$2bn of broker commissions in fintech’s crosshairs
An Australian fintech has set its sights on disrupting the dominance of the mortgage broking industry by appealing to the banks who it claims are keen to reduce the $2 billion they spend on broker commissions. Adelaide-based online home loan platform Joust has distanced itself from its competitors in the fintech space, which has seen a flurry of mortgage disruptors in recent years. “Joust is not a comparison site with a myriad of static rates. It is also not an online broker or aggregator. We are a revolutionary marketplace model for home loan customers and lenders,” Joust co-founder and CEO Mark Bevan said. Joust is leveraging the negative press that […]
3rd Annual FinTech Awards – Last Week For Entries!
Entries for the 3rd Annual Australian FinTech Awards 2018 are open for one more week, closing on Monday 23rd July. Glen Frost, Founder of the FinTech Awards, called for Australian fintechs to submit their entries for the 2018 awards this week “to ensure Founders, teams and fintech businesses get the recognition they deserve!” “The entry process is easy – tell us in 400 words why you should win an award. Give us details on outcomes and success; tell us about your innovation and advocacy. Plus entry is free,” added Frost. “The FinTech Awards cover the whole eco-system, from Lenders to InsureTech, and recognize businesses as well as individuals, with Awards […]
Decentralised forms nation’s first crypto vault, says bitcoin not a bubble
Stephen Moss-led Decentralised Capital has formed a partnership to capitalise on growing interest in digital currencies and new-age vaults, reflecting his view that bitcoin is not a bubble waiting to burst. The blockchain assets and investments firm has teamed with safety deposit box group Custodian Vaults to set up what they claim is Australasia’s first insured cryptocurrency vault. Custodian Vaults is part of precious metals firm Pallion Group. “This is a solution for the next phase of the industry and it gives real security,” Mr Moss, the son of former Macquarie Group veteran Bill Moss, said in an interview. “You can’t hack your way into the safe.” “In my opinion […]
CashDeck releases API, integrates with Ezidox
CashDeck, one of the leading platform providers that helps borrowers quickly and securely provide their bank statements and at the same time, generate a detailed income and expense analysis based on the borrowers’ actual transactions, today announced they have opened up their platform capability with an API. As part of this move, CashDeck is aligning the platform with Ezidox, Lakeba’s well known software solution for document collection and management. The CashDeck app is currently used by more than 700 broking firms and boasts a high satisfaction rate with both brokers and their clients. It helps lenders, aggregators, brokers and software developers simplify the process of accurately analysing living expenses. Wayne […]
Stone & Chalk unites Melbourne and Sydney with launch of $255 million mega-hub
Asia’s largest fintech innovation hub, Stone & Chalk, is uniting fintech across the eastern seaboard with the launch of a new national capability across its new home at the Goods Shed North in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD innovation precinct, and its residency in the Sydney Startup Hub. With Melbourne and Sydney combined representing over 80 per cent of all fintech activity across Australia, the new east-coast “mega-hub” will give start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, and investors nationwide opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharing. Given this Melbourne/Sydney fintech concentration, and with Stone & Chalk already the largest hub in the region, the new mega-hub is set to become a national asset that could […]
Proactive approach to compliant marketing needed: YTML
Recent interventions by ASIC, like cracking down on the use of words such as ‘independent’, highlight the need for Australian Financial Services Licensees (licensees) to be more careful about the wording of their own marketing materials and be more proactive about monitoring and approving the material being used by their advisers, according to fintech, YTML. YTML CEO, Kevin Liao said while licensees may find it comparatively easy to become more proactive about addressing issues in their own marketing materials, many appear to believe it is much more difficult to check that the material being created and distributed on a day-to-day basis by their advisers is compliant. “In fact, technology now makes […]
Fintech provided with funding facility
A fintech lender has announced it will be able to fund up to $50million in loans after it was provided a funding facility by a major lender. Through a special purpose vehicle from NAB, GetCapital will now be able to fund more loans to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) across Australia. GetCapital specialises in the fast-growing non-bank SME lending space, offering a range of products that include flexible business loans, equipment finance and trade finance. The new landmark funding facility follows unprecedented growth for GetCapital, which recently exceeded $250m of total loans written. The company hopes this will help towards reaching its goal of $1billion in funded loans by […]
Bank of Queensland bans using home equity loans for crypto
Lenders are banning property buyers from using home equity to buy cryptocurrencies because of regulatory fears and increased risk from volatile trading conditions. Bank of Queensland is the latest to ban any drawdown or lines of credit from loans to be used for leveraged purchases, trading or other use of the largely unregulated global digital currency. Other lenders are discouraging borrowers and mortgage brokers, who act as intermediaries between lenders and borrowers, from using real estate to fund high-risk investments. Leveraged currency plays can magnify gains from a successful investment decision but worsen losses. Lenders are asking questions and monitoring borrowers’ accounts to alert them to crypto-trades, purchases, or offshore […]