This Month
ASIC moves to expand its oversight of crypto and digital assets
The corporate regulator’s new guidance outlines more than a dozen examples of how it intends to assess what is in – and out – of financial services laws.
- James Eyers
‘Find what makes you happy’: From zero to $1b in two years
Zeller’s Ben Pfisterer brought Square to Australia after stints at Jetstar, NAB and Visa. He has based his career on one piece of advice – from his parents.
- Yolanda Redrup
November
CBA prepares for AI to transform banking, with dozens of uses
The country’s biggest bank is already using AI to resolve 15,000 payment disputes every day. And its chief executive, Matt Comyn, says many more uses are on the way.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Meet the frequent flyer fintech targeting a $2.6 trillion market
The fastest growing fintechs in this year’s Fast 100 are an eclectic mix with a common trait: they’ve carved out niches for uniquely Australian audiences.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Death tech a safe bet as investors see value in digitising last requests
The inevitability of the end of life, and the administrative burdens that come with it, convinced high-profile investors to back a $17 million funding round.
- Paul Smith
Investors need to know when to put down the phone
Smartphone alerts can promote what behaviourists call “overtrading”, shredding your returns – and your nerves.
- Jonathan Guthrie
APRA warned Cuscal on risk settings ahead of IPO
The payments company, set to list on the ASX next week, is working with the regulator to improve compliance systems after an external review disclosed in its prospectus.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
‘If we lose everything, we can just get a regular job’
From a childhood that was “pretty tough” in parts, Dom Pym founded 22 companies including neobank Up, which he sold for $116 million. Now he wants to elevate Australia’s venture ecosystem.
- Yolanda Redrup
CBA’s Comyn boils over at Apple free-riding on banks
The CBA boss said the government should consider hitting tech companies with a bank-style levy to even the competitive playing field.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
ANZ banks on Plus to cut costs by a third despite market scepticism
The lender has floated the idea of cutting mortgage costs if it can transition some 7 million customers onto the new technology platform by the end of 2028.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Ex-Westpac treasurer named to Imperium Markets advisory board
The new board will be headed up by Imperium chairman Rod Lewis, former Westpac treasurer Curt Zuber and former MBIA UK chairman and chief executive Chris Weeks.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
Fintech offers $8m bridging loans in minutes as Citi backs $250m facility
Bridgit uses AI to approve loans for those looking to buy their next home before their existing one has sold. It claims an average approval time of about four hours.
- Paul Smith
Crowdfunding platform Equitise calls in administrators
Equitise, which helps companies raise capital without hiring expensive investment bankers, fails to secure fresh funding needed to keep its operations afloat.
- Paul Smith
October
Anthony Eisen bows out at Afterpay
The co-founder of the buy now, pay later pioneer told staff at Block, which he joined after the takeover, he would step away from an executive role.
- James Eyers
AMP eyes February for long-planned expansion into business banking
The company, which already has a major mortgage loan book, will target start-ups and sole traders as it attempts to find higher margins.
- James Eyers
Chemist Warehouse goes to war with card fees – using QR codes
The pharmacy and retailing giant pays $15 million in transaction costs every year. Now it has signed on to a new NAB-backed system that circumvents them.
- James Eyers
Emissions tracking tool a winner for super funds and Pathzero
Aware Super and Hesta use Pathzero software. So do 600 fund managers. It’s already the world’s largest data sharing network for private market carbon emissions.
- James Eyers
September
Open banking limps to life with ANZ customers seeking full picture
ANZ is the first major bank to use open banking to aggregate multiple accounts through its app. Ultimately, it will be used as a tool to lure new customers.
- James Eyers
Apple, Google respond to payment cost heat by backing eftpos
The US tech giants will enable “least-cost routing” for new cards on their smartphones to try to help merchants save costs by avoiding Visa and Mastercard.
- James Eyers
ASIC sets off the crypto fire alarm, Canberra will have to respond
Delegates to this week’s Summit pleaded for clarity about how digital assets are defined under corporate laws.
- James Eyers
