Sun.Mar 15, 2020

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The politics of pandemics

Chris Skinner

I was a little distraught over the weekend. With absolutely no warning, the Polish government closed the country’s borders. All flights and train travel banned. No inbound access at all, unless you are Polish or could provide Polish residency. No outbound access and, if you do leave and return, immediate … The post The politics of pandemics appeared first on Chris Skinner's blog.

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Bitcoin Daily: Rhode Island’s Blockchain Act Aims For Crypto Rules Too; Rapper Akon Details Crypto Plans

PYMNTS

Rapper Akon is launching the cryptocurrency, Akoin, that he says will financially power “Akon City” in West Africa. His whitepaper indicates that Akoins will work as “atomic swaps” between cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and mobile phone credits on the Akoin network. “The Akoin Utility Token is the exclusive currency of the Akoin ecosystem. Our proprietary Atomic Swap technology enables immediate trade between major cryptocurrencies, our partners’ alternative currencies, and fiat currencies —

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The Finanser’s Week: 9th March 2020 – 15th March 2020

Chris Skinner

The main blog headlines are … “Are you willing to take the risk of investing in b t?” “Are you willing to take the risk of investing in b t?” Interesting headline. It’s not mine btw. It’s a question from a leading banker. The question, in this case, related to investing in data … The post The Finanser’s Week: 9th March 2020 – 15th March 2020 appeared first on Chris Skinner's blog.

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Apple Card Users Get Pass On March Payment, Interest

PYMNTS

As a way to provide some financial pressure that people could be experiencing as a result of the coronavirus, Apple alerted Apple Card customers by email that they will be allowed to skip their March payments without incurring interest charges. “We understand that the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 situation poses unique challenges for everyone, and some customers may have difficulty making their monthly payments.

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Digital Transformation: Accelerating ROI and Growth in Commercial Lending

Now is the time for lenders to prioritize their digital transformation initiatives in preparation for the lending rebound. Rising competition and ever-increasing customer demands for speed and efficiency are forcing financial institutions to embrace digital transformation. This shift can feel overwhelming—where do you begin? This infographic illustrates automation demands and shows you how loan document automation serves as an essential step to increase profits and provide the best lending exper

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Things worth reading: 16th March 2020

Chris Skinner

Things we’re reading today include … Banks are running out of cash EU rejects UK call for rapid agreement on financial services The plumbing behind world’s financial markets is creaking. Loudly Stocks crumble, unconvinced as Fed and peers attempt radical rescue Fed slashes rates, global central banks coordinate to cushion … The post Things worth reading: 16th March 2020 appeared first on Chris Skinner's blog.

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More Trending

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Coronavirus creates turbulence for cobranded travel cards

Payments Source

Cobranded travel credit cards — including some of the most popular and profitable in the payment card industry — are looking at darker skies because of COVID-19.

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SEC Reduces Audit Rules For Smaller Firms

PYMNTS

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted last week to ease audit requirements for some small, publicly traded companies, the agency said in a statement Friday (March 13). The SEC originally considered audit change requirements in May 2019 as part of an initiative to make it easier for companies to file an initial public offering (IPO), Reuters reported.

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Payment merger integration can't drop the ball on user experience

Payments Source

Taking the time to consider which technology to adopt for the new, expanded organization can be a critical success factor in the long run, says Bottomline Technologies' Jessica Cheney.

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American Airlines Suspends Most Long International Flights Through May

PYMNTS

American Airlines is curbing its flights for the next month or so in response to the deadly coronavirus , which has been exacerbated by international travel in recent weeks, according to a press release. The flight company said the changes were intended to acclimate to the lower demand for flights in the U.S. as well as travel restrictions imposed to try and stave off the virus’s spread.

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The State of Automation in Financial Services 2024 Report

In this report, you’ll find a comprehensive analysis of survey responses from executives at banks, credit unions, and insurance companies concerning their organization’s current and future use of automation. The report’s key insights include: Which types of automation are saving organizations the most time and money How to overcome the biggest barriers to automation implementation and adoption Why automation investments will continue to grow over the next few years How much you could save in 202

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Calls mount for U.S. to halt foreclosures, evictions amid health crisis

American Banker

A national moratorium would be costly to lenders and servicers, but proponents say it's needed to help cushion the economic blow of the pandemic.

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NY Crypto Cos. Ordered To Create Coronavirus Emergency Plans

PYMNTS

The New York Department of Financial Services ( NYDFS ) sent a letter to the approximate 18 cryptocurrency firms it regulates saying they have 30 days to submit a contingency plan in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. The March 10 letter outlined nine items that the agency expects cryptocurrency companies to include it the plan, such as how operational disruptions would be handled and what is being done to protect its employees. .

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Eight giant U.S. banks to suspend stock buybacks through June

American Banker

The banks — including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup — agreed to stop buying back their own shares through the second quarter, saying they will focus on supporting clients and the nation during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Fed Slashes Interest Rates To Near Zero

PYMNTS

The Federal Reserve announced Sunday (March 15) it would drop benchmark interest rates to zero and buy at least $700 billion in government bonds as part of an emergency action to protect the economy from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States,” the Fed said in a statement.

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Why Is CRE Lending Stuck in the Past? Top 3 Reasons for Digital Resistance

Commercial lending is on the verge of a resurgence, but traditional processes are an obstacle. Explore the top 3 reasons for resistance to digital transformation and how overcoming them can pave the way for growth and efficiency. Discover why embracing automation and digital solutions is crucial for success in today's competitive landscape. Discover how GoDocs helps commercial lenders in the digital era with seamless integration and a borrower-focused approach.

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PayPal together with Visa, Mastercard might be affected hard by coronavirus

The Paypers

In February 2020 PayPal estimated that COVID-19 could result in a one percentage point reduction to its year-over-year revenue growth for the current quarter, according to Forbes.

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Coronavirus Causes Apple Store Event Cancellations, Precautions

PYMNTS

Apple has announced that it is canceling its Today at Apple events due to coronavirus fears, according to reports. “As a precautionary measure, we are temporarily pausing Today at Apple programming. Please check back for updates,” the company said on the Today at Apple site. The move affects all stores in Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States.

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Amid coronavirus outbreak, Skrill drops fees on money transfers to Italy

The Paypers

Skrill , an online payments company, has dropped all fees and foreign exchange charges for those using Skrill Money Transfer to send money to Italy, according to Verdict UK.

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Coronavirus Prompts Federal Reserve To Slash Rate To Zero

PYMNTS

The Federal Reserve announced Sunday (March 15) it would drop benchmark interest rates to zero and buy at least $700 billion in government bonds as part of an emergency action to protect the economy from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States,” the Fed said in a statement.

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Register Now: Sneak Peek Into Close Automation SkyStem Web Demo

Technology is rapidly changing the way accountants perform and manage month-end activities. Spreadsheets, email, and shared drives no longer have to slow us down. Join us as we present a "sneak peek" recorded demo of SkyStem's month-end close solution – ART. In under four weeks, your team can start reaping the benefits of month-end close automation by vastly reducing spreadsheets, cut down on reconciliation work, speed up the month-end close, and better manage your remote team.

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Alibaba files patent for a blockchain transaction system in Brazil

The Paypers

Alibaba has registered a blockchain-based system patent in Brazil under the category of insurance, financial business, and monetary business.

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House Chairwoman Tells FDIC To Halt ILC Charters

PYMNTS

Congresswoman Maxine Waters , chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, wants to stop any new Industrial Loan Company (ILC) charters until further notice, citing concerns about outdated rules. Waters wrote to Jelena McWilliams , chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) , requesting the agency wait until new regulatory proposals on ILC charters are given the OK before any more of the charters are passed through.

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UnionPay to introduce QR code-payment transaction in the UAE

The Paypers

Network International , a digital commerce provider across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and China’s UnionPay have piloted a QR code-based payment transaction at a merchant outlet in the UAE.

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Italy Factoring Firm CashInvoice Turns To Crowdfunding

PYMNTS

Italian factoring startup CashInvoice launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on CrowFundMe, hoping to raise at least 200,000 euros ($222,000), the company said in a statement. The minimum investment is 500 euros ($555), and the FinTech is planning to go public when it reaches investments of 1 million euros ($1.11 million), based on a pre-money valuation of €7 million ($7.77 million), according to CrowdFundMe.

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Top 10 Benefits of Automating Loan Modifications for Commercial Lenders

Get ready for the wave of $1.2 trillion in commercial debt maturing in the next 24 months with GoDocs' ModDocs® platform. Traditional loan modifications are slow, expensive, and prone to errors, which put lenders at risk. But with ModDocs®, you can enjoy an innovative solution that eliminates attorney fees, allows on-the-fly loan modifications, and ensures compliance.

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Banking Without Branches a Matter of Life and Death

The Financial Brand

As cities are shut down due to the coronavirus, the banking industry must help consumers do all of their banking from their home. The post Banking Without Branches a Matter of Life and Death appeared first on The Financial Brand.

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EU Ministers To Meet Via Video On Virus’ Financial Hit

PYMNTS

Mario Centeno, head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, will head up a video conference meeting of European Union officials Monday (March 16) in an attempt to assess how to steer the economy back on track amid the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported. The meeting will take place via video to avoid meeting in person, which would carry with it a higher risk of transmitting the virus.

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Phos and Mastercard boost digital payments acceptance for MSMEs

The Paypers

Software manufacturer Phos has announced a pilot project with Mastercard to introduce a mobile solution that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accept cashless payments.

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Egyptian banks explore multiple avenues to growth

The Banker

Egypt’s banks have emerged from a difficult decade with their appetite for expansion undimmed. Kit Gillet reports.

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2024 Lending Outlook: Innovations and Evolutions in the Financial Sector

As we step into 2024, the lending landscape evolves rapidly with technology, regulations, and market dynamics driving change. For banks and financial institutions to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their customers, these drivers must be understood and engaged with. Lenders can anticipate significant transformation fueled by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer behaviors.