The Week in Review

The Week in Review

Friday September 21, 2018 –

Here are the new and noteworthy stories we have been following this week.

How US banks took over the financial world

Ten years after the financial crisis US banks are in a position of strength while European banks are in retreat.

https://www.ft.com/content/6d9ba066-9eee-11e8-85da-eeb7a9ce36e4

China UnionPay to enter European market

China UnionPay is planning to enter the European market commencing with card issuance in the UK in October.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/32664/china-unionpay-to-enter-european-market

Universal SGQR code for cashless payments, interbank fund transfer system to be opened to non-banks

Singapore launches universal QR code that allows consumers to scan and transfer funds and pay merchants from  27 e-payment apps.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/universal-sgqr-code-to-replace-multiple-qr-codes-interbank-fund-transfer-system-to-be

Stripe built a payments powerhouse by focusing on e-commerce. Now it’s following its customers into bricks and mortar.

Stripe enters the in-store payment space through its own POS terminals and a set of SDKs and APIs.

https://www.recode.net/2018/9/17/17855730/stripe-terminal-brick-and-mortar-payments-adyen-square

ABU DHABI GLOBAL MARKET ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF DIGITAL SANDBOX TO ACCELERATE FINANCIAL SERVICES INNOVATION AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN THE UAE AND THE REGION

Abu Dhabi Global Market launches a digital sandbox to facilitate collaboration between FIs, fintech firms, and regulators.

https://www.adgm.com/mediacentre/press-releases/adgm-announces-launch-of-digital-sandbox-to-accelerate-financial-services-innovation-and-financial-inclusion-in-the-uae-and-the-region/

Regulators and prosecutors are increasing their scrutiny of ICO deals to bring order and ensure compliance with securities laws.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/business/dealbook/taming-initial-coin-offerings.html

Visa, Mastercard Face Next Fight After $6.2 Billion Settlement

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a $6.2 billion settlement with a class of over 12 million merchants.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-18/visa-mastercard-reach-6-2-billion-settlement-over-swipe-fees

Moneycorp expands US presence

Moneycorp completed its integration of Commonwealth FX integrating it with its existing US business on a single global payments platform.

https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/75492/moneycorp-expands-us-presence

BB&T invests $5 million in fintech company Enigma

BB&T makes its first fintech investment with plans to deploy $50 million in emerging digital technology companies.

https://www.journalnow.com/business/the-briefcase-bb-t-invests-million-in-fintech-company-enigma/article_c94d9fd1-8a4e-5d6f-a698-46ffd55cbab6.html

Personal finance bot Cleo raises $10m

Cleo raised $10 million in a Series A funding round to drive product and geographic expansion.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/32689/personal-finance-bot-cleo-raises-10m

Buy now, pay later — the new debt trap for millennials?

Non-bank startups are targeting millennials with convenient and easy POS installment loans.

https://amp.ft.com/content/8c751ac6-bb63-11e8-94b2-17176fbf93f5