The Ultimate Guide to Fintech
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Fintech.
What to know about Fintech
Fintech, short for financial technology, represents a dynamic sector where innovation meets finance to revolutionize how individuals and businesses manage money. This tag aggregates stories that cover the broad spectrum of fintech developments ranging from payment solutions and banking technology to AI-driven financial services and cybersecurity.
Readers exploring this tag will find insights on groundbreaking startups expanding across regions, significant funding rounds propelling growth, the rise of embedded finance, and the ongoing challenges of regulatory compliance and cybersecurity in financial services. The stories also spotlight the evolving influence of women leaders and inclusivity efforts within the fintech landscape.
Whether it's about the latest in digital payments, collaboration between traditional banks and fintech firms, advances in AI for financial operations, or regional fintech ecosystems gaining momentum, this collection offers valuable knowledge for anyone interested in the current and future impact of technology on finance.
Kiwi Fintech News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
Feijoa users add NZD $4.5m to KiwiSaver through round-ups
Round-up saving has pushed more than 7,000 users towards retirement balances, with self-employed New Zealanders making up about a third of Feijoa's base.
Hatch warns customers of DriveWealth data exposure
Customer contact details and portfolio data were exposed in a breach at Hatch's US broker partner, though no holdings or transactions were affected.
Westpac approved to issue digital IDs
Business customers will soon be able to share bank details with fewer fraud risks, after the bank became the first in New Zealand cleared to issue digital IDs.
Westpac first New Zealand bank to issue digital ID
Business customers can now verify bank account details faster and with less fraud risk as digital credentials debut through Govt.nz's app wallet.
Revolut NZ potential changes with bank application
Revolut customers in New Zealand could see their accounts converted to bank accounts, with new terms if the proposed changes take effect.
ACT promises tax-free crypto gains after a year
Everyday crypto investors could escape tax on longer-term gains, as ACT targets simpler rules for small purchases and start-ups.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Fintech
Google named Gartner leader in enterprise AI assistants
Ripple Treasury expands GSmart AI for finance teams
Coder launches Agent Relay for Cursor in private preview
Shufti wins Gartner honour for global identity coverage
KAST launches Business stablecoin account for firms
Featured News
SAS Innovate: New era of scams requires novel solutions
Australians are losing billions as AI-driven fraud pushes banks, telcos and platforms to share scam data faster and stop payments earlier.
Archaic payment processes costing SMEs time and money
Australian SMEs are missing working capital gains as manual invoicing and EFTs leave payments slower and less secure.
Expert Columns
An open letter to the next gen of accountants and bookkeepers
From wallets to accounts: The quiet convergence of crypto and everyday finance
The KYC blind spot hiding in your email validation stack
6 Industries that need address verification
The importance of data enrichment in financial services
Fragmented payment systems are costing your business
Why Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Starts With Clean Data
4 practical tips for maintaining data quality
How poor watchlist data undermines sanctions screening accuracy
Your biggest competitor may have already launched, you've just never heard of them
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the network
Recent Fintech News
Regnology finds agentic AI gap in reporting adoption
Only 16% of firms have embedded AI in regulatory reporting, as governance and trust issues keep most projects in pilot stage.
NatWest & banks set out AI agent payment principles
Banks want to prevent AI-driven shopping from eroding customer control, privacy and security as agentic commerce moves closer to everyday payments.
Al-Futtaim picks Juspay for 50-brand payments rollout
Customers across 50 brands in 12 markets will get a single checkout layer, as Al-Futtaim seeks fewer failed payments and easier reporting.
Business AI spending rises 406% at Revolut Business
Companies are treating AI like a recurring operating cost, with monthly business spending up 406% and average outlay far above retail users.
Bir launches digital push for Azerbaijan micro-firms
Micro-entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan will get training and fee breaks as Bir tries to draw them into digital banking and online sales.
HelmGuard raises USD $7.3 million for US expansion
The cash will fund offices in New York and San Francisco as the start-up targets faster risk checks for regulated firms and AI agents.
Conferma ends fax card delivery in 100 more markets
Digital delivery will now handle virtual card details in more than 100 countries as hotels move off fax, lifting completion rates.
Ant International launches AI-native payments stack
The rollout aims to cut merchants' cross-border costs and speeds by automating onboarding, compliance, FX and treasury workflows with AI.
Cook Islands trust registrations hit record amid US demand
Record registrations underscore the Cook Islands' growing reliance on US-backed trust business, even as local staffing gaps widen.
CFOs focus on cash flow as AI use rises in finance
Working capital pressure is driving finance chiefs to prioritise cash flow and automation, with 59% seeing AI improve forecasting and liquidity.
Visa finds Asia Pacific digital remittances rise unevenly
Uneven uptake leaves Japan lagging, as fraud fears and AI scam worries reshape how families send and receive money across Asia Pacific.
GSMA warns rising handset costs could widen AI divide
Billions already within coverage risk missing AI-era services as entry-level smartphones become less affordable in low-income markets.
Bank blocks confidential data leaks to public AI tools
Hundreds of attempted uploads were stopped as a regional investment bank moved to curb analysts' use of public AI tools for sensitive data.
Cook Islands trust boom opens fintech & regtech market
Rising trust registrations are forcing Cook Islands firms to invest in compliance, payments and cybersecurity systems to serve overseas clients.
Nu launches in US with multi-currency Global account
A wider customer base and new cross-border fees are in Nu's sights as it begins serving US savers and international payers.
Shufti launches bank account verification in 70 nations
Businesses can now confirm account ownership before sending payments, with Shufti's tool covering more than 70 countries and easing fraud checks.
RS2 warns businesses confuse connectivity with orchestration
The gap is leaving many firms reliant on manual routing and weak token control, with transaction performance and resilience suffering.
Velocity raises USD $10 million extension to Series A
Visa-backed investors have lifted Velocity's Series A to USD $48 million as stablecoin payments gain traction with institutions.
Asia Pacific remitters prefer fraud checks over speed
Consumers across Asia Pacific are willing to wait longer for transfers if it reduces scam losses, Visa's survey of 45,000 people found.
Neema launches FX Trading Room for business clients
Businesses can now separate currency trades from payouts, as the new service lets them hold converted funds for later use amid volatile exchange rates.
Job Moves
iGoDirect names Greg Duncan to lead New Zealand push
.webp)
Tax Traders appoints Chloe Kyrke-Smith as Head of Product
Payments NZ appoints Michael Ahie as Chair of Board
Airwallex names Sir Bill English chair of New Zealand board
moomoo boosts New Zealand push with hires, premium tier
Locate Technologies appoints Janine Grainger as Bitcoin drive begins
Di Papadopoulos appointed as CEO of Booster from 2025
Ecosystm expands Auckland team with two new appointments
BlackLine moves on NZ with first country manager
