Credit Sesame Launches Free iPhone App

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Credit Sesame

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Earlier today, Credit Sesame released its free iPhone app that allows users to check their credit score on-the-go.

It also provides management tools that let users:

    • Manage debt pay-down with trending graphs
    • Receive personalized savings advice and alerts
    • See how much they owe on lines of creditCreditSesameMobileIMG1.jpg
    • View their credit-utilization ratio

To maximize security, Credit Sesame requires the use of a PIN before login and provides the ability to remotely deactivate the service in case of a stolen phone.

To learn more about Credit Sesame, watch its FinovateFall 2011 demo.

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Pageonce Sees $1 Million in User Bill Payment, Launches iPad App

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Pageonce

PageonceLogo.jpg

PFM Pageonce recently announced that its online bill pay service has reached a milestone of $1 million in bills paid:

“Publicly available on smartphones for almost one month, consumers have used Pageonce to pay $1M worth of credit card, utility and other personal bills. 

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With mobile bill pay projected to grow almost four times by 2013, Pageonce is leading a new and smarter way for consumers to control and interact with their personal finances.”

In an effort to relieve the pain of paying bills, it also launched a mobile bill pay app for the iPad that aims to simplify the process of paying bills.

To learn more about Pageonce, watch its FinovateFall 2010 demo.

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SafetyPay Available as Payment Option for Facebook Credit Purchases

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: SafetyPay

SafetyPayLogo.jpg

Online payment solution company SafetyPay recently announced that its payment platform can now be used to purchase Facebook Credits:

“SafetyPay will be a payment option for Facebook Credits in Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Spain, Canada, United States, Austria, Germany and Brazil starting on December 9th, 2011. Facebook Credits can be purchased through SafetyPay without a credit card and without disclosing any personal financial information, which provides a safe online buying experience.”

Users can redeem the credits for virtual in-game elements, movies, Target gift cards, and more.

To learn more about SafetyPay, watch its FinovateSpring 2010 demo.

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Finovate Alumni News– November 28, 2011

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: BillFloat, BillGuard, Dwolla, Kapitall, Prosper, Tyfone, Xero

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  • Payments Journal looks at Dwolla’s P2P payment platform.
  • Prosper announces iPod Nano giveaway for borrowers.
  • Simply Stacie describes BillFloat’s daily $50 giveaway.
  • OnPoint CU debuts Tyfone mobile gift card service.
  • Active Filings describes how consumers can benefit from BillGuard’s fraud-monitoring service.
  • Freewaregenius describes the Kapitall user experience.
  • Xero makes BestVendor’s list of 25 most beloved web services and work apps with a belovedness score of 38%.
  • SafetyPay available as payment option for Facebook Credit purchases.
  • Pageonce sees $1 million in user bill payment, launches iPad app.
  • Credit Sesame launches free iPhone app.
This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

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LearnVest Updates My Money Center

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: LearnVest

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Yesterday, PFM LearnVest announced some updates to My Money Center, its free online budgeting service.

Here’s an overview of what’s new:

  • Categorize cash transactions: You can now categorize the $50 you withdrew from the ATM as a budgetary item.
  • LVInbox.jpgManually add an account: Is your Credit Union not syncing with LearnVest? No worries. Now you can manually include that money for a full picture of your finances.
  • Track your income: Now there’s a folder in your financial inbox for your paychecks and other sources of income.
To learn more about LearnVest, watch its FinovateFall 2011 demo.

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Finovate Alumni News– November 23, 2011

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: CashStar, Mitek, Prosper, Stocktwits

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  • Mitek updates its Remote Deposit Capture product to improve UX and performance.
  • CNBC reports CashStar fuels eCommerce this season with personalized eGift cards.
  • StockTwits adds real time streams to The Street’s ticker pages.
  • Prosper launches ‘$5,000 Shop on Us’ sweepstakes.
  • QVC selects CashStar to power its new eGift Card program.
  • The Next Web refers to HelloWallet as a “brilliant” personal finance tool.
  • MyCyberTwin wins 2011 New South Wales Australian Technology Showcase Rising Star Award. 
  • LearnVest updates My Money Center.
This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

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HelloWallet’s iPhone App Helps Make Budgeting Advice More Relevant

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: HelloWallet

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PFM company HelloWallet released a new iPhone app last week. In addition to providing standard PFM features such as account balance, spending overview, and budget outline, HelloWallet features a new tool that guides users based on their location:

“Once the app determines the user’s location, it will display how much is left to spend in the associated budget category and how much has been spent historically at that location.”

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The example on the right shows an example of a user visiting Caribou Coffee. The app informs them how much money is left in their coffee budget and displays their average spend at the merchant over the past year.

The HelloWallet app for Android will be available in early 2012.

To learn more about HelloWallet, watch its FinovateSpring 2011 demo.

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Finovate Alumni News– November 22, 2011

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Alkami Technology, Check Point, Equifax, Geezeo, HelloWallet, LearnVest, Prosper, Simple, Xero

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  • Richard Branson follows in the footsteps of Simple by avoiding the word ‘bank’ when naming his newly acquired FI.
  • Alkami wins VC backing for online banking technology.
  • Check Point Software Technologies acquires risk management company.
  • HelloWallet’s iPhone app helps make budgeting advice more relevant.
  • Equifax partners with data quality and management company Ixsight.
  • Xero makes receiving overpayments and prepayments easier.
  • Credit Union Times reports Geezeo adds four credit union clients for its PFM.
  • Venture Studio interviews Alexa Von Tobel, LearnVest CEO, about how she started her business.
  • The Social Lending Network looks at Prosper’s top P2P lenders.
This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

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Guess What I’ve Been Researching Online?

By Jim Bruene Posted on
Categories: Advertising & Promotion, American Express, Email Samples, P2P Payments

imageI realize that ads based on recent activity are effective. But it’s still slightly unnerving, wondering whether you’ve lost every last bit of privacy or that you’ve been hit by an adware virus. But overall, it’s good to get relevant offers, especially when one has a $10 bonus in it (see AmEx below).

Here’s the two ads tossed my way while I was checking the status of my son’s flight today:

Amex Serve and Geico ads

I wrote a blog post on Serve yesterday (see AmEx promo on top of the page) and have been banging around insurance sites (see Geico ad on right) for the past two weeks as I wrap up a report on the subject.

AmEx Serve offer
Perhaps because I didn’t sign up yesterday, American Express is throwing me $10 to try Serve, its P2P payments service. Here’s the excellent landing page (link):

American Express Servce landing page

After entering your email address, the button turns to a thank-you. It’s good feedback for the user and keeps them from accidentally submitting the form twice.

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Here’s the email sent a few moments later:

American Express Serve email

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Notes:
1. Button credit Zazzle.com
2. We covered P2P payments two years ago in our Online Banking Report (subscription).

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Check Point Software Technologies Acquires Risk Management Company

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Check Point

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Check Point Software Technologies recently announced the acquisition of Dynasec, a governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) solution provider. This move will enhance Check Point’s 3D Security platform that:

“Enables companies to view security as a business process, focusing on policy, people and enforcement. The combined security and GRC solutions will enable customers to manage their entire 3D Security process from corporate objectives, to policies and security enforcement…”

The added solutions will help clients sift through ever-changing security regulations and requirements when creating IT security policies. 

To learn more about Check Point Software Technologies, watch its Finovate 2008 demo.

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American Express Serves Up P2P "Pay Me Back" on Ticketmaster

By Jim Bruene Posted on
Categories: American Express, Credit/Debit Cards, P2P Payments

image It’s a problem as old as money itself. The person making a purchase on behalf of a group inevitably gets stuck with a larger share as others “forget” to pay him/her back (note 1).

Two weeks ago, American Express launched a clever product tie-in on TicketMaster to help change that. After making a purchase, a prominently placed box suggests using Serve to “Get Paid Back.” Buyers are encouraged to use Serve to send money requests to friends for their share of the tickets. Given how social ticket purchasing is, it’s a great place to introduce P2P.

But there’s still the not-so-small problem of getting everyone signed up. Both sender and recipient must have Serve accounts. And while all transaction are currently free, the FAQs warn that coming Jan 1, there will be a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction funded via credit card. Checking account (ACH)-based transactions will remain free.

To beat PayPal at this game, the service needs more than just well-placed ads. For example, integration directly into the Ticketmaster shopping cart, where buyers could enter friends’ email addresses to automatically “charge” them their share (subject to their approval of course).

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Product placement after purchasing on Ticketmaster (11 Nov 2011)

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Landing page

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Note: We covered P2P payments two years ago in our Online Banking Report (subscription). 

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Currensee Launches Trade Leaders Program for Institutional Clients

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on
Categories: Currensee

Currensee.jpgLast week, currency trading platform Currensee announced the launch of its Trade Leaders Investment Program for institutional clients:

“The new service enables hedge funds, money managers, family offices and other asset gatherers to tap into the USD4 trillion daily Forex market by leveraging the elite Currensee network of Trade Leaders.”

It also instituted the Currency Risk Management Control Center to assist investors with controlling risk.

To learn more about Currensee, watch its FinovateSpring 2011 demo.

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