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Square’s bank arm launches as fintech aims ‘to operate more nimbly’

TechCrunch

Known for its innovations in the payments sector, Square is now officially a bank. Nearly one year after receiving conditional approval , Square said Monday afternoon that its industrial bank, Square Financial Services, has begun operations. Lewis Goodwin had been tapped to serve as the bank’s CEO, and Brandon Soto its CFO.

Banking 352
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New challenger Ikigai combines digital banking and wealth management

TechCrunch

Ikigai , a London fintech founded by former McKinsey partners, thinks there’s room in the crowded challenger market for a new premium offering that combines digital banking with wealth management. “Our typical client is young — usually in their late twenties or thirties,” explains Ikigai co-founder Edgar de Picciotto.

Banking 273
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Wannabe ‘social bank’ Kroo swerves VCs to raise a $24.5M Series A from HNWs

TechCrunch

Launched in February 2019, Kroo, the London-based consumer-facing fintech, raised some seed funding last year for its prepaid card service which claims to offer more “social features” in its drive toward offering full-blown banking services. Kroo will use the funding in its drive toward a full banking license in early 2022.

Banking 253
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UK challenger bank Starling raises $376M, now valued at $1.9B

TechCrunch

Challenger banks continue to see huge infusions of cash from investors bullish on the opportunity for smaller and faster-moving tech-based banking startups to woo customers from their larger rivals. The bank is already profitable. It posted operating profits for a fourth consecutive month, and net income currently exceeds £1.5

Banking 275
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Nigerian digital bank Carbon hit $240M in payments processed last year, up 89% from 2019

TechCrunch

The company’s annual reports reveal numbers on gross earnings, profit/loss before and after-tax, net impairment loss, total assets, liabilities, and equity, among others. Also, in its quest to become a digital bank, Carbon acquired a microfinance bank license. Image Credits: Carbon.

Banking 291
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Mexico’s fintech success: How tech is driving the population to banking

TechCrunch

Earlier this month, Citibanamex — Mexico’s second-largest bank — announced that it is building new APIs to allow fintech companies real-time access to information like its services and ATM locations. The move comes as Mexico’s fintech ecosystem flourishes so fiercely that traditional banks have to embrace them or risk lagging behind.

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Kenyan fintech Pezesha raises $11M backed by Women’s World Banking, Cardano parent IOG

TechCrunch

Pezesha is tapping local and international banking institutions, HNWIs and DeFi for additional liquidity for onward lending. Pezesha plans to create a $100 million financing opportunity each year for businesses by tapping local and international banking institutions, high-net-worth individuals and decentralized finance. “We

Fintech 247