Happy new month!
The industry turned green in response to Spring as user experiences (once again) took center stage.
Partnerships were also in play, with collaborations seeking everyone’s attention.
Some headlines to take note of:
- Broadridge was in the news for all the right reasons;
- Larry Fink told everyone what his favorite investment type is;
- The FATF chief has his eye on the crypto sector;
- Robinhood has a new credit card that is looking (very) attractive;
- Industry groups are up in arms with Colorado State regulators;
- Plus, AI solutions are at it (again) in the InsurTech industry.
Of course, it’s your week in digital wealth!
WealthTech, RegTech, Regulatory, and Treasury
TS Imagine/Broadridge/LTX
Fixed-income ecosystems have a new edge with a revelation that LTX (by Broadridge) integrated with the TS Imagine Fixed Income Execution Management System (TradeSmart Fixed Income).
The integration gives buy-side traders the best of both worlds, including advanced pre-trade clarity, enhanced liquidity, and more.
In related news, Broadridge launched Broadridge Investor Insights, a premier analytics tool for non-US customers.
In his annual letter, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, indicated his preference for blended instruments. Additionally, he iterated that mixing active and passive portfolios provides optimal returns.
Fink also alluded to the consistency of risk management, security selection, and asset allocation.
There’s a new fixed-income marketplace in town. OpenYield, a registered broker-dealer, launched its marketplace. Furthermore, the platform grants firms seamless marketplace entry alongside unique data offerings.
Forge Global Holdings, Inc.
Institutional investors in the private trading sector have expanded options with Forge unveiling a new trade order management system.
Forge Pro has extended capabilities, including order operations and share classification, a flexible order book, access capabilities, and more.
Crypto, Blockchain, and Digital Assets
Binance revealed it’s joining the Global Travel Rule Alliance (GTR). According to a March 26 post, the cryptocurrency exchange indicated its membership, hoping to improve AML and compliance monitoring within its ecosystem.
The tokenization journey continued with a revelation from VeChain. The business-focused blockchain launched its Marketing-as-a-Service (MaaS).
The MaaS will (expectedly) launch in Q2, 2024.
Financial Action Taskforce (FATF)
Following a recently published report covering global crypto compliance trends, T. Raja Kumar, the FATF president, told CoinDesk in a March 28 interview that less than 30% of jurisdictions have started regulating the crypto industry. Consequently, the FATF chief called for improved efforts in this regard.
FinTech, Personal Finance, and Apps
America’s favorite retail broker now has a new offering: a gold credit card. Robinhood launched the Robinhood Gold Card on March 26 in New York. Also, the firm offers users 3% cashback, no annual fees, 5% Annual Percentage Yield(APY), 3% matching IRA contributions, and more.
Only gold members are eligible to receive the card.
Fintech Sandbox
Fintech Sandbox, the data-focused nonprofit, added two new data partners, Polygon and MT Newswires. Also, the nonprofit’s six other partners contributed new data sets. Its partners include Plaid, FactSet, Dow Jones, Nasdaq Data Link, and Moody’s.
In a March 29 announcement, Paysend, a leading payment ecosystem, revealed its cooperation with Visa-owned Currencycloud.
The partnership will expand Paysend’s FX capacities, giving users multicurrency wallets, and more.
Additionally, the duo are working together to launch other products later this year.
In related news, to combat increased payment fraud incidents, Visa launched three AI-focused solutions that are part of the Visa Protect ecosystem.
The B2B space got a plus with a revelation from TreviPay that self-financing is now possible within its network. Also, B2B clients can use the option alongside the TreviPay order-to-cash solution.
Banking, Payments, and Infrastructure
Baker Hill/Harmony Bank
Baker Hill, a loan-focused FinTech, partnered with Dallas-based Harmony Bank to deliver improved lending solutions. The cooperation features NextGen Accelerate, Baker Hill’s loan origination solution (LOS). Also, the product is scalable.
The State of Colorado
Things got pretty interesting, with several finance trade organizations suing the State of Colorado over new rules that limit fees and interest rates for out-of-state financial institutions.
The American Fintech Council, the National Association of Industrial Bankers, and the American Financial Services Association are plaintiffs in a suit that challenges HB23-1229, the new law.
Also, HB23-1229 will come into effect from July 1.
Central Bank/Personetics
To expand personalized offerings, the Missouri-based Central Bank revealed the deployment of Personetic’s AI-driven engagement solution. Also, the integration creates unique product experiences (that are) tailored to each customer.
Sandbox Banking/Plaid
To improve automated identity verification processes, low code banking ecosystem Sandbox Banking collaborated with Plaid. Also, the collaboration enhances workflows and customer experiences for FIs.
REtech, InsurtTech and Investing
Chubb Personal Risk Services (PRS)
Across the border in Maple Country, Chubb Personal Risk Services (PRS) unveiled a new flood insurance solution.
The Flood Insurance System enables faster quotes and is (also) integrated with the Masterpiece EZ Quote ecosystem and the Chubb Agent Portal.
EIS Group
To help catalyze claims processing, the InsurTech-focused EIS group launched ClaimSmart™. The new AI-driven solution integrates with (just about) any core solution and digitizes (previously) manual processes.
Verisk/Seek Now
Data-focused Verisk partnered with Seek Now, a boutique insurance inspection ecosystem. The collaboration integrates the Verisk estimation suite with Seek Now’s platforms, simplifying claims resolution.
Yotta Automated Software Solutions Inc. (YASSI)/Guidewire
YASSI, a premier vehicle data ecosystem, revealed that it had joined the Guidewire InsurTech Vanguards program.
Additionally, the cooperation creates (all kinds of) avenues for opportunities, partnerships, integrations with industry leaders, and more in the vehicle insurance niche.
