As India braces for digital payments future, how secure are banks from cyber attacks?
As the government presses ahead with a cash to less cash to cashless economy, the success of the transition will depend on how the battle between bankers and hackers plays out. Bankers must upgrade and fortify their cyber defences as hackers attempt to pinch funds from banks or steal credit/debit card details of retail customers daily. If suddenly the easiest way to buy anything from soft drinks to cars is to use the mobile wallet, a few clicks of the mouse are all that is required to rob a bank. True, in a country with 98% cash in circulation, electronic payments replacing cash will not be easy and will take […]
Invapay partner with Australian bank ANZ to deliver payment innovation to clients
UK based Invapay and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) announce that they are working together to deliver automated payments innovation to their business customers. ANZ’s vision to use technology and innovation to help solve the payment challenges faced by CFO’s has been realised by utilising Invapay’s cloud based automated payment platform. Invapay complements ANZ’s existing corporate product portfolio. In the absence of any development and integration work, the association made good sense and was easy to achieve. Adam Grant, Head of Transaction Banking, ANZ Australia had this to say of the association: “Working with Invapay has enabled ANZ to deliver a proven payables solution which allows our customers […]
China’s online banks know not to shake things up
In financial services, the label “transformative” often fades to “disappointing”. Would-be disrupters, ranging from peer-to-peer lenders in the west to China’s new online banks, risk co-option by incumbents looking for new sales outlets. A particular challenge for Chinese challengers is that the authorities may prevent them making too many waves. China’s banking regulator has unveiled results to the end of September for the country’s first five officially-sanctioned, privately-owned banks licensed during 2014. The rhetoric is encouraging enough. The authorities praised the newcomers for extending financial services to under-serviced parts of the economy, such as small and medium enterprises. The numbers were not bad, either. Perhaps surprisingly, given their short history, […]
Barclay’s Antony Jenkins jumps aboard Blockchain bitcoin start-up
One of Europe’s top bankers is joining a bitcoin start-up. Antony Jenkins, the former chief executive of Barclays, has joined the board of Blockchain, a London-based start-up that provides services related to bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The company, named after the basic technology that creates the shared network used to move and track bitcoin, raised $US30 million ($40m) in an initial fundraising in 2014. Blockchain software has been used by other bitcoin firms, such as Coinbase, as well as its own app and website service for consumers to buy and sell digital currency. It is also developing tools for using bitcoin’s underlying technology for things such as tracking identity information or […]
5 enterprise-related things you can do with blockchain technology today
Diamonds. Bitcoin. Pork. If you think you’ve spotted the odd one out, think again: All three are things you can track using blockchain technologies today. Blockchains are distributed, tamper-proof, public ledgers of transactions, brought to public attention by the cryptocurrency bitcoin, which is based on what is still the most widespread blockchain. But blockchains are being used for a whole lot more than making pseudonymous payments outside the traditional banking system. Because blockchains are distributed, an industry or a marketplace can use them without the risk of a single point of failure. And because they can’t be modified, there is no question of whether the record keeper can be trusted. […]
Scotiabank partners with QED Investors to promote FinTech start-ups in Latin America
Scotiabank and QED Investors announced today a new and innovative partnership that will inject capital and industry expertise into select Latin American FinTech companies. The joint investment will create a venture capital platform that will identify, invest and promote the growth of innovative start-ups across the FinTech spectrum that look to improve customer products and experiences in Latin America. As the manager of the fund, QED Investors will bring their deep expertise in the financial services sector and a track record of building groundbreaking FinTech businesses. Scotiabank will assist QED Investors in its evaluation of potential strategic investments in the Pacific Alliance countries (Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru) and bring […]
Fintech firms get chance to grow up as US offers charters
Over the past decade, there’s been an explosion of Silicon Valley start-ups and technology companies that act like banks. Now, a key US regulator is inviting them to be regulated more like traditional lenders. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said on Friday it plans to start accepting applications from fintech companies for a special charter that would formally subject them to federal banking rules. Companies that become chartered will get the benefits of being an established company in the eyes of the government. But they will also face anti-money laundering controls and consumer protections that apply to other lenders, the OCC said. “Preferences and needs of consumers, […]
Central banks look to the future of money with blockchain technology trial
At last week’s fintech festival in Singapore, two announcements illustrate the speed at which the world of digital currencies is moving and how the future of money is set to be reshaped by the forces of technology. First, the Monetary Authority of Singapore – which organised the event attended by 11,000 delegates from 50 countries – said it would trial its own digital currency for interbank payments using blockchain technology. Second, consulting firm PwC unveiled a new platform, called Vulcan Digital Asset Services, to provide banks and governments with confidence to explore cryptocurrencies after they were sent scurrying from bitcoin when it became apparent it was funding part of the […]
