Аsia
Siam Validus joins Thailand NCB to speed SME loans
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 11, 2025
Siam Validus has joined the Thailand National Credit Bureau (NCB) to advance Thailand’s financial ecosystem through digital, efficient, and responsible SME credit solutions.
As the only crowdfunding platform in Thailand to secure NCB membership, Siam Validus demonstrates its dedication to responsible lending, transparency, and innovation. The platform, a joint venture between Validus Group—Southeast Asia’s largest digital supply chain financing platform with over US$5 billion in SME loans facilitated—and SCG Distribution Co. Ltd., leverages its crowdfunding licence to provide unsecured lending to SMEs within closed-loop supply chains.
APAC Offers Massive Growth Potential, but Success Requires Localized Payment Strategies
Fintech News, Posted September 12, 2025
Asia-Pacific (APAC) offers massive growth potential for businesses but is a highly fragmented region with each country operating under its own regulations, currencies, and preferred payment methods.
According to Checkout.com, success in APAC requires a localized approach, including working with local acquirers, offering preferred payment options, and adapting to individual regulatory frameworks, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Agentic AI Poised to Transform Deposits, Credit Cards with Real-Time Optimization
Fintech News, Posted September 12, 2025
Agentic AI, systems that can perform tasks and solve issues with minimal human intervention, are set to disrupt the economic foundations for finance.
According to a new report by McKinsey, this technology is poised to affect billions in revenue and challenge the business models and revenue at banks, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), credit-card companies, and others. This disruption will stem largely from making traditionally passive aspects of banking programmable and dynamic.
Europe
UniCredit picks BNP Paribas for custody services replacing SGSS, CACEIS
Reuters, Posted September 8, 2025
Italian bank UniCredit (CRDI.MI), opens new tab said on Monday it would partner with French peer BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), opens new tab for custody services, under an ongoing push to streamline its operations and partnerships.
The move comes after the bank in January announced a decision to bring in-house its back-office activities for securities services, standardising suppliers across countries.
Revolut Adds Pay by Bank Option to Their Payment Gateway
Fintech Finance News, Posted September 10, 2025
Revolut, the global fintech with over 60 million customers globally, and hundreds of thousands of business customers, has today announced the launch of Pay by Bank as an option on the Revolut Gateway. This new feature enables businesses to accept fast and secure payments directly from a customer’s bank account, providing a seamless experience for consumers and significant benefits for merchants.
The launch comes as ‘Pay by Bank’, also known as Open Banking, has surged in popularity in the UK, growing from 15 million to 27 million monthly transactions in just one year. With approximately 14 million people now using Pay by Bank each month, this payment method is becoming a mainstream alternative to cards. Further to this, Juniper Research has found that total Open Banking users globally will reach over 645 million in 2029, from 183 million in 2025.
Hanscom FCU launches digital account opening solution with FintechOS
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 9, 2025
Hanscom Federal Credit Union (Hanscom FCU) has launched its new Digital Account Opening Solution powered by FintechOS 24 to advance its strategy of delivering seamless, future-ready banking experiences to its members. The initiative underscores Hanscom’s commitment to digital transformation and to combining trusted service with cutting-edge technology.
UK later life lending grows as retirees seek financial flexibility
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 11, 2025
The UK’s later life lending market is experiencing steady growth, with the latest figures from UK Finance underscoring a trend that has been gaining momentum for several years. As borrowers seek greater financial flexibility in retirement, specialist lending products are becoming increasingly important.
Richard Pike, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Phoebus Software, said, “The overall rise in later life lending comes as the market adjusts to the recent interest rate cut and continued cost-of-living pressures. It’s clear that more borrowers are turning to later life products to unlock flexibility and financial stability in retirement. For lenders, the challenge is meeting this demand efficiently and responsibly. Having the right technology in place to manage complex products, reduce costs and stay agile will be key to delivering good outcomes for older borrowers in a fast-changing market.”
INDEXO partners with Mambu to bring digital banking to Latvia
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 11, 2025
INDEXO Bank, has launched a new digital banking platform powered by Mambu’s cloud-native core banking and payments technology. The collaboration is designed to transform Latvia’s traditionally stagnant banking sector by introducing customer-centric, transparent, and innovative financial services.
Founded in 2017 and listed on Nasdaq Riga, INDEXO set out to challenge a market dominated by four large foreign banks whose outdated offerings no longer meet customer expectations. The ambition was clear: to create a modern digital bank built in Latvia, for the people of Latvia—that enhances competition, drives economic growth, and delivers financial services that are fair, accessible, and future-ready.
Snappi secures ECB license, launches neobank in Greece
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 9, 2025
Snappi, the Greek neobank licensed by the European Central Bank (ECB), has launched, all Greek tax residents via the App Store and Google Play. This move changes Greece’s digital banking landscape, as Snappi combines the innovation and simplicity of a neobank with the security and regulatory strength of a fully licensed European Union institution.
Headquartered in Ioannina, Snappi was established through a joint venture between Piraeus Bank, Natech, and Neptune International, designed as a 100% digital bank with a seamless, mobile-first interface. The platform offers effortless onboarding without paperwork, complemented by 24/7 live human customer support, ensuring an inclusive and responsive service experience. Customers can access both virtual and physical debit cards, allowing for flexible and convenient everyday banking.
USA
Mastercard simplifies business payments with Oracle integration
Mastercard, Posted September 11, 2025
Mastercard has announced the local launch of a new embedded virtual card payment capability, with Westpac becoming the first commercial issuer in Australia to activate the solution for clients using Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
The integration leverages Mastercard’s innovative virtual card solution and Oracle’s B2B technology platform to deliver a seamless, secure, and fully embedded virtual card experience. By embedding virtual cards directly into the Oracle Cloud ERP, businesses gain real-time visibility, enhanced control, improved working capital management, and streamlined supplier onboarding, all within their system of record.
“Manual commercial payments are the silent drag on growth, slowing operations, increasing exposure, and tying up capital that should be fueling innovation,” said Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific at Mastercard. “By embedding our virtual card technology into enterprise workflows like the Oracle Cloud ERP, we are removing long-standing friction and empowering organizations and businesses across Asia Pacific to operate at the scale and speed of today’s economy.”
Upwork Partners with Wise Platform to Enhance International Payment Infrastructure for Global Freelancers
Wise, Posted September 10, 2025
Wise Platform, Wise’s global payments infrastructure for banks and enterprises, today announced a partnership with Upwork Inc. (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s leading human and AI-powered work marketplace. This collaboration strengthens Upwork’s payment capabilities by adding Wise Platform as an infrastructure partner, supporting rapid international transfers for freelancers to select markets.
As part of the integration, freelancers transferring their earnings to certain South American, APAC and European currencies via Upwork’s “Direct to Local Bank” method will now benefit from Wise’s powerful and unique infrastructure. Freelancers on Upwork are able to easily manage their earnings by navigating to “Get Paid” in their account settings, allowing them to withdraw funds to their local bank accounts. Payments to select markets will now be routed through Wise’s reliable network to enable quick and cost-efficient cross-border transactions.
Global Payments Announces the Launch of its Genius™ for Enterprise POS Solution
Global Payments, Posted September 10, 2025
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions, today announced that its Genius solution for enterprise customers is available in the U.S.
The Genius solution for enterprise businesses provides a unified, modern and modular commerce enablement platform designed to meet the complex needs of quick service and fast casual restaurants, sports and entertainme.
Aven secures $110m to expand ‘machine banking’ platform
Fintech global, Posted September 10, 2025
Aven has closed a $110m Series E funding round at a post-money valuation of $2.2bn, more than doubling its valuation from just a year ago.
The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with continued backing from existing investors General Catalyst, Caffeinated Capital, GIC, Electric Capital, and Founders Fund.
Founded to transform access to home equity through technology, Aven built the first successful HELOC-backed credit card, which gives consumers faster, lower-cost access to credit secured against their homes. Unlike traditional home equity lines of credit, which can involve lengthy approvals and high fees, Aven’s Home Equity Card is designed to provide convenience with a premium credit card experience. The company also offers a Rewards Card, which delivers unlimited 2% cash back alongside borrowing costs up to 50% lower than standard credit cards.
LatAm
LatAm Fintech Kapital Raises Funds at $1.3 Billion Value
Bloomberg, Posted September 2, 2025
Kapital, a Mexican financial services company, has raised $100 million at a valuation of about $1.3 billion to help build out its artificial intelligence capabilities.
The round was led by existing backer Tribe Capital and co-led by Pelion Ventures, according to a statement Tuesday, confirming a Bloomberg News report. Other participants included Y Combinator, Marbruck Ventures and True Arrow.
INDRIVE.MONEY ARRIVES IN BRAZIL WITH DIGITAL LOANS FOR DRIVERS
Financial IT, Posted August 22, 2025
inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform operating across 48 countries, has announced the launch of inDrive.Money in Brazil. The offering aims to support financial inclusion for drivers by offering quick and convenient access to cash loans within the inDrive app, the world’s second-most downloaded ride-hailing app.
inDrive.Money is partnering with EmpreX, a Latin American fintech specializing in financing for small businesses and service providers, to unlock loans of up to R$3,000 (USD 548) for drivers in Brazil. inDrive.Money enables drivers to apply for the loans and repay them directly via the inDrive app.
Uruguayan Fintech dLocal launches SmartPix to speed up payments with Pix in Brazil
Latam Fintech, Posted August 27, 2025
One of the advantages of buying online is convenience, especially when paying. With your credit card details saved, it is often possible to complete the purchase with a single click. However, for those who choose to use Pix as a means of payment, this possibility did not yet exist: the consumer had to open the bank application on the mobile and scan the QR code or copy the code to finalize the purchase, which increased the time necessary to close the order.
TWIF LatAm September 07 – Kapital is Latam’s new unicorn
This Week In Fintech, Posted September 7, 2025
September is heating up! The Finnosummit conference is back in Mexico City, and this year we’re planning three exciting events: our annual Fintech Mixer (Sep 23), a Sunset happy hour (Sep 24), and an exclusive breakfast (Sep 25). RSVP now and join us for top networking and insightful discussions.
During October, don’t miss the comeback of RiskCon Mexico City (Oct 8) brought to you by Oscilar and TWIF —an essential gathering for anyone focused on risk, compliance, and innovation.
EBANX expands open banking reach with Capitec Pay integration
IBS Intelligence, Posted September 7, 2025
EBANX, a FinTech company enabling payments across emerging markets, has integrated Capitec Pay, South Africa’s open banking–based real-time payment solution. This launch represents EBANX’s first open banking initiative beyond Brazil and positions the company among the first global payment service providers (PSPs) to offer Capitec Pay for cross-border eCommerce.
Developed by Capitec Bank, Capitec Pay is South Africa’s first large-scale implementation of open banking account-to-account (A2A) payments. Through EBANX, international merchants spanning online retail, subscription services, gaming, streaming, and SaaS can now provide South African consumers with secure, instant, and frictionless digital payment experiences.
