InvestCloud’s solutions aim to accelerate client growth and improve client retention 

InvestCloud, a global technology platform that is transforming the financial industry’s approach to digital, has been selected by Rathbones Group Plc (“Rathbones”), one of the UK’s largest discretionary wealth managers, to provide client lifecycle management (CLM), including digital prospecting, onboarding and servicing capabilities as well as client reporting solutions to help Rathbones improve operational efficiency and support its overall business strategy.  

The partnership will help Rathbones accelerate its digital transformation to enable a blended digital and human service model to drive efficiencies across its businesses. Already serving over 65,000 clients and managing £68.2bn (over $90bn) in client assets, this partnership is intended to help Rathbones deliver the next stage of its digital transformation.  

Rathbones was looking to advance its technology while making the most of existing investments. It saw the opportunity to enhance both growth and operational efficiency through adopting an effective CLM solution in place of point customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. In addition, Rathbones sought to improve digital client reporting, which should further enhance client satisfaction and retention. 

Rathbones CEO Paul Stockton said: “We are committed to enhancing our digital solutions for clients and advisors. This partnership will enable Rathbones to deliver a holistic and flexible digital experience that responds to client preferences and industry standards that are expected to evolve rapidly over the coming years.” 

 InvestCloud offers a design-led and hyper-modular approach compared to traditional providers, allowing solutions to work with existing systems, avoiding business disruption, while still accelerating digital

transformation. InvestCloud creates beautifully designed client experiences on a single, cloud-based platform that can be configured in infinite ways to meet client needs. 

InvestCloud CEO John Wise said: “Rathbones is one of the UK’s leading wealth managers, and the UK is one of our most important markets. They have a high digital ambition, led by CEO Paul Stockton, and that will certainly help them achieve great things. We are very proud to partner with Rathbones on this important set of initiatives that are so crucial to their mission.” 

Retailer digital receipts catapulted from 1 to 11 million since 2019

• A football stadium of customers (36,000) sign up every month via Flux’s banking partners’ apps: Barclays, Monzo, Dozens and Starling Bank

• On average, 700,000 receipts are being digitised every month by Flux

• Flux has more than doubled its retailer partnerships since summer 2021 - growing by 112% -  indicating a demand for its unique features and services

• Flux hints at an imminent huge brand collaboration that will significantly extend the availability of its product ‘Flux Offers’ in the UK 

Flux - the UK’s leading digital receipts and offers platform - today announces that more than one million money-savvy customers are now using its services in the UK. 

The significant milestone comes as Flux’s COO and co-founder, Veronique Merriam Barbosa, has stepped up to become the new CEO, taking over the day-to-day running of the business. Current CEO, Matty Cusden-Ross, has taken on the role of President, advising and guiding Flux through its mission to liberate the world's receipt data.

With an average of 36,000 customers joining the digital receipts network every month, Flux is seeing a significant acceleration of its product adoption. With its network continually expanding, Flux is extending its reach by introducing new products that leverage its core receipts infrastructure to deliver value to consumers and retailers. The first is Flux Offers, a direct-to-customer cashback offers platform. 

Launched in October 2021, Flux Offers is already seeing 12% month-on-month customer growth. Flux Offers also provides compelling features and capabilities for retailers, such as offering customers rewards on specific categories or excluding sale items from promotions, helping to avoid double discounting and ensuring a high return on investment from promotions.  

Partnerships with retailers like H&M, schuh, Just Eat, itsu, Papa Johns, and KFC and top UK banks like Barclays, Monzo and Starling Bank have helped Flux become a dominant and trusted player in the digital receipt and offers space.

Veronique Merriam Barbosa, CEO and co-founder of Flux, adds: 

“More than one million customers is an incredible milestone for Flux, and we are so proud of it. When we set out to disrupt the payments industry by building out a brand new infrastructure to digitise receipts, we knew it would be challenging. We needed to connect big retailers and big banks to buy into our revolutionary proposition - but we made it happen. I’m humbled by the number of people across the country actively choosing to opt-in every single month. That validation and adoption motivates and fuels our team in making digital receipts and our additional products a reality. Our customer and receipts milestones have now set us up for success as we move forward in scaling Flux’s business model and delivering value back to our consumers, banks and retailers. Stay tuned for what’s to come!”

William Boocock, Head of Marketplace and Banking Support at Starling Bank, adds:

“Just like Starling Bank, Flux is disrupting the payments sector, and helping people better manage their money. That’s why in 2017 we made them the first partner of our Marketplace, which connects our customers with useful financial products and services. Both Starling and Flux have grown enormously in that time, showing the demand that exists for digital money-management tools.”

The pandemic will be remembered as a decisive time for contactless payments with accelerated card issuance and usage

Consumers favour contactless payments during the pandemic

RBR’s Global Cards Data and Forecasts to 2026 shows that the number of contactless purchases increased by 36% in 2020. Many hygiene-conscious consumers gravitated towards contactless payment methods during the pandemic to minimise contact with EFTPOS terminals — this was also widely encouraged by businesses and retailers. Governments took note of this trend and several countries, including the UK, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, raised the limit for payments without PIN, facilitating contactless spending further.

High levels of growth will continue, with RBR forecasting that the number of contactless card purchases will increase by 23% per year on average, reaching over 500 billion by 2026.

Contactless is diverting everyday spending away from cash

Some regulators and financial institutions view contactless technology as key in advancing the shift away from cash. Consumers are already choosing to use contactless cards for many low-value, everyday purchases they would have previously made with cash. In China, the central bank has mandated that all new cards must be issued as contactless to expedite uptake of cashless payments.

RBR’s research reveals that contactless card usage is most established in Europe, which sees the highest average number of contactless purchases per card. Countries such as Ukraine which have particularly high levels of card tokenisation and mobile wallet usage have the most active contactless card users. 

Number of contactless card purchases worldwide (billions) 

Source: Global Cards Data and Forecasts to 2026 (RBR)

Contactless cards will expand their reach but some markets may be harder to crack Contactless rollout will accelerate in all 65 countries covered in RBR’s study, with 81% of all cards forecast to be contactless in 2026. The fastest growth in contactless cards will be in the Americas. Issuance had previously been slow in many countries in this region, but the picture changed in 2020 when Brazil and Mexico both saw contactless card numbers almost triple as both banks and fintechs ramped up their activity.

Contactless cards may, however, struggle to gain momentum in countries with established alternative contactless payment methods, such as Indonesia where QR code payments are widely used and contactless card uptake has so far been sluggish. International card schemes are considering mandates for issuance of their cards as contactless to tackle such obstacles.

Daniel Dawson, who led RBR’s Global Cards Data and Forecasts to 2026 study, commented: “Issuers got the message quickly during the pandemic that demand for contactless was increasing as customer habits changed. In 2020, contactless cards got the extra push they needed to extend their reach across customer segments and regions, a trend that will only continue with time”

IDEX Biometrics has partnered with IDEMIA to support Rocker, the Swedish challenger bank, as it launches biometric payment cards to the market. With IDEX Biometrics fingerprint sensor, Rocker becomes the first in Sweden and one of the first in the world to deploy biometric cards to consumers.

“As a challenger bank, we are constantly testing new technology to develop smarter financial services that are easier to use and that help our customers improve their everyday financial lives. Launching Rocker Touch is part of our strategy to offer smart and secure payment solutions across platforms, whether you wish to pay with your mobile, a card or with a transfer”, said Andreas Norberg, VP Save & Spend at Rocker.

Tens of thousands of consumers around the globe have beta tested biometric cards with a customer satisfaction of up to 95 percent. In a global market survey* 76 percent of consumers are interested in using contactless for high value payments and 81 percent are ready to use their fingerprints to authenticate instead of PIN code.

“Rocker leads the field among Swedish FinTechs in terms of innovation and with Rocker Touch we are revolutionizing and simplifying the way our customers authorize their payments. This premium product will be offered as a new service in our comprehensive and growing offering of retail financial services that are easier to use, more flexible and better priced”, said Andreas Norberg.

“This groundbreaking solution meets customer needs by bringing additional convenience and peace of mind. The biometric payment card is certified by Visa and Mastercard and Rocker Touch will work seamlessly with any payment terminal. We are pleased to work with Rocker and IDEMIA to contribute to smarter and more secure card payments and as trailblazers for this innovative technology”, said Catharina Eklöf, Chief Commercial Officer at IDEX Biometrics.

 “At IDEMIA, we’re proud to partner with Rocker to bring ever-more innovative solutions to shape the future of payments. These partnerships embody our commitment to providing secured and trusted technologies to our customers. These cards allow authorizing payments via a fingerprint sensor embedded into the card. Biometric data is securely stored in the chip and never leaves the card. In addition to making our means of payment more secure, customers would also be able to pay contactless whatever the amount of the transaction”, said Aaron Davis, SVP Europe Region, Financial Institutions. 

Enterprises that want to integrate high-end solutions and software into their companies are making a sensible investment that will assure their long-term market success. A smart Forex customer relationship management system will provide you and your business with a plethora of different possibilities and will aid you in centralizing all of your client information. When it comes to gaining a deeper knowledge of your consumers via detailed data, this software may be a vital component of your plan for converting them into future customers.

If you own a business and are looking for a Forex CRM system that offers a range of functions, you must make an educated choice. An effective customer relationship management system should have a greater number of positives than disadvantages, with the primary focus being on functionality and quality. A vital choice you must make is which CRM system is most suited to your financial business's requirements, since not all CRM systems for brokerages are made equal. B2Core is one of the most advanced CRM systems currently available on the market, combining exceptional tractability with the ability to be customized to your individual business needs. B2Core differentiates itself from other software solutions by offering a comprehensive range of features that ensures you get the entire service you need.

Because of its customer satisfaction and competitive benefits, B2Core software has been used by a number of enterprises. Forex brokers, crypto exchanges, and consumers are all handled using B2Core, an industry-leading CRM platform. Many professional firms, including forex and crypto brokers, securities brokers, spot, margin, and wallet exchanges, converters, PSPs, and EMIs, attribute their success to B2Core. No other program on the market is as effective as B2Core, and it supports both new and existing B2Broker customers.

If you're looking for a custom-made and inventive solution for your traders' room needs, B2Core is the best option. The very advanced capabilities of this program may be customized to meet your specific needs, making it a formidable rival that will far exceed your expectations. Depending on your requirements, a variety of options are available for you to choose from. Depending on your company's demands, a regular package may be the best option for you, much like the advanced and enterprise packages. You may choose from a variety of options, and the further you rise on the corporate ladder, the more options are available to you and your firm.

Not only do these packages have additional capabilities and some extensive features, but they may also be customized to meet specific requirements. The fact that B2Core is compatible with a variety of platforms, including MT4 and MT5, is a significant benefit.

Among the many benefits of B2Core are the simple KYC account verification procedures, access to real-time financial data, and a user-friendly interface. B2Core is the best choice for professional businesses because of its comprehensive features, which include easy KYC account verification procedures and access to real-time financial data presented in a suitable and customer-friendly structure. Also available to you will be the opportunity to examine trade activities in order to verify and maintain a record of your client-related data. The dashboard is very customizable in that you will be able to view all of your actions, and administrators will be able to add, modify, and remove widgets as needed. Another element that is simple for consumers is the user interface (UI).

The ability to adjust between light and dark settings, a widget of market depth, an infinite number of workstations, and a plethora of additional features will offer you a competitive edge over your competition are all included. Other advantageous features for consumers include the fact that the program is bilingual and that it is accessible as a mobile application. With more than 30 payment connections, the mobile app allows you to deposit and transfer payments from your mobile device. From inside the app, you may access MT4, wallets, and login and registration information.

Differentiation and business growth demand an understanding of your competitive environment and the selection of a software solution that suits your needs. For a full range of capabilities, including customizable features particular to your firm, B2Core is the only place you need to go. Because B2Core fits all of your needs, it has continually been the best selection among our other software solutions. As a result of its adaptability and great CRM performance, it is a top choice for everyone.

Final Saying

B2Core is not only an industry-leading Forex CRM software solution, but it also has garnered several awards for its performance.

- Focused on reliable high performance, cost efficiency, multi-domain automation
- Delivering on today's mobile operator needs in the simplest way and preparing for the next generation of 5G and Enterprise cloud-native deployments & operations
- Partha Seetala to lead Rakuten Symphony's Unified Cloud business unit

Tokyo, Japan and San Jose, Calif, Feb 28, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Rakuten Symphony, Inc. today announced an agreement to acquire leading Silicon Valley-based cloud technology start-up, Robin.io. The addition of Robin.io's multi-cloud mobility, hyper automation and orchestration capabilities to the Rakuten Symphony portfolio allows the creation of highly efficient, consistent high performance cloud infrastructure and operations, from edge to central data center.

Collaboration between Rakuten and Robin.io has already been underway for more than two years, since Rakuten Mobile leveraged Robin.io in production for the Japan deployment of the world's first end-to-end fully virtualized cloud-native mobile network^*1. Understanding the high performance requirements of mobile radio and network applications, combined with the need for financial efficiency and automated operation for scale, enabled Rakuten Mobile and Robin.io to create a complete cloud-native offering to deliver and manage the most demanding applications of this and the next era. Now, Rakuten Symphony and Robin.io are coming together to further accelerate and strengthen the complete end to end automated cloud offering for customers across the globe.

"Edge cloud requirements are unique and critical as mobile operators transition to 5G: The next era of digital experience requires another level of performance, responsiveness and consistency that enables telecom operator and enterprise transformation to be safely accelerated while creating a platform to support the next 10 years of experiences. Robin.io's cloud capability is proven to be effective for the most demanding workloads in mobile and we believe it will allow Rakuten Symphony to safely accelerate cloud-native transformation for our customers and prepare the industry for the future," said Tareq Amin, CEO, Rakuten Symphony. "We plan to continue to invest into Robin.io's cloud-native portfolio of products to further advance our capabilities and offer the most advanced and highly integrated cloud platform mobile operators demand."

"I am delighted that Robin.io's technology innovations over the last several years will now get a much bigger canvas to lead the vision for cloud-native transformation for the industry. Our vision to deliver simple to use, easy to deploy hyperscale automation is very well aligned," said Partha Seetala, CEO, Robin.io. "We believe Robin.io's customers will hugely benefit from the synergies of cloud-native technology innovations from Robin.io, and the open competitive infrastructure solutions and global scale of Rakuten Symphony. This is indeed an exciting phase for us as we work together to bring a much larger ecosystem together to deliver higher value for our customers globally."

With over 70 patents in the cloud-native technology space, Robin.io offers a highly differentiated and comprehensive product portfolio, including the following:

• Robin Cloud Native Storage (Robin CNS) - An award winning, high performing, software-defined and industry-first application-aware storage solution that has been built from the ground-up for Kubernetes.
• Robin Cloud Native Platform (CNP) - A leading open-source platform optimized for running data and network intensive applications used in production for various use cases involving databases, big data, data analytics, 5G, O-RAN, packet core & edge.
• Robin Multi Data Center Automation Platform (MDCAP) - The web-scale platform for metal-to-service orchestration and automation.

Robin.io has petabyte size deployments with its software running on tens of thousands of servers in production today that span across its product portfolio and services Fortune 1000 customers across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Adding Robin.io's portfolio for cloud-native deployment, lifecycle management and orchestration allows Rakuten Symphony to deploy highly reliable, flexible, scalable, secure and resilient mobile networks built on the principles of open interfaces, virtualization and interoperability. Together, the combined companies will also be able to deliver industry leading solutions for various traditional enterprise opportunities in areas of enterprise applications, data management, cloud and virtualization. Following the acquisition, Partha Seetala will take up the position of President of the Unified Cloud business unit of Rakuten Symphony.

The transaction is subject to closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions. The terms of the acquisition are confidential.

*1 For a large scale commercial mobile network (as of October 1, 2019). Research: Stella Associate

Nutanix today announced the findings of a recently commissioned IDC CXO Survey, outlining that while companies are building better digital habits and systems, a shift is needed from digital culture to value realisation. Surveying leaders across EMEA, the IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Nutanix, From Digital Culture to Value Realisation showed that 84% of IT leads in EMEA are under pressure to deliver on digital transformation (DX) strategies, and 90% of organisations in EMEA recognise that having a digital-first approach is now a must-have. 

“With the pandemic accelerating the rate at which companies have invested in and deployed digital solutions, IDC predicts that in 2022 more than half of the global economy will be based on or influenced by digital solutions,” said Sammy Zoghlami, SVP EMEA at Nutanix. "Digital-first not only requires a system rethink, but it also requires a corporate mindset where all C-suite executives see their digital technologies as the catalyst for business growth. The survey clearly states that organisations must consider potential challenges and costs when running multiple cloud instances, highlighting the ongoing need for better multi-cloud management and streamlined deployment to avoid cloud sprawl.”

The survey shows that translating digital investments into new revenue streams is a top priority for EMEA organisations, as is data and innovation. Yet respondents believe the onus can no longer rest solely on the shoulders of the IT department and need to be embraced by the C-suite as globally we come to terms with what a digital culture, digital infrastructure and digital-first means to an organisation. 

Key findings from the survey revealed: 

Turning investments into revenue - Over 64% of EMEA organisations say they have a digital strategy in place. Still, only 3% say they have an enterprise-wide digital strategy that has led to new revenue streams. There is, however, a disconnect between business, of which 32% state they are in a proof-of-concept pilot stage for their digital projects and IT, of whom only 5% say their companies are developing digital strategies to support new revenue streams. 

From IT to C-suite - Respondents are clear that for a digital strategy to have an impact, it is essential to bid farewell to hierarchical structures and move to more fluid and orchestrated approaches between IT and leadership teams. Out of the respondents questioned, at least 47% say that the sign-off belongs to a CXO different from a tech lead for their DX initiatives. 

Shaping digital culture - When asked what measures DX leaders are considering to transform the organisation’s culture effectively, the following three were ranked the highest: promoting change in management awareness, redefining the missions and evaluations of existing businesses and new businesses, and promoting behavioural change in individuals by renewing the company’s purpose and action guidelines.

Key pillars for shaping digital culture - According to the survey, three key pillars stand out in how C-suites must cooperate to create the digital culture, using the cloud as the enabler for all three digital culture streams. These are value economics, data-driven innovation and the future workplace. The numbers to support this show that 50% of EMEA organisations think that additional investments in managed infrastructure will help deliver better digital value, and 30% say they are co-creating new products with customers and partners. In terms of the workplace, 35% of organisations think that ensuring equal access to information and digital tools to all staff regardless of location will challenge the future workplace.

Managing cloud sprawl remains a crucial challenge for businesses starting their digital journey. As a result, finance departments are stepping up to put measures in place to curb expenditure and manage cloud usage. In support of this, 77% have redesigned purchasing processes to enable pay-as-you-use and consumption models, 58% have rationalised business and developer expenditure in external cloud resources, and over 55% have actively reduced costs on legacy on-premises systems.

"Customers no longer just want infrastructure solutions that help them reduce costs today. They want solutions that offer them the flexibility to traverse multiple hybrid cloud environments while cutting operating costs in the long term. As much as embracing digital-first systems requires a culture shift, it still requires a technology makeover so that a business can innovate, partner and explore new revenue streams," commented Andrea Siviero, Associate Research Director, IDC. "Looking ahead, those that invest in people, innovate on data and automate processes, will have built the business resilience needed by the modern enterprise."

Ignition Advice, the global provider of advice technology, has appointed Will Drew as its new Chief Operations Officer for Europe.

Will comes to Ignition with 20 years of industry experience across a range of sectors, having worked at wealth managers, insurance providers and retail banks. Prior to joining Ignition, Will was Head of Account Management for Bravura Solutions, a global provider of software solutions. Before that he was a Director within Deloitte’s Technology Consulting practice, specialising in digital transformation.

In his role as Ignition’s new COO for Europe, Will’s responsibilities include overseeing client services associated with Ignition’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) proposition, working closely with existing clients and overseeing the business expansion to onboard new clients within the UK and Europe.

Ignition launched in the UK in May 2021 and was appointed by wealth manager M&G Wealth to deliver the firm’s new digital advice offering for its advisers and customers.

Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition, said: 

“We are pleased to welcome Will to Ignition's growing global team. Will’s extensive industry expertise and understanding will be extremely valuable as we continue our expansion. The UK remains at the forefront of the digital advice revolution and our hybrid technology is already allowing firms to capitalise on this, combining digital assistance with human expertise to offer a superior experience for their customers.”

Will Drew, COO Europe, Ignition, added:

“I am delighted to have joined Ignition and I’m excited about the scale of evolution in financial advice provision that we will see in the next few years. I look forward to supporting our clients through an incremental, iterative and controlled transformation approach, and helping them embrace the opportunity presented by hybrid digital advice.” 

• New Barclaycard Avios¹ and Avios Plus² credit cards allow customers to earn Avios for every £1 spent, to redeem on travel
• New customers can collect a welcome bonus of 25,000 Avios in the first three months with Barclaycard Avios Plus – enough for a return flight to Faro, Palma or Milan³
• Additional benefits include an annual cabin upgrade voucher for reaching a specific spending milestone, as well as Barclaycard’s Entertainment perks
• The new cards are powered by Mastercard, accepted by millions of merchants worldwide
• Almost four in 10 Brits (36 per cent) see travelling as one of their top priorities in 2022⁴
• Both cards are available to new and existing Barclaycard customers on application – find out more information at barclaycard.co.uk/personal/avios

Barclaycard, one of the UK’s largest credit card providers, has partnered with Avios to launch two new credit cards that give customers the opportunity to collect Avios when making purchases, as well as providing a host of travel-related perks. With almost four in 10 Brits (36 per cent) citing travel as one of their top priorities in 2022⁴, the new Barclaycard Avios cards can help make that a reality.

The Barclaycard Avios and Avios Plus cards are available to new and existing Barclaycard customers. The Barclaycard Avios card¹ carries no monthly fee and offers new customers 5,000 Avios when spending £1,000 in the first three months. Customers also collect one Avios for every £1 spent.

The Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card² (£20.00 fee per month) rewards new customers with 25,000 Avios when spending £3,000 or more within the first three months – the equivalent of a return flight to a European city such as Faro, Palma or Milan³. In addition, customers collect 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent.

Other benefits include an annual cabin upgrade voucher for reaching a specific spending milestone, as well as Barclaycard’s Entertainment perks – which offer up to 10 per cent off pre-sale tickets, food and drinks at selected venues and events with Barclaycard Entertainment⁵.

Powered by Mastercard, which is accepted by millions of merchants worldwide, cardholders will also have access to Priceless.com, offering further benefits across entertainment, arts & culture, travel, shopping and health & wellbeing. With top-notch travel perks, and access to rewards features from Barclaycard, Avios and Mastercard; the Barclaycard Avios and Avios Plus cards are the ideal financial travel companions.

Barclaycard Avios and Avios Plus customers can track their Avios usage by downloading the Barclaycard App⁶ or logging on to their British Airways Executive Club account, where they can choose to save money on travel or enjoy a host of other travel-related perks – including the ability to use Avios towards flights, cabin upgrades, and hotels – making trips more convenient and hassle free.

This announcement builds upon Barclays’ strong relationship with Avios in the UK, having launched the Barclays Avios Rewards proposition for Barclays Premier and Wealth customers in March 2021.

A new Barclays Premier current account holder opting to join Barclays Avios Rewards (£12 per month), in addition to taking out the new Barclaycard Avios Plus card (£20 per month) as a new customer, could earn over 80,000 Avios⁷ and two Cabin Upgrade Vouchers in the first year – enough for a return flight to New York, Tokyo or Dubai⁸. They would also receive £5 back into their current account, each month, for holding both products⁹.

As global travel continues to open back up after almost two years of restrictions, it’s clear that Brits can’t wait to get overseas once again, as recent Barclaycard research shows 16 per cent would be interested in taking out a credit card with travel benefits, as they plan to travel more in 2022 than in a typical year⁴.

The cards also go some way towards helping customers maximise the value they get from transactions. In fact, nearly half (46 per cent) of Brits say that, due to the rising cost of living, they want to make sure they are rewarded for their everyday spending. Furthermore, 44 per cent would be more likely to choose a credit card if it allowed them to earn loyalty points from their daily purchases⁴.

José Carvalho, Head of Consumer Products, Barclays, said: “With Brits itching to go on holiday after almost two years of restrictions, we’re delighted to be launching two new cards that will help customers get away more often, to see the people and places that matter most.”

“As value-for-money continues to be front-of-mind in 2022, our partnership with IAG Loyalty will help customers maximise the value they get from their everyday spending, enhancing their overall travel experience and make that much longed-for trip a reality.”

Adam Daniels, CEO IAG Loyalty, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Barclaycard and offer our Avios rewards to many more consumers. As we all get back to doing more of what we love, exploring new countries, cultures and travelling for pleasure, we believe the partnership will help Barclaycard’s customers have a better travel experience.”

“We look forward to seeing all the new ways Barclaycard’s customers can take advantage of the opportunities Avios rewards provides – whether that’s taking a short weekend trip or planning that dream destination holiday.”

To learn more and apply today, visit: barclaycard.co.uk/personal/avios

• Douugh signs a new partnership with global open banking leader TrueLayer, to access open banking data under Australia’s ground-breaking Consumer Data Right (CDR) in preparation for its Australian launch.

• In an Australian first for mobile banking, Douugh will become a CDR Representative of TrueLayer, an active and unrestricted Accredited Data Recipient authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

• The partnership enables Douugh to securely present external transactional bank checking, saving, credit card and mortgage account data to Australian customers inside its super app to enhance its personal financial management tool.

• As TrueLayer offers a single unified data API globally, Douugh also benefits from future synergies to support international expansion into markets such as the UK and Europe.   

Douugh Ltd (ASX: DOU) & (OTCQB: DOUUF), the banking super app on a mission to help customers autonomously budget, save and invest their money to live financially healthier lives, is pleased to announce a partnership with TrueLayer to access open banking data in Australia.  

Open banking in Australia is enabled by the ground-breaking Consumer Data Right (CDR) that permits secure API-first data sharing between banks and accredited fintechs of a consumer’s banking data with the full permission and consent of the consumer. For consumers, this saves time, money and hassle by allowing technology to build a unified and insightful picture of their finances conveniently accessible in one place. 

Commenting on the Company’s partnership with TrueLayer, Douugh’s Founder and CEO Andy Taylor said:  

“For our customers to lead financially healthier lives, and for our banking super app to be their financial control centre, the whole financial picture needs to be available in one place, in real time, with all the right information. And technology should do that work, not the customer.  That’s why we have chosen to work with TrueLayer to access consented open banking data under the Consumer Data Right in Australia. TrueLayer is a global open banking leader with technical capability and support right here in Australia and we’re delighted to be working with a world-class partner.”

Commenting on the benefits to Douugh from becoming a CDR Representative, TrueLayer’s CEO for Australia & New Zealand, Brenton Charnley, said: 

“CDR Representative is one of the most exciting access pathways to open banking data in Australia. At TrueLayer, we love working with Australian fintechs who have a global presence and expansion plans because our single unified data API means we can support our Australian clients both locally and globally. By extension, TrueLayer can provide more services internationally with only local integration as it’s the same tech stack and support environment.”

Both parties look forward to a long-term partnership as Douugh launches in Australia and explores expanding to additional international locations in the future, following its recently announced partnership with Railsbank.

Under the terms of the 3 year agreement, Douugh will pay a fixed monthly fee for each CDR-connected bank account per active customer. TrueLayer will be Douugh’s CDR Principal and will use its data APIs to collect CDR data on behalf of Douugh, so that Douugh can provide personal financial management services to its Australian customers via its banking super app. This technical capability is therefore critical for the operational functionality of the super app in Australia.

As per previous guidance, the Company anticipates launching the Douugh offering in Australia in 2022.