Latest long reads: Finextra Research

The ICO’s new regulations on biometric technology in the workplace

Chris Cook Partner at SA Law LLP

The ICO’s new regulations on biometric technology in the workplace

When someone mentions biometric technology, many of us still visualise the futuristic utopias popularised in movies such as Minority Report, or Blade Runner. Yet biometric technology is very much commonplace in today’s world – particularly from a consumer perspective. We are using facial recognition systems to gain access to our smartphones, voice ...

07 May 2024 /regulation

Levelling the playing field for sustainable, green investments

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

Levelling the playing field for sustainable, green investments

“Our point is now, the real place this world is going is not back to 1950. In fact, we're going to a clean world, a sustainable, a healthy world, and a safe world. That's where we're going. And it's inevitable. So, you might as well get on the train and make some money.” That’s Tom Steyer’s message, in response to an audience question on the role ...

03 May 2024 /sustainable

Understanding ethical AI: Why financial services are leading the charge

Hamish Monk Reporter at Finextra

Understanding ethical AI: Why financial services are leading the charge

Unlike the preceding technological revolutions of history – perhaps with the exception of the third, computation – artificial intelligence has the potential to move into almost any industry and, critically, supplement or replace white collar work. There is no precedent for a technological development of this size, which is why the battle plans of ...

03 May 2024 /regulation

US Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged, what’s next for banks and customers?

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

US Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged, what’s next for banks and customers?

With the US Federal Reserve’s announcement Wednesday to hold interest rates steady at a target benchmark of 5.25-5.50%, broad implications of this decision are starting to line up across the financial services arena. Continuing at the highest level since 2001, current rates are being held in place by the central bank board because of what they cal...

02 May 2024 /markets

Top payments stories you missed in April

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What is T+1 and why has the SEC has ruled to shorten settlement cycles from T+2?

With less than one month to go before the T+1 deadline of 28 May 2024, brokerage firms across North America are preparing for the transition from securities transactions being settled in two business days – T+2 – to just one day. This will apply to transactions for stocks, bonds, municipal securities, exchange-traded funds, certain mutual ...

30 April 2024 /markets

How can fintechs use high interest rates to navigate capital markets?

Vladimir Krasik Global Head of Internal Treasury at Revolut

How can fintechs use high interest rates to navigate capital markets?

The rising interest rate cycle of the last two years has been accompanied by the deterioration of capital market conditions, adversely affecting most fintech start-ups. Investors discounted valuations, making raising new equity capital significantly more challenging compared to the era of zero-cost money. Simultaneously, for operational start-ups t...

30 April 2024 /startups

NextGen Nordics 2024: Why it’s time for a domestic focus

Finextra Research Writer at Finextra

NextGen Nordics 2024: Why it’s time for a domestic focus

NextGen Nordics, one of Finextra’s annual payments events, was held on 23rd April 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden, bringing together an array of experts and leaders in the Nordics payments industry. The conference explored innovation across payments infrastructure in the Nordics and started off with an opening speech from Finextra’s head of research Gary...

29 April 2024 /payments

The crucial role of seamless bills and payments processes to organisational success

Paige McNamee Senior Reporter at Finextra

The crucial role of seamless bills and payments processes to organisational success

While the benefits of fast payment processing for merchants and e-billers are well understood – the pressures of today’s payment landscape mean that the need for seamless billing and payment has never been more pronounced, regardless of whether payments are digital or paper-based. Firms are juggling the pressures to remain compliant with new regul...

29 April 2024 /payments

Kirstie McDermott Senior Content Editor at Amply

How to develop green skills

Last year, 39% of UK residents said they were “very concerned” about the effects of climate change, with another 43% indicating that they were “fairly concerned”. Just 4% said they weren't at all concerned, according to the DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker. The figures also show that those who are the most worried tend to be in the over-65 bracket (...

26 April 2024 /people

How to define cloud sovereignty and the quest for balance

Madhvi Mavadiya Head of Content at Finextra

How to define cloud sovereignty and the quest for balance

With the everchanging geopolitical landscape and new regulations coming to the fore, where data is kept, where it is shared, and who can access it are all considerations for financial institutions in a world where more data equals more power. As a growing amount of data is stored in cloud-based data centres, the EU, US, and China have issued regul...

24 April 2024 /cloud

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What Gen Z want from UK fintech

As the digital era of financial services progresses, the UK fintech sector has reached new and diverse audiences that have varying demands from their financial providers. Gen Z is a significant demographic that are currently entering or are in the workforce, and having been raised in a more virtual and digitalised environment, expect ease, speed, ...

19 April 2024 /retail

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