UK digital bank Starling Bank is now available to a broader set of users; still in a beta testing phase, the firm is now adding additional clients beyond just friends, family and product testers; as enhancements to the platform it recently announced its public API, which will allow for a product marketplace, and it has also partnered with TransferWise; Starling Bank will be offering its users full current account functionality with a contactless MasterCard debit card also including international payment services. Source
Revolut has announced a new partnership with Lending Works that will allow the mobile banking app to offer P2P loans; through the partnership, the app's mobile users can submit loan applications and receive funding; loans will be available for 500 British pounds ($608) to 5,000 British pounds ($6,079) with APRs of approximately 9.9% and Lending Works will use customer data from Revolut in loan underwriting approvals; the partnership is expected to bring a significant amount of new business for Lending Works which was launched in 2014 and has lent a total of 50 million British pounds ($61 million) to consumers. Source
Lisa Caplan from Nutmeg provides insight on investing in individual savings accounts (ISAs); reports on six myths that keep UK investors from investing in ISAs; notes the tax free advantages of investment in ISAs up to the allowance limit of 15,240 British pounds ($18,588) and the allowance limit increase to 20,000 British pounds ($24,394) beginning in April. Source
The Startupbootcamp FinTech London and PwC have released a new report which finds more companies are investing in artificial intelligence; the report's findings are based on program applicants; findings show that artificial intelligence is significantly impacting customer service solutions; report also provides insight on top trends in fintech including an increasing number of companies focused on B2B and SME solutions. Source
The Finance Innovation Lab and Toynbee Hall will partner to create a fintech incubator; the incubator will focus on companies in financial health; the Financial Health Fellowship will be a six month endeavor helping companies to scale their businesses; more details about the program can be found here and the program is accepting applications through April 10. Source
UK digital bank startup Monzo has listed a new crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube and is seeking to raise 2.5 million British pounds ($3.09 million) as part of a broader fundraising for a total of 22 million British pounds ($27.18 million); Business Insider provides details on growth plans outlined in the crowdfunding campaign; Monzo is currently showing a seven year plan to an initial public offering which will include an estimated 75 million British pounds ($92.67 million) in new capital in the next five years; Monzo says it will raise capital again in May 2018 and it expects to report a profit after 2020; the firm has been granted a banking license and will begin offering deposit accounts as well as overdraft lending which it expects to help improve profitability. Source
London-based FOL Wealth has launched a new robo advisor service for its wealth management clients; the solution offers clients automated service at an annual fee of 0.90% with a minimum investment of 1,000 British pounds ($1,216); it is intended to serve as a hybrid solution complementing the human advice of the firm's wealth advisors. Source
The UK's National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) has lifted insurance restrictions for its brokers; it will now provide insurance coverage to its brokers for all P2P loans; "Peer-to-peer lending is booming and it's fantastic that our members can now use it as much as they like, safe in the knowledge that they enjoy protection arranged by NACFB Insurance Services," said Paul Goodman, NACFB chairman. Source
Old Mutual has reduced its stake in the VPC Specialty Lending Fund to less than 6%; the Fund's performance has been struggling since September 2016 and it has been steadily shifting to balance sheet investments; over half of the portfolio is now contained in balance sheet investments which is an increase from 43% in June 2016. Source
CapitalRise has announced the launch of an innovative finance individual savings account (IFISA) offering its investors a tax free account for investing in the firm's real estate investments; investors can invest in the IFISA with a minimum of 1,000 British pounds ($1,223); the investment maximum for the current tax year is 15,240 British pounds ($18,632) and the maximum will increase to 20,000 British pounds ($24,451) in the following tax year; the platform offers a range of real estate loan property investments in the UK with tax-free returns of approximately 10% to 14% per year. Source