Latest news with #financialaccessibility
Finextra
04-08-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Banking Circle completes acquisition of Australian Settlements Limited
Banking Circle ASL acquisition marks a transformative step in Australia's payments ecosystem. 0 The combination of Banking Circle's cross-border infrastructure with ASL's domestic ADI capabilities delivers real-time payment innovation and financial accessibility. A significant milestone in the evolution of payments in Australia, this strategic acquisition unites ASL's established ADI licence and deep domestic banking, payments and settlement experience with Banking Circle's world-class cross-border payments and infrastructure capabilities. The newly integrated entity forms a powerful, end-to-end payments platform serving the needs of Australian and global financial institutions, cementing Banking Circle's commitment to advancing the Australian financial ecosystem through the development and delivery of faster, more efficient, and more accessible real-time payment solutions. 'Bringing ASL into our global platform establishes an expanded presence for Banking Circle in Australia, one of our most strategically important markets,' said Laust Bertelsen, CEO of Banking Circle. 'ASL has been a trusted partner to local financial institutions for decades. Together, we will empower banks, fintechs, and payment providers in Australia to offer faster, cheaper, and more secure payment solutions - at home and abroad.' Key Benefits of the Acquisition: Enhanced Real-Time Payments Capability: The acquisition of ASL will enable Australian domestic and global financial institutions to access all domestic payment schemes including NPP, BECS, PayID, PayTo, and BPAY, while unlocking cross-border capabilities for the Australian financial institutions through Banking Circle's multi-currency accounts, FX services, and global clearing network. Next-Generation Payments Infrastructure: The acquisition of ASL will deliver scalable, resilient, and future-ready payments infrastructure tailored for financial institutions in Australia. Expanded Regulatory and Compliance Coverage: ASL's deep understanding of the Australian regulatory landscape ensures robust compliance, while Banking Circle's global experience introduces best-in-class risk and fraud management practices. Empowering Financial Innovation: With local presence and global connectivity, Banking Circle will support the growth of Australia's fintech and banking sectors by offering more agile, transparent, and cost-effective settlement services. 'We're seeing strong demand from both Australian financial institutions looking to partner with a specialist payments bank to process their domestic and global payments; as well as Australian companies looking to scale globally for a payments bank overseas,' said Mishal Ruparel, CCO of Banking Circle. 'This strategic combination means our clients will gain access to all domestic Australian payment schemes as well as the global currencies Banking Circle offers.' Mark Tibbles, CEO of ASL, added 'We are thrilled to join Banking Circle and scale our operations to deliver a leading proposition to Australian banks, payment providers, fintechs and corporates looking for full domestic capability with true global reach. Together, we bring end to end knowledge and expertise to support all aspects of our clients' payment needs. ASL has a deep history of supporting Australia's mutual banks, credit unions and emerging digital banks and we're excited to grow further in these segments.' Banking Circle established its Australian presence in 2023, operating through BC Payments Australia, which holds an Australian Financial Services License. Following its launch in Australia, BC Payments quickly realised the demand for its payment solutions and formed an alliance with ASL to provide access to local payment services. The teams are now working closely to integrate all capabilities, creating a unified and streamlined service point in Australia for all clients. 'With Australian banks and fintechs navigating a rapidly evolving payments landscape, the demand for resilient and scalable infrastructure continues to grow,' said Piers Cracknell, General Manager of BC Payments Australia. 'Banking Circle's capabilities combined with ASL enables us to offer an unparalleled payments proposition with direct access to the Australian Dollar and all domestic clearing and settlement schemes, through one API. It is compelling for banks, fintechs and payment businesses, enabling clients to focus on growing their core businesses.' Through the Banking Circle ASL acquisition, the unified platform accelerates financial innovation and real-time settlement for Australian and global institutions.
Finextra
30-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Supermarket receipts inform people who are difficult to reach about free help with banking
Not everyone in the Netherlands finds it easy to manage their own banking. 0 In fact, one in six Dutch people occasionally runs into problems. These people are often less skilled digitally or have low literacy levels. Banks find it challenging to reach these groups, which makes it harder for them to provide adequate support. A new initiative - a message on the receipts of PLUS supermarket in Waalwijk - tells people where they can get free assistance. In this way, ABN AMRO aims to show that help is at hand for those who need it. Starting Saturday 28 June, customers shopping at the PLUS supermarket in the Dutch town of Waalwijk will receive a receipt bearing a short message written in simple language. The receipt doesn't offer an actual solution to the problem, but it does point them to where they can get help with banking. This comes in the form of a free helpline where they can speak to an adviser, making it easier for people who are usually hard to reach to find help. Gudy van der Wal, Director of Financial Accessibility at ABN AMRO: 'We've known for a while that there's a strong need for support with everyday banking matters, such as digital banking and making transfers. With ABN AMRO Helps, we want to be here for everyone, including people we can't easily reach at the moment. That's why we're always looking for new ways to engage with these clients. This receipt is one of those ways. We were thrilled that Stephan van Engelen, supermarket manager at PLUS Waalwijk, reacted enthusiastically straight away.' No one should be left behind 'In a society that is becoming increasingly digital, it's crucial that no one is left behind,' says Olaf Nouwens, Accessibility Policy Officer at Senioren Brabant-Zeeland. 'Many seniors would like to manage their own banking affairs, but they sometimes need someone to help them get started. It's essential that assistance isn't only available, but that it is also visible and close at hand. This receipt can truly make a difference for people.' Lowering the threshold to getting help with banking Research shows that one in six Dutch people sometimes needs help with banking, but many don't know where to find it. This is especially true for people who struggle with reading or have little experience with computers. Pointing the way to free help on the receipt lowers the threshold to seeking support. Anyone with questions about making payments or doing their banking securely can get help by phone free of charge. This initiative is part of a broader approach to making financial services accessible to all clients, regardless of age, education or digital skills. National rollout if successful ABN AMRO is exploring whether this approach helps reach more people with appropriate support. If the initiative proves successful, it may be expanded to other areas. 'This way, we're building step by step towards a future where everyone can participate, at a pace and in a way that's right for the individual,' concludes Van der Wal.
Zawya
17-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EG Bank, Mastercard join forces to reinforce digital payment services
Arab Finance: Egyptian Gulf Bank (EG Bank) has teamed up with Mastercard to boost financial accessibility, expand digital payment adoption, and provide affluent individuals with new segments to the bank's card portfolio, as per an emailed press release. The collaboration aligns with EG Bank's strategy to offer a convenient, seamless, and secure payment experience for its customers. Under the partnership deal, Mastercard will support the EGX-listed lender in developing its portfolio of debit, credit, and commercial cards, which will secure tailored financial solutions with additional benefits. The bank seeks to attract new customer segments by offering different banking services to individuals, businesses, and corporations. This is in addition to a wide range of digital banking services, such as mobile banking and internet banking, enabling customers to manage their accounts and conduct transactions remotely. Mohamed Assem, Country Manager for Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon at Mastercard, said: 'This collaboration underscores our joint commitment to driving the growth of the digital payment ecosystem, unlocking new opportunities for sustainable financial empowerment.' Yasmeen Galal, Head of Consumer Banking and SMEs at EGBANK, commented: 'Our collaboration with Mastercard marks a significant milestone in our strategy to diversify our product offerings and enhance our customers' banking experience.' 'This collaboration enables us to offer seamless and rewarding financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of today's consumers while driving long-term growth and innovation in Egypt's financial landscape,' Galal added. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, EG Bank posted 27% year-on-year (YoY) higher consolidated net profits after tax at EGP 758.713 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, compared to EGP 596.541 million. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
bnok24
16-06-2025
- Business
- bnok24
Mastercard and EGBANK collaborate to expand digital payments and premium offerings
EGBANK has joined forces with Mastercard to drive financial accessibility, expand digital payment adoption and introduce affluent new segments to the bank's card portfolio. The collaboration aims to strengthen EGBANK's strategy and reinforces its commitment to delivering convenient, seamless and secured payment experience Mastercard will support EGBANK in developing its portfolio of debit, credit, and commercial cards, offering tailored financial solutions with enhanced benefits Mohamed Assem, Country Manager for Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon at Mastercard, said: 'We are thrilled to join forces with EGBANK to support the development of the bank's card portfolio, and expansion strategy. This collaboration underscores our joint commitment to driving the growth of the digital payment ecosystem unlocking new opportunities for sustainable financial empowerment Yasmeen Galal, Head of Consumer Banking & SMEs at EGBANK, said: 'Our collaboration with Mastercard marks a significant milestone in our strategy to diversify our product offerings and enhance our customers' banking experience. By leveraging cutting-edge payment solutions, we are not only strengthening our portfolio but also expanding our reach to new customer segments. This collaboration enables us to offer seamless and rewarding financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of today's consumers while driving long-term growth and innovation in Egypt's financial landscape By expanding its offerings, EGBANK aims to tap into new customer segments. The bank offers a diverse range of banking services to individuals, businesses, and corporations, in addition to a range of digital banking services, such as mobile banking and internet banking, which allow customers to manage their accounts and conduct transactions remotely Google News تابعونا على تابعونا على تطبيق نبض
Zawya
16-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Mastercard and EGBANK collaborate to expand digital payments and premium offerings
Cairo, Egypt – EGBANK has joined forces with Mastercard to drive financial accessibility, expand digital payment adoption and introduce affluent new segments to the bank's card portfolio. The collaboration aims to strengthen EGBANK's strategy and reinforces its commitment to delivering convenient, seamless and secured payment experience. Mastercard will support EGBANK in developing its portfolio of debit, credit, and commercial cards, offering tailored financial solutions with enhanced benefits. Mohamed Assem, Country Manager for Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon at Mastercard, said: 'We are thrilled to join forces with EGBANK to support the development of the bank's card portfolio, and expansion strategy. This collaboration underscores our joint commitment to driving the growth of the digital payment ecosystem unlocking new opportunities for sustainable financial empowerment.' Yasmeen Galal, Head of Consumer Banking & SMEs at EGBANK, said: 'Our collaboration with Mastercard marks a significant milestone in our strategy to diversify our product offerings and enhance our customers' banking experience. By leveraging cutting-edge payment solutions, we are not only strengthening our portfolio but also expanding our reach to new customer segments. This collaboration enables us to offer seamless and rewarding financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of today's consumers while driving long-term growth and innovation in Egypt's financial landscape.' By expanding its offerings, EGBANK aims to tap into new customer segments. The bank offers a diverse range of banking services to individuals, businesses, and corporations, in addition to a range of digital banking services, such as mobile banking and internet banking, which allow customers to manage their accounts and conduct transactions remotely.
