Super sector split on fintech opportunity
Superannuation funds were split into “two clear camps” when it came to dealing with fintech disruption, with half the industry pushing to integrate new technologies into their business, while the other half was running scared from the potential risks of partnering with fintechs, according to PractiFI. Speaking to financialobserver, PractiFI chief executive Glenn Elliott said there were “massive differences” between how super funds were responding to the opportunity digital innovation presented them, but that did not necessarily depend on the size or age of the fund, with some traditional industry players excelling as much as new industry entrants. “There are those that are embracing fintech with great vigour and are […]
Sydney at the centre of booming Australian Fintech industry
Sydney is home to over half of Australia’s Fintech companies and is helping to drive unprecedented growth in the industry, according to a new report by the Committee for Sydney and KPMG. The report, Scaling the Fintech Opportunity: For Sydney and Australia, finds that the number of Fintech start-ups in Australia has increased from less than 100 in 2014 to 579 companies today, with around 60% of all Fintech companies basing themselves in Sydney. It will be launched at a special event at 7pm this evening by NSW Minister for Trade and Industry, the Hon. Niall Blair. Fintech is by-and-large driven by local companies, with 512 Australian and […]
Ahmed Fahour joins BCG Digital Ventures to stay in identity game
Ahmed Fahour, who has joined BCG Digital Ventures as non-executive chairman for Asia, said the future of e-commerce will rely on trusted digital identity and his new role advising the global venture capitalist, part of Boston Consulting Group, will place him at the forefront of blockchain being rolled into some of the world’s largest companies. After leaving Australia Post as its CEO on Friday, Mr Fahour has re-emerged at BCG, where he worked for 13 years before embarking on a banking career; the new role would take up a couple of days a month, he said, as he “works on the organisation, not in it”. BCG Digital Ventures worked with […]
NSW urged to lift fintech efforts to protect jobs
The NSW government needs to lift efforts to ensure Sydney captures new financial services jobs in fintech as competition from the likes of Melbourne and Singapore to attract them intensifies, says a report prepared for the Committee for Sydney by KPMG, to be released on Tuesday. With fintech automation set to slice thousands of paper-pushing jobs in financial services incumbents over the coming years, a battle is in progress to attract the start-ups and technology giants redefining the future of banking. The Committee for Sydney report, titled Scaling the fintech opportunity for Sydney and Australia, urges government to get more active promoting Australia and Sydney as a leading global financial […]
IRESS launches XPLAN iAssist
IRESS has launched XPLAN iAssist to further strengthen support available to XPLAN users. XPLAN iAssist will allow users to grant an IRESS support team member temporary and secure access to their individual XPLAN session within a few seconds. Users needing the service will be able to securely-generate a unique token within XPLAN, which won’t require the exchange of any username and password details. IRESS product executive, Emily Chen, said iAssist allows IRESS to rapidly respond in real-time in a transparent, secure and efficient way, without the limitations and frustrations of screen-sharing software installations. “iAssist balances our desire to further improve user experience, help clients and users continue to increase business […]
Finder Awards 2017 open for entry
Now in its second year, the finder Awards are designed to celebrate the best innovations in Australia and recognise excellence, creativity and impact in a range of industries from finance to technology, retail and travel. There are seven categories open for submission, with Best Personal Finance App and Best Online Customer Service back by popular demand. These categories focus on innovations businesses have implemented in the last financial year. The finder Awards 2017 innovation categories are: Best Online Shopping Innovation Best Banking Innovation Best Travel Innovation Best Tech Innovation Best Personal Finance App Best Online Customer Service Most Innovative Team/Person To enter, please visit https://www.finder.com.au/finderawards. Entries close Friday 18 August, […]
Netwealth fronts fundies on path to listing
Investment services and superannuation advice company Netwealth has booked fund managers for meetings in Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Auckland this week, as it ramps up plans for an initial public offering. It’s understood Netwealth management will present to fundies starting on Monday, in meetings arranged by sponsor brokers Credit Suisse and UBS. The company is expected to pitch the high growth it has seen in its investment platform, with $14.3 billion in funds under advice and more than 2000 advisers on board. The non-deal roadshow comes as Netwealth’s shareholders push for an ASX-listing later this year. It’s understood to be eyeing about a $150 million to $200 million raising as part […]
Start-up bank says drop $50m capital requirement
The prudential regulator’s insistence that banks have at least $50 million in Tier 1 capital has erected a substantial barrier to entry for new players, says Xinja, the start-up backed by former Macquarie executives which is working with the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority’s newly established licensing unit to become a bank. The federal government said in the May budget it would lift a prohibition on the use of the word “bank” by an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADIs) with less than $50 million in capital. The next day, APRA announced its new licensing unit. Xinja’s ambition to use the new law and unit to build Australia’s first “neobank” were revealed in […]
