Buy now, pay later. It’s a simple and evocative term for a growing financial service that offers precisely what the name suggests – the ability to buy something without having to pay for it till a later date. Unlike revolving credit, the main sales pitch for the scheme is that if you make your payments on time, you do so with zero interest and zero additional processing … [Read more...] about Buy Now Pay Later – A More Level Playing Field for Lending?
Banking
Traditional Finance Moves Closer to Cryptofinance
As U.S. and international financial regulators debate how to regulate cryptocurrencies, financial institutions make business moves toward crypto legitimation. State Street, the Boston-based custodian bank and second oldest in the U.S., announced the formation of a new digital asset unit, with a bitcoin notice on its home page. "We are striving to totally re-imagine and … [Read more...] about Traditional Finance Moves Closer to Cryptofinance
Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking
Recreational marijuana is now legal in 16 states - with medical usage legal in 36. It's now a thriving billion-dollar industry in those states -- but it remains in an uncertain position, heavily reliant on cash and with uncertain prospects for banking partners due to the continued federal prohibition. The challenges are more difficult than some industries, to be sure; due to … [Read more...] about Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking
Navigating a Path to Digital Assets
It’s been a theme throughout the year: digital assets like Bitcoin are breaking into mainstream financial services. The expectation is that technology can bring its services to the consumer on a pre-dawn Sunday when they want to make an impulse buy – and that’s exactly what digital assets enable. They let financial institutions put a disposable asset in the hands of a … [Read more...] about Navigating a Path to Digital Assets
What Does the Future of Digital Finance Hold for Banks?
Note: The truism that the price of financial assets is correlated to events and the pronouncements of the institutions and individuals correlation of cryptocurrencies to news reports became even more apparent on Wednesday morning. A report by Chinese regulators that virtual currencies are not "real" currencies sparked this selloff. The selloff earlier in the week resulted from … [Read more...] about What Does the Future of Digital Finance Hold for Banks?
April 2021: The Month in FinTech
Our April stories mirrored many of those themes through articles covering banks' continuing investment in FinTech and the increasing legitimation of cryptofinance within traditional financial institutions. Here's a review. Banking on FinTech U.S. banks made more than 65 strategic bets in FinTech in 2020. Capital markets investments led the way. “Despite the economic … [Read more...] about April 2021: The Month in FinTech