GBST launches industry-first SaaS middle office on Amazon Web Services with voice control
Global fintech GBST (GBT.ASX) launched their Syn~TAC SaaS at Sibos 2018 in Sydney. The industry-first SaaS middle office has been developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services, Inc (AWS) and is supported by leading Electronic Trade Confirmations (ETC) providers SWIFT and DTCC. The cloud-based offering reduces deployment and running costs, and features advanced voice control, another industry-first which improves middle office efficiency with authenticated, secure and auditable Push-to-Talk (PTT) technology. By partnering with AWS, GBST has been able to integrate with Amazon LEX™, allowing operators to augment their use of the system through voice queries and commands. With the help of a virtual assistant called ‘Syndy’, system operators can analyse, […]
Finastra launches Open Banking Readiness Index in Asia Pacific
Finastra today launched its Open Banking Readiness Index, providing for the first time a framework for banks in the Asia-Pacific region to assess their capabilities and benchmark readiness against peers in the race towards Open Banking. Unveiled during Hong Kong Fintech Week, the research reveals that 84% of the top 146 banks in Asia Pacific are considering collaborating with external partners to enhance their Open Banking capabilities between 2018 and 2020. Developed in partnership with IDC Financial Insights, the Finastra Open Banking Readiness Index measures banks across five dimensions – Adoption of APIs, Fintech/Third-Party Ecosystem, State of Data-based Transformation, Data Monetization, and State of Innovation. It is based on interviews […]
Neobank pioneer Brett King joins Xinja
Xinja, which is building a 100% independent digital bank, or ‘neobank’ for mobile, is adding significant global expertise to its organisation with the announcement that Brett King will act as a permanent advisor to the Board, and help guide Xinja’s strategic direction. Brett King founded neobank Moven in 2011, which launched the world’s first mobile, downloadable bank account. He is widely considered the most influential expert on retail banking innovation globally. Mr King was an advisor to the Obama White House, the US Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on the future of banking in the United States. Mr King said: “I have been working […]
Peppermint to receive $1.5m via placement to strategic Fintech investor Smidge Digital Unit Trust
Peppermint Innovation Ltd (ASX: PIL) announce continued strategic and funding support from Smidge Digital Unit Trust (SDUT) with a further investment into Peppermint of $1.5 million. The investment was transacted via a share placement of 60,000,000 shares to SDUT at 2.5 cents per share and represents a 32% premium to PIL’s last traded price of 1.7 cents. The funds will be used to continue to accelerate the roll-out of the Company’s Bizmoto agent network in the Philippines as well as the development of a number of enterprise capabilities in micro finance and international remittance business opportunities. They will also advance work on innovative fintech products and technology platform services (to […]
Aussie fintech startup building an investment platform for rapidly growing global retire early movement
Whether you’re an intern, executive or somewhere in between, everyone wants the option of not having to work, the sooner the better for most. While the end goal is easy to picture, the path to get there seems very complicated, or even imaginary. Housing affordability, negative gearing, royal commissions and fund returns are topical stresses for older Australians. A bigger issue is younger generations not building savings in a world of credit and higher discretionary spending. Younger people work as hard as past generations but have different relationships with. Bad financial discipline results in declining happiness as financial pressure builds and is passed on to future generations. But, according to […]
IRESS releases automated personal advice solution and announces implementation with WA Super
IRESS has today announced a new automated personal advice solution allowing super funds to service members wanting superannuation advice digitally. The multi-advice, multi-channel solution, drawing on information within the fund registry, allows members to set their retirement objectives, review projections and then make choices to optimise their retirement outcomes. Members are provided with a statement of personal advice and can choose to action the recommendations using the solution and monitor progress. Members can also receive automated personal advice for wealth protection, savings and debt management. WA Super has become the first superannuation fund to implement the solution to deliver a personal advice service for retirement planning through its online member […]
How one financial planner’s cultural change is helping tackle Australia’s debt problem
Financial planners are helping to tackle Australia’s escalating debt problem as the industry shifts from selling products to providing holistic advice with money management at its core. Australia’s household debt-to-income ratio has risen sharply in recent years and now ranks as one of the highest in the world at about 190 per cent, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia. Meanwhile, more than one in six (18.5 per cent) consumers are struggling under a mountain of credit card debt, according to a report by the corporate regulator, ASIC. Yet only a minority of financial planners offer money management or budgeting advice, citing concerns about the time it takes to offer […]
uno Home Loans appoints Anthony Justice as CEO
Online mortgage broker uno Home Loans has appointed Anthony Justice to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Anthony joins uno having spent the last decade in senior management roles in the financial services industry, including CEO of IAG’s Australian Consumer Division. uno Home Loans Chairman Abi Cleland said: “Anthony has extensive financial services experience; an impressive track record of leading and transforming customer-focused businesses; and strong alignment with uno’s values.” “We are delighted Anthony has come onboard to lead the charge as uno ramps up its growth trajectory and continues to shake up the home loan industry.” Anthony Justice said: “Getting a home loan is one of the biggest financial […]
