Nexi, a European paytech, and Google Cloud have announced a MoU to develop infrastructure for next-generation digital commerce. The collaboration focuses on agentic commerce, where AI agents navigate shopping journeys and execute secure payments on behalf of consumers, based solely on their explicit authorisation. Nexi will also use Google Cloud technologies to improve operational efficiency across its platforms. The MoU aims to combine Google Cloud’s AI and data capabilities with Nexi’s European payment network and acquiring expertise. Nexi has committed to supporting open-source commerce standards, including the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), to enable AI-driven shopping journeys and payments. The companies will explore agentic commerce while assessing ways to optimise Nexi’s operations, including real-time fraud detection and merchant onboarding, and creating a secure environment for converting digital intent into authorised transactions. Roberto Catanzaro “We are entering an era where AI agents will increasingly orchestrate commerce on behalf of consumers, making it imperative for merchants to provide seamless, autonomous transaction experiences,” said Roberto Catanzaro, Chief Business Officer, Merchant Solutions at Nexi. “By endorsing the UCP and AP2 protocols alongside other leading payments and technology companies, we will help shape the European ecosystem for this transformational shift.” Tara Brady, president of Google Cloud EMEA, added: Tara Brady “As consumer journeys shift toward agentic commerce, trust and security become the primary currencies of the digital economy. Google Cloud is at the forefront of delivering secure, agentic AI technologies to the financial sector. With these capabilities, Nexi will accelerate innovation, optimise transaction workflows, and define the next generation of digital payments for the European market.” The collaboration will enable AI agents to facilitate secure, authorised payments using cryptographically signed mandates and verifiable credentials. It will integrate conversational sales channels to capture intent in real time. It will also provide a standardised and compliant European payment infrastructure. The partnership will support Nexi in improving operational efficiency through AI-driven fraud detection. It will automate compliance processes and streamline merchant onboarding. Additionally, it will enhance access to Nexi’s payment services for independent software vendors.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ismode via Freepik The post Nexi Partners with Google Cloud to Develop AI Payments in Europe appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

German media group Axel Springer has acquired Bisnow, a commercial real estate media and events company headquartered in the US. Bisnow, founded in 2005, operates a global platform of news, live events, and targeted B2B solutions, hosting more than 400 events annually across 47 markets in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The company has built a reputation for combining journalism with professional networking within the commercial real estate sector. Robert Dippell will lead the newly formed Brew Media Group in addition to his role as CEO of Morning Brew, which is based in New York. Both Bisnow and Morning Brew will continue to operate as separate, independently run businesses under Brew Media Group, which plans to pursue further acquisitions in the US to broaden its offerings across events, newsletters and digital products. Gregg Mayer, CEO of Bisnow, said: Gregg Mayer “Axel Springer recognises not only our performance and leadership in commercial real estate, but also the culture, entrepreneurial drive, and industry relationships that set us apart. This doesn’t change who we are; it expands what we can achieve. Now, we have the opportunity to grow, invest in our people and brands, and build on the momentum we’ve created to supercharge our mission-to push the CRE industry to do more business.” Claudius Senst, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board member of Axel Springer, said: Claudius Senst “Gregg Mayer and his team have built a true leader in commercial real estate media and live events. Robert Dippell’s track record at Morning Brew and earlier role at Bisnow make him the ideal choice as the CEO of Brew Media Group. We are looking forward to supporting the team as they continue to build on this strong foundation.” The acquisition strengthens Axel Springer’s presence in the US and complements its portfolio of digital media brands, including Business Insider, POLITICO, eMarketer and Morning Brew, while adding Bisnow’s expertise in live events and industry-focused journalism. Bisnow was previously owned by The Wicks Group, a private equity firm based in New York.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by farknot via Freepik The post Axel Springer Forms Brew Media Group with Acquisition of US CRE Platform Bisnow appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

G+D Netcetera, the financial software subsidiary of Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), has completed the acquisition of the Payments & Banking Services business of Bank-Verlag. The division’s infrastructure processes around one in four card- and internet-based payments in Germany. Following the transaction, G+D Netcetera expands its role as a provider of end-to-end digital solutions for the German financial sector. Carsten Wengel, CEO of G+D Netcetera, will lead the new business unit on an interim basis, together with Sascha Kraatz, a member of the existing management team. The unit employs approximately 280 people and serves more than 200 banks. Carsten Wengel “We are starting a new chapter of growth,” Wengel said. “The strong position of Bank-Verlag in the German banking market, combined with our technological capabilities, creates new opportunities. Together, we want to help shape the digital future of the financial industry.” The acquisition marks a milestone for G+D Netcetera, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Its expanded portfolio now covers payment security, including fraud prevention and secure authentication; payment enablement and integration, such as processing and network connectivity; digital identity services; mobile and web banking applications; and digital wealth solutions. Alongside the integration process, G+D Netcetera and the new division will determine the future organisational structure and leadership. G+D plans to invest a high double-digit million euro amount in IT modernisation, including cloud-capable architectures, analytics and fraud prevention systems. Existing client relationships and service-level agreements will remain unchanged. “The Bank-Verlag has built trust with German banks over more than six decades. That represents both a responsibility and an incentive for us,” Wengel said. “In the coming months, I will spend time with our new colleagues and clients. Our objective is to make payments and banking in Germany simpler, more secure and more efficient for banks, merchants and consumers.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post G+D Netcetera Completes Bank-Verlag Payments Acquisition appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

finpension has exceeded CHF 5 billion in assets under management as of the end of February, marking a significant milestone for the company. At the beginning of September 2025, assets under management stood at CHF 4 billion. The number of clients has also grown, with around 60,000 now using finpension’s solutions. The Invest product for discretionary assets has seen strong uptake, particularly among Millennials. In 2025, finpension recorded operating income of CHF 16.8 million and a net profit of approximately CHF 7.7 million, representing a 27% increase compared with the previous year. The annual profit raised the company’s equity to CHF 20.4 million. Over the same period, assets under management increased by CHF 1.4 billion to CHF 4.6 billion, with net new money of CHF 1.1 billion. Looking ahead, finpension plans to enter the mortgage market. Beat Bühlmann “Mortgages in particular offer great potential. Banks earn well on the interest margin, without being digital or cost-effective. We believe this can be done better,” said Beat Bühlmann, Founder and Initiator. finpension currently manages client portfolios directly through its own pension foundations and FINMA license as a custodian securities firm, providing investment services from a single source.       Featured image credit: finpension The post finpension Surpasses CHF 5 Billion in Assets Amid Rapid Client Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Banco Santander and Mastercard have completed what they describe as Europe’s first live end-to-end payment executed by an AI agent within a regulated banking framework. Santander carried out the transaction in a controlled environment using Mastercard’s Agent Pay solution and processed it through its live payments infrastructure. The bank designed the test to validate the operational and control framework under real conditions. The system enables AI agents to initiate and execute payments on behalf of customers within predefined limits and permissions, using existing payment networks while maintaining established standards of security, privacy and consumer protection. Matías Sánchez, Global Head of Cards and Digital Solutions at Santander, said: Matías Sánchez “Our role is not only to adopt innovation, but to shape it responsibly, embedding security, governance and customer protection by design. As AI agents become part of everyday commerce, building trusted, scalable frameworks will be essential to unlocking their full potential.” Santander said the milestone demonstrates its technical and operational readiness to support AI-driven transaction models. The bank will move into further testing and scaling, assessing additional use cases and partnerships while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational controls. Mastercard Agent Pay integrates AI agents into the payment process as governed participants, enabling interaction between issuers, acquirers and merchants. The end-to-end orchestration of the transaction was supported by PayOS. Kelly Devine, President, Europe at Mastercard, said: Kelly Devine “With Mastercard Agent Pay, we are applying the same principles that have defined our network for decades, security, trust, interoperability and global scale, to a new era of AI-enabled commerce.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ismode via Freepik The post Santander and Mastercard Complete Europe’s First Live AI Agent Payment appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

US open banking fintech Plaid has reportedly reached a valuation of US$8 billion following its latest funding round, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg cites sources familiar with the matter, who suggest that the company raised the funds to provide employees with liquidity for their shares. Founded in 2013, Plaid enables financial institutions to link users’ accounts to apps and services. With a workforce of over 900, the company facilitates the sharing of data such as account balances and numbers, transaction histories, and personal loan details to support services including lending, underwriting, financial management, payments, and banking. Investors Ribbit Capital and Silver Lake back the fintech, which last raised US$575 million in April 2025 in a round led by Franklin Templeton. That investment valued Plaid at US$6.1 billion, a sharp decline from its US$13.4 billion valuation following its US$425 million Series D round in 2021. Major players such as Venmo, Chime, and Betterment use Plaid’s technology, led by co-founder and CEO Zachary Perret. The company claims to connect with 11,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, and Europe.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Plaid Valued at US$8 Billion After Latest Funding Round appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Barclays is exploring the development of a blockchain platform to manage processes such as payments, joining global peers like JPMorgan Chase in investigating digital-asset technology for banking services. The UK-based lender has issued a request for information to potential technology suppliers as it considers how to expand its offerings, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions. The initiative could encompass payments applications such as stablecoins and tokenised deposits, according to Bloomberg. Stablecoins, typically pegged to assets like the US dollar, are gaining traction in payments and could threaten traditional banking revenue streams, as technology firms and fintechs increasingly enter the space. Meta is reportedly testing ways to integrate stablecoin payments into its apps. Banks are looking to protect their position and capitalise on the opportunity by building blockchain systems capable of processing payments and settlements around the clock. JPMorgan has begun rolling out its deposit token, JPM Coin, for institutional clients, while HSBC plans to expand its tokenised deposit service to corporate clients in the US and UAE in the first half of this year. Tokenised deposits are essentially on-chain representations of clients’ bank account balances. Although banks and large corporates have experimented with blockchain-based services for over a decade, most systems remain in their infancy, and transaction volumes are far lower than those processed via traditional platforms. Barclays aims to select technology providers as soon as April, signalling a renewed push into digital-asset banking infrastructure.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by davidpinta9122 via Freepik The post Barclays Explores Blockchain for Payments Amid Stablecoin Surge appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Adnovum announced that CEO Thomas Zangerl has stepped down on 1 March 2026. Following the completion of the acquisitions of IT service providers iSPIN and Koch IT, Zangerl has fulfilled a key strategic mandate and prepared the Group for its next phase of development. After discussions with the Board, Zangerl concluded that it was the appropriate time to hand over operational leadership. Thomas Zangerl “I am proud of what we have achieved together. With the acquisitions completed and a clear strategic direction in place, Adnovum is well positioned for the next growth phase. Now is the right time to pass on leadership so that new energy can continue the integration and bring fresh impetus,” he said. To ensure continuity, Board member Reto Isenegger will assume operational management on an interim basis from 1 March 2026. Zangerl will remain with the company until the end of March to facilitate a smooth handover. The Board will conduct a careful search for a permanent CEO without time pressure.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mangpor2004 via Freepik The post Adnovum CEO Thomas Zangerl Steps Down, Interim Leadership Appointed appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

OpenAI announced US$110 billion in new investment at a US$730 billion pre-money valuation, as demand for artificial intelligence continues to increase across consumers, developers and businesses. The funding round includes US$30 billion each from SoftBank, NVIDIA and Amazon. OpenAI has also entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon and secured next-generation inference compute from NVIDIA. Additional financial investors are expected to join as the round progresses. OpenAI said the partnerships will expand its global reach, strengthen its infrastructure and support balance sheet capacity as it scales its models and products. Product adoption has continued to grow. Codex, OpenAI’s software development tool, now has 1.6 million weekly users, more than triple the figure at the start of the year. ChatGPT has more than 900 million weekly active users and over 50 million paying consumer subscribers. According to the company, January and February are on track to be the largest months for new subscriber additions in its history. More than nine million paying business users rely on ChatGPT for work. Start-ups, enterprises and governments are building applications on OpenAI’s platform, with deployments expanding across engineering, customer support, finance, sales and operations. OpenAI’s Frontier platform helps organisations build, deploy and manage AI systems for workplace use. OpenAI said it is entering “a new phase where frontier AI moves from research into daily use at global scale,” adding that leadership will depend on the ability to scale infrastructure and convert that capacity into widely used products. The latest valuation increases the value of the OpenAI Foundation’s stake in OpenAI Group to over US$180 billion, strengthening its capacity to fund philanthropic initiatives, including health research and AI resilience.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by smilephotoap via Freepik The post OpenAI Raises US$110B at US$730B Valuation to Expand Global AI Reach appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Statrys, a Hong Kong-based fintech company providing integrated accounting, business accounts, and company creation solutions, has introduced a transaction-based accounting pricing model on 2 March 2026. It is tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and entrepreneurs seeking greater flexibility and cost transparency. The new model aligns accounting fees with the number of transactions processed each month. This approach is designed to better support early-stage companies and seasonal businesses whose transaction volumes may fluctuate, so clients can select a tier that reflects what they actually do in a given month. Clients will benefit from a transparent pricing structure that charges them only for the services they use each month, eliminating reliance on estimates or projections. This service covers essential compliance and financial functions, including bookkeeping, audited financial statements, tax computations, tax return filings, and offshore tax claims. Each client will be supported year-round by a dedicated accountant providing ongoing guidance. Statrys aims to help clients understand how their transaction patterns affect their fees and how to optimise costs over time. By combining technology-powered processes and professional oversight, Statrys enables clients to stay focused on growth while maintaining compliance with the Inland Revenue Department and Hong Kong’s statutory deadlines. Fees are billed monthly based on the number of transactions reflected on the client’s statement for that month, with accommodation tiers starting at zero to two transactions per month for low-activity and newly incorporated companies. CEO and founder of Statrys, Bertrand Theaud, commented, saying that at Statrys, the business understands that SMEs and startups often experience fluctuating transaction volumes, particularly in their early stages. Traditional accounting fees do not always reflect this reality. Bertrand Theaud ”With our transaction-tiered model, we aim to provide a structure that better aligns with how businesses actually operate — offering flexibility while maintaining the professional standards and regulatory support that companies in Hong Kong require. Our objective is simple: give founders clearer visibility over their accounting costs so they can focus on growth with confidence.” Statrys remains committed to empowering clients in an increasingly competitive landscape by providing essential tools for their success. The new model is intended to provide businesses with greater control over operating expenses. As transaction volumes are measurable and manageable variables, clients can understand how their accounting activities influence fees and adjust their workflows accordingly. This Statrys flexible accounting plan promotes transparency and delivers exceptional value to Hong Kong start-ups and SME clients that may experience fluctuating monthly transaction volumes. With monthly billings tied to actual activity, the plan is designed to benefit businesses that require substantial cash flow flexibility and predictability during their early stages or seasonal periods. Featured image edited by Fintech News Switzerland based on an image by freepik on Freepik The post Statrys Launches Usage-Based Accounting Plans for Hong Kong SMEs appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Lithuania is emerging as a significant hub for AI development within the European Union. While global AI infrastructure remains concentrated in a few countries, Lithuania offers a combination of policy foresight, technical expertise, and growing infrastructure that positions it as a strategic European location for AI research and investment. The country was among the first EU member states to adopt a national AI strategy in 2018. Since then, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation has directed over €52 million towards AI resource development and product innovation, including the recent €65 million LitAI centre, a regional AI innovation hub. The government has also established GovAI, a public-sector AI competence centre providing advisory support, training, and regulatory sandbox opportunities, according to Invest Lithuania. Lithuania was among the first EU states to designate competent authorities under the EU AI Act and launch a regulatory sandbox, offering structured guidance and compliance support for high- and medium-risk AI solutions. Lithuania also has a strong pipeline of AI talent. Around 21% of the population uses AI tools, and nearly 70% of teachers incorporate AI in their work, supported by government and private sector initiatives. The country’s deep tech ecosystem, valued at over €16.4 billion in 2025, includes a growing number of AI-powered startups and a skilled, multilingual workforce. AI infrastructure is expanding in line with Lithuania’s renewable energy targets. The country aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2028, while data centre investments, such as Telia’s €26 million facility near Vilnius, enhance local data security and capacity. Research initiatives at institutions like Kaunas University of Technology are also advancing energy-efficient AI development. While overall AI adoption among Lithuanian companies remains below the EU average, the combination of regulatory readiness, technical expertise, public-private collaboration, and infrastructure development positions Lithuania as a strategically relevant location for AI investment in Europe.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Who is Danny and coffeemill via Freepik The post Lithuania Emerges as a Growing AI Hub in the European Union appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Brink’s Company and NCR Atleos have announced a definitive agreement for Brink’s to acquire NCR Atleos in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately US$6.6 billion. The deal includes 13.3 million shares of Brink’s common stock, US$2.2 billion in cash, and the assumption of around US$2.6 billion of NCR Atleos’ debt. The acquisition combines Brink’s global cash management and route-based infrastructure with NCR Atleos’ ATM management expertise and its owned-and-operated ATM network, including its fast-growing ATM as a Service (ATMaaS) solutions. The two companies aim to offer a broader range of services to financial institutions and retail customers by integrating their technology, products, and software. Mark Eubanks “This acquisition further supports Brink’s ability to deliver enhanced customer solutions and accelerates our value creation strategy,” said Mark Eubanks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brink’s. “By combining our organisations, we gain critical scale and complementary capabilities to drive our growth strategy and provide new levels of service to our global customer base.” Tim Oliver, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCR Atleos, said, Tim Oliver “Combining our businesses with Brink’s will enhance offerings to financial institutions and retailers and create more opportunities for our employees. The transaction delivers significant value to NCR Atleos shareholders and enables their participation in the future success of the combined company.” The combined company will serve financial institutions, governments, retailers, and independent ATM operators across more than 140 countries. NCR Atleos’ network of approximately 78,000 ATMs in high-traffic retail locations, part of a total installed base of about 600,000 ATMs globally, will expand Brink’s retail footprint and provide opportunities to integrate its Digital Retail Solutions with existing ATM operations.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by graphiccrew via Freepik The post Brink’s to Acquire NCR Atleos in US$6.6 Billion Deal appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has selected four companies to test their stablecoin services under proposed regulation within a controlled environment. This forms part of the FCA’s commitment to supporting growth and innovation in UK financial services. From 20 applications, the chosen firms are Monee Financial Technologies, ReStabilise, Revolut, and VVTX. The Regulatory Sandbox programme allows firms to trial stablecoin products in real-world conditions with appropriate safeguards. It will enable the FCA to assess its proposed policy in practice and ensure future rules are clear, effective, and support responsible innovation. Testing will primarily focus on stablecoin issuance. The selected firms’ proposals cover a range of use cases, including payments, wholesale settlement, and crypto trading. Each firm will receive feedback from FCA specialists while contributing to the development of the UK’s regulatory approach. Matthew Long, Director of Payments and Digital Assets at the FCA, said: Matthew Long “We are supporting UK stablecoin issuers to ensure they can be trusted for payments, settlement and trading. It will benefit consumers and financial transactions and help to deliver the FCA’s strategy and the Government’s National Payments Vision.” The testing is part of the FCA’s wider efforts to enable innovation in UK financial services and complements other initiatives, including the Digital Securities Sandbox. Testing is set to begin in Q1 2026, with findings expected to inform the UK’s final stablecoin rules later that year.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by nijieimuart via Freepik The post FCA Selects Revolut and 3 Firms for 2026 Stablecoin Sandbox appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Aarau-based startup findependent has become the first pure ETF asset manager to receive approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as a custodian bank. Clients will now be able to hold accounts and securities portfolios directly with findependent. This change allows for faster processing of transactions in the app. It also gives clients access to an expanded range of services. The company plans to launch Pillar 3a investment solutions in the second half of the year. Since its launch in February 2021, findependent has grown to serve more than 25,000 investors. The company has shown that digital asset management can be straightforward, cost-effective, and accessible. The company regularly exceeds its growth targets and is among the fastest-growing digital asset managers in Switzerland. Matthias Bryner “Our clients will no longer need an external custodian bank,” said Matthias Bryner, founder and CEO of findependent. “This approval is the key for us to develop findependent faster and more flexibly.” findependent will continue to work with Hypothekarbank Lenzburg as a long-standing partner in the background. New clients will receive their accounts and custody directly, while existing client relationships will transition over the coming months. The company fulfils the same requirements for capital, liquidity, and cybersecurity as a bank, in its role as a custodian securities-dealing bank. Deposit insurance continues to protect account balances, representing 1% of invested amounts, and clients retain sole ownership of their ETF holdings as separate assets. “We will continue to make no compromises when it comes to security,” Bryner said.     Featured image credit: findependent The post findependent Approved by FINMA as Custodian Bank for ETF Clients appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

London-based Allica Bank has raised US$155 million in a Series D funding round led by Ventura Capital, with participation from GLG, Sona AM, and existing investors TCV and Blue Owl. Most investors contributed common equity, with a portion coming from additional Tier 1 capital, valuing Allica at close to US$1.2 billion. Allica focuses on providing banking and lending services to established SMBs, typically those with 5 to 250 employees, using its proprietary technology platform. The new capital will support continued lending growth, further development of Allica’s technology stack, including the use of AI in lending, and its planned expansion beyond the UK for the first time. Over the past five years, Allica has grown its balance sheet to nearly £4 billion in SME loans and more than £5 billion in deposits. It currently serves over 30,000 established SMBs in the UK, around 5% of its target market, and is aiming to reach 10% penetration by 2028. Richard Davies, CEO of Allica, said: Richard Davies “This Series D investment reflects confidence in our strategy and performance as we continue to build a digital bank focused on established SMBs.”     Featured image credit: Allica Bank The post Allica Bank Raises $155M to Expand SMB Lending, Nears $1.2B Valuation appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Basis, an AI agent platform for accountants, has raised US$100 million in Series B funding at a US$1.15 billion valuation. The round was led by Accel and GV, with participation from Khosla Ventures and other existing investors. Additional backers include NFDG, Better Tomorrow Ventures, BoxGroup and Avid Ventures, alongside individual investors from the technology and finance sectors. Accel partner Miles Clements will join Khosla Ventures’ Keith Rabois on the board. Basis said it is currently working with around 30% of the top 25 accounting firms, deploying AI agents that automate end-to-end workflows across client accounting services, tax and audit. The company positions its software as a response to persistent talent shortages and rising workload pressure across the accounting industry. Miles Clements “What stands out about Basis is how deeply they think about architecting and deploying real agents that do real work,” said Miles Clements, partner at Accel. The platform focuses on so-called “long-horizon” agents that operate over extended periods to complete complex accounting tasks. Basis works with foundation model providers, including OpenAI, to support these capabilities. The company recently demonstrated an AI agent completing an end-to-end US partnership (1065) tax return. According to Basis, its tools are delivering efficiency gains of between 20% and 50% across participating firms. The company will use the new capital to expand its engineering and machine learning teams and to further develop its platform. Matt Harpe “Our focus is to equip accountants with accurate, high-performing AI and help firms improve productivity and quality of work,” said Matt Harpe, CEO and co-founder of Basis.       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by user6724086 via Freepik The post Basis Raises US$100M at US$1.15B Valuation to Scale AI Accounting Agents appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Copla, a Lithuania-based provider of operational compliance solutions for regulated organisations, has raised €6 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Iron Wolf Capital, with participation from Operator Stack and existing investors including Specialist VC, SuperHero Capital, FirstPick, NGL Ventures, and Loggerhead Partners. Founded in 2023, Copla supports over 100 regulated European customers and has reached seven-figure annual recurring revenue. The company develops a platform focused on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliance, translating frameworks such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, and the Cyber Resilience Act into actionable workflows. The platform enables organisations to track execution continuously and store evidence automatically, reducing reliance on spreadsheets and static registers. Aurimas Bakas, Co-founder and CEO of Copla, said: Aurimas Bakas “Regulation is getting sharper, but most compliance is still stuck in spreadsheets. We built Copla so compliance stays current by default, and so companies can grow with confidence instead of audit anxiety. This round gives us the momentum to make Copla the default compliance execution layer for regulated finance in Europe and beyond.” Copla also provides hands-on support through in-house and fractional CISO services, as well as a network of partner providers across Europe, helping clients with audits, risk decisions, and regulatory interactions. The Series A funding will be used to expand the platform, grow the team, and scale operations internationally. A notable initiative is Copla Bridge, designed to provide a unified view of compliance across multiple entities and partners, addressing the challenges of centralising compliance in multi-entity organisations. By treating compliance as an operational infrastructure rather than a periodic documentation exercise, Copla aims to support regulated firms in maintaining continuous readiness amid evolving regulatory requirements.     Featured image credit: Copla The post Copla Secures €6 Million Series A to Expand Compliance Platform appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

MSCI is now offering clients AI connectivity to access its proprietary data for analysis, performance measurement, and querying within existing workflows. Clients can use MSCI’s insights via the cloud-based MSCI ONE platform or through AI providers, including the MSCI app in OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the MSCI connector in Claude. The first tool on this framework is MSCI IndexAI Insights, a conversational AI interface that allows clients to interact with MSCI index data. Users can ask questions in plain language about index performance, exposures, constituents, and methodologies, receiving answers grounded in MSCI’s data. Alvise Munari “Today’s announcement marks a key step in our journey to scale AI capabilities across MSCI’s broader solutions set and reflects our commitment to AI-driven innovation that transforms how clients engage with our data and models,” said Alvise Munari, Chief Product Officer at MSCI. “By building secure connectivity into leading AI services, we are enabling clients to access MSCI insights wherever they work. The launch of IndexAI Insights is the first of a series of AI-enabled offerings that we will build on this foundation.” MSCI plans to extend AI connectivity to additional areas, including Private Assets, supporting insights across the investment lifecycle, from due diligence and underwriting to analytics and reporting. The firm will continue to introduce AI integrations and enhancements to provide clients with more flexibility in accessing and applying MSCI’s data and models.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post MSCI Introduces AI Tools for Direct Access to Index Data appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Experian has acquired AtData, a data and intelligence firm specialising in real-time email verification and insights. The acquisition adds more than 10 billion email addresses globally to Experian’s data and identity assets. AtData’s real-time email signals will integrate with Experian’s consumer data, analytics and decisioning platforms to support identity verification, authentication and customer engagement across digital channels. Jeff Softley “Differentiated data and real-time identity signals are increasingly important in the age of AI,” said Jeff Softley, CEO of Experian North America. He said the acquisition supports Experian’s efforts to develop a comprehensive, privacy-focused identity infrastructure and strengthen its AI capabilities. Founded more than 25 years ago, AtData has worked with major US brands and Fortune 500 companies to validate first-party email data, support customer profiling and assess risk to improve engagement and retention. Tom Burke “Our focus has been on helping customers improve email data quality, reduce fraud costs and support data-driven strategies,” said Tom Burke, CEO of AtData. He said joining Experian would allow the two companies to combine capabilities and expand intelligence used in business decision-making. Experian said the acquisition follows a partnership between the two companies that has been in place for more than 15 years.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Redmixx via Freepik The post Experian Acquires AtData in Email Data and Identity Push appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Das EY Banking Barometer 2026, veröffentlicht am 8. Januar 2026 von der Prüfungs- und Beratungsgesellschaft EY Schweiz, liefert ein detailliertes und aktuelles Bild des Schweizer Bankensektors. Basierend auf einer Umfrage unter über 100 Finanzinstituten in der Schweiz und in Liechtenstein zeigt der Bericht eine Branche, die zwar ein solides, jedoch schwächeres Geschäftsjahr als in den beiden Vorjahren abgeschlossen hat – bei gleichzeitig deutlich verschlechterten kurzfristigen Erwartungen. 46 % der befragten Banken erwarten für 2025 einen Rückgang des operativen Gewinns(gegenüber 39 % in der vorherigen Ausgabe) – der höchste Pessimismuswert der letzten 15 Jahre. Zu den Hauptursachen zählen die Rückkehr zu tiefen oder sogar negativen Zinssätzen, welche die Zinsmargen (eine zentrale Ertragsquelle vieler Banken) unter Druck setzen, steigende Betriebskosten (von 57 % als grösstes Hindernis für zukünftige Erträge genannt) sowie geopolitische Unsicherheiten, darunter US-Zölle und globale Spannungen. Trotz dieser kurzfristigen Herausforderungen bleibt der langfristige Ausblick positiv: 94 % der Institute zeigen sich optimistisch in Bezug auf das Schweizer Bankenmodell über einen Horizont von mehr als drei Jahren, verbunden mit Erwartungen steigender operativer Ergebnisse. Der Bericht hebt hervor, dass Banken zunehmend auf eine Kombination aus strikter Kostendisziplin, Ertragsdiversifikation und gezielten Investitionen in Innovation setzen. Zu den klaren Prioritäten zählen die Einführung von Künstlicher Intelligenz – 78 % der Banken verfügen bereits über laufende AI-Projekte(ein deutlicher Anstieg gegenüber 53 % im Vorjahr), mit Schwerpunkten auf Prozessautomatisierung, Compliance und operativer Effizienz – sowie die Modernisierung der Core-Banking-Systeme. Dazu gehört insbesondere die Migration hin zu cloud-nativen Architekturen, um strukturelle Kosten zu senken und die Skalierbarkeit im internationalen Umfeld zu erhöhen. EY beschreibt den Sektor als an einem „strategischen Wendepunkt“: Schweizer Banken müssen reaktive Ansätze in proaktive Strategien überführen, um sich in einem sich rasch wandelnden Umfeld zu behaupten, in dem Margendruck und Kostensteigerungen klare Entscheidungen in Bezug auf Effizienz, Technologie und Wettbewerbspositionierung erfordern. Christine Mengers, Assistant Director bei EY Schweiz, kommentiert: «In einer Phase, in der Umsatzwachstum weiterhin wichtig, aber zunehmend schwieriger zu erzielen ist, stehen Kostensenkungen und Effizienzgewinne klar im Fokus.» In diesem Kontext beschleunigter Transformation, in dem Technologie und Infrastruktur-Upgrades zu entscheidenden Hebeln für die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit werden, gewinnen Persönlichkeiten wie Prospero Pica und Beratungsunternehmen wie ABP Partners an Bedeutung. Prospero Pica, Gründer von ABP Partners mit über 20 Jahren internationaler Erfahrung in europäischen, asiatischen und nahöstlichen Banken, betont regelmässig, dass «Transformation mit Bank Knowledge beginnt». Es gehe nicht allein um digitale Tools oder Plattformmigrationen, sondern um die Neugestaltung von Prozessen, Governance und Kontrollen – ausgehend vom operativen Kern der Bank. ABP Partners, mit Hauptstandorten in Zürich und Lugano, ist spezialisiert auf Core-Banking-Projekte auf führenden Plattformen des Schweizer Marktes wie Avaloq, Temenos, Olympic und Finnova. Prospero Pica und sein Team begleiten Banken bei grenzüberschreitenden Treasury-Integrationen zwischen Europa und Asien, sichern operative Kontinuität in komplexen multijurisdiktionalen Umgebungen und bieten spezialisierte Beratung im Bereich Sharia-konforme Finanzdienstleistungen. Dieser Bereich wächst stark: Der globale Markt für islamische Finanzdienstleistungenwird voraussichtlich bis 2026 ein Volumen von über 6 Billionen US-Dollar erreichen. Auch in der Schweiz und in Europa steigt das Interesse – verbunden mit der Notwendigkeit einer authentischen Sharia-Compliance, die durch direkte Zusammenarbeit mit Muftis und religiösen Experten sichergestellt wird, um regulatorische Strenge mit technischer Exzellenz zu vereinen. Während das EY Banking Barometer 2026 aufzeigt, dass Investitionen in Innovation, Cybersecurity und regulatorische Anforderungen weiterhin die Kostenbasis belasten, positionieren sich Prospero Pica und ABP Partners als Brücke zwischen dem traditionellen Schweizer Bankenverständnis – geprägt von hoher Compliance-Präzision, robuster Governance und operativer Qualität – und einer schnellen, skalierbaren globalen Umsetzung, die für den Wettbewerb in Wachstumsmärkten erforderlich ist. Prospero Pica bringt es auf den Punkt: «Core Banking ist längst kein reines IT-Thema mehr – es entscheidet über das Überleben im Markt. Technologie muss der Bank folgen, nicht sie ersetzen.» Der Bericht schliesst mit einem klaren Appell: Banken sollten den Schritt von einer rein reaktiven Haltung gegenüber externem Druck hin zu proaktivem strategischem Handeln vollziehen. Im Jahr 2026 – geprägt von engen Margen, steigenden Kosten und Chancen durch AI und Digitalisierung – erweisen sich die Modernisierung zentraler Systeme und die intelligente Integration neuer Technologienals entscheidend, um Resilienz, internationale Attraktivität und langfristige Wettbewerbsvorteile zu sichern. In diesem Umfeld wird erprobte Expertise in komplexen Transformationsprojektenzu einem strategischen Erfolgsfaktor für Institute, die aktuelle Herausforderungen in nachhaltige Chancen verwandeln wollen. The post Schweizer Banken 2026 zwischen kurzfristigem Druck und langfristigem Optimismus appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.