Notes and coins seem anachronistic
Apart from the introduction of polymer banknotes back in the 1980s, Australian cash has remained largely the same since its creation. Now, rapid advances in technology are making the concept of crinkled pieces of plastic and metal coins seem anachronistic. The latest payment method to garner widespread public attention has been contactless payments. Customers can pay for purchases at the point of sale by simply tapping their credit or debit card on a compatible terminal. For lower-value transactions, even a PIN is not required. Contactless payment systems typically make use of near-field communication (NFC) technology that allows transactions to take place when the card or phone is within a few […]
Open banking – Australia, behind the eight ball, report says
A report by Capgemini and Efma, entitled World Retail Banking Report 2017 (WRBR 2017), states that as the Open Banking revolution continues to unfold, banks risk disintermediation. The report offers two suggestions for how banks can avoid disintermediation: Firstly, banks must carefully choose their customer interaction business model, and secondly, they must use application programming interfaces (APIs). The report also states that banks, in collaboration with FinTechs, can lead the Open Banking movement by offering their customer bases innovative and personalised services that create new revenue streams and provide more value to customers. “FinTechs are now earning higher positive customer experience scores than traditional banks, and banks are openly seeking […]
The finalists for the 2nd Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2017
The 2nd Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2017 celebrate the achievements of the dynamic people and businesses comprising the FinTech sector. These Awards seek to recognise success in the FinTech sector in its many forms. This event will be an evening of celebrating the best innovation, created by the best innovators and entrepreneurs that live and work in Australia. Here are the finalists for the 2nd Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2017 to be held Thursday 22 June in Sydney: FinTech Innovation in payments Tyro Payments ZipMoney Afterpay FinTech Innovation in Wealth Management (Robo-Advice) Acorns Grow Australia Six Park Pocketbook FinTech Innovation in Lending SocietyOne MoneyMe Financial Group Tyro Payments […]
Big banks and fintech start-ups face up to Jack Ma’s mobile payments juggernaut Ant Financial
As Australia’s retailers steel themselves for the arrival of US online shopping giant Amazon, our banks are also set for a big disruption. They’re already staring down competition from small, home-grown digital financial start-ups, but there’s a much bigger threat on the horizon. Ant Financial is the financial services arm of the Chinese internet shopping giant Alibaba and boasts 450 million daily users worldwide. While Ant Financial says it wants to work with our banks, not against them, some are warning disruption from a global digital giant is inevitable, even if it doesn’t come from China. To find out more and hear the audio, please click on the link […]
Samsung Pay adds 38 more banks and credit unions in Australia
Almost two million more Australians will be able to use their smartphone as a credit card today in a move Samsung promised would take the country “a step closer” to ditching traditional wallets entirely. The smartphone giant will add 38 financial institutions to its Samsung Pay app, allowing customers from Credit Union Australia, Australian Unity and more to pay by tapping their smartphone or smartwatch at the cash register. Samsung Pay, which launched one year ago, is still trailing its Apple and Google rivals, but all three now offer payments from more than 40 institutions. Samsung Australia mobile division vice-president Richard Fink said the latest deal, secured with payment solutions […]
Tyro sticks to strategy as CEO Gerd Schenkel exits
It was back to business at Tyro Payments yesterday after the fintech elder severed links with chief executive Gerd Schenkel, who was hired amid great fanfare only eight months with a mission to transform Tyro into an SME bank. Tyro’s decision to target the poorly serviced SME sector was prompted by non-executive director and Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. Cannon-Brookes scolded his fellow board members for lacking ambition and being happy to live off the fat from unlisted Tyro’s payments platform, which generates $8 million-plus in earnings from servicing the EFTPOS requirements of its 18,000 small business customers. Instead of telling him to go jump, the board agreed. Tyro secured a […]
Success of innovation in Australia’s Financial Services lies in collaboration, not competition
Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced the findings of a report published by The Australian Digital Transformation Lab, a joint venture between the University of Sydney Business School and Capgemini. The report finds that while Financial Technology (Fintech) firms are seeking to disrupt the larger players, moving forward, the opportunity in financial services is based on collaboration rather than competition. The emerging Fintech industry and Australia’s traditional banking sector are being urged to work together in order to innovate in ways that allow them to survive the looming threat posed by so called ‘Big Tech’ companies such as Apple and Amazon. It is therefore […]
Fintech a vertical integration disruptor – ASIC
Vertical integration, particularly with respect to the major banks, is likely to be eroded by financial service technology, according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) chairman, Greg Medcraft. Giving evidence before Senate Estimates, Medcraft said he believed the banks were starting to realise that owning something and cross-selling was probably not a viable strategy anymore. Asked by Tasmanian Green Senator, Peter Whish-Wilson whether vertical integration was being addressed in line with the recommendations of the Murray Review, Medcraft said he believed progress was being made. Whish-Wilson also asked whether the financial services technology changes had been a factor in ANZ’s decision to exit some of its wealth management business. […]
