João Nordeste Parracho

🚀 ALYA 2.0 is coming in 2025! 📢 “The big thing for 2025 is to have a foot in the generative AI world.” and the world of Agentic AI I must add. #centralbanking #bancodeportugal #artificialintelligence #innovation #ai

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⬇️ Today, let’s talk about the #Payments ecosystem in #Portugal from our latest white paper, "Key Players in the EU Payments Landscape 2024": https://lnkd.in/dVYy5rTP With over 10 million inhabitants, Portugal boasts one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, making it an attractive market for businesses, including payment service providers. Card penetration is particularly high, thanks to a 30-year-old culture of chip-and-PIN usage. It is estimated that over 29 million debit and credit cards are in circulation. 💳 The primary card schemes proposed by Portuguese banks are Visa and Mastercard, with UnionPay International and American Express also playing a role. A partnership between SIBS, the parent company of Multibanco, and UnionPay has enabled the card scheme to be accepted at 80% of merchants and all ATMs. 🌐 Despite nearly 20% of the population being cardless, Portugal offers several well-established payment methods for both online and in-person transactions. The most common are Multibanco and MB WAY, both developed and managed by SIBS. Payshop is another widely used local payment method. Portugal is also home to cross-border payment solutions such as Maxpay , RealTransfer, and Unicâmbio. 🏦 Portugal’s banking system comprises 123 credit institutions, 31 EEA branches, and 1 non-EEA branch. The five largest banks in Portugal by total assets are CGD, Millennium bcp, Santander Portugal, NOVO BANCO, and Banco BPI. These institutions control three-quarters of the market and hold nearly €320 billion in total banking assets. Other notable players include ActivoBank, Banco Finantia, BNP Paribas, ING, and Bankinter. Additionally, the Spanish financial institution ABANCA Corporación Bancaria secured the purchase of Portuguese bank EuroBic Grupo ABANCA, making it the eighth-largest bank in the country. 📶 Several companies offer payment processing and gateway services in Portugal. UNICRE is a key player, operating through two brands: UniBanco, which specializes in card issuance and credit, and Reduniq (formerly Redunicre), which focuses on payments. Easypay and Eupago are also important gateways. Other local processors and gateways worth mentioning include Lusopay, Altice Portugal Pay, ifthenpay, Thinkpay - Tech Payments Platform., Paycritical, and ivendPay. Key Takeaway💡 : “The Portuguese payment ecosystem is a leading hub of innovation within the European Union, characterized by a diverse array of payment solutions and services. As regulatory landscapes evolve at the EU level, it will be crucial for industry players to adapt their internal processes and service offerings to maintain competitiveness.” Alexandre Melo | Associate Partner – Deloitte Portugal 

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Former Revolut employees Joao Alves and Guilherme Gomes have raised $2.3 million in pre-seed funding to launch Bleap, a London-based self-custodial stablecoin app designed to integrate blockchain technology with traditional banking. Bleap allows users to spend stablecoins via a Mastercard-linked debit card without conversion fees and offers high-interest multi-currency accounts. The platform ensures user control over assets with its self-custodial wallet and supports fee-free crypto transactions. Currently in beta, Bleap is registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the EU and plans a public launch in early 2025. Bleap is backed by investors like Ethereal Ventures, Maven11, and angel investors from companies like Revolut and OKX. This story was initially published in this week’s issue of Global Fintech Insider. To read the other (hopefully) insightful fintech stories I've covered in it, click the link in the comments.

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🚀 Transform your payments with Open Banking! Instant bank transfers are revolutionising eCommerce, fintech and payments. With significant growth ahead, discover how this technology is making transactions easier for businesses and customers alike. 🔍 Watch the latest emerchantpay video to see how Open Banking is shaping the future of payments:👇 https://bit.ly/3XkIbzA #openbanking #eCommerce #onlinepayments

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SIBS was present at the Impact'24 with the participation of Teresa Mesquita, Chief Marketing and Product Office at SIBS, in a panel about the prospects for building a European payments ecosystem. 💳 🌎 This international event brings together leaders from different sectors to discuss pressing issues, share innovative solutions and collaborate on projects aimed at sustainable development and fostering a positive social and environmental impact on society. 🌱 During the panel discussion, Teresa presented EuroPA, the interoperability project that SIBS is developing together with Bizum (Spain) and Bancomat Pay (Italy), which aims to allow users to make instant payments more easily and securely between the three countries using only cell phones. The panel was joined by Martín Azcue López, New projects & Innovation Lead at Bizum, and Michał Szymański, New Markets Strategy Director at BLIK SK, moderated by Dariusz Mazurkiewicz, President of the Management Board of Polish Payment Standard at BLIK System. For SIBS, this participation reinforces its commitment to #sustainability, demonstrating once again that it is at the forefront of payments by creating cutting-edge solutions that improve the day-to-day lives of all its users and that make it possible to build a unique European payments ecosystem. 🤝 #SIBSistrust #SIBSisinnovation #SIBSisexcellence #SIBSisintegrity

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See you in Lisbon 🇵🇹 next week where we'll be sharing how Rayls is building the UniFi ecosystem, bringing net new TradFi liquidity and users into Web3. Looking forward to sharing the stage with Jose Reis Santos, Emre Arduman, Alex B. and Ricardo Santos #UniFi #DeFi #TradFi #web3 #blockchain

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The President of Banco do Brasil and Revolut emphasized the importance of addressing consumer issues in the most pleasant manner possible for them - whether they are in the remote areas or in the Brazilian metropolises. The Future of Banking was the main topic on the first day of Web Summit Rio. Staying competitive and relevant in the coming years is the primary challenge for financial institutions, whether they are traditional or digital-native, such as FinTechs. At the end of the day, the one that manages to solve customers' problems remains at the top - and the one who best learns to use technology for different consumer profiles and realities. Revolut CEO Glauber Mota recalls that even in large metropolises, there are still people without satisfactory internet access, and the digital bank also seeks to address this problem, just like traditional ones. What changes, he says, are the strategies. In the end, they are different bets that should aim for one goal: solving the customer's problem conveniently for them. More info: https://lnkd.in/ei2hADg5 Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] Get the most important FinTech news and analysis in a 5 minute daily briefing you’ll actually look forward to reading. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eiQBxdTW

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⬇️ Today, let’s talk about the #Payments ecosystem in #Portugal from our latest white paper, "Key Players in the EU Payments Landscape 2024": https://lnkd.in/dVYy5rTP With over 10 million inhabitants, Portugal boasts one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, making it an attractive market for businesses, including payment service providers. Card penetration is particularly high, thanks to a 30-year-old culture of chip-and-PIN usage. It is estimated that over 29 million debit and credit cards are in circulation. 💳 The primary card schemes proposed by Portuguese banks are Visa and Mastercard, with UnionPay International and American Express also playing a role. A partnership between SIBS, the parent company of Multibanco, and UnionPay has enabled the card scheme to be accepted at 80% of merchants and all ATMs. 🌐 Despite nearly 20% of the population being cardless, Portugal offers several well-established payment methods for both online and in-person transactions. The most common are Multibanco and MB WAY, both developed and managed by SIBS. Payshop is another widely used local payment method. Portugal is also home to cross-border payment solutions such as Maxpay , RealTransfer, and Unicâmbio. 🏦 Portugal’s banking system comprises 123 credit institutions, 31 EEA branches, and 1 non-EEA branch. The five largest banks in Portugal by total assets are CGD, Millennium bcp, Santander Portugal, NOVO BANCO, and Banco BPI. These institutions control three-quarters of the market and hold nearly €320 billion in total banking assets. Other notable players include ActivoBank, Banco Finantia, BNP Paribas, ING, and Bankinter. Additionally, the Spanish financial institution ABANCA Corporación Bancaria secured the purchase of Portuguese bank EuroBic Grupo ABANCA, making it the eighth-largest bank in the country. 📶 Several companies offer payment processing and gateway services in Portugal. UNICRE is a key player, operating through two brands: UniBanco, which specializes in card issuance and credit, and Reduniq (formerly Redunicre), which focuses on payments. Easypay and Eupago are also important gateways. Other local processors and gateways worth mentioning include Lusopay, Altice Portugal Pay, ifthenpay, Thinkpay - Tech Payments Platform., Paycritical, and ivendPay. Key Takeaway💡 : “The Portuguese payment ecosystem is a leading hub of innovation within the European Union, characterized by a diverse array of payment solutions and services. As regulatory landscapes evolve at the EU level, it will be crucial for industry players to adapt their internal processes and service offerings to maintain competitiveness.” Alexandre Melo | Associate Partner – Deloitte Portugal 

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Interesting to see how for these banks revenue is proportionate to customer base, while revenue per customer is low compared to the giants. This base am sure is potential for payments and lending products to increase revenue per customer and overall bottom line. Thanks for sharing Marcel 👍…

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📈 Portugal's Cards and Payments Market: A Digital Transformation 💳 The cards and payments market in Portugal is undergoing a major shift, with digital payments rising sharply. As consumers adapt to mobile wallets, contactless payments, and online transactions, the industry is seeing rapid innovation. From fintech partnerships to government initiatives fostering cashless payments, the landscape is poised for growth. Stay ahead of the trends shaping this dynamic market. 🔗 Discover more insights here: GlobalData #Payments #DigitalTransformation #Portugal #Fintech #PortugalCardsAndPaymentsMarket #PortugalCardsAndPayments

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Exciting news for Europe’s digital payments! 🌍 The European Payments Initiative (EPI) has launched Wero, a mobile-first wallet transforming person-to-person (P2P) payments. With instant transfers via phone number, QR code, or email, Wero is now live in Germany and coming soon to Belgium and France. 🚀 But this is just the beginning: by 2026, Wero will offer in-store payments, buy-now-pay-later options, and loyalty program integrations—all within one secure and seamless app. A game-changer for European financial independence. 💳💡 Will this solution able to disrupt Visa and Mastercard dominance? What are your thoughts on Wero’s potential? More information on this topic thanks to Marcel van Oost, here: https://lnkd.in/evHjjGzj And an article from The Fintech Times: https://lnkd.in/euDzD2DC #DigitalPayments #FinTech #Innovation #EuropeanPayments #WeroWallet #FinancialInclusion #FutureOfPayments

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🌍 #M2020 - Embracing the Future: The Massive Growth Opportunity in Cross-Border Payments 🌍 As Senior Product Manager for Paynovate I had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people at last week's Money20/20 Europe event. One of the conferences I liked the most was the one around cross-border payments and how they present a massive growth opportunity for businesses of all sizes. From the local coffee shop sourcing beans internationally to giants like Airwallex reshaping financial solutions (as depicted by Ruta Mrazauskaite), the expansion into global markets is transformative. My main takeaways are: ⚡The shift to real-time payments, exemplified by services like Wise, which processes payments in under 20 seconds, is revolutionizing money movement, as Till Wirth explained. With 62% of global payments now processed instantly, the efficiency and innovation layered onto these systems are remarkable. 📊The demand for #transparency and accurate tracking of funds has never been higher. Yet, many Tier 1 banks face challenges in upgrading their systems to meet these demands. Forming strategic #partnerships is becoming essential for enhancing service offerings and meeting customer expectations as Alexandra Johnson from Nium highlighted. 🤖 In today's digital age, building #trust in the payment ecosystem is crucial. Leveraging AI to improve compliance checks ensures robust screening processes that understand nuances, significantly reducing errors and enhancing security. 🏃Fintech companies are uniquely positioned to quickly adapt to changes while maintaining a risk-averse posture similar to traditional banks. This agility, combined with a strong emphasis on compliance and fraud prevention, sets fintechs apart in the competitive payments landscape. 🚀 As the fintech ecosystem continues to evolve, so too does the nature of relationships and collaborations within it. Successfully navigating these changes is crucial for sustained growth and success in the dynamic field of cross-border payments. #Fintech #CrossBorderPayments #RealTimePayments #FinancialInnovation #GlobalCommerce #PaymentSolutions #DataTransparency #AIRoadmap #Compliance

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To the next big thing. Joining EBA Day 2024 at the Lisbon Congress Centre 18-19 June! 💪 Waiting good discussions around hot topics - Instant payments and IPR regulation. Lets meet there! 👌💯 #EBADay2024 #instantpayments #payments #lisbon #ebaclearing #nordea

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The SEPA Instant Payment framework is now live across the EU as of 9th January 2025, setting a new standard for real-time payments. Here are the key points: - Instant Transactions: Payments must settle in under 10 seconds, 24/7, across participating countries. - Compliance Challenges: Financial institutions face heightened pressure to perform real-time due diligence, including sanctions screening, fraud prevention, and AML compliance. Stringent cutoffs in sanctions screening could lead to increased payment declines, current manual operational processes are not equipped to handle the speed and accuracy required. Financial institutions must modernize and automate to meet these demands effectively. - Impact on Businesses: B2B firms may need to rethink cash flow strategies, risk management, and compliance workflows to keep pace with this shift. - Customer Demand: This upgrade responds to growing expectations for faster, more transparent financial services. While the framework opens doors for innovation, it also underscores the urgent need for agile and automated compliance solutions. Is your organization ready to adapt?

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Anyone working in #payments around the world knows that payments are local. There are differences between countries but are there regional variations within countries? In #Ireland according to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland Payments Monitor there is a marked difference in use of digital wallets with people in #Dublin paying with them 4 times more than people in Roscommon (about 150km to the west). While on our family vacation in North West #Spain a few weeks back these were the payment notes. Regional Acquirers - This was the first time I was aware of the role they play with ABANCA (A banca in Galégo/Galician means the bank) observed in about half the merchant locations we visited. Abanca have naming rights on Riazor the stadium of Deportivo La Coruña which will host matches in World Cup 2030. National acquirers BBVA, Banco Sabadell (who paused the sale of their acquiring business to Nexi Group after BBVA's hostile takeover bid), Comercia Global Payments were present and a Getnet (part of Santander) all red terminal stood out. Getnet highlights payment installments/#BNPL via #Plazox with eligible customers able to spread purchases over 3,6,9 or 12 installments. Bring some cash - There was only one tourism business I saw that was 'Solo efectivo' - cash only, while some smaller churches only accept cash donations. Some public transport including buses in Santiago and A Coruña don't accept cards, although A Coruña has a closed loop card similar to Leap or Oyster and apparently it can be topped up at Abanca ATMs. One option that seemed ripe for cashless transactions was a little shop of multiple vending machines, Apunto 24, however it looked like all the machines had the card reader removed and it was cash only. One opportunity perhaps for Irish #fintechs JustTip and Strikepay is the hospitality space as we didn't have the option to leave a propina (tip) by card in any venue. Banco de España in a survey on cash usage last year found that 65% of the Spanish population used cash everyday while it was the primary payment method at point of sale for 60% of the population. I did spot the MuchBetter prepaid Mastercard for sale at a supermarket checkout and there appears to be a market for prepaid cards with BBVA and Santander among others offering them to customers who want to control spending or don't want to use their main cards online. Multi currency churches - The cathedral of Santiago de Compostela probably attracts one of the largest international church visitors in the world with about 3 million visitors annually including over 400,000 pilgrims who follow the yellow shell. It was interesting to see they accepted donations in other currencies though the volume of Ruble donations is probably pretty low at present. Getnet also advertise #DCC at their merchant locations with 'Pay in your currency' on the decal. Local terminals - Madrid HQ'ed @Itos Android based terminals were particularly well represented in the area Hasta la vista

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As you know, I keep one eye on the global market, two on the #European #market, and four on the #Italian market. Interestingly, the The Future Of Banking report sheds light on what's happening in Italy within the realm of #digitalbanking. Here, the digital payments landscape is dominated by PostePay and HYPE (excluding the banking apps from incumbent banks). PostePay is a robust product, highly localized with 20 million active cards, but its stringent automatic controls too often block or limit accounts. Additionally, the cash withdrawal limits are relatively low—at 500 euros per day up to a maximum of 3000 euros per month, if I'm not mistaken—and in a country where cash is still significant, this creates a substantial issue. Furthermore, in cases of missed payments or legal issues, accounts with an IT IBAN are typically the first to be seized, and this is becoming a widespread problem. Consequently, there's a shift towards foreign banking services, and Revolut offers an excellent app, numerous services, exceptional stability, and unmatched speed. Moreover, using Revolut is enjoyable; you can track your travels or the performance of stocks. For me, it's one of the best apps ever developed, and as a Product Manager, it certainly serves as one of my guiding lights when i take decision for the financial apps we do. Additionally, they have done an excellent job with nationalization. The main competitor was N26, but it has been restricted and, in my opinion, has invested little, in addition to being blocked in Italy due to AML issues. #Isybank by Intesa Sanpaolo is struggling; people being forcibly shifted to a new app without a physical bank branch to turn to have not rewarded the bank, which knows banking but not app development and customers retain practice. This has been clearly demonstrated, especially since reviews suggest that Thought Machine as a core banking system has not done them any favors. In conclusion, the game is still on, users are volatile and can easily switch; there is still much room for growth, and beyond, #PSD3 could bring significant improvements, allowing digital banks to operate more effectively. The world of credit is particularly enticing for those of us who thrive on commissions, and this is evident from the profitability per customer that Neo Banks (with a banking license) have compared to EMIs. There's still much fun to be had in this sector!

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