The U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC), a membership organization devoted to advancing safe, easy-to-use faster payments in the United States, and the Accredited Standards Committee X9 Inc. (X9), the organization accredited by ANSI to develop financial industry standards for the United States, today announced a strategic alliance designed to accelerate the development and adoption of standards for faster payments in the United States.

Index Engines, the leader in cyber resiliency solutions, and Hitachi Vantara, the data storage and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE:6501), today announced a strategic partnership that positions both companies at the forefront of the rapidly expanding cyber resilience market.

Bud Financial (“Bud”), the AI platform that turns banking data into actionable insights, today announced the release of the Bud MCP server, enabling rapid development of AI agents that benefit from a deep, real-time understanding of users’ finances. Bud’s MCP server lets AI applications integrate seamlessly with Bud’s platform so that banks can rapidly deploy AI internal and customer facing systems while safely leveraging their core customer data. 

Following Brazil's Pix blueprint, Colombia has launched its own instant payment ecosystem called Bre-B with the same core features: interoperability, 24/7 availability, and immediate settlement. Today marks the start of full-scale operations for Bre-B nationwide, following a pilot phase that began on September 23. Through EBANX, a global technology company specializing in cross-border payment services for emerging markets, global merchants can offer Bre-B to Colombian customers from day one.

Agio Ratings, the premier source of risk insights in digital assets, has closed a $6 million funding round led by AlbionVC, bringing the total raised to over $11M. The round, which also saw participation from Portage Ventures and MS&AD, will enable Agio Ratings to expand its research and engineering teams, broadening the scope of its risk ratings and supporting major banks as they enter the digital asset market.

By 2030, the global market for AI in fintech is estimated to reach $79.4bn, driven by the pressure on finance teams to stay ahead amid ongoing economic uncertainty. With the EU facing the hard reality of tariffs on exports to the US, margins are tighter than ever for businesses trading internationally. In this high-stakes environment, faster invoice processing isn’t enough. Businesses need greater intelligence to anticipate risks, adapt to fluctuating currency markets and guide payment decisions with precision. 

Prometeia, the leading Risk technology and  advisory firm in EMEA, has signed a strategic partnership with FinCredible, a technology  and analytics company whose expertise complements Prometeia’s offering in delivering  advanced risk management solutions across Central and Eastern Europe. 

NCR Atleos Corporation, a leader in expanding self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers and consumers, today announced that Moto has extended its relationship with Atleos, delivering convenient, secure access to cash through the NCR Atleos Cashzone Network, which now includes more than 16,000 ATMs across the UK.

OpenDialog, the AI Agent platform built to transform customer journeys in insurance, today announced a strategic partnership with Durell, an established provider in the insurance software market. 

This collaboration embeds OpenDialog’s innovative AI Agent Solution into Quote Portal, the e-trade marketplace built by Durell and Movo Partnership to deliver the next generation of broker experience – faster, easier and fully compliant. 

BankDhofar has signed a cooperation agreement with the Social Protection Fund to advance financial technology solutions, underscoring the bank’s commitment to driving innovation in Oman’s banking sector and supporting the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040.