If you think about it, financial services have traditionally been disconnected from their customers’ goals. For instance, when we want to buy a vehicle or house, or purchase inventory for a manufacturing process, we typically begin by researching and evaluating our options, then making a purchase decision. Only then do we look at the financial services necessary to complete the transaction.

The nature of how firms communicate with their customers has changed phenomenally over the past decade and there is almost no sector unaffected by the advent of digital marketing and social media. For the Financial Services industry in particular, changes to the way entities communicate with customers have not come without regulatory implications, which naturally presents firms with new and complex challenges.

The Payment Request API is a web standard to make it easier for web developers to build low-friction and secure payment flows.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written to credit card firms telling them to review their approach to borrowers who are stuck in persistent debt, where they are paying more in interest, fees and charges than they are paying of their balance.

Japan's SBI Holdings has invested $20 million in OpenLegacy Technologies, an American software firm that smooths API integration of core banking systems.

Accenture has agreed to buy Mudano, a data consultancy that works with UK financial services firms. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The figures* speak for themselves: 1 in 3 finance start-ups that are founded in Germany have their head office in the capital. There are now more fintechs in Berlin than in Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg put together. Hamburg-based Varengold Bank AG, which has placed its strategic focus on fintech financing – and primarily online credit platforms – since 2015, is acknowledging this fact by opening its FinTech Hub in Berlin in the near future.

In the wake of Brexit, the Danish payment institution Clearhaus has secured a license which gives the Danish acquirer access to the attractive UK market.

CPP Group Plc, the partner focused, global product and services company specialising in the financial services and insurance markets has extended its product portfolio with major partners in Turkey through a strategic partnership model with Denizbank and AXA Sigorta; and by widening its technology delivery and service provider model with Anadolu Insurance Company (Anadolu).