Micro-investing app Acorns launches ‘Little Acorns’ feature
Acorns users can use the new feature to start saving and investing for their children. Popular micro-investing app Acorns has announced the launch of its Little Acorns feature, allowing users to start saving and investing for children under the age of 18. The new feature is a solution for Acorns users who want to start a savings fund for their child or grandchild, but don’t want to create a separate account to do this. Acorns has become increasingly popular since launching in 2016, particularly among Australian millennials who have embraced the app’s iconic round-up feature. The app allows you to round up your everyday purchases with the spare change invested […]
Finch raises $2.25m for Gen Y finance app after ‘proving it can rival’ Silicon Valley fintechs
CommBank, Westpac, NAB to launch new mobile payment app Beem
Three giants of the Australian banking sector are collaborating to create a new mobile payments platform for consumers and businesses. The application is called Beem and will allow users to store their debit card information and make instant contactless payments using the same technology as applications like Apple Pay and Android Pay. Beem will also allow users to request payments and split bills, making it useful for both personal use and for businesses. Although being created by Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB, the app will be open for use by all Australians regardless of which bank they use. Like regular online transfers, Beem will include built-in encryption of payment details […]
Bitcoin is sliding after bitcoin gold goes live
Bitcoin is trading down 4.5% Wednesday following a split in the cryptocurrency’s blockchain network. Bitcoin gold, the new digital coin formed by the split Tuesday morning, follows the bitcoin-bitcoin cash fork in August. The project website for bitcoin gold is down following a DDoS attack, according to cryptocurrency watcher CoinDesk. The bitcoin community is split over whether forks are good or bad for bitcoin. Bitcoin, the red-hot digital currency up more than 400% this year, was trading down 4.42% Wednesday morning after the blockchain network underpinning the coin split again. As reported by cryptocurrency watcher CoinDesk, bitcoin gold officially split from the bitcoin network Wednesday morning. The new cryptocurrency is a clone of the original bitcoin blockchain, […]
Picking your peer-to-peer platform provider to invest
Disruption is not just happening to retail, hospitality and taxis. It’s also happening in financial services, especially banks, where borrowers and lenders are finding ways to engage, cutting traditional players out of the picture. At best, in this scenario, both investors and borrowers can end up winning, with better lending rates and higher returns. This sector is worth investigating for investors comfortable with debt, but be prepared to do your homework. The sector is expanding rapidly with a range of new businesses, offering differing features. But for most investors the field can be split into peer-to-peer lenders and corporate bonds. The lenders Funds are available for personal commitments such as […]
Finch founders urge banks to invest in start-ups, not ‘innovation theatre’
Indonesian Australian Business Week review – FinTech opportunities over our back fence
by Joe McGuire, Global Head of Sales for Airwallex We wade through the Jakarta traffic amongst the sour looks and disdain from our fellow commuters. Disdain because we have a police escort. Out front, a police motorbike beeps and harangues cars to the left lane. “Make way for the delegates” he shouts in bahasa as he beeps and swerves at others trying to negotiate the famous Jakarta sprawl. I’m here for the Indonesian Australian Business Week (IABW). An Austrade event designed to forge connections between Aussie businesses and our closest neighbour. With nearly 260 million people and a forecast of nearly 6% GDP growth this year, Indonesia is […]
Fintech disruptors hurting established players
As trends go, financial technology is a beauty. The prospect of nimble “fintech” ventures disrupting financial-service incumbents has whet investor appetites. An Australian fintech sector is rapidly emerging. Fintech has been a boom sector in the United States and United Kingdom as technology-based companies, with their capital-light business models, nibble at the market share of large firms. It happened in print media, publishing, music and education. Now the same trend, where new firms offer financial products and services using online platforms, is disrupting parts of banking, wealth management, insurance, payments, accounting and foreign exchange. There is, of course, much hype about fintech. But the financial-services sector looks a prime target […]
