Starling is a challenger bank based in the UK; Boden speaks about Starling, open banking and how she came to discover fintech which in turn led her to founding Starling; Boden previously worked in executive positions at UBS, ABN Amro, RBS and AIB; Starling was founded in 2014 as an app-only bank; in an interview Boden stated: "…and in 2014, I started the journey to build a bank. And it's been a long process because you don't just build a bank overnight. We've done things the hard way in that I'm a big believer that things that are worth doing are things that tend to be quite hard – because easy things anybody can do." Source
Landbay's most recent fundraising brings total funding to GBP7 million ($8.98 million) which the company has obtained from crowdfunding; the company's business is focused on funding buy to let mortgages and it has received authorization from the FCA; it plans to use the new funds to expand its operations and launch new products. Source
Stuart Law from Assetz Capital discusses different platform approaches to security, risk assessment and lending in an article for FT Adviser; provides details on the pre-approval and post-approval process for loans, noting the importance of these processes for investors given that P2P platforms provide alternative investments with potentially higher risks; also discusses the advantages that a provision fund can offer for investor security. Source
The European country is considering a coin offering that would include the issuance of estcoins; the offering would build on the country's progressive innovation in technology and specifically its e-Residency Program; Kaspar Korjus, director of Estonia's e-Residency program, has been a leading proponent for the ICO and the country is also supported by ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin; funds from the ICO would go towards investment in new technologies for the public sector as well as invest venture capital into Estonian companies. Source
Dutch bank Rabobank has built a 3D model of its organization and IT systems to help them better understand how to make improvements; Anne-Marie Breuker, Rabobank business architect, tells Finextra: "We wanted to create something that would have a wow-factor within the bank, it had to appeal to the entire organisation, from the Board of Directors to the workplace. Preferably visually, and permanently. So, we came up with the idea for this model."; this is the first of its kind and there is a thought that this type of review could lead to more banks or financial services firms doing similar projects. Source
While P2P lending platforms have taken a significant amount of lending from banks since the financial crisis, data from the Financial Times suggests that growth could be slowing; an Ernst & Young survey shows only 7% of 1,100 people using P2P lending platforms for borrowing and a separate survey from Blumberg Capital says only 4% of 1,050 British adults have used the platforms in the past 12 months, signaling less awareness and demand; banks have also increased investment in fintech regaining some market share; overall, the Financial Times reports that the market in the UK is changing with regulations supporting P2P lenders but less demand and market risks slowing growth. Source
The company's revenue increased from GBP20.6 million ($26.38 million) in 2015 to GBP33.2 million ($42.52 million) in 2016; its earnings also improved with a GBP -5.8 million (-$7.43 million) loss versus GBP -8.8 million (-$11.27 million) in 2015 and the company reported a fourth quarter operating profit; the 2016 results also showed loan originations increasing by 30% to GBP689 million ($882.4 million) in 2016. Source
The company is estimating a full year loss and its CEO has resigned; it is also being investigated by the FCA and cutting its dividend; the surprise estimates and regulatory investigation are key factors influencing the stock market losses; the company serves 2.4 million customers through a door to door lending process with a focus on the underbanked. Source
After receiving FCA authorization earlier this month, ThinCats provides some insight on plans for its IFISA; Stewart Cazier, head of retail for ThinCats, says the company is planning for a 2017 release of its IFISA; Cazier also says the firm is planning a staggered rollout with registered investors receiving first priority. Source
Innovate Finance's CEO Lawrence Wintermeyer has left the association to pursue other opportunities; Wintermeyer served as CEO for two and a half years and helped the association increase its membership to 250 members; Charlotte Crosswell, former CEO of Nasdaq NLX, has been appointed as the association's interim CEO while it searches for a successor. Source