Ben Buckingham

Fintech players are shaking up the savings game with high-interest accounts that could outdo your traditional bank! 🏦💰 Ready to see how they stack up? 👀 Let us know what you think below ⬇️

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We're operationally ready to work with approved third parties on delivering Open Banking solutions that will help improve New Zealanders’ banking experiences. As of today, we've made Payments NZ’s API Centre Payment Initiation v2.1 API Standard available for third parties to connect to. Westpac NZ Chief Information Officer Russell Jones says work continues across the bank to make open banking a success in the months and years to come. “We’re committed to the successful rollout and adoption of open banking, and we look forward to helping provide New Zealanders with more options for making payments and managing their money in a safe and secure way,” Mr Jones says. “Open banking has the potential to provide far-reaching opportunities for customers to manage their money in new ways, from plugging into budgeting tools to splitting the cost of a meal in a quick and easy fashion. “Consumer confidence is key to the successful uptake of open banking, and we continue to work with the industry on future API standards that are safe and secure, as well as providing a seamless and efficient partnering process with third parties that creates trust in the system. “We have entered into a number of partnerships with API providers to date, and are finalising details of our API agreements with these providers. We are also in discussions with a range of other providers regarding potential future partnerships.” For more on Open Banking see: https://lnkd.in/gK9RGCPp and for more on the API Centre Payment Initiation v2.1 API Standard see: https://lnkd.in/gQji5Muh Catherine McGrath Sarah Hearn Richard Dalby Joanne Freeman Dan Symons Ara Krishnaraj Marty Sellwood Steve Wiggins Max Bania Will Hine Sarah Wall Annabel Olsen (Cramer)

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“Open banking unlocks a future where financial empowerment is for all New Zealanders. Knowing facts about your money should be as simple as knowing the time, and the CDR will enable the innovation to make this a reality.” Last week, Open Finance ANZ launched the first edition of their Aotearoa New Zealand Open Banking Ecosystem Map and our very own Jason Leong contributed insight as a veteran player in the space on all the ways people in New Zealand can securely share their financial data. The report highlights what’s happening now and how things are shifting towards using standardised systems as new rules come into play. It shows that open banking in New Zealand is evolving at its own pace, prioritising innovation, collaboration, and consumer empowerment - it is a system that reflects Kiwi values while looking ahead to align with global trends. It’s an encouraging report, and one of many fantastic outcomes from the continual cross-industry collaborative efforts. Thanks for all of your work on this Open Finance ANZ, Mastercard Open Banking, Payments NZ, FinTechNZ, FinTech Australia, Jennifer Harrison, Brenton Charnley, Josh Daniell and everyone else who had a hand in putting this together! You can read the report here ⬇️ #openbanking https://lnkd.in/gudyds5D

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Beyond capital, corporate venture funding can bring a host of value such as market access, partnerships, and mentorship from industry heavyweights. But how do you impress these investors and stand out in a crowded market? Joshua Lloyd-Lyons will be diving headfirst into this today at Fintech Fringe's panel alongside Alex Reed, Emma Ronayne, moderated by Kayode Odeleye. Together they'll explore: 💼 What you need in your data room 🎤 Effective pitch preparation techniques 🏆 Strategies to stand out in competitive rounds 🤝 Tips for negotiating terms and securing commitments 💡 The perks of CVCs beyond the investment London Tech Week

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Next week could be very interesting! David Adams at Smart Company reports Australia’s big four banks will face parliamentary scrutiny on #Payments, with both Labor and Coalition lawmakers set to demand answers about the card payment fees levelled on small businesses and their customers, adding to the cost of living. https://lnkd.in/gQAhrMQ7 Jerome Laxale MP labelled those fees a “rort”: “I just want to make it very clear that, as a former small-business owner, I do not begrudge any small business for passing on these exorbitant fees.” Deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Economics Garth Hamilton said least-cost routing — the ability for merchants to automatically channel tap-and-go debit payments through the eftpos system, rather than the more expensive Visa, Mastercard, and American Express systems — remains a topic of great interest. Independent Payments Forum said: “We can’t afford to drop the ball on fixing the fundamentals of cards fees by getting sidetracked with industry ‘blue sky’ distractions and Kool-Aid drinking." Instead, lawmakers should first consider issues like the sweetheart deals big supermarkets. Brad Kelly Gabby Taylor Russell Zimmerman Peter Drennan Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) AACS (Australian Association of Convenience Stores) Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) Luke Achterstraat Matthew Addison Mark McKenzie (BEng,MBA,GAICD) Theo Foukkare Wes Lambert CPA, FGIA, CAE, MAICD Ellis Connolly Jerome Laxale MP Reserve Bank of Australia #CostOfLiving #Payments #LeastCostRouting #SmallBusiness

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Through 1835i, ANZ has made an initial seed capital investment of $6M into DataCo—a start-up reshaping secure data sharing. DataCo, a start-up born in 1835i’s Business Creation Lab, is making waves in the data privacy world. With $6M in funding from ANZ, through 1835i, DataCo is on a mission to revolutionize how companies securely share data. By enabling organisations to connect their data with partners in a privacy-preserving way, DataCo is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in today’s digital economy. Their innovative solution combines de-identified and transactional data from ANZ with DataCo clients’ data on a secure platform, unlocking powerful, never-before-seen insights. These insights—like spending trends and targeted analysis—help clients attract more customers, boost revenue, and deliver highly personalized experiences. At 1835i, we’re incredibly proud to see this business scale from our lab to make a meaningful impact. This success highlights the power of partnerships in driving value for ANZ and creating innovative solutions for a better, connected future. Congratulations to the DataCo Labs team—this is a huge step forward! Read the full story in Joseph L.'s article from The Australian Business Review Antony Strong, Rami Mukhtar, Danny Tyrrell, Michael Bridgeman, Keshav Murthy, James Petterson, 🙌 Garry Williams, Ricky Ferreira, David Rowe, Nadia J., Katarina Mostarac, Daniel Ber, Anthony Cursio, Alexandra Cooper, Brett Foley https://lnkd.in/gG2FJYy8

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"AI and automation offer the key to unlocking the full potential of Australian investors’ private markets portfolios." 🔑   Franck Vialaron, CEO of Accelex, penned an in-depth think piece for Australian FinTech on the recent boom in Australia's private markets and how technology can transform the landscape by enhancing scale, improving data quality, and supporting smarter investment decisions. 💡   As private markets continue to grow globally, embracing technology isn’t just an option—it’s essential. Successfully managing the increasing volumes of data will be critical for staying competitive.    Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUeCEcPF #Fintech #PrivateMarkets #GenAI #Superannuation

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Andrew Ward, Chief Risk Officer at Banjo - Business Loans, outlines how SMEs can navigate ATO debt challenges #SMEs #smallbusiness #tax #debt #taxdebt #startups #startupnews #scaleups #scaleupnews #australianfintech #fintech #finance #businessloans #businesslending #businessfinance

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The Reserve Bank of Australia recently released a report stating they are only aware of one payment service provider (PSP) that is currently offering a truly dynamic Least-Cost Routing (LCR) solution 💡 This dynamic approach evaluates and routes each individual transaction to the lowest-cost network, ensuring merchants save on transaction fees 💰unlike the simple or threshold-based models used by most PSPs, which could limit potential savings 😐 It’s exciting to see innovation in the payment space, and for merchants looking to optimise costs, a dynamic LCR solution could be a game changer ⚡ If you want to know more about DLCR - Say hello 👋 at https://ipsi.com.au/ #fintech #payments #merchantsolutions

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The ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, #Jordan’s largest #investment fund, has announced a $5 million #investment in Rua Growth Fund I LP, a $45 million venture capital fund focused on #Marketplaces, #Fintech, Enterprise Solutions, and #SaaS. This #partnership is part of #ISSF's ongoing commitment to fostering early-stage and growth-stage #startups within the #Jordanian entrepreneurial ecosystem. As part of this agreement, Rua Growth Fund has been mandated by #ISSF to reinvest the initial capital with a significant multiple in Jordanian startups, amplifying local growth and impact. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7bcGNTq ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, Rua Growth Fund, MOHAMMED ALMUHTASEB, Turki Aljoaib, Dina Toukan, MSc, Hiba Nabulsi, Anas Elayyan #FintechNewsSaudiArabia #ISSFJO #RuaGrowthFund #Startups #Funding #Investment #Jordan #JordanianStartups #Founders #VCs #CapitalInvestment #Tech #Marketplaces #Fintech #MiddleEast #MENA #SaudiArabia #SaudiArabiaFintechNews #GCC

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The ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, #Jordan’s largest #investment fund, has announced a $5 million #investment in Rua Growth Fund I LP, a $45 million venture capital fund focused on #Marketplaces, #Fintech, Enterprise Solutions, and #SaaS. This #partnership is part of #ISSF's ongoing commitment to fostering early-stage and growth-stage #startups within the #Jordanian entrepreneurial ecosystem. As part of this agreement, Rua Growth Fund has been mandated by #ISSF to reinvest the initial capital with a significant multiple in Jordanian startups, amplifying local growth and impact. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7bcGNTq ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, Rua Growth Fund, MOHAMMED ALMUHTASEB, Turki Aljoaib, Dina Toukan, MSc, Hiba Nabulsi, Anas Elayyan #FintechNewsEgypt #ISSFJO #RuaGrowthFund #Startups #Funding #Investment #Jordan #JordanianStartups #Founders #VCs #CapitalInvestment #Tech #Marketplaces #Fintech #MiddleEast #MENA #Egypt #EgyptFintechNews #GCC

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The ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, #Jordan’s largest #investment fund, has announced a $5 million #investment in Rua Growth Fund I LP, a $45 million venture capital fund focused on #Marketplaces, #Fintech, Enterprise Solutions, and #SaaS. This #partnership is part of #ISSF's ongoing commitment to fostering early-stage and growth-stage #startups within the #Jordanian entrepreneurial ecosystem. As part of this agreement, Rua Growth Fund has been mandated by #ISSF to reinvest the initial capital with a significant multiple in Jordanian startups, amplifying local growth and impact. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7bcGNTq ISSFJO - Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund, Rua Growth Fund, MOHAMMED ALMUHTASEB, Turki Aljoaib, Dina Toukan, MSc, Hiba Nabulsi, Anas Elayyan #FintechNewsUAE #ISSFJO #RuaGrowthFund #Startups #Funding #Investment #Jordan #JordanianStartups #Founders #VCs #CapitalInvestment #Tech #Marketplaces #Fintech #MiddleEast #MENA #UAE #UAEFintechNews #GCC

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To alleviate stress on #renters, Rent.com.au (#ASX: RNT) has expanded its #rental #payments platform RentPay to accommodate more digital wallets, enabling the processing of $250m in payments since May 2021. https://lnkd.in/gSMvT2Z7

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The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is commencing its Review into Retail Payments Regulation. This review will examine the costs merchants face when accepting card payments and the framework for surcharging. The RBA has today released an Issues Paper, inviting stakeholders to provide detailed feedback on the current regulatory framework and to suggest potential regulatory responses. This feedback will be crucial in shaping future reforms to ensure a safe and efficient payments system. Australians extensively use cards to pay for goods and services. They benefit from the convenience and security provided by card payments. However, in an environment of heightened concern around the cost of living, card payment costs and surcharging are attracting more attention from merchants and consumers. These issues are linked, since merchants would be less likely to surcharge consumers if card payment costs were lower. It is timely, therefore, to review whether regulatory settings could be adjusted to put further downward pressure on merchant card payment costs and whether the RBA’s surcharging framework remains fit for purpose. This recognises that many years have passed since these rules first came into effect. Stakeholders can provide written submissions by 3 December 2024.

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"At Bizcap, we don’t look for reasons to say ‘no’—we find ways to say ‘yes’." So says Bizcap's Chief Revenue Officer Rebecca Del Rio. With $1 billion in loans funded and a 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating, Bizcap has revolutionised SME lending through a flexible and open-minded approach. Fast approvals, same-day funding and a hands-on partnerships model have helped Bizcap empower small businesses across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Discover how Bizcap is transforming SME lending and helping brokers and advisers secure funds for their clients in this article by The Adviser Magazine #Bizcap #SMELending #BusinessLoans #BrokerSupport #Growth

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BGL Corporate Solutions has integrated with Skript for #openbanking connections from Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360 to secure, seamless bank data from all Australian banks, delivering improved efficiency and accuracy. Eric Tsang, CEO and Co-founder of Skript, said: “Skript’s partnership with BGL will transform the landscape of bank data feeds for SMSFs and investment portfolios and give Australian businesses and consumers enhanced security and better quality data.” Jeevan Tokhi, General Manager of Product – Simple Fund 360, Simple Invest 360 and SmartDocs at BGL, said: “The integration between BGL and Skript will collect data from all Australian banks for transaction accounts, term deposits, loans and credit cards and feed it into Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. All banks will provide historical data and include open and closed accounts. The setup is rapid, taking less than two minutes”. This is a significant leap forward in managing financial data as BGL has not previously been able to deliver the capability of automated bank feeds from every Australian bank. Ron Lesh FCA Daniel Tramontana Sarah Wallis #fintech #openfinance #opendata #SMSF #investmentmanagement #accountingsolutions

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BOOM!! 🚨Today we announced that Telstra Ventures has changed its name to Titanium Ventures 🚨   We chose Titanium Ventures because it best represents who we are and who we want to be - a firm that backs very strong, resilient entrepreneurs who resist cracking under pressure.   Titanium has the highest durability and strength-to-weight ratio of any metal in the world and like the leaders we invest in, we punch way above our weight.   Our investment thesis remains the same and we will continue to identify and scale the most promising companies across a variety of AI, digital and software sectors.   So far we’ve invested in 99 portfolio companies, resulting in:   🚀 12 IPOs 🚀 17 unicorns 🚀 42 liquidity events   Today we have almost A$1.35B funds under management and have returned almost A$1B cash to investors.   This is an exciting next chapter in our story. Titanium Ventures will continue to accelerate the extraordinary, fueling the growth of standout disruptors, that’s what we have done for over a decade and that’s what our investors and founders expect us to do in the decades to come.   You can read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gYZtGtX8   #titaniumventures #venturecapital #unicorns #ipo

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