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Financial Education and Fintech: Empowering Consumers with Financial Literacy Tools

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On March 11, 2024

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

In today’s fast-paced and digitally-driven world, financial literacy has become more important than ever. With the rise of fintech (financial technology) solutions, consumers have access to a wide range of tools and resources to help them manage their finances more effectively. From budgeting apps to investment platforms, fintech is revolutionizing the way people approach money management and financial planning. In this article, we’ll explore the intersection of financial education and fintech and how these tools are empowering consumers with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed financial decisions.

The Importance of Financial Education

Financial literacy is the foundation of sound financial decision-making. Yet, studies consistently show that many individuals lack even basic knowledge about key financial concepts, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. This lack of financial literacy can have serious consequences, leading to poor financial choices, debt problems, and limited opportunities for building wealth.

Financial education plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by providing individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to navigate the complex world of personal finance. By empowering consumers with financial literacy tools and resources, they can make more informed decisions about their money, set and achieve their financial goals, and ultimately improve their financial well-being.

Enter Fintech: Revolutionizing Financial Services

Fintech has emerged as a powerful force in the financial services industry, leveraging technology to deliver innovative solutions that streamline processes, improve accessibility, and enhance user experience. From mobile banking apps to robo-advisors, fintech companies are transforming every aspect of financial services, making it easier and more convenient for consumers to manage their money.

One of the key advantages of fintech is its ability to democratize financial services, making them accessible to a broader audience. Traditional banking and investment services were often reserved for those with significant wealth or access to brick-and-mortar institutions. Fintech has changed that by offering low-cost, user-friendly alternatives that cater to the needs of everyday consumers, including those who may have been underserved or overlooked by traditional financial institutions.

Empowering Consumers with Financial Literacy Tools

Fintech and financial education go hand in hand, with many fintech companies incorporating educational components into their platforms to help users improve their financial literacy. These tools provide users with valuable insights, guidance, and resources to help them make smarter financial decisions.

Budgeting Apps: Budgeting is the cornerstone of financial planning, yet many people struggle to create and stick to a budget. Budgeting apps like Mint, YNAB (You Need a Budget), and PocketGuard make it easy to track expenses, set savings goals, and monitor progress toward financial milestones.

Investment Platforms: Investing can be intimidating for newcomers, but fintech has made it more accessible than ever. Robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront use algorithms to provide automated investment advice and portfolio management, making investing simpler and more affordable for the average investor.

Financial Education Portals: Many fintech companies offer educational resources and content to help users improve their financial literacy. These resources may include articles, videos, webinars, and interactive tools covering a wide range of topics, from basic budgeting and saving tips to more advanced investment strategies.

Credit Monitoring Services: Understanding and managing credit is essential for financial health. Fintech companies like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame provide free credit monitoring services that allow users to track their credit scores, review credit reports, and receive personalized recommendations for improving their credit profiles.

Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms: Peer-to-peer lending platforms like LendingClub and Prosper offer an alternative to traditional bank loans, allowing individuals to borrow and lend money directly to one another. These platforms provide access to credit for borrowers who may have difficulty obtaining loans from traditional sources and offer investors an opportunity to earn attractive returns on their investments.

Cryptocurrency Platforms: Cryptocurrency has emerged as a new asset class with the potential for significant returns, but it also comes with unique risks and challenges. Fintech platforms like Coinbase and Gemini make it easy for users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies, while also providing educational resources to help users understand the complexities of the crypto market.

In conclusion, financial education and fintech are powerful tools for empowering consumers with the knowledge and resources they need to achieve their financial goals. By leveraging technology and innovative solutions, fintech companies are democratizing financial services and making them more accessible to a broader audience. By embracing financial education and taking advantage of fintech tools, individuals can take control of their finances, build wealth, and secure their financial future.

FinTech Trends To Know About In 2024

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On January 31, 2024

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

The financial technology (FinTech) sector has been a catalyst for transformative changes in the way we manage, invest, and transact with money. As we embark on the journey through 2024, the FinTech landscape continues to evolve, promising innovations that will redefine the financial industry. In this article, we explore the key FinTech trends set to dominate and reshape the financial landscape in the year ahead.

  1. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) 2.0: Decentralized Finance, or DeFi, has been a revolutionary force in the FinTech space, and 2024 is poised to witness the evolution of DeFi 2.0. As the ecosystem matures, DeFi platforms are expected to address scalability challenges, enhance security measures, and offer more sophisticated financial products. Smart contracts, lending protocols, and decentralized exchanges are likely to become more user-friendly, attracting a broader audience and fostering mainstream adoption.
  2. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) Take Center Stage: The concept of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has gained momentum, with several countries actively exploring and implementing their digital currencies. In 2024, we anticipate an acceleration in CBDC initiatives globally, marking a significant shift in the traditional financial landscape. These digital currencies, backed by central authorities, aim to streamline payments, enhance financial inclusion, and provide regulators with more control over monetary policies.
  3. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): The marriage of FinTech and artificial intelligence is set to reach new heights in 2024. AI and ML algorithms will play a pivotal role in enhancing data analytics, risk management, fraud detection, and personalized financial services. Advanced predictive analytics will empower financial institutions to offer tailored solutions to individual users, providing a more seamless and efficient customer experience.
  4. Rise of Embedded Finance: Embedded finance, the integration of financial services into non-financial platforms and applications, is gaining traction. In 2024, we can expect to see an increased collaboration between FinTech firms and non-financial businesses, such as e-commerce platforms, ride-sharing apps, and social media networks. This trend allows consumers to access financial services seamlessly within the applications they already use regularly, blurring the lines between traditional banking and everyday activities.
  5. Sustainable and ESG Investing: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are becoming integral to investment decisions, and FinTech is aligning itself with this trend. In 2024, we anticipate a surge in FinTech platforms offering sustainable investment options, ESG ratings, and tools for conscientious financial decision-making. Investors are likely to have more access to transparent information on the environmental and social impact of their portfolios, driving a shift towards responsible and sustainable investing.
  6. Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures: With the increasing digitization of financial services, cybersecurity remains a top priority. In 2024, the FinTech industry will continue to invest heavily in advanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive financial information. This includes the adoption of blockchain technology for secure transactions, biometric authentication methods, and real-time threat detection to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
  7. Open Banking Evolution: Open banking, which allows third-party developers to build applications and services around financial institutions, is evolving. In 2024, we can anticipate more comprehensive and secure open banking ecosystems. This evolution will lead to improved collaboration between traditional banks and FinTech startups, resulting in a broader range of innovative financial products and services for consumers.
  8. NFTs and the Tokenization of Assets: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have taken the world by storm, and their application is extending into the financial realm. In 2024, we expect to witness the tokenization of various assets, from real estate to art and intellectual property. This trend will democratize access to traditionally illiquid assets, allowing a broader range of investors to participate in asset ownership and trading.
  9. Quantum Computing Impact: As quantum computing progresses, its impact on the FinTech sector becomes more imminent. While still in its early stages, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize financial modeling, optimization, and encryption. In 2024, we may see increased exploration of quantum-resistant encryption methods and early experiments leveraging quantum computing capabilities for financial calculations.
  10. Financial Inclusion Initiatives: FinTech is increasingly becoming a force for financial inclusion. In 2024, expect to see more initiatives focused on providing banking and financial services to the unbanked and underbanked populations. Mobile banking, digital wallets, and innovative lending platforms will play a crucial role in bridging the financial inclusion gap and empowering individuals in underserved communities.

In conclusion, the FinTech landscape in 2024 promises to be dynamic, transformative, and marked by a wave of innovations that redefine how we interact with and perceive financial services. From the evolution of decentralized finance to the integration of advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing, the FinTech trends of 2024 are set to shape a more inclusive, efficient, and secure financial future for individuals and businesses alike.

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

Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gap with Fintech Solutions

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On June 5, 2023

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

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

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On February 8, 2023

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

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

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On October 12, 2022

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

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?

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On May 24, 2022

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

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.

How to Help Eliminate Financial Stress

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On February 9, 2022

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

There is no doubt that financial stress can have a severe impact on not only our personal mental health but also on our relationships. In fact, according to a study conducted by the financial firm TD Ameritrade, 41% of divorced Gen Xers and 29% of Baby Boomers say that their marriages ended due to disagreements about money. While having your personal finances in order is no guarantee that you won’t still fight about money with a partner or spouse, it can go a long way towards creating your own good mental health and wellbeing. Here are three tips to help eliminate financial stress.

 

  1. Track your spending

 

It is a sad, unfortunate fact that in the age of credit and debit cards, many people have no idea how they actually spend their money or where it all goes. Before you can create a realistic budget, you need to understand and identify your personal spending patterns. While that $6 latte each day may seem like a small purchase, over the course of a month they can add up to almost $200 and maybe even more if you are inclined to be a generous tipper.

 

  1. Create a realistic budget and stick to it

 

Creating a budget is easy, creating a realistic budget that actually accounts for your legitimate spending habits and patterns is much harder. This is partially due to the fact that some of your bills will vary from month to month. While it is fairly easy to budget for static bills like your rent or mortgage or car and insurance payments, creating a realistic food or entertainment budget may be more challenging. Credit cards make it too easy to spend more than you make and making only minimum monthly payments makes it easy to just keep racking up that credit card debt. A budget can help you begin to spend less than you make, but only if you stick with it.

 

  1. Create margins

 

Studies have shown that 40% of Americans would struggle to come up with even $400 to pay an unexpected expense. While spending only what you make is a good first step, your stress isn’t really going to go away until you create some cushion for the unexpected. While not spending more than you make is a good first step, ultimately the goal is to spend less than you make.

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Increasing your Understanding of Fintech

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On January 20, 2022

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Financial technology, also known as fintech, is the implementation of technology in the financial industry. The purpose is to improve the ways that financial services are created and delivered to consumers. Technology has also increased the availability of financial services, such as loans and investments, to every member of the public. There are several methods recommended to become more knowledgeable about the emerging field of fintech.

 

Improve basic skills in finance

 

Someone who knows nothing about finance cannot expect to become a fintech expert. The first step is to develop a basic knowledge of finance in a diverse range of topics from stocks to lending.

 

Learn the different sectors of fintech

 

Once the basics of the financial industry are learned, the next step is to learn about key fintech sectors. The most well-known areas include online payment systems, blockchain, digital lending and digital wealth management. Since millions of shoppers are buying their products and services online, the use of online payment systems has exploded in the past decade.

 

Blockchain technology has become more advanced as people exchange vast amounts of private information over the Web. It is commonly used in cryptocurrency to conduct financial transactions without increasing the risks of fraud.

 

Enroll in short-term courses

 

A short-term course is designed to advance a learner’s skills in every major fintech topic from blockchain to Python programming. A course also gives a beginner firsthand access to experienced fintech professionals. Students can receive hands-on training in the field and start building their financial portfolios.

 

Review fintech websites

 

It’s recommended that starter and experienced fintech professionals begin to track financial trends and statistics carefully. Every day or once a week, they should review websites that contain the latest news about financial technology. There are numerous blogs, sites and newsletters that provide regular updates.

 

The years 2000 from 2021 saw massive changes in the ways that consumers use financial services. Many individuals and business owners had no choice but to use online banking to transfer funds and perform daily financial tasks. Financial consumers are becoming more interested in using machine learning and artificial intelligence. In addition, fintech sector is constantly expanding to include new technology areas and skills. So, becoming a master in fintech starts with a solid foundation based on basic professional skills and knowledge.

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Fintech Trends for 2022

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On January 20, 2022

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Arguably the hottest sector on the planet, fintech continues to roar while 2022 promises to be a banner year for new business models based on financial technology.

 

What can we expect in the coming year?

 

A Year of New-Traditional Collaboration

 

Ever since fintech application began to impinge on the territory of traditional banking, industry observers have been wondering how old and established banking institutions would react. For example, a young entrepreneur can now skip a bank entirely and raise money via a fintech crowdfunding campaign. That same entrepreneur might also ignore a bank in favor of establishing his or her own fintech merchant account.

 

But the truth is that big banks have never been worried about fintech eating their lunch – just the opposite. They are embracing it and see it as the future of banking. They’re not going to fight fintech, they are going to collaborate more. Established financial institutions see fintech start-ups as a rich source of new revenue streams and as a way to enhance their own mission.

 

The major fintech buzzword for 2022 is: “Collaboration.”

 

Payroll Fintech

 

To date, fintech has been focused on developing payment infrastructures between consumers and sellers. Now 2022 is expected to be the year when fintech enters the payroll sector in a big way. Employees can now expect to see compensation options like “salary on-demand,” and early direct deposit into their personal fintech set-ups. It’s going to make collecting a wage or salary far more fluid and convenient.

 

Buy-Now-Pay-Later

 

It’s not a new concept, but when applied to fintech, buy-now-pay-later is simply huge. New operators like Afterpay and Klarna offer multiple ways for people to buy what they want right now with no money upfront. The system is set up for automated payments to be made at periodic future dates. Consumers love it. Those merchants who are adopting buy-now-pay-later schemes are enjoying explosive growth.

 

Digital Banking Only

 

Digital banking has been with us for some time. However, in terms of fintech, we’re talking about virtual banks. These are banking entities that have no brick-n-mortar component. Fintech digital banking is a creature of cloud computing. They are “free-floating” platforms that are likely to make stolid granite bank buildings with marbles floors and gigantic stainless-steel vaults a relic of the past.

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What Should You do if You Have a Cybersecurity Breach?

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On November 9, 2021

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Cyber-attacks or data breaches keep any business in a very vulnerable situation. Regardless of the nature and size of the business, if the company data, customer information or important documents are exposed, this could complicate the recovery process. Some cyber-attacks attempt to acquire sensitive data and information using email fraudulently. Ransomware attempts to block any access to a computer system until the business raises a ransom. Baiting infects a computer system using malware that tricks one to download free movies or music. If the business falls victim to a data breach, it can consider the following steps to minimize the damage.

 

Initiating a fraud alert

 

Setting a fraud alert would be the quickest step to warn employees, customers, and other business partners that the business may have been a victim of fraud. The company can then alert the major credit bureaus to add a fraud alert to the business credit report. The fraud alert also helps alert lenders of the business falling victim to a cyber-attack. The precaution notifies the potential lenders to contact the firm before granting any new line of credit in the business name. The fraud alert stays in the credit report for three months and allows the business to renew it when it expires.

 

Freezing credit files

 

The addition of a security freeze is valuable in such a situation. The security freeze, which is freely available, prevents potential lenders from accessing the business credit report. It is only by unfreezing the credit account that the lenders will access the credit report. If the business plans to apply for new credit soon, it can postpone the security freeze.

 

Instruction and information to clients

 

The company should disclose all the necessary and relevant information regarding the cyber breach to the clients. The report helps clients be cautious about the risks involved if they do not act to reduce the chances of their data getting compromised. Downplaying the caution could lead to grievous liabilities to the business. The information on the explicit instructions to avoid data being compromised should be sent through email or any other reliable means of contact available to the clients. The medium of communication, however, depends on the seriousness of the breach. The business can also advise the clients to use dedicated cyber security software that helps minimize chances of data loss or damage after a cyber breach.

 

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