Payments, banking, digital finance, and the regulation reshaping money. From open banking and BNPL to central bank digital currencies, and the stories transforming how the world moves money.
Ramp Expands Internationally into Canada
Ramp, a corporate card and expense management platform, launched its services to Canadian businesses this week. The New York-based company previously piloted operations with select Canadian small businesses before this broader Canadian expansion.
Visa Expands Money Movement as Card Spending Accelerates
U.S. payments volume on Visa cards grew 10% year-over-year while the company simultaneously expanded into AI agents, stablecoins, and tokens. Visa is balancing traditional card-based commerce with emerging digital money-movement channels that route transactions through new pathways.
Fenergo Launches AI Agent Orchestration Platform
An agentic AI orchestration platform for banks automates client onboarding, due diligence, and compliance tasks while maintaining human oversight and audit trails. The platform enables real-time risk assessment during routine banking operations.
Heritage Hub Federal Credit Union Partners with Kiro Money to Launch AI Money Coach
Heritage Hub Federal Credit Union deployed an AI financial tool called the Heritage Hub AI Money Coach through a partnership with Kiro Money. The tool is accessible directly from the credit union's Financial Literacy page.
Rent fintech Flex applies for ILC charter
Flex, a rent fintech company, has applied for an Industrial Loan Company charter with Jeff Berkson as proposed CEO. The lender will operate nationally through digital channels from the Salt Lake City area.
3 Data points that are resetting expectations for AI, treasury, and payments
OpenAI's Codex completed only 26.2 percent of real-world work assignments in UC Berkeley's agent study. The top-performing AI system succeeded in just one out of four tasks tested.
Oportun Deploys AI to Help Consumers Save for Recurring Expenses
An AI-powered feature automatically identifies routine bills and sets aside money for upcoming payments like rent, car payments, and utilities. The Smart Bills feature analyzes members' financial habits to help them save for recurring expenses.
Apple Leasing Program to Replace iPhone Upgrade
Apple is discontinuing its iPhone Upgrade Program and replacing it with a new leasing offering called Apple Upgrade launching July 28. Existing iPhone Upgrade Program members can continue their current agreements temporarily, though the company will stop accepting new enrollments to the old program.
Happen’s Digital Banking Push Helps Deposits Jump 18%
Happen Bank's deposits reached $10.8 billion, representing an 18% year-over-year increase. The bank expanded its digital offerings through LevelUp checking and related products to attract depositors.
Upstart Receives Conditional OCC Approval for Bank Charter
Upstart received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a nationally chartered bank called Upstart Bank, N.A. The approval followed an application the company submitted in March 2020.