Mobile payments, blockchain and fintech payments news stories dominated in July 2015. Mobile payments news focused on the UK launch of Apple Pay, and the banks continue to express their excitement around blockchain technology. I never thought we would see news about Mike Tyson in a blog about payments news, but he’s fought his way into this months payments news recap too…! Finally, fintech hubs and innovation centres pop up here, there and everywhere!
Check out the following top payments news stories for July 2015…
1. Payments News – Cyber Security
- Royal Bank of Scotland encountered a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack resulting in the unavailability of their online banking services
- The ECB Fourth Report on Card Fraud for 2013 reveals an increase in fraudulent transactions by 8% compared with 2012
2. Payments News – Mobile Payments
- Apple Pay launches in the UK, with some banks missing
- Forrester’s Thomas Husson provides his thoughts on the launch in Expect Faster Adoption Of Apple Pay In The UK
- Mayor of London launches an initiative to embrace innovation and technology in London, with ideas including the processing of contactless payments at market stalls
- MasterCard and Samsung Pay link up in Europe
- ING Bank launches voice activated payments through their mobile banking app
- Despite the growth of mobile payments, cash still remains popular according to the coin supplied figures by the Royal Mint
- HomeSend and Azimo enable mobile money services in Asia and Asia-Pacific
- As Apple Pay launches in the UK, TFL provide some useful tips and warnings
- Samsung Pay trials in South Korea, with expectations that the global roll out will happen next month
- Vodafone India and Walmart team up to deliver mobile payments using M-Pesa in India
3. Payments News: Digital / Cryptocurrencies
- Deutsche Bank confirms their interest in blockchain technology to deliver stable systems, faster processing and lower cost payments
- Mike Tyson is to launch a Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATM – turning cash into Bitcoin – in August 2015
- Société Générale looks to hire an IT developer focusing on bitcoin, blockchain and crytocurrencies
- Greenwich Associates assess Bitcoin, the Blockchain and Their Impact on Institutional Capital Markets
- Standard Chartered highlight their interest in blockchain
4. Payments News: Banks
- An IDC Financial Insights Study title Branch Transformation in the Digital World reveals the challenges and opportunities for banks and their branch networks
- Wells Fargo launches New Innovation Group to lead innovation in financial services
- Santander launch a ‘digital cash kitty’ mobile app called KiTTi
5. Payments News: Fintech
- Fidelity National Information services in talks to buy Sungard
- Uber launches Xchange Leasing will no doubt attract a lot of attention as the firm steps into the car financing market
- Innovate Finance launch their UK 2020 Fintech Manifesto to position the UK as THE global Fintech centre
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) sets up a FinTech and Innovation Group (FTIG)
- Cap Gemini Consulting & Altimeter release a report: ‘The Innovation Game: Why and How Businesses are Investing in Innovation Centres‘
- PayPal separates from eBay
- ING launches ING FinTech Village with Deloitte, SWIFT Innotribe, Belcube, SmartFin Capital, Eggsplore and Startups.be
- Barclays launch Rise, their fintech innovation program
- Google confirms testing of Purchases with Google with some retailers
- UK government appoints Eileen Burbridge as fintech special envoy
6. Payments News: SEPA
- ERPB and ECB continues to push forward with recommendations and endorsements to implement instance payments and person to person payments in the
7. Payments News: SWIFT
- SWIFT release a statement on Iran and the potential sanctions relief
- SWIFT offer blockchain research grant
That’s it folks! Let me know below if I missed anything important….