New agreements give the digital euro clearance for tap to pay and app-based P2P transactions.

Data-rich insights from FMNs give advertisers purchase attribution over intent—and new ad venues give media networks a chance to showcase their utility.

The clunky interface and competing card-linked installment will box out Splitit Go from real BNPL volume.

Its charter application shows fintechs are moving closer to becoming banks, intensifying competition with incumbents.

Issuers hold the advantage of existing credit lines and post-purchase flexibility compared to fintechs, but only for existing credit cardholders, per JD Power.

Banks do not face primary-account switching overnight but may slowly bleed customers and struggle to attract first-time account owners.

Fintechs are cutting out their bank partners to invest in scale and break into new market segments.

Mexico’s digital ad market is rapidly transforming as new formats, channels, and players emerge. Understanding the local market forces, challenges, and opportunities driving these shifts is vital to staying competitive.

Brazil’s digital ad market continues to transform as new formats, channels, and players emerge. Understanding the local market forces, challenges, and opportunities driving these shifts is vital to staying competitive in the country’s fast-evolving landscape.

It’s not just for fintechs and credit bureaus.

Annual fee revenues tripled as affluent users flock to luxury rewards, reversing a decade-long trend—and fintechs seek to pick up consumers issuers left behind.

Thinkwise Credit Union selected InvestiFi to embed digital investing in online and mobile banking, giving members the ability to invest on the credit union’s digital platform. For FIs without dedicated investing tools, embedded tools are a way to defend deposits as D2C investment platforms and roboadvisors move into banking. FIs can quietly meet rising customer expectations by plugging investing into digital channels generally focused on basic banking services.

UK neobank Monzo has agreed to acquire online mortgage broker Habito as it expands its homeownership features—including tracking and brokering home loans—in its app. Neobank super apps create unique banking journeys that engage customers based on different needs as their financial lives progress. With an integrated mortgage broker, Monzo ties together its home insurance product and mortgage-tracking feature—and could debut a direct mortgage product in the future.

Latin America’s digital ad market is transforming as new formats, channels, and players emerge. Understanding the market forces, challenges, and opportunities driving these shifts is key to staying competitive in this fast-evolving landscape.

Open banking and its uncertain future in the US dominated discussions across FinovateFall’s 2025 agenda. Financial institutions (FIs) that already offer open banking capabilities—and those finding new ways to use open banking—will have a competitive advantage over those waiting for more clarity. It’s important to remember who owns the data in question—the customers. And the ultimate question FIs should be asking themselves is: How can they leverage that data to provide the best experience possible for their customers? While it’s unlikely that next steps will include fee-less transfer of this data, FIs must consider how their next steps into open banking can set them apart from the competition. For now, the most obvious step is letting customers manage which parties can access their data.

The news: Payments company Wise is exploring plans to become a full-fledged bank in the UK, per The Times. This shortly follows its application for a US banking license. Why this matters: Fintechs are increasingly applying for US licenses, taking advantage of expedited measures that once took years. The UK is seeing a similar trend: Wise joins fintechs including Starling, Monzo, and Revolut in applying for licenses (some successfully). Fintechs entering the traditional banking space could pressure incumbents and reshape the competitive landscape. Banking licenses would allow them to offer a more complete suite of services while maintaining their digital-first, customer-centric approach. Established players will need to adapt or risk losing a significant portion of the next generation of banking customers.

JPMorgan, Bank of America, and others are opening hundreds of new locations, leaning on physical presence to win deposits and outmaneuver fintech rivals.

The news: Fintech giant Chime beat Wall Street estimates in its first quarterly revenue reporting as a public company, driven by strong demand for its digital banking services, per Reuters. Our first take: Chime's impressive debut as a public company is a powerful statement about the shifting dynamics of consumer banking. For years, traditional banks have dismissed challenger banks as a fringe trend. But Chime's financial performance proves there's a huge, profitable market for digital-first financial services. In addition, Chime’s focus on short-term liquidity tools and early pay access has positioned it as a valuable financial partner, especially as consumers are faced with pressing economic concerns.

The news: Paxos Trust Company—the firm behind PayPal's stablecoin, PYUSD—is reapplying for a national trust bank charter with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), per Reuters. This is a renewed attempt after its initial application expired in 2023. Other cryptocurrency firms, like Circle and Ripple, have recently applied for similar licenses. Our take: This is a calculated move by Paxos that reflects an evolving crypto market. While its previous attempt at this license stalled, the current environment is dramatically different. Securing this charter would be a significant competitive advantage and give Paxos a higher level of trust and legitimacy. This is crucial for attracting institutional partners and mainstream companies that remain wary of the crypto space.

The news: We’ve recently covered a fintech, a stablecoin issuer, an auto manufacturer, foreign banks, and credit unions that are considering, applying for, or in the process of acquiring US banking licenses. Some have already succeeded, inspiring others to follow suit. And according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, banking charter applications have increased 70% since 2024. Our take: We predict traditional banks will push for regulatory changes that prevent the steady inflow of new banks that haven’t had to follow the more stringent requirements of the past. Banks’ long-standing customer relationships will be a central pillar of their defense strategy. Banks must increasingly leverage their established trust, extensive branch networks, and comprehensive product suites to highlight their stability and one-stop-shop convenience compared to specialized fintechs or more limited new entrants.