Robinhood is currently undergoing a new fundraising deal that values the company at approximately $1.3 billion with investment from DST Global; the undisclosed funding will add to previously raised capital of $66 million; the firm offers commission free trading on US stocks and has also launched a premium Robinhood Gold option for faster money transfers and margin trading. Source
Androscoggin Bank launched a new online lending platform for small businesses in January to better compete with the market's options for online small business loans; the firm's Fast Response Business Loans Platform was built in partnership with an undisclosed fintech firm and has processed half a dozen loan applications since its launch; its lending criteria is based on credit score, number of years in business and being based in Maine; its interest rates start at 6% and it currently offers credit lines of up to $10,000 and term loans of up to $100,000. Source
Bank of America says it will invest $1.5 million in a Charlotte fintech initiative over the next three years; the investment is the first for the city from a financial services company; regarding the investment, Cathy Bessant, Bank of America's chief operations and technology officer, said: "Charlotte has proven to be a place where a sustainable company can be founded, emerge and grow. Fintech is a significant, new opportunity for Charlotte that connects our strong finance and technology infrastructure with innovatively minded people, creating tech jobs and new paths to economic mobility."; Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts is expected to publicly announce more details on the initiative in the next few months. Source
BlackRock's new investment management executive Mark Wiseman has reorganized the business with a greater focus on automated investing for its active funds; the changes will focus on the actively-managed equities business and include pricing changes and increased use of computer models for active investment funds; the firm's passive investments have helped it grow assets under management to $5.1 trillion however its active fund performance has lagged and in 2016 reported $275.1 billion invested, a decrease from $317.3 billion three years prior. Source
John Battelle, founder of Newco, talks with SoFi's Mike Cagney about the firm and its business growth; Cagney talks about the firm's customer commitment and the support customers receive over traditional banks; also reports on the verticals it has expanded to since starting the business with student loans; additionally Cagney provides some metrics on the business including that the company has $1 billion in equity on its balance sheet, $6 billion of lending capacity, $9.5 billion in loans for 2017 and estimates $18 to $20 billion in loan originations for 2018. Source
Jet Capital is a Dallas-based online lender primarily lending to underserved small businesses; it was launched in 2015 and currently focuses on businesses with 20 or fewer employees; the firm has identified Albuquerque as a growing target market with over 28,000 businesses in its target range; the firm's cash advances average approximately $25,000 and with the payouts, the company also purchases rights to future sales. Source
The US Senate's Banking Committee majority leader says a full reform of Dodd-Frank is unlikely but the Committee will seek to pass targeted reforms; the Banking Committee majority leader also sees larger regulatory changes coming mainly from the independent agencies; the outlook means the Financial Choice Act led by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling is also unlikely to be passed in the Senate; "The Choice Act is our omnibus legislation, but we will also reintroduce its component bills," says Hensarling; a previous executive order from President Trump which halts new federal regulations or requires regulators to repeal two rules for every new one issued is also slowing the regulatory process. Source
SeekingAlpha reports on the valuation of Square, Inc. citing several factors that have led to an overvalued stock price of $17.37; the author reports that assumptions on the growth of its customers is overestimated; says it will have difficulty when expanding to higher value customers and internationally also reporting that the business model is at risk to lower cost market competitors; also says that its reliance on Square Capital lending to retain customers and balance attrition of gross payment volume is unlikely primarily due to market competition. Source
A bankruptcy court filing has caused the share price to drop for BofI however FBR is maintaining its outperform rating; BofI is a banking affiliate to online lender Quick Bridge who is the defendant in a court case in which a plaintiff in bankruptcy is seeking to annul its debt from the lender; the plaintiff is claiming the lending relationship violates state laws and that the loan is not valid. Source
Patrick McHenry is one of the most proactive advocates for fintech in Congress; at LendIt USA 2017 he provided his insight from Congress on fintech and also spoke with Lend Academy in their podcast; his views are framing many of Washington D.C.'s legislative debates and his legislation, the Financial Services Innovation Act of 2016 (HR 6118), could be a significant factor helping to support future fintech innovation in the US. Source