Dear banks, social media doesn’t have to be scary

Dear Banks,

How's it going? If you're reading this, you must be on social media, or you're at least checking the internet. That's great.

I've been meaning to write this letter for a long time. The first thing you should know is that I think you're really important. Sure, I might like to joke about banker's hours and bailouts, but the truth is, the alchemical process that turns pay cheques into cash has always inspired me. And I'm not alone.

Banking and financial services technology world, unite!

IBS Intelligence has launched a new global platform – IBS Chat – dedicated to increasing conversation and knowledge sharing within the financial services industry as a whole.

IBS Chat aims to bring industry participants together to exchange views and ideas, ask and answer questions on all matters relating to banking and financial services technology.

Sustainability-focused banking: a compelling case?

There is profit and positive impact in sustainability-focused banking and there is proof, states Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) as it publishes a new report based on a decade of data.

‘Why isn’t all banking done this way?’ the organisation now asks the policy makers, regulators and banking institutions worldwide.

Do we need the digital-only bank?

Post-crisis a lot of people don’t trust banks. You can’t really blame them, it’s just the way things are now. That mistrust hasn’t stopped people using their banks, of course – where else would they keep their money? Apart from stuffing it into the mattress there isn’t much choice.

Never fear, those of you clamouring for a different way to do banking (raise your hands – anyone?), as a wave of digital-only banks have arrived to save the day.

From $120m to $20m in less than ten years: how not to do business

Source: getty images

So, as FIS is busy with the takeover of fellow US vendor Sungard, the latter is shedding business that is not likely to be of any use to the new owners. Thus, the core banking software unit – known as Ambit Core Banking – has been sold to rival banking technology provider, Silverlake Axis.

Nothing unusual, one might say, businesses are bought and sold all the time. True, but how many large international fintech firms have managed to lose $100 million of business value in less than ten years?

Banking technology in Asia: the place to be

Everyone who is anyone in the banking software space wants to do business in Asia, and for a good reason: the region is as buoyant as ever.

The established markets are getting even more sophisticated in their technology consumption (if you are in Singapore, why not try out an NFC-enabled wristband to pay for your commute, travel, shopping and eating out?).

(Survey) Blockin' all over the world: Is Blockchain all it's cracked up to be?

Blockchain focused start-ups are springing up like mushrooms after the rain, and the big banks all seem to be investing in this space. But is this just a ‘fashion craze’ (loom bands, anyone?) and the big guys just want to show that they are technologically advanced and forward-looking, whilst the new guys want to cash in quick before the world moves on to the next big thing?