Companies all across the globe are vowing to cut carbon emissions and water usage throughout their operations and supply chains in order to limit the rate of global warming and better safeguard natural environments.
But, do they? Like, really?
For example, we have certain famous names, celebrities, and influencers that use private aircraft for short-distance journeys that can be done by card, releasing more CO2 than one person in their whole lives.
This climate change issue should be addressed not just by minor actors and end-consumers, but also by those who have an influence on the environment.
Small actions are necessary, yet they are insufficient.
And, if we wish to leave the Earth to future generations, we must begin by acting intelligently and condemning those who degrade ecosystems.
That is our social responsibility.
- Grasshopper, a US digital bank serving SMEs and entrepreneurs, has raised $30.4 million. Patriot Financial Partners, Endeavour Capital Advisors, FJ Capital Management, Carpenter & Company, and GCP Capital Partners joined the round, which brings Grasshopper's total funding to $160 million. Mike Butler, CEO, Grasshopper, says: “Our strategic direction is set. Therefore, the new capital will further support our growth and solidify our ability to provide clients with leading-edge technology and personalized digital banking solutions across the business and innovation economies.” Read more.?
- Maybuy. Maybuy is designed as an alternative to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products which have become increasingly popular in recent years. Maybuy will create an automated savings plan for users looking to purchase items online. Upon reaching their goal, consumers can decide to buy the item or save the money for another purpose. Head of product at Up Bank, Anson Parker, explained: “Our research uncovered almost a third (30%) of young Australians found their purchases less enjoyable when paid over multiple instalments. So, we want to give people more time to make decisions about what they buy, which in turn we hope will lead to increased purchase satisfaction and better financial outcomes. Read more.?
- Nexi has announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to digitise payments solutions and secure cloud-based infrastructures across the European market. Microsoft has also selected Nexi as its primary digital payment provider for e-commerce acceptance in Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and expand to other countries in future. Paolo Bertoluzzo, CEO of Nexi Group, said: “The strategic partnership with Microsoft demonstrates the power of combining deeply local payments expertise with European scale. We are proud to help a global player such as Microsoft to increase local reach in strategic markets with our digital payment solutions. It is a concrete proof of our unique ability to bring together European scale, best-in-class solutions and deep local expertise. We expect our joint investment in this partnership will accelerate the digitization of payments in Europe and our own cloud transformation, but more importantly, together we will enable innovative solutions, increased agility and superior efficiency for SMEs, Corporates, Public Administration and Financial Institutions. Furthermore, it will allow Nexi to accelerate the integration of payment capabilities into software platforms to become the "preferred payment partner" for ISVs, also leveraging Azure capabilities”. Read more.?
- Notably, this is the first time a digital asset trading business supported by a leading bank has been registered by the FCA. Zodia Markets operates as a crypto exchange platform that provides clients with electronic trading services. The fintech and ventures branch of Standard Chartered bank, SC Ventures, established Zodia Markets in 2021 in alliance with BC Technology Group, which manages Asian digital assets platform OSL. Zodia Markets CEO, Usman Ahmad commented: “Whilst the digital asset markets have recently seen volatility and downward pressure, adoption continues unabated, with institutions entering the market at rapid pace…the FCA registration is a testament to our commitment to the highest standards of compliance.” Read more.?
- Apple's entry into the buy now, pay later market is prompting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to take a "very careful look" at the implications of Big Tech moving into the sector. Apple's decision to offer a BNPL product has earned the attention of CFPB director Rohit Chopra, who tells the Financial Times that the consumer agency will look into whether Big Tech's entry into the sector "may actually reduce competition and innovation in the market". Read more.?
- Virgin Money in entering the buy now, pay later arena through the launch of a credit card that lets customers spread repayments over installments while building their credit scores. Virgin becomes the latest bank to move into BNPL, a fast-growing but controversial sector that has recently been buffeted by rising interest rates and the general economic downturn. Hugh Chater, chief commercial officer, Virgin Money, says: "It’s clear that consumers now expect to be able to pay via buy now pay later plans, so we’re very excited to offer an option that will bring more customers into a regulated credit environment at the same time as offering market-leading terms, flexibility and simplicity. "Importantly, Slyce will help our customers stay in control of their spending while also building their credit score for the future - allowing our customers to buy now, pay better on terms that work for them." Read more.?
- Embedded finance platform Solarisbank has announced a name change to Solaris, as the legal status of the fintech company changes from a German AG to an international SE, Societas Europaea. Following international growth through acquisitions and opening new branches across Europe, the Solaris team has now expanded to more than 750 employees. While Solaris teams collaborate across the eight locations, the new umbrella brand will help harmonise operational structures and processes, creating a common identity. Roland Folz, group CEO of Solaris said: “Driven by the vision of creating a world where financial services seamlessly sync with life, the name Solaris symbolizes for us in its purest form the energy that powers us to make this dream a reality. Today, Solaris is a dynamic and constantly evolving ecosystem that grows with and simultaneously influences the market over the years.” Read more.?
- The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Google Cloud have launched the Point Carbon Zero Programme to drive the innovation, incubation and scaling of climate fintech in Asia. The programme will seek to use fintech to help the finance sector get access to accurate and granular climate-related data that can be used for more efficient deployment of capital towards green and sustainable projects.? Sherie Ng, country director, Singapore and Malaysia, Google Cloud, says: "In collaboration with MAS, the Point Carbon Zero Programme aims to combine the collective powers of the industry with Google Cloud’s capabilities and innovation ecosystem to orchestrate impactful climate action. "Our goal is to fuel an international movement - with data enabling and informing green financial flows, to help countries and companies make quantifiable and meaningful progress, and hasten their transition into a carbon-free future." Read more.?
- Santander Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has partnered with SAP to expand the digitisation of their global transaction banking services. Through the alliance, Santander has become the first bank in the European Union to join SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity, a service connecting banks and financial institutions to corporations across the globe. The partnership prioritises connectivity and new digital solutions to accelerate client-to-bank services, and will provide invisible banking solutions by embedding Santander services within corporates’ Entreprise Resource Planning (ERP). Read more.?
- Credit Suisse is collaborating with non-profit venture Girls Who Code to develop a pipeline of new technology talent for the bank's Wall Street operations. Under the aarrangement, Credit Suisse will host a two-week 'immersion' programme for up to 60 high school students, who will be able to interact with and hear speakers ranging from the bank's senior leaders to a panel of its technical analysts. Marinela Tudoran, head of investment bank technology at Credit Suisse says the course will provide students with an opportunity to build the technical skills and professional network to make an impact and prepare for a successful future career in technology. Read more.?
- Global Payments is to acquire smaller rival EVO Payments for nearly $4 billion in an all-cash deal that will extend its reach in the B2B sector. Headquartered in Atlanta, EVO currently offers merchant acquiring and paymens processing services to more than 550,000 merchants in over 50 markets and 150 currencies. “The acquisition of EVO is highly complementary to our technology-enabled strategy and provides meaningful opportunities to increase scale in our business globally,” says Cameron Bready, president and chief operating officer, Global Payments. “Together with EVO, we are positioned to deliver an unparalleled suite of distinctive software and payment solutions to our combined 4.5 million merchant locations and more than 1,500 financial institutions worldwide.” Read more.?
- On Wednesday, Mr. Zuckerberg said that over the past three months Meta recorded a 30% increase in the time that users are engaging with Reels. Read more.?
