Last week the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a report on the initial coin offering (ICO) of the Decentralized Autonomous Organization (the DAO), which raised almost $150 million from investors using this new capital raising method (before returning the money); the report explained that the SEC views this ICO as a sale of securities and that the DAO was in violation of securities laws, though no enforcement action was taken. Source
Even Financial is an industry leading online finance products and services search and comparison service provider; it has announced the launch of a new semi-automated tool to support online advertising for online finance products; new tool includes automation for analyzing the placement of ads. Source
US fintech Square reported $16.4 billion in gross payment volume, a 32% gain from 2Q16, as the company attracted larger sellers and increased product usage through cross selling; revenue was $552 million, increasing 26% from 2Q16; earnings per share were $0.07, increasing from $0.02 in 2Q16; the firm's lending business, Square Capital, reported a 68% year over year increase in loan volume for the quarter. Source
ID Finance will collaborate with Yuri Popov and asset manager Da Vinci Capital to launch the FinTech Credit Fund; estimated fund value is $200 million with debt financing focused on fintech and alternative lending; ID Finance is a growing fintech firm with three businesses: MoneyMan, Ammopay and Solva. Source
P2P-Banking.com has released international lending volumes for July; Zopa topped the list with originations of EUR119.6 million ($USD141.9 million) for the month; report includes a number of milestones including cumulative lending of GBP2.5 billion ($3.28 billion) for Zopa and GBP2 billion ($2.63 billion) for RateSetter; the report does not include data from US P2P lending platforms. Source
Leading non bank lender loanDepot opened the mello™ Innovation Lab where the tech team will continue working to expand their proprietary mello technology; in comments regarding the innovation lab, loanDepot CEO and Chairman Anthony Hsieh said: "Our lending professionals and LD tech team have combined strengths to create an unstoppable force in next-gen lending. Our never-ending, iterative innovation process is the basis of our business strategy and our true competitive advantage."; the mello technology is designed to make loan origination faster, easier and more accurate by integrating marketing tools and third party data; the digital experience is available to consumers, referral partners and lending professionals; this new lab is meant to foster innovation and allow the technology team to work in a unique environment that includes fun activities and nice weather. Source
Leading cloud based loan and leasing software provider Cloud Lending Solutions launches a new product offering for banking clients, CL Portal™; the new product will allow a lender to integrate loan product workflows and document management for a seamless customized experience; Snehal Fulzele, CEO of Cloud Lending Solutions, explains: "Every day, more and more banks are asking for an integrated loan portal that allows them to configure a highly personal, customer-centric experience. CL Portal™ allows banks to build that interaction with an origination platform in months, rather than years." Source
Celent is a research and advisory firm to mid and large sized banks, credit unions and technology providers; the company partnered with FI Navigator to present data on mobile app adoption in banking; we know what the historical channels of branches, contact centers, ATMs, internet and mobile are all about; mobile is becoming an omnichannel platform for both bankers and customers spanning branches, contact centers and ATMs which Bob Meara explores in his presentation; shares that half of retail customers aren't using digital channels, concerns from consumers about digital and mobile channels, and other data about mobile adoption. Source
Firm says the platform is the first to introduce hire purchase loans for businesses; the firm has developed the product in collaboration with former wholesale lending partner Corporate Asset Solutions who will serve as a distribution channel; RateSetter will take full security over the specified asset and the platform says its hire purchase agreements will range up to GBP750,000 ($993,000). Source
UK invoice financing platform MarketInvoice reported a record day of transactions this week; the platform transacted GBP4.1 million ($5.38 million) in invoice advances to UK businesses; the firm's MarketInvoice Pro product has been a factor supporting increased lending volumes on the platform with the new product offering an open funding line for businesses. Source