Tagged: digital banks

May 5, 2020 @ 8:28 am By JD Alois  |  

While more traditional financial services firms are regularly spoofed two emerging Hong Kong virtual banks have recently been targeted by scammers. Both ZA Bank and Airstar Bank have seen bogus sites posted online in an attempt to fleece unsuspecting consumers. This past weekend, Airstar posted… Read More

May 1, 2020 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bengaluru-based Digital Bank RazorPay reports that there has been a significant increase in the number of digital payments, following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. RazorPay notes in its recent report that only a month into the nationwide lockdown in India, there has been a noticeable shift… Read More

April 29, 2020 @ 8:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has created major social-economic challenges for individuals and businesses throughout the world. The pandemic has led to an increase in the use of Fintech-focused services, which has helped some companies generate more revenue during these difficult times. However, the crisis has… Read More

April 27, 2020 @ 1:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

  It is a wonder why people still drive to a bank branch just to wait in a queue when just about every type of financial transaction can be handled directly on your iPhone today. Habits can be hard to break – especially if you… Read More

April 24, 2020 @ 4:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Reserve banks must seriously look into issuing a digital version of cash in order to prevent the “privatization” of money, according to research and campaign group Positive Money. The group’s recent report argues that trust in the existing monetary system might disappear, if banks don’t… Read More

April 21, 2020 @ 7:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Capgemini, a French multinational corporation that offers consulting, technology, and various professional services, has co-published a Fintech report with Efma, a global non-profit organization consisting of banks and insurance firms that facilitates networking between key decision-makers. The World Fintech Report 2020 notes that even though… Read More

March 6, 2020 @ 7:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Traditional banking executives have expressed concerns about the increasing competition form Fintech firms or challenger banks. The Promontory Interfinancial Network recently published a survey that revealed that 76% of 543 senior management professionals, working at traditional banks, noted that they fear new financial platforms being… Read More

February 28, 2020 @ 1:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Approximately 90% of small business owners and freelance workers in the UK say they might prefer using an all-digital bank, instead of a traditional brick-and-mortar bank. This, according to a new study published by research firm Capterra. The study revealed that although 23% of survey… Read More

February 21, 2020 @ 11:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital Banking Banking challengers have been introducing innovative financial products in order to compete with traditional banks. Challenger or neobanks attracted $5.2 billion in funding last year, which is more than triple of what they received back in 2018 ($1.6 billion). Italy-based Nexi, a digital… Read More

January 27, 2020 @ 5:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Australia-based digital banks Xinja, Judo Bank and 86 400 have been attracting millions of dollars worth of savings from the nation’s banking clients after the introduction of their high interest rate accounts. Traditional industry players like ANZ, Westpac, NAB and Commonwealth Bank have reportedly lost… Read More

January 13, 2020 @ 10:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

While it might be true that young people like to use innovative cell phone apps to streamline their daily activities, reports suggest that fancy software alone won’t necessarily help challenger banks when trying to attract business from Generation Z customers. This, according to a newly… Read More

January 13, 2020 @ 8:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The first of Hong Kong’s upcoming group of virtual banks has confirmed its launch with a 6% special introductory rate on all deposits. ZA Bank Ltd., which is notably one of eight companies planning to establish digital-only banking services in Hong Kong, has launched a… Read More

December 30, 2019 @ 2:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bank Negara Malaysia is reportedly planning to issue up to five operational licenses to qualified or eligible applicants in order to launch digital banks to perform either regular or Islamic banking business in the country. Malaysia’s central bank has issued the exposure draft on Licensing… Read More

December 25, 2019 @ 9:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Malaysia now appears to be a promising market for virtual or challenger banks, according to Big Four auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Malaysia division. The country’s reserve bank is planning to introduce its virtual or digital banking licensing guidelines for industry consultation. In a recent interview,… Read More

December 24, 2019 @ 12:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this year the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) revealed its intent to issue digital bank licenses. Announced in June, applicants have until the end of this year (December 31) to apply. This means a license for digital-only banks. Existing traditional banks that offer digital… Read More

November 25, 2019 @ 12:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Offering more mobility and quicker financial services, challenger banks appear to be destined for success, however, the Irish consumers’ trust in new technology seems to be a major challenge to mass adoption. This, according to Fujitsu’s latest “From Demanding to Discerning: Tech and the New… Read More

November 25, 2019 @ 1:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital-only banks, or neo-banks, are not dependent on outdated, legacy financial infrastructure. These virtual banks are more efficient than traditional banking institutions because they operate without the costly networks of physical branches. Neobanks have been working towards transforming the retail banking sector in major financial… Read More

October 30, 2019 @ 9:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

This afternoon, the US Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points. The Federal Open Market Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent due to muted inflation and the “implications of global… Read More