KPMG buys fintech company Markets IT
Professional services giant KPMG has acquired fin-tech company Markets IT for an undisclosed sum, in an effort to expand its “big data” capability and help banking clients grapple with a barrage of regulatory change. It comes as global regulators step up their efforts in relation to trader surveillance. KPMG chief executive Gary Wingrove referred to the merger as a “timely and strategic” acquisition. It is the firm’s eleventh bolt-on acquisition in two years, as Big Four accountancy firms attempt to diversify their consulting services to align with the big gnarly problems facing the C-suite. Markets IT bills itself as the dominant supplier of Murex software in Australia- a trading platform […]
Blockchain and how it will change everything
In May, British billionaire Richard Branson invited a select posse of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and technology advisers to his Caribbean residence for an exclusive pow wow on an issue occupying some of the top markets minds in the world. The topic for discussion on the picturesque Necker Island was the “blockchain”. “Every now and then, something comes along that might just change everything. And this is one of those moments,” ASX chief executive Elmer Funke Kupper. In case you’re one of the many yet to wrap your head around the promising technology, blockchain, on a simple level, uses computer code to engender trust in digital-economy transactions. One of the attendees […]
ANZ Bank boss Shayne Elliott tells Melbourne Fintech Meetup he’s ready to invest
New ANZ Bank boss Shayne Elliott is recruiting for a head of digital banking, who will be told to partner with start-up technology companies that can teach the 180 year old bank how to improve its customer service. The bank is set to acquire and invest in emerging companies with technology that is disrupting the financial services sector, but more critically Mr Elliott wants to forge partnerships to improve ANZ’s in-house capabilities. “Investing in start-ups is not hard for banks, we have lots of money to write cheques, the difficult thing is figuring out how we can internalise that intellectual capital,” he said. “We are currently recruiting for a newly […]
MINT PAYMENTS PRESS RELEASE
MINT PAYMENTS SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH AWARD WINNING TRAVEL AGENCY SOFTWARE SOLUTION PROVIDER PROCESSING $4 BILLION IN TRAVEL SPEND Sydney, 1 February 2016: Payments processing technology provider, Mint Payments (ASX: MNW) (Mint or the Company) has partnered with multi award winning travel agency software solution provider Tramada Systems (Tramada), signing a three year licence and distribution agreement to deliver its fully integrated online payments processing service “Minternet”. Through the use of Minternet’s Application Programming Interface (API) software, Tramada has developed an integrated credit card module (tramada® Payment Gateway) that will be offered to all of its customers as a core product offering within Tramada’s suite of travel agency software solutions. Mint […]
NAB’s Visa digital wallet helps block Apple
NAB’s first digital wallet out on Monday is backed by Visa, making it the first Australian bank to use a new mobile security system that fights Apple’s bid for a share of the $2.5 billion in fees for credit card transactions. NAB’s new digital wallet, NAB Pay, will allow customers to use an Android smartphone or other mobile device to make payments via the NAB mobile app with a virtual Visa card. It will later allow credit cards to be used as well. Most of the banks, including Commonwealth, Westpac and numerous regional banks and mutual lenders, already offer similar wallets, but NAB’s is the first to use Visa’s new […]
Fintech funds are drying up, but some local players welcome the drought
Aris Allegos, the founder of online small business lender Moula, was an entrepreneur in the dotcom era and an investment banker during the global financial crisis, so he has seen first hand the havoc a speculative frenzy can create. But as the torrent of capital from US funds backing start-ups in the burgeoning fintech industry slows, instead of panicking, this time around Allegos and his rivals are more relaxed. Although less capital will mean not all start-ups will survive, a more rational approach by investors will ensure money isn’t wasted, local fintech players say. “Before the [dotcom bust] an IPO document would say ‘This business gets X number of eyeballs’ […]
‘EY Fintech Adoption Index’ – out today
Ernst & Young have now released their ‘EY Fintech Adoption Index’ which outlines how quickly the market is taking up FinTech products. While we are a market leader in the adoption of credit card contactless payment technologies we are slow to take up FinTech products. As our market matures this is sure to change. Exploring a new financial services landscape Driven by innovative startups and major technology players, the booming FinTech industry is capturing traditional market share by offering customers easy-to-use and compelling products and services. We surveyed more than 10,000 digitally active people in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States to better understand […]
Rise in data theft opens door for fintech
The ability to protect sensitive client information will be an integral driver for fintech companies, argues Midwinter managing director Julian Plummer. In a statement, the head of the financial planning software provider said companies that can secure high volumes of confidential data will become particularly important to the financial services industry in the coming years. “Ensuring the safety of all sensitive client data for our advisory clients has become a top priority for Midwinter, and we have taken extreme actions to ensure that information is managed and stored securely, so as to continue Midwinter’s clean slate of zero security breaches.” Zirilio executive managing director Tom Dole said he has seen […]
