Home loan wrecker Athena proves demand for a new lending alternative
Homeowners don’t realise how much they’re being ripped off with rates. A new alternative has launched today on a mission to save Australians a lot of money by helping them pay off their home loan faster. A game-changing shake-up of the mortgage market has arrived with the launch of Athena – a home loan company on a mission to help Australians pay off their home loan faster. Launching with a highly competitive variable rate from 3.49% p.a for owner occupier principal and interest loans, and one of the best in market rates for investors starting at 3.89% p.a, Athena offers a genuine alternative to homeowners looking for change with their […]
OpenSparkz completes second capital raising, attracts local and Asian investors
OpenSparkz, an Australian fintech which has developed a global platform that removes the need for loyalty cards, offer codes and coupons, today said its second capital raising has closed oversubscribed. The latest seed raising of AUD$1.5 million attracted new regional and local investors alongside further commitments from the founders and original backers. New investors include Louise Daley, the Singapore-based Deputy Chief Executive of Accor Hotels Asia Pacific. Ms Daley will join the OpenSparkz board, which currently includes Andrew Lo, the founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based EFT Payments. “I am excited to be taking up an investment opportunity in such a dynamic player. This is a rapidly evolving industry and […]
Square launches payments SDK, enabling developers to process payments with Square in their mobile apps
Today Square announced the launch of the Square In-App Payments Software Development Kit (SDK), enabling developers and businesses to process payments with Square within their consumer-facing mobile apps for the first time. With just a few lines of code, developers can easily and professionally build a fully secure and elegant Square-powered payments flow in their Android or iOS apps. With this SDK, developers leave the complexity of payments to Square and focus instead on providing a more enjoyable customer experience. The In-App Payments SDK provides a customisable payments flow that works with the most popular payment types. The SDK includes a beautifully designed, interactive user experience that guides buyers as […]
Peppermint to offer micro-enterprise program for Bizmoto agent network
Peppermint Innovation Ltd (ASX: PIL) announced it is launching a micro-enterprise program that will significantly benefit its growing Bizmoto agent network. Under a pilot program to be rolled out across the Philippines, Peppermint will facilitate and offer Bizmoto agents a finance and insurance package that helps them to buy a suitable motorcycle to be supplied by TVS Global Automobile Traders FZCO (“TVS”) via a locally registered wholesale dealer in the Philippines. Agents will be able to use their motorcycle to visit more customers in a timely manner, thereby increasing the number of transactions they are able to facilitate using Bizmoto’s technology platform, powered by Peppermint. The range of services available […]
Woolworths Rewards available through Google Pay
Shoppers at Woolworths can now earn reward points by using Google Pay. The retail giant’s launch of Google Pay marks the first of the Australian supermarkets to implement the mobile payment service in-store while providing its 11 million Rewards members with a more convenient way to earn and redeem loyalty points. In justifying Woolworths’ decision to offer Google Pay in-store, Ingrid Maes, the Director of Woolworths Loyalty program posts, “We’re seeing digital wallets grow in popularity because they offer quick, seamless and hassle-free payments for customers”. RFi Group data reinforces Maes’ assertion finding, 39% of consumers who are aware of mobile payment services have used a mobile payment service to […]
Xinja selects SAP to power its digital bank
SAP SE today announced that Xinja has selected SAP Cloud for Banking to power its planned ‘neobank’ – an independent digital bank designed entirely for mobile. Aiming to revolutionise customers’ banking experience, Xinja is partnering with SAP to implement its SAP Cloud for Banking platform to drive a simple, agile solution that delivers rapid customer onboarding and real time risk and financial assessment, as well as enabling open banking capabilities. This SAP core banking solution will underpin Xinja’s journey to become licensed as one of Australia’s first independent start-up neobanks. Seeking to make banking quick, easy, helpful and even fun – allowing customers to make more out of their money […]
Keeping up with the customer in the digital age
Demanding customers, increasing regulation and clunky IT systems are proving serious speed bumps for Australian companies who want to grow in the digital age. Lending is facing a particularly sensitive atmosphere because of the banking royal commission, with many disruptors investing heavily in “regtech” – technology that simplifies compliance. These were some of the views aired by participants at a recent business roundtable event hosted by Fairfax Media and KPMG Enterprise which discussed Australia’s digital transformation. Anthony Baum, the CEO of Tic:Toc, which provides home loans that can be fully approved within 22 minutes, says technology is “way better” than traditional manual loan approval methods. “40 per cent of people […]
Woolworths and Coles embracing digital wallets
Grocery retailers Woolworths and Coles are moving quickly to embrace digital payments as shoppers increasingly shop with their mobile phones and leave their wallets at home. After reaching agreement with Apple last September to store Woolworths Rewards loyalty card details on Apple’s digital wallet app, Woolworths has now extended the service to Google Pay. Android users can earn Woolworths Rewards points in Woolworths supermarkets and BWS liquor stores by tapping their smartphones. Woolworths said the move, a first in Australian supermarkets, would give more of its 11 million loyalty scheme members a simple and secure way to earn and redeem loyalty points in-store. Once rewards details are loaded, customers can […]
