NAB is opening its data vaults for fintechs
NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn says he will support moves to require banks to share customer data, a key requirement for fintechs to compete with the big players. “We welcome competition,” he told the House of Representatives economics committee. “That’s how this bank has survived and competed for 150 years. “And now we’ve got new competition, fintechs that are coming at us and we welcome that too. You have to lift and get better and that’s good for customers.” Thorburn also supports greater account portability, where a customer could more easily move to a new bank without having to change automatic payments. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority […]
Gelato Messina launches world leading mobile payment app
Gelato Messina, pioneers of weird and wonderful gelato creations and one of Australia’s most popular brands, are ditching their cash-only policy and moving towards mobile payments to the joy of cashless customers nationwide. On 4th October 2016 Messina launched a mobile payment and loyalty app that allows customers to pay with their phone and be rewarded with points. Points are redeemable for gelato, merchandise and unique Messina experiences — including the chance for one loyal customer to take seven friends on a seven course gelato experience at the Messina Creative Department. Powered by LOKE, a Melbourne fintech startup, customers will be able to add their preferred payment type, including their Paypal account, […]
A look inside AMP’s new goals-based advice business
AMP today officially launches its long-awaited AMP Advice business, after a long development period during which the financial services giant substantially re-engineered its advice process and technology infrastructure. AMP Advice currently has 11 operating practices around the country, and aims to have as many as 30 by the end of the year as ipac Securities practices transition to the new model, and as other AMP-aligned practices voluntarily make the move. The ipac brand will eventually disappear as the new advice business expands. AMP Advice is built on a goals-based approach to advice, with fees charged by advisers in a range according to the complexity of the advice ultimately provided, and […]
La Trobe Financial unveils new fintech offering
Specialist lender La Trobe Financial has announced it is making its investment opportunities more accessible through the launch of a new investment platform. Launched this week, La Trobe Direct is a digital platform aimed at giving La Trobe clients greater control over and access to their investment portfolio. La Trobe Direct currently operates across La Trobe’s Classic 48 Hour and 12 Month Term investment accounts and investors with a real time overview and control over their portfolios. “La Trobe Direct allows investors to enjoy competitive investment rates, view investment transactions, set up a regular savings plan, view account balances and manage interest distribution flows on a 24/7 basis,” La Trobe […]
Bravura Solutions’ Sonata hits high note at 20-times profit
Private equity-owned Bravura Solutions will seek to raise $200 million for its initial public offering before the end of the month. Brokers Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Capital kicked off the marketing program with face to face meetings in Melbourne and Auckland on Monday. Their analysts also released detailed pre-IPO research reports and setting investor price expectations at 16-to-20-times forecast profit and up to 16-times adjusted EBITDA, as Street Talk revealed. Small cap fundies are familiar with the story. Bravura was listed for almost a decade before Ironbridge and management took the financial services software company private in 2013. It’s now preparing to return to market with $100 million invested in […]
Australia leads the way in revolutionary blockchain technology
Good news on the #Innovation front! Australia leads the way in developing international standards for blockchain technology. Neil Buckland explains this new technology predicted to revolutionise practically anything! Australia leads the way for incorporated blockchain technology Blockchain technology has been in the news a lot recently. Many industries are even predicting it could be the future for the way in which they operate. Australia has recently received the go-ahead to develop the international standards of the technology; a move which Standards Australia says will create better market confidence and certainty. So what exactly is blockchain technology and how could it aid businesses? Understanding blockchain technology Blockchain technology is most commonly […]
Mutual lender takes equity stake in fintech platform
Beyond Bank Australia has become the fourth customer-owned lender to take an equity stake in growing marketplace lender SocietyOne. The mutual lender yesterday announced it has acquired $1.5 million worth of shares in SocietyOne, as well as agreeing to increase its funding arrangement with the marketplace lender to $10m. G&C Mutual Bank, Maritime, Mining and Power Credit Union and Regional Australia Bank joined SocietyOne’s share register in May this year following the company’s successful $25m capital raising. The move by Beyond Bank Australia to take a stake in SocietyOne follows a long relationship between the two, with Beyond Bank Australia among the first institutions to become a direct SocietyOne investor […]
How partnerships are driving this fintech lender forward
Small business lender GetCapital is utilising strategic partnerships to benefit its customers. Fintech companies were originally thought of as disruptors, but as the game continues the rules are starting to change. Today, you’re more likely to see banks and corporates building bridges with fintech companies rather than putting up defensive walls. This is the case for GetCapital, a small business lender sharing its reins with business heavyweights such as Qantas and Alibaba. Established in 2013, GetCapital started providing standard small business loans to Australian businesses and has now diversified it to include trade finance and invoice discounting. GetCapital CEO Jamie Osborn says the idea is to provide an online small business […]
