Discover the Excellence of BVNK: One of the World’s Leading Financial Institutions

There have been several recent innovations in the banking sector

 

Here are three examples:

  1. Digital banking: Many banks have been investing in digital platforms and apps that allow customers to access their accounts, pay bills, and make transactions from their smartphones or other devices. This has made banking more convenient and accessible for many people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person visits to bank branches were limited.
  2. Blockchain technology: Some banks are exploring the use of blockchain technology to improve the efficiency and security of financial transactions. For example, banks can use blockchain to track and verify the movement of money between accounts, or to facilitate cross-border payments.
  3. Artificial intelligence (AI): Some banks are using AI to improve customer service and support. For example, AI-powered chatbots can handle simple customer inquiries, freeing up human customer service representatives to focus on more complex issues. AI can also be used to analyze customer data and provide personalized financial advice.

 

These are just a few examples of the many innovations that are happening in the banking sector. It is likely that there will be many more in the coming years as technology continues to advance.

Investments in Fintech and Banking innovations

wdt_ID Country Investment in Venture Capital (2020) Investment in FinTech (2020) Investment in Venture Capital (2019) Investment in FinTech (2019)
1 USA $5 billion $8 billion $4.5 billion $7.2 billion
2 China $7.8 billion $10 billion $6.5 billion $8.9 billion
3 UK $2.3 billion $3.8 billion $2 billion $3.5 billion
4 India $2.5 billion $3 billion $2.2 billion $2.8 billion
5 Germany $1 billion $1.5 billion $900 million $1.2 billion
6 Singapore $1.8 billion $2.2 billion $1.5 billion $1.8 billion
7 Australia $1.2 billion $1.7 billion $1 billion $1.3 billion
8 Canada $1.5 billion $2 billion $1.3 billion $1.6 billion
9 Japan $1.4 billion $1.9 billion $1.2 billion $1.5 billion
10 Brazil $800 million $1 billion $700 million $900 million
11 Israel $1 billion $1.2 billion $900 million $1 billion
12 France $1.7 billion $2.5 billion $1.4 billion $2 billion
13 South Korea $1.3 billion $1.8 billion $1.1 billion $1.4 billion
14 Netherlands $1 billion $1.4 billion $800 million $1 billion
15 Sweden $900 million $1.1 billion $750 million $950 million
16 Switzerland $1.2 billion $1.6 billion $1 billion $1.3 billion
17 Spain $800 million $1 billion $700 million $900 million
18 Italy $700 million $900 million $600 million $800 million
19 Mexico $600 million $800 million $500 million $700 million
20 Turkey $500 million $700 million $400 million $600 million
21 Russia $900 million $1.2 billion $800 million $1 billion
22 Poland $400 million $600 million $300 million $500 million
23 Argentina $300 million $500 million $200 million $400 million
24 Belgium $400 million $600 million $300 million $500 million
25 Ireland $500 million $700 million $400 million $600 million
26 Denmark $300 million $500 million $200 million $400 million
27 Finland $200 million $400 million $100 million $300 million
28 Norway $300 million $500 million $200 million $400 million
29 Austria $200 million $400 million $100 million $300 million
30 UAE $600 million $800 million $500 million $700 million
31 Israel $800 million $1 billion $700 million $900 million

Here’s a bar chart comparing the investments in Venture Capital and FinTech for each country in 2019. From the chart:

  • Again, the USA and China are leading, but we can observe some growth from 2019 to 2020 when compared with the previous chart.
  • The other countries also show growth in FinTech investment from 2019 to 2020.

The new digital innovations in banking and financial services

The banking sector is constantly evolving, new technology is continuously being introduced into banking systems and leaders in the banking industry are continuing to implement ground-breaking financial products and services. There has been strategic investment in recent banking innovations through crowdsourcing, piloting, collaborations and partnering to develop revolutionary banking solutions. With the ever-changing banking sector new regulations and revised banking standards have been developed. Digital-only banking is perhaps the most significant change that has happened in the financial industry in the last few years.

 

Recent innovations in online banking

Public buying behavior and modes of payment have changed dramatically over the past decade, and they are rapidly phasing out paper-based and cash dependencies, and moving to online, mobile and internet business. Banks and financial institutions are reacting by providing a wide range of appropriate new features and facilities.  This new ‘cashless economy’ now works electronically using the internet as a gateway. Account owners can manage most aspects of their accounts over the internet, rather than having to visit a ‘bricks-and-mortar’ local branch or speaking to someone the telephone.

 

  • Digital Wallets
    Digital wallets, an innovation in online banking, have grown in popularity over the past few years. These services enable users to store their payment card information on their mobile devices and pay at point-of-sale terminals using their mobile devices. Digital wallets provide a more convenient and secure method of payment, and many banks now provide their own digital wallet solutions.
  • Personal Financial Management (PFM) Tools
    Utilizing Personal Financial Management (PFM) tools is another example of innovation in online banking. These online banking services enable users to better manage their finances. They provide numerous features, such as budgeting tools, expense tracking, and investment management. PFM tools provide users with an all-encompassing view of their financial situation, enabling them to make better financial decisions.
  • Biometric Verification
    Biometric authentication is another innovation that is becoming increasingly prevalent in online banking. These technologies provide a more secure method of logging into bank accounts, as they require a distinct physical trait to access the account. Biometric authentication can also simplify the login process, as users no longer need to remember complicated passwords.
  • Digital banking extends all of the online features offered by regular banks to include the activities undertaken by the business world directly, like booking travel tickets and purchasing a product or service online – everything that falls under the heading of ‘e-commerce’.
  • Smartphone applications – AKA mobile banking – adds a lot of scope in the virtual banking space and encompasses transactions through mobile wallets, digital payment modes, prepaid debit cards etc. These are easier to design, build and sell, which means that they are more flexible, offer a wider range of features, and are generally cheaper than traditional computer-based applications. There are many mobile apps which offer safe and secure transactions and many financial institutions are committed to further development of cutting-edge services.

 

New banking technology innovations

Allowing a customer access to full banking services in real time, through any channel they choose is one of the results coming out of EU legislation known as the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). Whether it’s from an online terminal in a bank branch, an ATM, a voice call or online it allows customers the freedom of choice to access their accounts whenever and from wherever they choose.

 

Traditional banks are spending vast amounts of money to develop new systems and features so that they can keep up with the rapidly changing demands of their customers. As well, the institutions are looking for ways to streamline their own operations, improve performance and reduce overheads – any bank that fails to do this will quickly lose out in the face of competition both from traditional banks and from the new fintech players.

 

Completely ‘digital only’ financial institutions also provide customers with seamless access to the whole range of activity, even though these banks do not compete with traditional banks in regular business fields such as credit, overdrafts, mortgages and so on. They can generally offer several distinct advantages over brick-and-mortar banks in the form of reduced costs, user friendly interfaces, wider range of features and easy account openings.

 

Retail banking innovation 2024

Retail banking, also known as consumer banking or personal banking, refers to the banking services that are provided to individual consumers, as opposed to businesses or other organizations. Retail banking innovation refers to the development and implementation of new ideas, technologies, and approaches in the retail banking sector.

Some examples of retail banking innovation include:

  1. Mobile banking: Many banks now offer mobile banking apps that allow customers to manage their accounts, make payments, and conduct other banking tasks using their smartphones.
  2. Online banking: Many banks now offer online banking platforms that allow customers to manage their accounts and conduct other banking tasks using their computers or other devices.
  3. Virtual assistants: Some banks are using artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbot technology to provide customers with personalized assistance and support through virtual assistants.
  4. Contactless payment systems: Many banks now offer contactless payment systems, such as near field communication (NFC) and QR code scanners, that allow customers to make payments using their mobile devices or smartwatches.
  5. Personal financial management tools: Some banks are offering personal financial management tools that help customers track and manage their spending, create budgets, and achieve their financial goals.

Overall, the goal of retail banking innovation is to improve the customer experience and make banking more convenient, efficient, and secure for consumers

 

Digital banking innovation ideas 2024

There are many potential ideas for digital banking innovation, including:

  1. Mobile banking apps that allow customers to manage their accounts, make payments, and transfer money on the go.
  2. Integration with popular payment platforms such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
  3. Use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve customer service, such as through chatbots that can answer common questions and provide personalized recommendations.
  4. Implementation of biometric authentication methods, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, to improve security and make it easier for customers to access their accounts.
  5. Offering investment and wealth management services, such as robo-advisors, to help customers grow their wealth.
  6. Integration with wearable devices, such as smartwatches, to enable customers to make payments and check their account balances directly from their wrists.
  7. Implementing blockchain technology to improve the security and efficiency of financial transactions.
  8. Offering virtual reality or augmented reality experiences to enhance the customer experience and make banking more interactive and engaging.
  9. Using data analytics to better understand customer needs and preferences, and to develop customized products and services.

What are the new technologies in banking sector?

  1. In the area of services offered, smart analytics is being used to understand customers’ requirements better. Artificial Intelligence (AI) feeds into this, with the net result that each customer gets to see the services that are best suited to his own specific requirements.
  2. In the field of cost reduction, banks are concentrating on innovations like Robotic Process Automation, which reduces dependence on human interaction with customers; migrating data processing to the cloud so that the growing dependence for state-of-the-art computing power becomes a manageable OPEX factor rather than the heavy CAPEX burden which is especially difficult for the newer, leaner financial institutions to carry.
  3. API platforms are being provided so that third-party service providers such as credit card suppliers, mobile application developers etc. can easily tap into the bank’s own services thereby providing a revenue flow and introductions to new customers.

What is the role of technology in banking?

Companies that specialize in new-wave fintech platforms or social media make excellent partners for traditional banks that need to enhance their own customer experience. Although banks are already investing heavily in technology, financial innovation in the future is likely going to involve partnership with other strategic players. Tailoring services to meet changing customer demand is the central feature of new banking.

What new technologies are used in money and financial systems?

  1. One of the most important new technologies being introduced now is biometric authentication of ATM transactions with advanced technologies including iris recognition and fingerprinting. These are being used to help overall bank security while they extend the range of activities that can be initiated from remote terminals and kiosks.
  2. Mobile and internet access to all banking businesses is already growing explosively. Banks are committed to investing heavily in digital banking technology, developing mobile, web and digital platforms for their customers’ use.
  3. Increasingly, the movement of funds between individuals, companies, organizations and financial institutions has shifted to paperless paths, and electronic funds transfer (EFT) has almost completely taken over from the older formats. Systems such as SWIFT/IBAN in Europe, ACH/CHIPS in USA and CHAPS in Sterling have almost completely replaced telegraphic transfer.

What are the recent trends in financial innovation?

Financial service providers – AKA Fintech – are introducing cutting-edge financial technology that they have been able to innovate more rapidly than traditional banks, thanks to smaller and more agile management hierarchies. As well, they are not regulated in the same way as the banking industry and so they can devote a greater percentage of their assets to developing new technology and so to innovate more rapidly than traditional banks.

User-friendly banking apps online and on mobile devices can handle almost all basic banking transactions. Today, the typical in-bank customer can now find an ATM that interacts more directly with his money and its functions, similar to a tech kiosk.

The Future of Banking Technology

Customized Banking

With digital banking, back office cloud and analytics can provide customers with a customized user experience with everything from a customized user interface to customized support, fees and services. In the future banks will be able to fully customize their products and services to meet the needs of customers based on analytics and gathered customer information. Banks can create a customized end-to-end experience for their account holders. Each customer has his own personal banking needs and with a personalized banking experience banks and customers will benefit.

Monetization of Data in Banking

In the future banks will increasingly use their data analytics to make stock predictions; gain market insights; fuel AI tools for credit decisions; create marketing campaigns and to collaborate with retail companies to offer account holders special deals. Data monetization can include using data to gain new customers as well as creating new revenue streams and new products for existing customers. Customers are prepared to pay for financial data insights that can increase their profits.

Blockchain of the Future

Blockchain has been around for a while but it will be here for many years to come and the latest innovative technologies it brings with it will transform payment systems in the future. The changes in payment infrastructure will continue to increase payment volume thanks to the influence of digital valets; digital payments; the Internet of Things; direct corporate payments and payment apps. As the need for intermediaries decreases so will costs decrease.

Banking Technology Trends for 2024

Cyber Security

The banking industry is privy to personal financial information on a daily bases and for this reason it is vulnerable to security breaches from within and from external criminal elements. Banks, mobile apps, third-party financial service providers and web portals are all highly susceptible to cybercrime. One of the trends in banking technology for 2021 is the need for preventing or at least minimizing security breaches and cyberattacks by using advanced technology. Security standards need to be intensified; cyber-security programs adopted; comprehensive risk and compliance introduced and uniform security protocols need to be followed by banks around the world. This banking trend will include the emergence of new job titles in banking like Cyber Risk Manager and Online Security Director.

Banking Regulations

Profound changes are expected in banking regulation in 2021. With the introduction of new innovative banking technology there is a need for new and revised regulations relating to data privacy, sustainability and accountability. One of the biggest changes in the last few years has been PSD2 enabling customers to use third-party providers for their financial management. This has opened up the market creating greater competition. Changes in regulations are forcing banks to upgrade their banking software making core banking technology an important issue for banks in the future.

Mobile Banking

The continued trend towards mobile banking innovations is not slowing down. New mobile banking trends is destined to become one of the hottest issues in 2021 as financial institutions strive to keep up with consumer needs. Banking, as well as most other areas of our lives is now reliant to some extent on mobile devices. The expansion of mobile banking may mean fewer and smaller land-based banks and offer a solution to slow and heavy back office. The transformation to mobile banking is no secret; as a trend it is obvious to all players in the industry that this is the direction we are going in.

Voice Banking

Voice-controlled devices are a major trend in banking technology for 2021. With an increasing numbers of people using voice-controlled devices for online searches and digital interaction banks will need to adjust their products and services to meet this trend. Voice technology in banking can improve the customer experience especially for the new generation of customers that relies on technology for almost every aspect of their lives. In the future customers will be able to use voice technology in mobile banking to carry out basic banking processes like opening a new account and use chatbox solutions for customer service interactions.

Robotic Process Automation

One of the trends in banking for 2021 is RPA which can be used by financial institutions to reduce costs, minimize human errors, save time and offer customers a more efficient service. Robotic Process Automation can be used to provide virtual assistants; to handle simple and common enquiries; to ensure compliance and to perform repetitive and labor-intensive tasks without human intervention.

The Evolution of European Banking

The onset of digitalization and the rise of alternative financing poses a threat to large European corporate banks. To counter this and maintain their strong position European banks need to:

  • Identify the areas where they have a competitive advantage and build on that through partnerships or implementation of new technology.
  • Capture available client and product axis opportunities.
  • Traditional European banks need to decide where to put their efforts and develop a winning game plan.
  • The ultimate solution may lie in the cooperation between traditional European banks and alternative financial service providers.
  • Invest in current and future financial technology.

 

 

Recommended for you

Navigating the iGaming Landscape: Key Challenges and Strategies for Success
08.07.24
Strikingly, the current failure rate for startups is 90%. In other words, 9 out of 10 new companies entering any given market will fail. The ones that remain share the secrets of success. The same is true for the iGaming industry. In this piece, we take...
EMIs and Customer Trust: Building a Reliable Digital Finance Ecosystem
08.07.24
How people perceive banking and payments in a digital-first world changes every couple of years. Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) are central to this transformation. Yet, when any change happens, one thing remains vital—maintaining customer trust.   In this article, we explore how EMIs use several...
Interview with: Alexander Persidskyi - Head of Operations, PayDo
08.07.24
Interview with: Alex Persidskiy PayDo is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) regulated in the UK and a licensed Money Services Business (MSB) in Canada. We provide financial services tailored to businesses, including multi-currency IBAN accounts, global payment processing, merchant services, mass payouts, and corporate card...