SuiteBox appoints new chair, adds to board
SuiteBox, the mobile office solution for the financial services industry, has appointed former AIG Life Australia boss David Whyte as Chairman and Craig Anderson as a Director of the Board. Ian Dunbar, SuiteBox CEO, said, “With our planned geographical expansion and user-growth plans, SuiteBox management and founders believe that an experienced board is critical in providing sage guidance and direction to our growth focused strategy. I’m delighted that David has agreed to Chair SuiteBox’s board and also to have Craig’s corporate advisory skills on the board.” Mr Whyte formerly led American International Group (AIG) life operations in NZ and Australia, and served on the Board of Fidelity Life and Southern […]
Bitcoin available over the counter at a newsagency near you
Two Australian tech start-ups are launching an over-the-counter platform for selling Bitcoin making it available to everyday consumers and providing online retailers and the newsagents offering the service more income streams. It means Australians will be able to buy Bitcoin over the counter with cash for the first time. The technology is being deployed to about 1200 newsagents nationally effectively making them Bitcoin bank outlets and giving many in the struggling industry a new strand to diversify their revenue. There are currently Bitcoin exchanges in Australia which facilitate online transactions and transfer money but no over-the-counter solution for cash to buy Bitcoin. A 4 per cent fee applies to transactions […]
Nation must deepen the talent pool for fintech success
Success for Danielle Szetho, the inaugural head of industry body Fintech Australia, means an undisputed spot for Australia in the world’s top-five fintech hubs. Realistically, there’s no chance of knocking off London or New York/San Francisco as fintech’s twin global capitals. According to a February report by Ernst and Young, Britain sits on top of the pile, but only just. What it lacks in talent and capital — and it’s not a lot — is more than made up for by the highly accommodating government policy. In the US, it’s more a case of letting the market rip. Szetho reckons Australia’s biggest challenge is deepening the talent pool. Not surprisingly, […]
CXi Announces New Staff Appointments
CXi Software (“CXi”) has announced two new management appointments to its Melbourne DevOps team. Simon Zandler has been appointed to the role of Product Manager, having joined CXi at the start of 2016 as a Senior Business Analyst, Product and Markets. “Simon has been a great contributor to the development of our unit registry solution, CXi Registry, and this promotion reflects the leadership he has shown in ensuring that our final product will excite and delight clients and their investors”, said Séamus Ó Concheanainn, Managing Director, “Simon will initially manage the delivery of our unit registry administration and investor/advisor web portals – which are scheduled to be delivered to market […]
Cuscal takes c11% stake in software development company Moroku
Cuscal and Moroku, a Sydney-based developer of mobile banking and payments software, have agreed terms which see Cuscal take a circa 11% stake in Moroku and a seat on its Board. Cuscal’s investment is part of a broader capital raising by Moroku. Moroku was founded in 2012 by Colin Weir and Dave Durbin. Its main business is creating immersive digital experiences to help banks connect better with customers, so increasing their competitiveness and ability to acquire more customers. In the financial services area Moroku has already developed two innovative products: Game System – a platform for next generation financial services applications that employs motivational theory and gamification to build financial […]
NAB eschews fintech push, keeps online business lending in-house
National Australia Bank has decided against partnering with a “fintech” company for its first automated online business lending product, ensuring a tighter grip on customers as the banks cautiously explore the burgeoning sector that threatens to eat into profits. The bank yesterday revealed QuickBiz Loan, one of the first products from in-house innovation hub NAB Labs, would be launched early this month, offering small businesses up to $50,000 unsecured via a new online application process. The move contrasts with Commonwealth Bank and Westpac, which are working on referral partnerships with business fintech lenders OnDeck and Prospa. NAB business lending division chief Angela Mentis said that while partnerships could be done […]
Celebrate innovation that puts the customer in charge
It’s no secret that the word innovation is in vogue. It’s not just that it’s one of our prime minister’s favourite words, it’s a trend across the English-speaking world. Use of the word has grown steadily since 1943, according to Google’s database of books published from 1800 to 2008. It was used almost twice as much in 2008 as 1969, the year humans first landed on the moon, and it’s a dead cert the past eight years have been no different. But using “innovation” as a mantra doesn’t make you more innovative. Many people feel that it’s become, or becoming, a meaningless catchphrase. It’s time to reclaim it. It’s a […]
Fintech platform enables consumers to broker loans
A new fintech platform has launched which enables consumers to broker their own home loan online. The site, uno, claims it puts the consumer in the driver’s seat, giving them access to the tools and information that traditional brokers use to find a home loan, across a wide panel of lenders. Uno also has its own home loan experts that provide advice to provide a “human element”, however, creator and CEO of uno, Vincent Turner, said they do not personally receive sales commissions. “What uno provides, for the first time, is a chance for the consumer to be part of the process and see all of their personalised options,” Turner […]
