Acurity Online to launch actionable advice solution for superannuation funds
IRESS has accelerated online superannuation portal Acurity Online to draw on IRESS’ advice technology to demonstrate the direction of integration for Acurity and XPLAN, and enhance member engagement. The announcement follows IRESS’ acquisition of Financial Synergy last month. The solutions draw on XPLAN’s multi-channel advice technology. Acurity Online is an online superannuation portal for members, employers, advisers and administrators. It is an API- enabled digital portal that leverages the Acurity superannuation and wealth management registry, which administers approximately four million superannuation accounts and $250 billion in member funds. The solutions were previewed to representatives of superannuation funds and third-party administrators at the Acurity Client Conference in Melbourne yesterday. IRESS’ Managing […]
Fintechs must jump many hurdles on the road to disruption
Bendigo & Adelaide Bank was one of the first Australian banks to invest in fintech start-ups. In 2012, Bendigo announced a $1.5 million investment for a 15 per cent stake in Adelaide-based NoQ, a joint venture with former Adelaide Crows AFL player Brad Moran. These days “NoQ” (no queue) provides independent supermarket and liquor retailers with e-commerce solutions. Bendigo managing director and CEO Mike Hirst has said there are excess profit pools among the diverse product range of the Aussie banks that could be targeted by single product-focused fintechs such as NoQ. Some big investors say the inexorable forces are clear. Successful fintech innovators are cutting costs and improving service. […]
Fintech Cover Genius expands to the US
Australian fintech Cover Genius, which enables ecommerce companies to sell insurance to their audiences, is expanding to the US with an office in Austin, Texas. Cover Genius, formed by former Google and Yahoo executives in 2014, already has offices in Sydney and London. “Being near the insurance hub of Dallas brings us closer to multiple underwriting partners, and our location in Austin puts us in the new epicentre of the tech industry in the US,” says Chris Bayley, Cover Genius co-founder and CEO. Cover Genius works with global underwriters to provide an end-to-end solution, using its BrightWrite platform, for companies selling insurance products via online platforms. The move to the […]
Blockchain adoption in banks coming, but slower than expected
Recent headlines suggest that blockchain technology is revolutionizing financial services. JP Morgan Chase, Barclays, Commonwealth Bank, Wells Fargo and several other leading banks are using the digital ledger technology to conduct equity swaps, cross-border trades, and other transactions. You might think that blockchain has gone mainstream. Not so fast, says former UBS CIO Oliver Bussmann, who claims it may take banks two years to run blockchain in production due to regulatory hurdles, a lack of standards and other stumbling blocks. “This is real, this will come but in a very regulated environment. We will go through a lot of validation,” says Bussmann, who jumpstarted blockchain efforts when he was leading […]
DigitalX Ltd files unique blockchain patent for its money transfer app
DigitalX Ltd (ASX:DCC) has filed its second global provisional patent application, further strengthening the company’s ‘AirPocket’ blockchain-based money transfer app. AirPocket can also be used to pay bills and top-up phones. The new patent describes a method for creating and storing a digital ID on a blockchain, and providing the owner of the ID a way to grant access to historical data from a point in time. In AirPocket, this method is known as an “AirID”. An AirID is created for each user that is digitally on-boarded via AirPocket once successfully passing Know Your Customer, Sanctions and Politically Exposed Person checks. These three processes are necessary to make international payments […]
Blockchain needs explanation before application
The future of blockchain lies beyond the financial sector but the full potential of distributed-ledger technology is unlikely to be unleashed until organisations understand that it’s not a silver bullet to every problem, experts have warned. Data 61 senior research consultant Rob Hanson says that amid the “Cambrian explosion of innovation” in distributed technology there’s a need to avoid mythmaking around blockchain. “The complexity of blockchain technology needs to be translated effectively,” Mr Hanson told The Australian. “It’s no silver bullet and we don’t have great definitions in place just yet.” The sentiment is shared by Nick Giurietto, CEO and managing director of the Australian Digital Currency & Commerce Association, […]
How this fintech startup is improving content marketing and lead generation
Financial marketplace startup, Neu.Capital, claims cost per acquisition has dropped by 60 per cent and content marketing quality has gone up after implementing an inbound marketing and sales platform. The company was formed in 2015, and provides an alternative capital marketplace for established mid-sized Australian and New Zealand companies looking to raise debt or equity of up to $100 million. The matchmaking service officially launched in August with six deals live in the platform, two to launch in coming weeks, then several more in January 2017. It also plans to launch in the UK in Q1 next year. Neu.Capital co-founder, Joshua Khoddami, told CMO lead generation activity had been going […]
Citi Unveils Global Digital Wallet: Citi Pay
Citibank announced the launch of Citi Pay, a new digital wallet that will provide Citi customers with a simple and fast option for online, in-app and in-store payment needs. Barry Rodrigues, Head of Global Digital Payments at Citi, said the company is uniquely positioned to accelerate payment innovation on a global scale. Citi Pay will be made available to Citi customers for online and in-app purchases. As a digital extension of their current card relationship, Citi customers will be able to make online and in-app purchases using the same Citibank online user ID and password that they currently use to manage their existing online relationship with Citi. The company is […]
