agents Bank (CAB), a UK regulated FX and payments services provider, specializing in global FX and cross-border payments for hard-to-reach markets, has announced Neeraj Kapur as the new CEO of the group who will take on the role Bhairav Trivedi. The pair worked closely during the transition period that began in February.
Fintech Moment appointment Chris Bracken as CEO. This follows recent significant capital investments by Saluda Grade Ventures, Rockefeller Asset Management AND TruStage Ventures. In addition to Bracken appointed CEO, current CEO and co-founder Barclay Keith is appointed special advisor to the council, where he will continue to provide information and guidance.
Worked, the AI-powered business orchestration platform, announces two new appointments to its leadership team. Chandar Pattabhiram joins as the company’s first chief go-to-market officer, while Bhagat Nainani joins as head of product and engineering. Workato enables companies to transform their business operations by orchestrating end-to-end business processes and operationalizing AI across the organization.
Financing and investments
CuspAI, a transformative artificial intelligence company building a next-generation materials platform to address global sustainability and clean energy challenges has secured $30 million in seed funding from European and US venture funds. The round was led by Hoxton Ventureswith significant participation from Grassroots initiatives AND Lightspeed venture partner.
Global digital payments platform Smart cards announces an €8 million funding round, bringing the total capital raised to date to €28 million. Ireland-based CleverCards will use the capital to accelerate expansion efforts, building on the rapid adoption of its configurable global payments platform. The round was led by an investment of Pluxeea global player in employee benefits and engagement.
FINBOURNE technology has raised £55 million in Series B funding. This latest round was led by Plateau Europe AND AVP and follows a £15m Series A funding round in 2021. The investment will fund the next phase of FINBOURNE’s business development, including the expansion of its sales, product and marketing capabilities into the US, UK , in Ireland, Singapore and Australia.
Fintech
US Agencies Request Information on Bank-Fintech Dealings
Federal banking regulators have issued a statement reminding banks of the potential risks associated with third-party arrangements to provide bank deposit products and services.
The agencies support responsible innovation and banks that engage in these arrangements in a safe and fair manner and in compliance with applicable law. While these arrangements may offer benefits, supervisory experience has identified a number of safety and soundness, compliance, and consumer concerns with the management of these arrangements. The statement details potential risks and provides examples of effective risk management practices for these arrangements. Additionally, the statement reminds banks of existing legal requirements, guidance, and related resources and provides insights that the agencies have gained through their oversight. The statement does not establish new supervisory expectations.
Separately, the agencies requested additional information on a broad range of arrangements between banks and fintechs, including for deposit, payment, and lending products and services. The agencies are seeking input on the nature and implications of arrangements between banks and fintechs and effective risk management practices.
The agencies are considering whether to take additional steps to ensure that banks effectively manage the risks associated with these different types of arrangements.
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Fintech
What changes in financial regulation have impacted the development of financial technology?
Exploring the complex landscape of global financial regulation, we gather insights from leading fintech leaders, including CEOs and finance experts. From the game-changing impact of PSD2 to the significant role of GDPR in data security, explore the four key regulatory changes that have reshaped fintech development, answering the question: “What changes in financial regulation have impacted fintech development?”
- PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
- GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
- Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
- GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
When it comes to regulatory impact on fintech development, nothing comes close to PSD2. This EU regulation has created a new level playing field for market players of all sizes, from fintech startups to established banks. It has had a ripple effect on other markets around the world, inspiring similar regulatory frameworks and driving global innovation in fintech.
The Payment Services Directive (PSD2), the EU law in force since 2018, has revolutionized the fintech industry by requiring banks to provide third-party payment providers (TPPs) with access to payment services and customer account information via open APIs. This has democratized access to financial data, fostering the development of personalized financial instruments and seamless payment solutions. Advanced security measures such as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) have increased consumer trust, pushing both fintech companies and traditional banks to innovate and collaborate more effectively, resulting in a dynamic and consumer-friendly financial ecosystem.
The impact of PSD2 has extended beyond the EU, inspiring similar regulations around the world. Countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada have launched their own open banking initiatives, spurred by the benefits seen in the EU. PSD2 has highlighted the benefits of open banking, also prompting US financial institutions and fintech companies to explore similar initiatives voluntarily.
This has led to a global wave of fintech innovation, with financial institutions and fintech companies offering more integrated, personalized and secure services. The EU’s leadership in open banking through PSD2 has set a global standard, promoting regulatory harmonization and fostering an interconnected and innovative global financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the EU’s PSD3 proposals and Financial Data Access (FIDA) regulations promise to further advance open banking. PSD3 aims to refine and build on PSD2, with a focus on improving transaction security, fraud prevention, and integration between banks and TPPs. FIDA will expand data sharing beyond payment accounts to include areas such as insurance and investments, paving the way for more comprehensive financial products and services.
These developments are set to further enhance connectivity, efficiency and innovation in financial services, cementing open banking as a key component of the global financial infrastructure.
General Manager, Technology and Product Consultant Fintech, Insurtech, Miquido
GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
Privacy and data protection have been taken to another level by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), forcing fintech companies to tighten their data management. In compliance with the GDPR, organizations must ensure that personal data is processed fairly, transparently, and securely.
This has led to increased innovation in fintech towards technologies such as encryption and anonymization for data protection. GDPR was described as a top priority in the data protection strategies of 92% of US-based companies surveyed by PwC.
Financial Expert, Sterlinx Global
Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
Since the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pioneered sandbox regulatory frameworks in 2016 to enable fintech startups to explore new products and services, similar frameworks have been introduced in other countries.
This has reduced the “crippling effect on innovation” caused by a “one size fits all” regulatory approach, which would also require machines to be built to complete regulatory compliance before any testing. Successful applications within sandboxes give regulators the confidence to move forward and address gaps in laws, regulations, or supervisory approaches. This has led to widespread adoption of new technologies and business models and helped channel private sector dynamism, while keeping consumers protected and imposing appropriate regulatory requirements.
Co-founder, UK Linkology
GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
A big change in financial regulations that has had a real impact on fintech is the 2018 EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I have seen how GDPR has pushed us to focus more on user privacy and data security.
GDPR means we have to handle personal data much more carefully. At Leverage, we have had to step up our game to meet these new rules. We have improved our data encryption and started doing regular security audits. It was a little tricky at first, but it has made our systems much more secure.
For example, we’ve added features that give users more control over their data, like simple consent tools and clear privacy notices. These changes have helped us comply with GDPR and made our customers feel more confident in how we handle their information.
I believe that GDPR has made fintech companies, including us at Leverage, more transparent and secure. It has helped build trust with our users, showing them that we take data protection seriously.
CEO & Co-Founder, Leverage Planning
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Fintech
M2P Fintech About to Raise $80M
Application Programming Interface (API) Infrastructure Platform M2P Financial Technology has reached the final round to raise $80 million, at a valuation of $900 million.
Specifically, M2P Fintech, formerly known as Yap, is closing a new funding round involving new and existing investors, according to entrackr.com. The India-based company, which last raised funding two and a half years ago, previously secured $56 million in a round led by Insight Partners, earning a post-money valuation of $650 million.
A source indicated that M2P Fintech is ready to raise $80 million in this new funding round, led by a new investor. Existing backers, including Insight Partners, are also expected to participate. The new funding is expected to go toward enhancing the company’s technology infrastructure and driving growth in domestic and international markets.
What does M2P Fintech do?
M2P Fintech’s API platform enables businesses to provide branded financial services through partnerships with fintech companies while maintaining regulatory compliance. In addition to its operations in India, the company is active in Nepal, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Bahrain, Egypt, and many other countries.
Another source revealed that M2P Fintech’s valuation in this funding round is expected to be between USD 880 million and USD 900 million (post-money). The company has reportedly received a term sheet and the deal is expected to be publicly announced soon. The Tiger Global-backed company has acquired six companies to date, including Goals101, Syntizen, and BSG ITSOFT, to enhance its service offerings.
According to TheKredible, Beenext is the company’s largest shareholder with over 13% ownership, while the co-founders collectively own 34% of the company. Although M2P Fintech has yet to release its FY24 financials, it has reported a significant increase in operating revenue. However, this growth has also been accompanied by a substantial increase in losses.
Fintech
Scottish financial technology firm Aveni secures £11m to expand AI offering
By Gloria Methri
Today
- To come
- Aveni Assistance
- Aveni Detection
Artificial intelligence Financial Technology Aveni has announced one of the largest Series A investments in a Scottish company this year, amounting to £11 million. The investment is led by Puma Private Equity with participation from Par Equity, Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide.
Aveni combines AI expertise with extensive financial services experience to create large language models (LLMs) and AI products designed specifically for the financial services industry. It is trusted by some of the UK’s leading financial services firms. It has seen significant business growth over the past two years through its conformity and productivity solutions, Aveni Detect and Aveni Assist.
This investment will enable Aveni to build on the success of its existing products, further consolidate its presence in the sector and introduce advanced technologies through FinLLM, a large-scale language model specifically for financial services.
FinLLM is being developed in partnership with new investors Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide. It is a large, industry-aligned language model that aims to set the standard for transparent, responsible and ethical adoption of generative AI in UK financial services.
Following the investment, the team developing the FinLLM will be based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, in a state-of-the-art facility.
Joseph Twigg, CEO of Aveniexplained, “The financial services industry doesn’t need AI models that can quote Shakespeare; it needs AI models that deliver transparency, trust, and most importantly, fairness. The way to achieve this is to develop small, highly tuned language models, trained on financial services data, and reviewed by financial services experts for specific financial services use cases. Generative AI is the most significant technological evolution of our generation, and we are in the early stages of adoption. This represents a significant opportunity for Aveni and our partners. The goal with FinLLM is to set a new standard for the controlled, responsible, and ethical adoption of generative AI, outperforming all other generic models in our select financial services use cases.”
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