Innovation continued to push the industry forward, with product integrations leading the charge. The year-end quiet buzz was in the air, alongside jingle bells and other holiday sights and sounds.
Headlines to take note of:
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- BlackRock continued pushing industry innovation;
- Broadridge launched an AI-focused algo insights tool;
- Public made its Alpha app globally available;
- Marygold debuted its App;
- Plus, Rhino launched a new policy aimed at renters;
- And much more!
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Wealthtech, Regtech, Regulatory, and Treasury
Data management-focused Saphyre teamed up with BlackRock to integrate Aladdin with Saphyre’s ecosystem. The deployment also provides shared advantages with industry clients, optimizing workflows and increasing operational efficiency.
Additionally, the collaboration provides AI-driven solutions for account activities.
In related news, enterprise-focused Treasury4 revealed an integration to BlackRock Cachematrix, providing improved flows.
Similarly, Broadridge introduced an AI-powered insights offering for buy-side algos. The solution is available on its NYFIX platform.
Furthermore, the product leverages available liquidity to provide information to buy-side industry players.
State Street/Harris | Oakmark
Chicago, Illinois-based investment firm Harris | Oakmark adopted State Street’s Alpha asset servicing solution. Phase one of the deployment is already complete, with the final phase slated for a 2026 deadline.
Moreover, the arrangement provides depth for Harris | Oakmark and increases industry ties for State Street.
Public Holdings, Inc. (Public, Alpha)
Investing platform Public returned to the game with the official launch of its AI-powered Alpha app. Public introduced the insights-focused offering last year, with high adoption rates by its members.
The standalone unveiling enables global access.
Crypto, Blockchain, and Digital Assets
Ripple Labs/New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)
The crypto community won another win with the NYDFS’s final approval of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, revealed the move in a November 10 X/Twitter post.
The institutional-focused RLUSD aims to challenge Tether’s stablecoins and may have initial shortfall issues because of high demand.
At its December 1 meeting, Microsoft’s shareholders rejected a Bitcoin reserve proposal. The software behemoth voted against a measure that suggested adding cryptocurrency to its balance sheet.
In its December 12 client report, investment behemoth BlackRock compared Bitcoin to high-cap tech stocks. BlackRock also advised investors to include the crypto token in their portfolios.
Consequently, BlackRock recommended investors allocate 2% of their portfolios to Bitcoin, alongside 40% to bonds and fixed-income products and 60% to stocks.
Fintech, Personal Finance, and Apps
The all-American Fintech Intuit made several headlines. Intuit expanded its collaboration with Amazon, enabling access to its AI assistant and giving users several advantages.
Amazon also revealed that it has deployed QuickBooks as its preferred partner for financial management operations and integrated it into ‘Amazon Seller Central.’
Similarly, the financial operations ecosystem Ramp revealed its availability on the Intuit QuickBooks desktop version.
B2B ecosystem Demandbase revealed the integration of its intent-focused data with the Salesforce Sales Cloud Prospecting Center. The deployment improves sales teams’ focus, enabling faster closing rates with increased prioritization.
Furthermore, the deployment enables precision-based sales via regular tools.
Similarly, Bartlett, Tennessee-based SurgePays, revealed the integration of its ClearLine marketing ecosystem with Clover’s powerful point-of-sale (POS) product. The tie-up provides small businesses with cutting-edge marketing tools, including immediate digital sales.
Additionally, the collaboration enables improved customer retention via loyalty programs and more for independent sales organizations.
Pricing-focused Vistex indicated that its Excise Tax Management is available as a SAP extension. The product, dubbed ‘SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, excise tax management by Vistex,’ is an addition to its offering within the SAP ERP platform.
Moreover, the deployment enables SMBs to access excise tax solutions easily.
Banking, Payments, and Infrastructure
Account origination specialist MANTL expanded its ecosystem to include support for business and community loans. The loan origination (addition) also enables automated credit underwriting for FIs.
In addition, the new offering simplifies the loan process and caters to different types of credit, from personal to business.
Lumin Digital/FinGoal
Cloud-based software ecosystem Lumin Digital collaborated with financial analytics provider FinGoal, enabling embedded insights for FIs. The collaboration also improves customer personalization.
FinGoal’s offering is an add-on within the Lumin Yodlee data suite.
The Marygold Companies, Inc.
All-American holding firm Marygold announced the launch of its banking app with attractive features and a cash management account with a return of (up to) 6%. The 6% offering will be available until June 30, 2025, or a cumulative AUM of $100 million.
The Marygold app has several features, including target-focused accounts, user-controlled spending limits, money management tools, and more.
OnPoint Community Credit Union/FusionIQ
Portland, Oregon-based Onpoint Community CU revealed its partnership with FusionIQ to enable wealth management and increased investment options for its members. Onpoint’s members will also have access to FusionIQ’s self-service features.
The FIQ Journey platform also integrates with Onpoint’s wealth management products.
REtech, Insurtech and Investing
Thanks to a new solution from Rhino, renters who involuntarily lose their jobs can breathe easier. Rhino launched ‘Loss of Employment Protection,’ an offering that enables rent payments despite inevitable job losses for policyholders who qualify for state unemployment benefits.
Renters who qualify can apply for a three-month rent extension for unforeseen circumstances.
AmeriCU Credit Union/VantageScore
New York-based AmeriCU Credit Union revealed its selection of VantageScore 4.0 for mortgage opportunities for its members. The VantageScore 4.0 system considers rent payments and other nontraditional data points to determine credit scores.
AmeriCU’s members will have access to mortgage lending using VantageScore 4.0 starting next year.
Sure/CU Financial Group, LLC (CUFG)
Niche Insurtech Sure collaborated with CUFG to launch SimpleQuote, a Credit Union-focused insurance offering. Credit Unions can now offer customized policies to their members.
Furthermore, members within CUFG’s ecosystem have access to the seamless solution. Auto policies are first on the list, with other additions coming soon.
