Financial Technology

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Jacob Parker Bowles Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gap with Fintech Solutions

Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gap with Fintech Solutions

Financial inclusion, the access, and usage of financial services by individuals and businesses, is crucial in reducing poverty and fostering economic growth. Fintech solutions have emerged as a powerful tool to bridge the gap and extend financial services to underserved populations. This blog explores the concept of financial inclusion, its challenges, and fintech’s role in creating a more inclusive financial landscape.

Understanding Financial Inclusion: Financial inclusion aims to provide individuals, particularly those in marginalized communities, with access to essential financial services like savings, credit, insurance, and payment systems. Unfortunately, millions worldwide lack access to such services, impeding their ability to financially save, invest, and protect themselves. Financial exclusion often results from barriers like physical distance, lack of documentation, limited financial literacy, and high costs associated with traditional banking services.

The Role of Fintech Solutions: Fintech, a portmanteau of finance and technology, leverages digital innovations to reshape financial services. Fintech solutions have played a transformative role in expanding financial inclusion by addressing the limitations of traditional banking systems. Mobile banking, for instance, allows individuals to access and manage their finances through smartphones, eliminating the need for physical branches. This empowers the unbanked or underbanked population to conveniently transact, save, and borrow money.

Additionally, fintech has facilitated the emergence of alternative credit scoring models. By leveraging non-traditional data sources like mobile usage patterns and social media behavior, fintech platforms can assess creditworthiness and extend loans to individuals without a formal credit history. This allows previously excluded populations to access credit and build financial stability.

Protecting Consumer Rights and Privacy: While fintech solutions have paved the way for financial inclusion, addressing concerns surrounding consumer rights and data privacy is crucial. Regulations and guidelines must be in place to protect users from predatory practices, fraud, and data breaches. Fintech companies must ensure robust security measures, transparent terms, and responsible lending practices to build customer trust and safeguard their financial well-being.

Financial inclusion is an essential element in fostering economic growth and reducing poverty. Fintech solutions offer immense potential in bridging the gap and providing underserved populations access to vital financial services. By embracing technology responsibly and addressing consumer protection concerns, we can create a more inclusive economic landscape that benefits individuals and economies.

The Biggest Myths about Fintech

Financial technology, better known as FinTech, is a broad term used to refer to software, mobile applications, and other technologies that are designed to facilitate and automate financial transactions. This includes mobile banking, crowdfunding platforms, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and more. FinTech ultimately makes financial processes more easily manageable and efficient.

The fintech industry has been experiencing tremendous growth for some time now, gaining interest from investors, business owners, consumers, and bankers alike. However, new buzz is often accompanied by myths and misconceptions; this can lead to hesitation from those who are interested in the industry and would benefit from taking advantage of the opportunities it can offer. Don’t let these misconceptions and myths stop your business from growing and reaching its full potential. To help you distinguish facts from fiction, here are nine of the biggest myths about the fintech industry.

MYTH 1: Fintech carries a high degree of risk.

Risk management in the fintech industry has caused a lot of rumors and speculation. The truth is, as the field grows, new types of risks have become apparent, such as fraud, merchant, consumer, and credit risks. This has put immense pressure on fintech firms to strengthen their risk management capabilities. As a result, fintech firms are now implementing some of the most robust security measures available.

MYTH 2: Fintech is limited to larger markets.

There is a common misconception that fintech services only cater to big, privileged corporations in major cities like Silicon Valley, New York, London, and Hong Kong. While they certainly make up a large portion of the sector, Fintech in Emerging Markets (EMs) has been steadily increasing. Previously, many EMs were hindered by a lack of access to financial services, low income, outdated technology, and insufficient infrastructure. However, the landscape is changing, and EMs now provide fruitful opportunities for fintech companies, which offer customers better and more affordable services.

MYTH 3: Fintech is solely for younger generations.

It is undeniable that young generations have embraced Fintech due to their technological savvy. Nevertheless, baby boomers should not be underestimated, as they are quickly becoming frequent users of FinTech services, with an estimated 27% using the services. In fact, they are the fastest-growing segment of fintech users, predicted to make up 51% of urban consumption growth by 2030. Fintech has plenty of features that appeal to all age groups, so it’s important to consider these needs when developing services.

MYTH 4: Fintech is disrupting banking.

The media sometimes casts banking and Fintech as opposites, but in reality, they can work together in many mutually beneficial ways. For instance, digital account opening, mobile wallet, fraud management, and subscription management are all areas in which collaboration between the two sectors can work well. Referral partnerships are now being established, whereby banks refer customers to suitable Fintech services, getting a commission in return while providing users with improved services and a better customer experience. Collaboration between these two industries offers advantages for all involved, showing that Fintech doesn’t necessarily have to compete with banks but simply enhance their offerings.

MYTH 5: Fintech is all about money

We know that Fintech utilizes the application of technology in the world of finance as it relates to payment processing, lending, and online and mobile banking. But Fintech also covers security, insurance, and investment management. Therefore, Fintech is a broad term that should be used to describe a variety of financial solutions that are revolutionizing the way people manage their finances.

MYTH 6: Fintech should be cheap.

The truth is that developing your own fintech solution from scratch is far from the most cost-effective option. The final cost of a fintech service may depend on the type of app, the hourly rate of the developers, and any additional functionality. Despite the initial investment, using function as a service (FaaS) can be the best choice for any business looking to launch a fintech product.

MYTH 7: The Fintech bubble will burst.

When Fintech first emerged in the 2010s, it was met with skepticism and criticism — a passing trend that would soon end. However, Fintech has since become a revolutionary force in the financial industry. More than 210 million Americans are utilizing fintech services, making up 65% of the total population. In 2022, over 10,000 fintech startups were launched in the United States alone. Clearly, the fintech industry is still going strong and doesn’t look to be stopping any time soon.

MYTH 8: Regulations will put an end to Fintech.

Fintech leaders are well aware of the potential barriers and restrictions that can be imposed on them by government regulations. As such, they are actively seeking out ways to collaborate with governments in order to provide citizens with better financial services. This is evidenced by the UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, who has outlined a plan to further develop the UK’s fintech sector and make the financial markets even more efficient. His plan is a testament to the fact that governments are supportive of the fintech industry, as their ultimate goal is to ensure citizens are provided with quality services.

MYTH 9: Emerging Fintech products must be unique.

Countless companies and business owners are hesitant to invest in fintech solutions, thinking that it must be a revolutionary idea to be successful. However, innovation isn’t the only thing that will bring success. Quality, cost-effective, and user-friendly services are often more important to customers. Last year alone, 26,000 fintech startups were created, few of which were truly innovative or unique. The key to success lies in identifying what customers need and how you can add to or change your services to meet those needs.

Fintech Trends Impacting Travel in 2022

While the travel industry has started to recover from the COVID-19 outbreak, new payment trends are beginning to emerge. The increasing convergence of travel and fintech is one of the most interesting developments in the industry in recent years.

 

The rapid emergence and evolution of new payment methods and technologies make it easier for travel companies to provide their customers with more comprehensive services. These changes are expected to significantly impact how money is handled in the travel industry next year.

New B2B payment options are available through open banking

One of the biggest changes in financial services is the emergence of open banking. This new service allows people to share their banking data with various third-party firms. It also will enable organizations to perform multiple functions, such as initiating transactions, without the need for the account owner to do so.

 

The emergence of open banking will allow travel sellers to pay out to providers such as airlines using various payment methods. Previously, they could only settle with industry settlement schemes, virtual cards, and cards. With the addition of open banking, the fourth major B2B payment method will be direct bank-to-bank transfers.

 

Soon, travel sellers will be able to use their PISPs to pay for their transactions using established banking rails. This will make bank-to-bank transfers one of the most common B2B payment methods in the industry.

 

Fintech services are being offered by travel companies

The biggest change that’s happening in the financial services industry is the ability of travel companies to provide their customers with more comprehensive services. For many years, the use of co-branded airline cards has been a successful driver of loyalty. With the emergence of new embedded banking technologies, the industry can now expand its offerings.

 

Due to the emergence of new banking technologies, travel companies are now able to expand their offerings by providing their customers with more comprehensive services. For instance, if an airline offers its customers the opportunity to earn points by paying their salary into their current account, then they’ll be able to use its loyalty program to reward them.

 

Before the emergence of new banking technologies, it was very difficult for travel companies to consider using virtual products and services. However, with the availability of white-label products and services from embedded finance providers, travel companies can now offer their customers more comprehensive services.

 

Buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a popular payment method that allows retailers to extend a credit line to their customers. Through a quick risk assessment, a merchant can then decide to give their customers a line of credit, which allows them to pay in several installments. It’s a very smooth experience for both the consumers and the bank.

 

BNPL is the latest version of credit that’s designed for the digital age. It’s ideal for the travel industry as it enables flexible payment methods, which is very important for the many people who travel during the holiday season.

 

One of the biggest advantages of BNPL is its ability to allow travel merchants to offer their customers the opportunity to make a higher-value purchase. With flexible credit, they can also expand their options by adding additional services.

 

How is Inflation Impacting Fintech

How is Inflation Impacting Fintech?

More consumers are choosing online fintech over traditional banks and credit unions regarding financial management. The decline in the value of fintech stocks over the past year has been quite steep. This sector includes companies such as digital payments and insurance firms. According to Forbes, a little over 10% of consumers pay for the services of these providers. Most consumers pay for the services of fintechs through monthly subscriptions or membership fees. A third of those aged 21 to 55 subscribe to these services, while only half spend more than $10 a month. Despite the recent market turbulence, driven primarily by runaway inflation and rising interest rates, the decline in the value of financial technology stocks has been considered mild by market observers. However, analysts believe that the sector’s slump is a necessary step to improve the industry’s stability.

The term financial technology refers to various ways financial firms can improve the efficiency and accessibility of their operations by using software. These businesses typically use that technology to automate or adapt traditional financial services. Neobanks are online banks not based on physical branches. Instead, they offer a wide range of financial services through their online platforms. These nonbank neobanks do not have the same broad range of offerings as their traditional counterparts. Many of the founders of financial technology companies are not bankers; instead, they tend to focus on the user experience of their platforms. Most do not have a deep understanding of the financial services industry. One of the main factors that contribute to the profitability of these firms is the transaction fees that they receive when customers use their services. Financial technology’s rapid emergence and evolution has created new opportunities for banks and other financial firms. These businesses are constantly looking for new ways to improve their operations and meet the needs of their customers. Due to this innovation, traditional banks are forced to rethink their approach to operating.

According to a study conducted by Simon-Kucher, the world’s neobanks have a combined population of over 400. Out of the top 25 firms, only two have managed to achieve profitability. These firms typically make less than $30 a customer. The study also noted that the number of neobanks globally has increased over the years. Out of the 400 or so neobanks currently operating, it is predicted that around 300 will not be here for long. The value of financial technology stocks has been declining steadily over the past couple of years. As of 2022, fintech stocks are down around 25% from their peak, underperforming the Nasdaq-100, down more than 26% year-to-date. Financial technology’s rapid emergence and evolution has created new opportunities for banks and other financial firms. However, the flood of new financial technology companies backed by SPACs has all but evaporated. Leaders such as PayPal Holdings, Block Inc., and Robinhood Markets have lost more than 60% of their value since October 2021. One of the main factors that prevent financial technology firms from turning a profit is the vast amount of money they give to their customers. The key to profitability for these firms is to move away from being free and toward being fee-based. The potential of financial technology companies in traditional financial institutions is immense, considering the various sizes of financial institutions in the industry. Aside from being fee-based, financial technology firms can also benefit from the advantages of being backed by banks. With the ability to offer high-interest deposits, traditional banks can compete on a scale most neobanks cannot.

What To Look For In Fintech In 2022

What to Look for in Fintech in 2022

Fintech has developed and expanded increasingly over the last decade, with firms leveraging technology, innovations, big data, and analytics. These developments are far from the last we’ll see in the financial sector; as new developments arise, everything that involves finance will be impacted by fintech. Here are some fintech trends to keep in mind as we draw closer to 2022.

 

Banking

 

Society is steadily leaning towards becoming cashless, and digital-only banks lend to this growing trend. Fewer people have physically needed to go to a bank and handle their financial issues, resulting in fewer lines and no physical cash to hold. Current online banks, such as the UK-based Monzo, Revolut, and Starling, have seen rapidly growing customer bases that force existing banks to rethink the focus on mobile apps. Fintech improvements continue to shift the banking industry, which has forced banks to close branches as a result. 

 

As customers continue to say they plan on converting to digital-only banking, it’s no surprise that a quarter of all bank branches are expected to close within the next three years.

 

On the other hand, open banking pledges to deliver more competitive financial services to both individuals and businesses. This banking method connects banks, third parties, and technology providers, consensually sharing customer data with authorised providers.

 

Blockchain

 

As digital ledger technologies continue to advance and interest in cryptocurrency grows, blockchain technology will continue to open opportunities to fintech companies. According to PWC, worldwide economies are expected to adopt blockchain technology at scale by 2025. Blockchain continues to disrupt the payment industry, with many people expecting it to become apparent in both the financial sector and, specifically, fintech. This technology enables secure payments and transactions for all who use it while removing the middleman, therefore reducing costs by a large percentage. Presently, cryptocurrencies have successfully used blockchain technology and are prepared to be incorporated into financial institutions, applying them to traditional banking operations.

 

Financial Literacy

 

Fintech also provides a way to improve people’s financial literacy, allowing customers access to easy-to-understand financial information so they can make sensible decisions about their personal finances. Not all people, for example, understand the importance of budgeting; not all people are completely informed of the details when making spending decisions. Fintech uses data accessible through open banking to inform customers about the best available choices for them. The hope is to continue educating people in financial literacy throughout 2022 so that everyone can make smart financial decisions.

How Has Fintech Impacted Different Industries

How Has Fintech Impacted Different Industries?

Fintech has spread massively over the years, to the point where it impacts more than just the financial industry. Thanks to the development of fintech, two types of products were created for the benefit of others: B2B and B2C. The first type, B2B, offers different financial services through fintech apps, while the second type, B2C, offers apps that are user-oriented for clients. The B2C model, specifically, was created to compete with financial service providers. 

 

From mobile apps to trading areas, fintech projects vary immensely and allow entrepreneurs to get their money without having to visit the bank. Here are a few industries that fintech has impacted over the years.

 

Funds Transfer

 

Transferring funds used to be slow and expensive. If you wanted to transfer money, you really had to think about when you would do it and when you needed the money transferred by if you wanted to get it done in time. However, with fintech, the funds transfer field started to develop; according to Think with Google, 69% of smartphone users transfer money using a mobile app rather than a website. Plenty of online services exist for money transfers, such as TransferWise. These services give small companies and private users the chance to send money to others at a lower price. 

 

Loans

 

Since many people have credit cards with certain payment limits, it’s possible to take out a loan online. Web and mobile applications such as KreditBee and MobiKwik allow people to use their sites and take out a loan quickly; users can usually apply and be approved for a loan in fifteen minutes. Once approved, the whole sum of the loan can be transferred to any banking card within an hour, and users can access their personal information (balances, arrears, etc.) quickly and easily. It’s no longer necessary to stand in lines and sign physical documents to get a loan; this trend could completely replace habitual crediting.

 

Chatbots

 

Chatbots are artificially intelligent bots that can, among other things, help improve the financial process. They can send notifications about changes to whoever is listed, provide helpful information to users, and more. Due to this, chatbots have increased user loyalty, which increases a business’s profit and makes a product more competitive. Several banks globally already use chatbots and have seen these results, using them to notify clients, help clients pay their bills, and so on. Some, like MasterCard, even have a chatbot for Facebook Messenger to improve digital services.

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FinTech 101: What is a Green Bank?

What Is a Green Bank?
You may have heard the term “Green Bank” and wondered what it meant. This short article will explain the term and concept behind it.

Green Banks in a Nutshell
A green bank is a bank that exists for the sole purpose of battling earth climate change by funding projects that may be able to decrease the global carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels and energy. They tend to support infrastructure spending in wind, solar, and other renewable energy space.

Green Banks: Functional Model
Green banks are not climate charities. Their funding is expected to be paid back with a profit for the bank. Currently, they are supported by some states in the U.S. and also by private funding. Green Banks utilize philanthropic and public funds. They generally fund energy projects that beyond the research stage and “good to go”. The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) is a nonprofit agency that is deeply involved in advocating for green banks’ continued development.

Where Did the Idea for Green Banks Originate?
The idea for green banks started in 2008 when two entrepreneurial-minded, Ken Berlin and Reed Hundt, came up with the concept as part of the Obama transition team’s plans for promoting cleaner energy changes in US society. A proposal to enact federally supported green banks was attached to the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The concept never made it as legislation at the federal level. Green bank supporters were not daunted. Consequently, green bank advocates persuaded some states to take up the cause.

Green Banks: Some Statics
Currently, there are at least ten states that have at least one green bank. In addition, they are in the early stages of catching on globally as well. They also exist in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Within the U.S., green banks have already been involved in the funneling of some $3 billion in funds for clean-energy projects.

Green Banks: Their Future Development
With the advent of the Biden presidency, green banks may again find a firmer footing at the federal level. Indeed, in December 2020, Mr. Biden proposed the idea of a national green bank. They appear sure to gain more traction internationally as the desire to dampen climate change takes hold.

How To Forge A Career In Fintech - Jacob Parker -Bowles

How to Forge a Career in Fintech

Fintech companies offer innovative solutions to financial problems. They help banks to improve their customer service and be more flexible. Due to the growing popularity of the fintech industry, their jobs can be very rewarding. But what does it take to forge a career in fintech?

Start Small, Learn and Grow

Fintech is a booming industry, meaning that there’s more to be discovered. As a result, there’s a lot of opportunities in this industry. It helps to get into the industry with some experience in the financial sector.

However, it’s not necessary. A person with a law degree can learn on the job and become an expert in no time. Therefore, one shouldn’t procrastinate. If they think this is the industry for them, they should go for it. They can start at the bottom and work their way up.

What’s Fintech All About?

Fintech is an interesting industry because an individual works in two vast industries: technology and finance.

An example of an emerging fintech trend is open banking. Here, the bank allows tech startups to facilitate customer service and transactions through an app. The customer has to consent before using the app. Once the customer agrees, the bank discloses that person’s banking details to the startup.

Any person that works for the bank or startup is already involved in the fintech industry. That’s how easily one can find themselves working in the fintech industry.

Skills Required

There are three sets of skills that are important in the fintech industry: software and hardware engineering, finance, and communication.

A person with coding skills can work in the product development department. Their work will be to code programs or applications that can be used to improve the financial sector. The person with finance skills helps the coders comprehend what the app is supposed to do. The person with communication skills will help to monetize the fintech solution.

Finally, the fintech industry can be very demanding. If one wants to succeed, one has to consider work and personal life. They have to be in perfect balance. Too much work can leave a person feeling exhausted and unmotivated. Therefore, it’s always good to think about one’s health and happiness.

Benefits Of Fintech For Small Companies Jacob Parker Bowles

Benefits of FinTech for Small Companies

Financial technology, known as FinTech, is changing the way many small business owners run their companies. Struggling to find financing from lenders and strict regulatory compliance is leading many smaller companies to focus on FinTech. Instead of relying on traditional lenders to help support their companies, many entrepreneurs are now turning to affordable solutions from financial technology companies.

 

FinTech Product and Service Offerings

FinTech companies offer a range of solutions for small companies. Business owners have access to lending, foreign exchange services, and digital business solutions. Many finance experts agree that the rise of FinTech is not just a passing fancy, but a real shift in the way small business owners generate revenues and profit. A report from the World Economic Forum suggests that FinTech will change the entire business environment.

From invoicing solutions, peer to peer lending, and supply chain financing, FinTech companies are gaining a real market presence in the business world with their low-cost solutions. Additionally, these companies are not hamstrung by the regulations that many traditional banks face.

One of the largest gaps FinTech companies fill is lending solutions. Traditional banks often turn away small business owners seeking smaller loans. By offering so-called “micro-loans,” FinTech companies provide a critical lending solution for smaller companies that need less than $50,000. The Small Business Administration considers any loans of $50,000 or less as “micro-loans.”

Many FinTech companies also offer strategic invoicing and expense solutions. In many cases, small business owners have free access to these solutions using easy to download apps.

 

Other FinTech Solutions

Lending and tracking invoices are only two of a countless array of solutions offered by FinTech companies. Property management companies can accept payments from tenants using the solutions. Additionally, loans are available to help some of the costs of repairs and security deposits that many residents struggle with while property management companies still receive those funds upfront.

 

Many experts agree that FinTech for smaller companies is still in its infancy. Adopting FinTech as the primary source of business solutions for entrepreneurs is still a challenge. However, many experts do agree that FinTech companies have found a niche by providing services to smaller companies that largely go unrecognized by bigger banks.

Jacob Parker Bowles Fintech Around The World

Fintech Around the World

Fintech, short for financial technology, is a commonplace term in first world economies such as those of the United States and Europe. Even if you don’t work in the finance sector, you are probably familiar with it. It makes its way into the news all the time with hyperbolic speculation about how fintech will be the ultimate disruptor of traditional banking, overturning archaic legacy systems. It’s true that financial technologies have shaken up traditional financial markets to a certain extent, but exactly how much and in what ways varies across the globe.

To get a sense of how much the fintech sector is disrupting markets, we should look at stock investments in the major fintech markets around the world, on both a macro and micro scale. Overall, fintech has taken the world by storm. According to statistics collected from the 2017 FinTech Adoption Index, the average adoption rate of fintech products around the world is 33 percent- up from 15 percent in 2015. Even in emerging markets such as India, Brazil, China, Mexico, and South Africa, the adoption rate is about 50 percent. Fintech funding around the world totaled $49.7 billion between 2010 and 2015, and $25.8 billion in 2016 alone. As of 2016, there were approximately 1,400 fintech companies throughout 54 countries.

In the macrocosm, it is clear that fintech is a dominant and growing force, but to understand its impact on a deeper level, one should examine regional trends. Here is how the fintech sector plays out across European, U.S., and Asian markets, based on recent data from GP Bullhound and CB Insights.

United States

The United States is a hotspot for fintech activity, representing nearly half (46%) of all global fintech startups valued at $1 billion or more (or unicorns, in finance speak). The United States exhibits a fairly consistent trend over recent quarters where the volume of fintech deals being made is decreasing while the amounts are increasing. The reason for this trend can be attributed to a shift toward large-scale private investments, which could affect the supply of venture capital funding to other startups.

Europe

Fintech investments in European markets, in contrast to the purely capitalist United States, tend to be smaller and more regulated. Only one European fintech investment as of the second quarter of 2017 exceeded $50 million in value. Although the volume and value of investments have decreased since the first quarter of the year, investments follow a pattern according to the European financial year, whereby investors seeks to capitalize on early-stage fintech startups before the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, traditional banking models in the UK are starting to give way to technology-driven ones, as can be seen in ClearBank, the first UK clearing bank built on cloud technology rather than legacy systems.

Asia

The Asian fintech market has experienced rapid growth in the second quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, with deal value and volume both experiencing five-quarter highs. The reason for the spike in Asian fintech markets can be explained by huge investments in financial technologies alongside traditional financial institutions. Rather than disrupting traditional institutions, fintech businesses in Asia tend to supplement the existing infrastructure.

It’s easy to make generalizations about fintech and the effect it has on traditional financial markets around the world, but when we take a step back and examine how it plays out across key markets, it becomes apparent that fintech has a long way to go before it becomes the ultimate disrupter of financial markets people speculate. For now, it exists within a highly volatile market where traditional systems such as legacy banks continue to exist alongside fintech startups, many of them gradually morphing their financial offerings.

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