Open banking rules fuel financial planning shake-up
The financial planning industry is poised for a shake-up as the government’s plan to make it easier for customers to access banking data drives new technology that will allow advisers to respond in real-time to the changing financial circumstances of their clients. Open banking will also change the financial advice industry by allowing advisers to tailor their offering to individuals. Grow Super, part owned by IOOF, and Basiq, part owned by Westpac Banking Corp and National Australia Bank, have worked together to build the software that provides alerts to advisers about when to call their clients. The product will be white-labelled for advisory groups to enhance the quality of customer […]
Non-banks are the future of banking
The future of banking is in the hands of non-banks, says specialist lender Liberty. Non-banks, by nature, are “active, nimble, innovative and relevant”, allowing them to lead the competition, rather than be threatened by big banks. Non-banks provide a variety of solutions such as home loans, car loans, personal loans and business loans, as well as custom lending for those that need it. But as the financial world welcomes more and more technology, and increased regulation drives up costs, it leaves many to wonder how non-banks will respond to these changes. Asked about how non-banks will adapt to the future, group sales manager at Liberty, John Mohnacheff, laughed: “How are […]
Fintech Startup Trade Ledger expands UK operation. Appoints New CFO
Fintech startup Trade Ledger — which describes itself as the world’s first corporate open banking lending platform — has announced the opening of its European operation, headquartered in London, along with additional hires. Lisa Callaghan will move from the role of accountant to Chief Financial Officer at Trade Ledger’s Sydney office, after representing technology start-ups from inception through to early fundraising as a partner at Interactive Accounting. The UK operations will be headed up by a new Chief Innovation Officer with the company tapping some talent from Equifax UK. The expansion is designed to boost Trade Ledger’s international traction and product market fit, and should allow it to take advantage […]
Milliman and Ignition Wealth announce synergistic collaboration
Milliman Australia Practice Leader Wade Matterson and Ignition Wealth CEO Manish Prasad today announced a global collaboration between their two firms to combine Ignition Wealth’s integrated bank grade white label digital engagement and advice solutions with Milliman’s analytics, data and consulting prowess. Wade Matterson, Practice Leader, Milliman Australia and Manish Prasad, CEO, Ignition Wealth said, “We are delighted to announce a symbiotic new collaboration between Milliman and Ignition Wealth. Our businesses share a commitment to enrich the advice experience and enable better financial outcomes for every consumer.” The relationship has grown naturally from multiple synergies including an emphatic consumer-centric focus, growing global footprints and equally matched best in class status […]
Digital cash not on RBA agenda
The Reserve Bank has poured cold water on the idea of a digital Australian dollar, with head of payments policy Tony Richards declaring the demand isn’t there. A group of Australian fintech start-ups through industry body FinTech Australia last year wrote a letter to the RBA calling for a new digital currency, known as the ‘DAD’ or Digital Australian Dollar. “A centrally issued Digital Australian Dollar, backed by fiat [physical] currency, would enable payments to be made between participants in real time and 24/7 along the supply chain,” AgriDigital co-founder Emma Weston said last year. Meanwhile Othera CEO John Pellew said in the letter a ‘DAD’ would help his company […]
This Aussie fintech is now helping give banking services to rural communities in Syria
Novatti Group Limited, an online financial transactions processor and financial technology developer, announces it has entered into a supply agreement with Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi (BBSF). Novatti has entered into the supply agreement with BBSF to supply its agency banking services and mobile payments platform. BBSF is a leading and trusted bank among Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) that has been operating in accordance with global banking standards providing retail-banking services for 14 years. Under the NGO umbrella, a key program of the bank is to enable distribution of financial aid to rural consumers within Syria, most of who are not catered for in the current banking space. The platform being supplied […]
Comprehensive credit reporting laws will drive innovation and protect banks
In the blue corner, lining up to support the bill to ensure customer repayment history is provided in credit reports, are: the government, all of the banks, the entire fintech industry, the credit bureaus, the regulators (especially the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority), and many equivalent western economies such as the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. In the red corner, lining up against it, are consumer groups and the Labor party. At the last election, Labor also supported “comprehensive credit reporting” like nearly everyone else, but this month decided to back a 12-month delay to the reporting of “repayment history information”, which sits at the core of the regime. Positions […]
NAB’s UBank to ‘use technology as a weapon’
National Australia Bank says its digital bank UBank will take advantage of the government’s ‘open banking’ reforms by developing new ‘platforms’ that will connect users to a broad range of financial services – not necessarily NAB’s – which could open up new revenue streams. NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn described the open data reforms as “potentially a transformational-type change” and said in an interview NAB is planning to “use technology as a weapon, not just a tool of commerce”. NAB created UBank a decade ago; its customer base has grown to 400,000, half are Millennials, and only a small minority are existing NAB customers. NAB is lifting investment in UBank […]
