Google launches Android Pay in Australia
Google has today announced the launch of its contactless smartphone payment system Android Pay in Australia, providing a new way to pay for just about anything without needing to grab your wallet. “We truly believe that we’re at a tipping point in Australia, where we can get mass adoption of mobile payments”, Google’s senior director of product management Pali Bhat tells Fairfax Media, noting that 60 per cent of Australians already make payments with a contactless card. Mobile payment solutions for phones are already offered by Apple, Samsung and some individual banks, but Google believes Android Pay differentiates itself with its ease of use. Because the system is baked directly […]
The 14 Australian fintech startups chosen for KPMG’s new accelerator program
KPMG Australia today launched mLabs, an accelerator to connect credit unions and mutual banks with some of Australia’s most promising fintech startups. The program follows the successful Energise accelerator run for the energy and natural resources sector last year. The program will initially be used by seven Australian mutual banks and credit unions: Beyond Bank, CUA, Greater Bank, Heritage, IMB Bank, Police Bank and Teachers Mutual Bank. The KPMG Mutuals Review 2015 found that mutuals are well placed to implement new technologies and ideas and to collaborate with fintech startups. “KPMG mLabs is designed to catalyse this process,” says James Mabbott, head of KPMG innovate. “It will be a platform […]
Mutual banks back fintech accelerator mLabs
Member-owned credit union CUA will turn to young, digitally savvy entrepreneurs to help it address a gap in its business: luring in more young, digitally savvy customers. The Queensland-based company is one of seven mutual banks that have signed up to a new fintech accelerator program run by professional services firm KPMG. The mLabs 12-week program will connect the mutual banks with 14 start-up companies in an attempt to promote innovation. Beyond Bank, Greater Bank, Heritage, IMB (Illawarra Mutual Bank), Police Bank, and Teachers Bank have signed up alongside CUA to work closely with the start-ups to come up with solutions to sector-wide issues, and create prototype products and services. […]
Bitcoin drifts lower after technical milestone
The virtual currency bitcoin made it through a closely watched technical milestone with a 2 per cent decline. The price of the alternative currency, measured in dollars, dipped on Saturday in light trading by about 4 per cent, but then recovered some ground to trade only about 2 per cent lower than it did early in the day, according to bitcoin tracker Coindesk. In recent months, a run-up in the price of bitcoin was attributed in part to the “halving” that arrived Saturday. That effectively cuts by 50 per cent the rate of production of new bitcoins. In theory, that makes existing bitcoins more valuable. The pre-programmed “halving” that took […]
Row emerges over digital advice regulations
A row is developing in the financial planning sector with so-called robo-advisers claiming that regulatory measures proposed by the Financial Planning Association would make the provision of digital advice unworkable. In a submission to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which is in the midst of consulting industry on how digital advice should be regulated, the FPA proposed that robo-advisers be required to appoint independent actuaries to monitor the algorithms used in the provision of automated advice. “If ASIC is after visibility of these results, an obligation to provide independent review results should be included in the regulatory guidance,” the FPA said in the submission.Robo-advisers argued that a need for […]
Crowdfunding start-up DomaCom eyes $100m ASX float
DomaCom, the company that shot to prominence with a crowdfunding campaign to acquire the property assets of the iconic Kidman Station empire, is looking to float as a near $100 million company on the Australian Securities Exchange. The ambitious group is hoping to ride the worldwide popularity of crowdfunding which it has used to set up real estate funds and it plans to extend its reach into the corporate bond market and equity release products. Company founder, Arthur Naoumidis, who also set up the now listed portfolio technology provider Praemium, had previously flagged plans to raise $100m through a float last year but the timing of the IPO was pushed […]
Fintech has chance to capitalise on Whatsapp, WeChat and more, says Citi’s Linda Duncombe
Integrating financial services into messaging applications such as Whatsapp and WeChat is the next big opportunity for the fintech sector, Citibank global fintech chief marketing officer Linda Duncombe says. The environment where consumers are communicating is changing and the financial services sector needs to develop its products to changing habits. “Look at messaging apps and their growth, it is phenomenal,” Ms Duncombe told The Australian Financial Review. “I think about my life, living in New York, Whatsapp is a huge part of my life and how I stay engaged and connected to my family and friends in Australia. “When you hear the word disruption … no consumer is saying that. […]
Robo-advice start-ups go beyond disruption to new clients
Robo-advice start-ups are looking to use technology to drive massive expansion in the financial advice market, rather than to simply disrupt it. While established players, such as AMP, and the wealth management arms of banks are among those vulnerable to robo-advice, start-ups claim they are not targeting their market. “People talk about disrupting the financial services industry with robo-advice, but only 20 per cent of the country gets advice,” David Pettit, chief executive of Perth-based robo-advice start-up Future Penny, told The Australian. “There’s a massive piece of the market that aren’t seeking or engaging with advice professionals.” Robo-advice delivers investors a low-cost investment management portfolio based on algorithms and technology. […]
