The intranet will be used by more than 160 employees; it is designed to help FBS reduce the volume of internal emails and improve staff collaboration across the business. The project was delivered in an eight-week agile development project; giving FBS a central portal for all employees to communicate quickly, access forms and documents, and share data. Trustmarque migrated FBS’ existing data to the intranet and integrated it with Microsoft Active Directory, providing a seamless and secure experience for users. SharePoint licensing was procured through Trustmarque’s Cloud-ESP, ensuring maximum return on investment and allowing FBS to easily control and manage costs.

Due to rapid growth, the number of employees at FBS grew from 90 to 160 in under three years. This expansion meant legacy communication systems and processes were inefficient; staff were sharing documents via email and spending time searching for information on a central network drive. At the same time, a growing number of employees meant the volume of email increased dramatically, putting staff productivity at risk. FBS wanted to create its intranet using SharePoint, but with a small development team, it lacked the time and resources to develop the intranet in-house. It therefore engaged Trustmarque to consult with FBS, and to develop its intranet. Trustmarque also delivered a series of workshops to FBS, in which it demonstrated the potential of SharePoint; it also worked closely with FBS to help it understand how it could benefit from the technology.

FBS purchased SharePoint licensing required via Trustmarque’s Cloud-ESP, which simplifies the purchase and management of cloud services. This enabled FBS to benefit from monthly billing, giving it the freedom to upgrade to SharePoint Plan 2 at a time convenient to the business, rather than waiting for the 12-month renewal. The intranet is used to host documents, manuals and policies that staff frequently access, and has led to a much more collaborative way of working. It is also a space for staff to coordinate the many social activities they are involved in. An initial implementation review of FBS’ employees received extremely positive feedback. FBS plan to extend the use of the intranet further in 2017, to add more collaborative workflow functionality.

“The intranet is the first thing staff see when they switch their computers on, and in just a few clicks they can be collaborating easily with their colleagues,” commented Head of Business Change, FBS, Michael Feather. “This simplicity means our employees can communicate quickly without being snowed under by email. Trustmarque understood exactly what business outcomes we wanted to achieve and delivered an intranet that met these aims; providing the necessary consultation and training on the way. By helping consolidate some of our existing legacy systems, Trustmarque has helped us ‘future-proof’ the intranet, and has also shown us the potential benefits of moving other services to the cloud in the future.”

“Office 365 offers more than just email, something that is often overlooked by many companies,” commented David Nicholson, Director at Trustmarque. “In FBS’ case, using SharePoint to power its intranet was an ideal way for the company to foster greater collaboration and simplify communication. The work we have done with FBS in delivering the intranet and meeting its objectives, is testament to Trustmarque’s end-to-end IT service capabilities and our expertise with Microsoft products and licensing. Facilitating easy collaboration and communication also leaves FBS free to concentrate on continuing to provide an excellent service to customers.” 

The move gives Tradovate clients access to VeloxPro’s unique trading tool that delivers a customizable display in the form of a dynamic, high-definition “heat map.” Bookmap xRay visualizes real-time order flow and live trade analysis information, combined with historical depth-of-market (DOM), to give traders insights into the evolution and continuously changing dynamics of the order book. By accessing Bookmap through Tradovate, Bookmap clients will, for the first time, be able to use it from their mobile devices or tablets and in a web browser, in addition to using it as a downloaded application on Windows and Mac PCs. Bookmap clients also get first-time access to unlimited commission-free futures trading through Tradovate.

The heat map records and visualizes every change in the order book by displaying it on a scale of gray shade, and the high-definition video format allows users to digest massive amounts of information according to their preferences. It is designed to give traders a clear view of how the entire limit order book and traded volume evolve over time. The brighter shades mark areas of higher liquidity. Bookmap’s charts update approximately 40 times per second, and users can zoom into the microsecond level on the heat map.

Tradovate Holdings, LLC Founder and CEO Rick Tomsic said: “Many of our clients wanted access to the innovative Bookmap xRay platform, and we have been delighted to work with VeloxPro on a rapid and smooth integration of our offerings.”

Tsachi Galanos, CEO of VeloxPro, said: “We’re excited about this relationship with Tradovate as our first partner to offer a live web-based version of Bookmap xRay, which gives traders faster and deeper insights into live market dynamics and short-term price action. We view the web as the future for our product, and we intend to keep adding new functionality and analytics to benefit our users. Bookmap is the pioneer tool to enable traders to see all depth-of-market activity via a heat map, and just as Tradovate has recognized with its advanced, cloud-based platform, the web is where most traders will be. It’s been very easy to work with both the technology and commercial teams at Tradovate, and we are thrilled that through this partnership, our product is now available on mobile and other devices without any need to download the platform.”

Tradovate President Ryan Hansen said: “We are excited to bring the Bookmap xRay product to market in Tradovate. This is the first time we have worked with a partner to embed third-party tools that will be accessible across all versions of our platform. Tradovate provides futures trading from anywhere, and now – with Bookmap xRay on Tradovate – traders can see order flow from anywhere too.”

Tradovate is the first futures brokerage firm to offer unlimited commission-free trading for a flat price, instead of the industry-standard commission structure. Its cloud-based platform powers futures trading from anywhere and any device – all included with no platform licensing, order routing or mobile app fees. 

QuantHouse provides end-to-end systematic trading solutions including ultra-low latency market data, algo trading development frameworks, proximity hosting and order routing to hedge funds, market makers, proprietary desks, brokers and sell-side firms.

"We are pleased to have agreed to sell QuantHouse to one of its original founders, Pierre Feligioni," says S&P Global Market Intelligence President, Mike Chinn. "Mr. Feligioni's extensive familiarity with QuantHouse provides the business and its employees with the best opportunity to invest in product enhancements and even more effectively serve clients while allowing S&P Global Market Intelligence to focus its resources on growth opportunities that most closely align with our vision."

"QuantHouse is an innovative next generation company that has changed how capital markets participants trade, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead QuantHouse again," says Pierre Feligioni. "While we leveraged S&P Global's reach together for several years, we collectively believe that the time is right for QuantHouse to regain focus and flexibility to exploit growing market opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia. I am very excited to work with our staff and partners to make QuantHouse the leading provider of ultra-low latency trading solutions, and I look forward to connecting with our customers around the world to present the roadmap for our core solutions and our plan to invest in new products and services."

QuantHouse has developed a strong global platform in recent years, with its expansion into new geographies such as Asia and the delivery of a series of market innovations in ultra-low latency market data and algorithmic trading. QuantHouse's talented management team will remain with the company as it enters this new phase of its growth.

The close of the transaction is anticipated by mid-January. 

James joined American Express on graduating from Kingston University with a First Class degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Over the following 15 years he held a variety of roles including: Director of Global Network Services; Director of Business Planning; and Vice President and General Manager for Amex’s UK Commercial SME Card. Subsequent to this James worked at: Citigroup, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of Partnerships, Retail Banking; at the Bank of Scotland and then at Lloyds Banking Group as Director of Banking Operations and Transformation during their integration period; and at the Co-op Bank as an interim Transformation Director.

Most recently James has been working as interim Chief Operating Officer at Aldermore Bank, overseeing the introduction of planning and efficiency tools and the bank’s IT and transformation agenda.

Regarding his appointment, James Radford said: “I am delighted to take on the role of CEO of the C&CCC. This is an exciting time to be joining, as the industry works to introduce an image-based clearing process that will bring cheques firmly into the 21st century - ensuring their future for those consumers and businesses that continue to rely on them.”  

Following the integration, unattended operators will be able to offer an enhanced experience to their customers using Apple Pay, which is transforming mobile payments with an easy, secure and private way to pay that’s fast and convenient. In turn, consumers making a purchase will be able to take advantage of exclusive offers, promotions and discounts toward future purchases at participating self-serve machines connected to USAT’s ePort Connect platform. USA Technologies plans to roll out the technology to select unattended retail locations nationwide over the coming months. USAT will be demonstrating the technology on January 5th at The Digital Money Forum at CES 2017.

Integrating the MORE. loyalty program with Apple Pay would allow operators in the unattended market to give consumers a nearly frictionless loyalty and payment experience. Rather than going through a cumbersome process to swipe a physical card or pay with cash, consumers paying with Apple Pay at participating ePort merchant locations would simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to the contactless reader to pay, earn and redeem loyalty points with a single motion if they are already participating in USAT’s MORE. program. If they are not yet participating in MORE., they will have the opportunity to instantly enroll and have the digital loyalty card added right to Apple Pay. The experience from start to finish is much more efficient for both operators and consumers.

“Consumers are getting more accustomed to paying with their phones, and with all of the digital noise coming at consumers 24/7, loyalty and rewards programs that easily integrate into popular payment methods like Apple Pay are a win/win,” said Maeve McKenna Duska, senior vice president of sales and marketing, USA Technologies. “By offering MORE. with Apple Pay we are giving consumers a loyalty program that seamlessly integrates with their lifestyle, rewarding them for using the one thing they always have on hand, their iPhone or Apple Watch. We expect the MORE. integration with Apple Pay will not only fuel participation in the unattended loyalty program, but also underscore the ease, security and simplicity of Apple Pay transactions for everyday purchases like those made at vending machines, laundromats, self-serve kiosks, parking and more.”

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When a consumer uses a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on the consumer’s device. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

In connection with the integration of the MORE. Loyalty program with Apple Pay, USAT is collaborating with Urban Airship, a mobile growth company, to bring enhanced consumer marketing solutions to the mobile wallet demo of the MORE Loyalty program, via Urban Airship Reach, a simple but powerful platform that creates virtual cards for and manages the loyalty program user experience design (UX), promotions, point balances, etc. The work USAT is doing on the Apple Pay integration also makes registration to USAT’s MORE. program easier than ever before. Any consumer that presents an iPhone or Apple Watch at a participating merchant location will receive an electronic prompt to join USAT’s MORE. program. Consumers that opt in can then add a MORE. loyalty card right to Apple Wallet and immediately begin reaping benefits every time they use Apple Pay at a participating machine, as the loyalty information will be automatically shared with the transaction.

MORE. was originally designed to provide USAT merchant customers the ability to offer custom rewards and discount offers for products purchased at its ePort-enabled locations. We believe that many unattended operations have successfully leveraged the program to drive loyalty, encourage repeat business and help our customers gain a greater understanding of consumers' purchasing preferences to better meet consumer needs. In recent years, USAT expanded its MORE. program to offer rewards to consumers who register their preferred credit card with MORE. and to companies interested in offering a payroll deduct program to their population. By integrating with Apple Pay, USAT continues to evolve the MORE. loyalty program, making it more relevant to its customers and easier for them to present their loyalty information. 

10 Nepalese banks join nearly 600 users of the hosted utility service for sanctions compliance

10 Nepalese banks will utilise SWIFT's Sanctions Screening service to support their sanctions compliance. The 10 banks will join the nearly 600 firms currently using the service, which was launched in 2012 as the first solution in SWIFT's financial crime compliance portfolio. The success of the offering validates SWIFT's vision that compliance services are most efficiently and effectively delivered via a hosted utility model. 

Sanctions Screening is a hosted utility service that screens financial transactions in real-time against more than 30 up-to-date lists of sanctioned individuals and entities from all the major regulatory bodies, including OFAC, the United Nations, and the European Union. All structured message types can be screened, including FIN, ISO 20022, SEPA, FedWire and other non-SWIFT messages. Matches, or "hits," are identified immediately and highlighted for further action.

The service is designed for the needs of small to mid-size financial institutions as well as corporations, high-volume payments businesses and central banks. Since its launch in 2012, SWIFT's Sanctions Screening service has been adopted by customers in more than 140 countries, including entire banking communities in Ghana and Nigeria. There are also 20 central banks using the service.

"SWIFT is a valued and trusted partner in our sanctions compliance efforts," says Ashoke SJB Rana, Chief Executive Officer, Himalayan Bank Limited. "Using Sanctions Screening helps us focus on core parts of our business while actively ensuring we are meeting our sanctions compliance obligations, reducing manpower and costs."

"SWIFT Sanctions Screening is very well tailored to the compliance needs, thanks to SWIFT's reliability and outstanding customer service. It is definitely one of the most efficient tools we have come across," said Vishal Rauniyar, Head of Compliance and Operations Risk, Kumari Bank Limited.

 "SWIFT Sanctions Screening is easy to implement and user friendly," says Pramod Dahal, Head Compliance, NMB Bank Limited. "It is a vital component for the financial sector and has added value to AML programmes."

The system will reduce the time it takes to make a mortgage application to as little as ten minutes.

The new technology will, for the first time, give consumers the option to let brokers view their credit history, combined with a summarised overview of their spending behaviour. This level of detail enables brokers to very quickly understand the financial position of both new and existing borrowers. The information will be provided in the form of an 'Affordability Passport' created by the mortgage applicant in a secure and private portal.

Data is gathered in real-time and combined with a historic view of the way the consumer manages their credit. The solution is software as a service (SaaS) and can quickly be integrated into existing origination platforms.

Jake Ranson, Banking & Financial Institutions Director at Equifax UK, said: “Working with specialist technology partners from across the industry is a great way to innovate on behalf of both clients and consumers so we are excited to be working with Castlight to deliver something unique to the market. Industry initiatives like Open Banking Standards highlight the financial industry’s commitment to reform itself to help customers take more control over their data and make it easier for the financial services industry to use data on behalf of customers in a variety of helpful and innovative ways. Equifax is fully committed to these developments and is working on a range of solutions to support our broad range of financial services clients.”

Phil Grady, CEO of Castlight, said: “Equifax is a forward thinking organisation committed to delivering robust business insights, and is ideally placed to collaborate on our aim to improve the financial application journey for consumers. This platform significantly reduces the time it takes for the mortgage process to be completed, and provides brokers with a framework to give informed, detailed advice much earlier in the client engagement process.”

Paradigm Mortgage Services will be one of the first distributors of the new platform. Bob Hunt, CEO commented: “Paradigm is clearly excited at the prospect of working with like-minded, innovative firms and Castlight and Equifax certainly fit this description. This tool significantly aids not just the client in understanding their true financial status, and their attractiveness as potential borrowers, but we believe it is able to offer a substantial benefit to the mortgage application process. With the advent of Open Banking and PSD2 we are about to see significant change in the accessibility and availability of data to clients, who can access their information in this type of secure environment. We are particularly pleased to have been chosen as Castlight's primary distribution partner and we welcome the opportunity to talk to like-minded firms interested in knowing more.”