42% of financial services businesses want better support and guidance on data security in relation to open banking, according to the latest research by open banking provider YTS.

The survey of financial professionals including banks, lenders and retailers, revealed businesses want better education and training, alongside increased guidance, to help reduce fears around the security risks of open banking adoption. Respondents also stated that they wanted this support to come primarily from regulators.

Today, version 1.7.0 of the reference implementation of the software behind the XRP Ledger (XRPL) was released with key contributions from RippleX aimed at improving the Ledger’s decentralization, security and efficiency. 

Release Highlights: Improvements for Validators, Server Operators

 BSO, the pioneering infrastructure and connectivity provider, has won Best High Performing Network Services at the TradingTech Insight Europe Awards 2021.

KURVE, the UK’s first web-based smart metering solution for heat networks, has joined forces with digital payment expert, PayPoint, to offer customers the facility to top-up pay-as-you-go (PAYG) energy accounts quickly and easily via the customer’s preferred payment method.

Sage, the market leader in cloud business management solutions, has today announced the availability of several new apps which integrate with Sage Business Cloud Accounting.  These are designed to help small construction and trades businesses streamline business processes and navigate new domestic VAT reverse charge legislation that specifically impacts the construction industry. 

Financial super app, Revolut, has announced it is building on its previous partnership with identity data intelligence experts, GBG, as the category leaders work together to tackle the rise of online fraud and promote the safe adoption of digital services through customer onboarding solutions, including Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money Laundering (AML).

Despite the continued challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on funding rounds globally, Monument (or the “Bank”) has raised over £28m million, significantly ahead of expectations and successfully completing one of the largest Series A funding rounds in fintech / banking of 2020 / 21, backed by a combination of new and existing experienced investors.

Broadridge has appointed Jerome Hoffman to the newly created role of Head of International Partnerships and Alliances, focusing on the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. In this new role Hoffman will focus on creating and further developing relationships with firms across the financial services spectrum, including technology vendors and service providers, consultancies, system integrators, market intermediaries and infrastructure providers.

NatWest has today announced the launch of a major development to its flagship open banking payments service, Payit by NatWest, that will allow businesses to send payments directly to customers without needing their bank details – an industry first.

The feature aims to replace the use of cheques and bank transfers when sending money to customers, allowing for instant payments to be made when issuing refunds or customer service payments, as well as for specific uses such as compensation payments and emergency cash requirements.

Compass Plus has become the first company in Russia to test Oracle’s newest cloud infrastructure update - successfully completing the stress testing of its cloud-native open development payments platform, TranzAxis, using the new Oracle Exadata Cloud Service X8M.