Banks trial blockchain solution to speed up guarantee process
ANZ and Westpac have teamed up with IBM and Westfield shopping centre owner Scentre Group to bring the bank guarantee process up to speed using blockchain technology. The trial, powered by IBM’s Hyperledger Fabric platform, replaces the paper-based bank guarantee process used for commercial property leasing with a digital ledger that becomes the central source of information for all parties. Distributed ledger technology underpins blockchain, with ANZ’s general manager of digital banking, Nigel Dobson, saying the trial showcases how the technology can be used to develop business solutions. “Whether it’s crypto currencies or other public applications of blockchain, so far they have not been business grade,” Mr Dobson said. “This […]
Tom Culver of Goodments wins inaugural EY WAMTech PitchFest
Tom Culver, CEO and Co-Founder of Goodments, has been named as winner of the inaugural EY WAMTech PitchFest for his innovative FinTech solution in response to the problem statement of how to simplify the process for financial advice within the wealth and asset management (WAM) industry. Culver took out the top award among stiff competition from the group of five short-listed finalists at a special event held in Sydney last night. Supported by the Financial Services Council (FSC), the PitchFest called on FinTechs to help revolutionise the Australian WAM industry by designing innovative technology-based solutions to some of its biggest challenges, as identified via a survey of senior executives […]
AEVI and Moroku partner to mobilize small merchants
AEVI and Moroku today announced a partnership to distribute Moroku’s all-in-one small merchant POS software Marrakash on AEVI’s Global Marketplace; a B2B app store for smart Point of Sale (SmartPOS) devices. Marrakash is designed with the next generation of banks in mind, delivering a single solution for small merchants that seamlessly integrates their business, products, customers and payment systems into one easy-to-use platform. The partnership will leverage AEVI’s open solutions, payments and global support infrastructure to target multiple vertical markets including the hospitality, food and drink, health and wellness, retail and financial service industries. Based in Sydney, Australia, Moroku is a pioneering Fintech firm that provides the finance industry with […]
How a spreadsheet born in a Sydney living room became a fintech with 300,000 users
It was only in 2012 that Pocketbook founders Bosco Tan and Alvin Singh had enough of not knowing where their money was going, and decided they could only fix the problem themselves. “Pocketbook started out as a spreadsheet,” Singh told Business Insider. “I was trying to make my money go further — and not knowing where I actually stood financially in terms of money coming in and money going out meant that that was extremely difficult even to start out.” Singh said that he had a main bank, an everyday credit card and an occasional credit card for online purchases, which made it that much harder to form a high […]
OnDeck launches ‘Turn That No Around’ campaign
Small business loan specialist OnDeck Australia has kicked off a campaign, #turnthatNOaround, targeted at small business owners who are looking to seize growth opportunities, but are unable to do so due to lack of funding from traditional sources. The campaign, which is already running on radio, is scheduled to run across outdoor, social (LinkedIn and Facebook) and digital media to encapsulate an integrated multi-channel outreach. With the #turnthatNOaround campaign, OnDeck aims to reach small business owners who have experienced a “no” from their banks, giving them an opportunity to secure a loan that is much faster than the banks – it takes just one business day. “Small business owners, which […]
Never be caught short after this brainwave
Making a payment is now as easy as tapping your sunglasses thanks to a plucky Australian start-up, Sydney-based Inamo, which is starting to take the world by storm, appearing at South by Southwest in Texas and now embarking on a $6 million Series A funding round. The start-up is the brainchild of Peter Colbert, a former agent for international surfing stars and still a keen surfer. He told The Australian the idea for the sunnies came after a regular surf in Manly with mates. It was his turn to buy coffees, but he had forgotten his wallet. “It was one of those light bulb moments where I wondered what if […]
Tap and Go Technology Reigns in Australia
The latest Mastercard Digital Purchasing Survey reveals that Australian consumers are continuously embracing digital payment technology, with more than four in five (82 percent) Australians using tap and go to make payments every week. In fact, over one third (33 percent) of Australians have been annoyed when a store didn’t offer tap and go, and one in ten have even gone as far as avoiding a store that they knew didn’t offer it. Australians are most frequently using contactless cards at supermarkets (54 percent), general retail stores (22 percent) and petrol stations (11 percent). Garry Duursma, Head of Market Development and Payment Innovation for Mastercard Australia and New […]
Open data key to Aussie fintech lenders success
A reluctance by banks and government agencies to share data with alternative lenders is driving up the cost of borrowing in Australia, a global fintech leader told the AltFi Australasia conference in Sydney today. Rob Young, Senior Vice President, International at OnDeck Capital Inc, said that a lack of open data is a major issue for alternative lenders in the fintech space. “If we want fintech to flourish we need to create the right environment. This means fast and easy sharing of data – with customers’ permission – so lenders can make informed decisions. Customers get a better deal when their lender has more certainty about their credit profile,” he […]
