Blog

May
02

Neo-lender Wisr’s loan origination growth

Neo-lender Wisr Limited (ASX: WZR) is pleased to report on its strengthening personal loan lending portfolio and credit quality position, as at 31 March 2018. The Company’s origination of personal loans grew by 42% in FY18 Q3 when compared with the previous quarter. This was the Company’s largest quarter in loan originations since Wisr, formerly known as DirectMoney, began in 2014. This continues the Company’s significant loan origination growth in FY 18, with loan originations growing quarter-on-quarter by 20% (FY18 Q1) and 79% (FY18 Q2). In the period since Wisr announced a significant restructure in 2016 – which included a new Chairman, new CEO, key executives and business direction – […]

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May
02

Suncorp launches Apple Pay for Visa debit cards

Suncorp customers now have the choice of Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay to tap and go. If you have a Suncorp debit card, you can now use your Apple device to tap and pay at the checkout thanks to a new partnership with Apple Pay. Once you’ve linked your card, you can hold your iPhone or smartwatch against the contactless card reader at the checkout and use your biometric Touch ID (your fingerprint) or PIN to authorise a transaction. Each transaction is also authorised with a one-time unique dynamic security code. Apple Pay is built into your Apple Wallet on your device, so you just need to add […]

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May
02

ANZ sees dramatic uptake in digital wallet payments

Almost $600m in six-month period. ANZ Bank customers made almost $600 million in mobile payments during the first half of fiscal year 2018. The bank said today that customers completed more than 18.5 million mobile payment transactions in the half, an increase of 156 percent on the previous corresponding period. ANZ said the transactions were made from mobile wallet services from Apple, Samsung, Google, Fitbit and Garmin, as well as the bank’s own mobile pay service. CEO Shayne Elliott credited the bank’s investment in mobile services as well as the 2016 establishment of its digital bank division – overseen by former Google executive Maile Carnegie. Elliott said ANZ’s mobile app […]

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May
02

ASIC announces action on misleading or deceptive conduct in ICOs

ASIC has already taken action against suspicious ICOs. ASIC chairman John Price recently warned that Australian consumer law would apply to ICOs, even if they were extended from overseas. On 1 May ASIC announced that this would start taking the form of a crackdown on deceptive or misleading conduct by ICOs, which is prohibited under the Australian Consumer Law and the ASIC Act. It’s started issuing inquiries to ICO issuers and their advisers where it has identified conduct or statements that may be misleading or deceptive. “This is in addition to our inquiries where we identify potentially unlicensed conduct” is said. The inquiries have already seen some token issuers stop […]

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May
01

Are you a FinTech Mover & Shaker?

Late last year, Australian FinTech launched Australia FinTech Jobs – the only dedicated employment platform for the growing FinTech industry in Australia. Since then over 200 roles have been posted on Australia FinTech Jobs by more than 75 FinTech companies and recruitment firms. Each month these jobs are viewed by over 10,000 unique users with more than 1,000 candidates registered on the site so far. As part of our expansion plans for Australian FinTech Jobs, we’ve launched a new ‘Fintech Movers & Shakers’ feature where we’ll be sharing all the hirings, promotions and appointments on social media. But we need your help! So if you’re a FinTech Mover & Shaker […]

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May
01

SelfWealth growing in the face of finance industry’s woes

The banking royal commission is currently underway and it’s fair to say that the stories emerging are nothing short of shocking. There’s endless tales of woeful and deceitful financial advice — so bad in fact that that it has even led to families losing their homes. It’s also come to light that for years financial planning groups have been unlawfully deducting service fees from customer accounts, even falsifying documents. The disturbing findings coming out of the banking royal commission should encourage many Australian investors to take more control over their investments and financial wellbeing. Amidst this turmoil has emerged an innovative solution for people wanting to take control of their […]

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May
01

ASIC, AUSTRAC and banks urged to engage with regtech start-ups amid controversy

A batch of start-ups will engage with banks and regulators about creating a “compliance-by-design” culture in financial services later this week at an inaugural RegTech Association event and are hoping conversation will soon turn to action. The expected release on Tuesday morning by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority of a report into governance problems at Commonwealth Bank, and the interim profit results this week of the other major banks which are under pressure for failing to verify whether customers can repay loans, will illustrate the value of the nascent regtech sector. But while the big banks love to talk about innovation, they find it very difficult to achieve in practice. […]

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Checkbox blazes award winning regtech trail

Evan Wong, 24, is one of a new breed of technology entrepreneurs who are seizing upon opportunities in the emerging “RegTech” sector. Mr Wong is the CEO and, together with colleagues Paul Wenck and James Han, is a co-founder of fintech startup Checkbox which is based at the Tank Stream Labs accelerator at the new Sydney Startup Hub. Checkbox has developed a technology platform that uses artificial intelligence and a ‘drag and drop’ interface allowing regulatory experts – like lawyers, accountants and analysts – to easily translate regulation into software without needing to write code. The ‘platform-as-a-service’ cloud solution also offers auditing, reporting and analytics features. In one case study, […]

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