Blog - Page 1149 of 1287

Dwolla Announces New Proxi Service

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 24, 2011
Categories: Dwolla

Payment startup Dwolla announced a new service called Proxi that will allow its 40,000 users to pay each other or a business via mobile device, based on proximity. "The new tech will allow users to convert their Dwolla enabled devices into movable Spots to seamlessly take payments without additional hardware, like NFC or dongles." This service uses GPS to enable consumers to locate nearby contacts (businesses or individuals) and pay them using nothing but their mobile device. To learn more about Dwolla, watch their demo from FinovateSpring 2011.

What Online Banking and the Weather Have in Common

By Jim Bruene Posted on August 23, 2011
Categories: Personal Financial Management

I've always been a bit obsessive about the weather. I blame it on my Iowa roots, where the economy ebbs and flows depending on the rain and sunshine, and where you have just about every type of weather condition, sometimes in the same day.

One of the main reasons I wanted an iPhone back in 2007 (in the days before the App Store and mobile banking), was to get a weather button in my pocket 24/7. But it wasn't until today I realized that weather info is a decent metaphor for where remote banking is headed.

Think about the weather displayed on your mobile or PC. You get some pretty good info about what's going to happen today, plus decent estimates on the next few days, followed by a SWAG on what might happen a week or two out. This is helpful for planning your clothes, weekend activities, and as…

Bill.com Launches Invoice Mailing Service

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 23, 2011
Categories: Bill.com

California-based Bill.com launched a billing feature that allows small businesses and accountants to invoice their customers via snail mail.

"Bill.com's Accounts Receivable (AR) update enables users to send printed bills to their customers via U.S. mail at below the cost of what a typical company would spend printing, stuffing and mailing invoices."

This new service will benefit those who prefer paperless billing methods by allowing them to send invoices to customers who still use paper invoices.

It also includes new features such as:

The addition of a Quick Response (QR) code on the invoice that allows the recipient to scan the code and link directly to their Bill.com Payment Portal. The ability to integrate with QuickBooks and Peachtree accounting software

To learn more about Bill.com, watch its FinovateSpring 2011 demo here.

Mint.com Adds Bill Payment Reminder Feature

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 22, 2011
Categories: Mint.com

Mint.com launched a new bill payment reminder feature today that provides one place where users can track upcoming bills. This timeline format lets users see their bills over time and allows them to set customized due date reminders.

"'Juggling due dates and amounts owed, and jumping from websites to paper statements, is tedious and confusing. Busy people have better ways to spend their time and money, such as saving toward a goal,' said Aaron Forth, VP and GM of Intuit's Personal Finance Group"

Mint.com will automatically recognize user's bills based on prior bank statements and monthly patterns.

To learn more about Mint.com, check out its FinovateSpring 2011 demo here.

Out of the Inbox: Discover Card’s Birthday Present

By Jim Bruene Posted on August 18, 2011
Categories: Credit/Debit Cards, Discover Card, Email Samples, Rewards Programs

Although worth only $5 at most, Discover Card's month-long Double Cashback Bonus (on the first $500 spent) sure sounds impressive. And combined with the cute penguin visuals, it's an effective birthday greeting. And probably the first one you'll get since it's sent two weeks in advance of the first day of the month of your birthday.

Recipients must register to receive the bonus, a common technique to keep costs down. The card issuer continues to display dazzling graphics throughout and even sends a confirmation email (below). Great attention to detail.

It would be nice if you didn't have to do a full login to register. But for extra reward points, most users will put up with the hassle.

Grade = A-

Discover Card birthday email (18 Aug. 2011, 2 weeks in advance of the birthday month)

First landing page: Log in (link)

Second landing…

Xero Launches U.S. Version of Accounting Software

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 18, 2011
Categories: Xero

Cloud-based accounting software company, Xero, announced this week that it has released a version of its software for the United States. The update includes simple things like spelling differences, ability to generate 1099s, and regional reporting. Larger enhancements include: "The ability to print checks (cheques for the rest of you). Checks are still widely used in the US (the bigger the better) and while we'd love

to encourage electronic alternatives we accept that there's still a strong demand for paper checks."

Xero also mentions future plans of providing users with an automated way to receive and make payments. To see Xero's online accounting system in use, check out its FinovateSpring 2011 demo.

Kashoo Releases Accounting App for iPad

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 18, 2011
Categories: Kashoo

Yesterday, Canada-based Kashoo released a new iPad app called Kashoo Accounting. "Kashoo's iPad accounting app gives small businesses and entrepreneurs the flexibility to manage all aspects of their finances on the go, including monitoring key business metrics, creating and delivering invoices, recording expenses, tracking payments, and generating financial reports.

The new app, available for free in the Apple iTunes Store, allows users to access their accounting data on-the-go. "Business owners can take care of important tasks like sending an invoice, or entering an expense, or checking an account balance immediately wherever they are. We have created a tool that has the power to transform how small businesses operate-and thrive." To see Kashoo's Accounting app in action, watch its FinovateFall 2010 demo here.

Notifying Card Issuers that You Are Out of the Country

By Jim Bruene Posted on August 17, 2011
Categories: Bank of America, Capital One, Chase Bank, Credit/Debit Cards, Security & Privacy, Travel, US Bank, Wells Fargo

We were lucky enough to take a quick trip to Europe this summer and one of the many rituals of modern travel is convincing your card issuers not to block international transactions. The conventional wisdom is to notify issuers in advance. While not an absolute necessity, it is said to improve your odds.

The process is very straightforward. All the bank needs is your travel dates and where you are visiting. However, it is tedious over the phone due to redundant authentication requirements.

Consequently, it's an ideal service to automate with online, or even better, mobile form. I wrote about it the last time I traveled. But this time I put a clock on the process, just to see exactly how much time was wasted, for both the consumer and bank, on the phone.

Summary: It took about 1 minute per card to register online at Capital One and …

FinovateFall 2011 Sneak Peek: Part 1

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 17, 2011
Categories: Backbase, Balance, Betterment, BillShrink, cbanc Network, CREALOGIX, DeMyst Data, FamZoo, Fuze Network, Lighter Capital, Micronotes, modoPAYMENTS, MOOTWIN, MShift and ACI Worldwide, MyCyberTwin, oFlows, planwise, Plastyc, ReadyForZero, Rebirth Financial, T8 Webware, Transecq, Weemba, Yodlee

More than 60 leading fintech innovators, both startups and established companies, are gearing up to present at the biggest Finovate ever, Sep. 20/21 in NYC.

Each company provided a sneak peek of what they'll be demoing on stage next month. Below is the first installment of these teasers. We'll have more next week. Don't miss your chance to see the live demo from each company and meet the execs responsible. G et your FinovateFall ticket here. _____________________________
Backbase

Backbase is launching "Retail Bank of the Future," representing the e-banking engagement experience of tomorrow. It embodies the newest User Experience (UX) patterns based on input gathered from customer research, industry thought leaders and UX specialists. Innovation type: Mobile UI, online UI
Balance Financial

Personal finance is a chore and not too high on any To-Do list. Life is busy and finance stresses people out. At Balance, we manage your personal financial chores for you. We…

Jwaala & eWise Partner to Offer Online Payment Alternative

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 17, 2011
Categories: eWise, Jwaala

Online banking platform provider, Jwaala, and payments solution startup, eWise, announced the formation of a partnership today.

"Through this partnership, the Secure Vault Payments solution has been integrated into Jwaala's Better Online Banking platform (BOB) allowing users to make payments to online merchants and billers through simple, secure and immediate ACH transactions." This new payments solution will be available to members of Utah-based Mountain America Credit Union, who have been offering Jwaala's Better Online Banking Platform since May. To learn more about the two, watch Jwaala's FinovateStartup 2009 demo and eWise's FinovateSpring 2011 demo.

Kabbage Receives $17 Million in Series B Funding, Secures Patent

By Julie Muhn (@julieschicktanz) Posted on August 17, 2011
Categories: Kabbage

Kabbage, a startup that provides working capital to online businesses, revealed two big announcements today. First, it received $17 million in funding from Mohr Davidow Ventures, BlueRun Ventures, David Bonderman, Warren Stephens and UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund. With this funding, Kabbage says: "We're able to explore new territories; we can pursue additional marketplaces, new financial products and expand our model even further now." Second, it has been awarded a US patent: "The US Patent is an 'apparatus to provide liquid funds in the online auction and marketplace environment.' Basically, it's a system that lets use an online merchant's shop and selling history to best determine how dire a need there is of funds." To check out how Kabbage works, watch its FinovateSpring 2011 demo.

Citibank Running Front-page WSJ Facebook Campaign

By Jim Bruene Posted on August 16, 2011
Categories: Advertising & Promotion, Citibank, Facebook

Citibank is using some of the most expensive real estate on the planet, the front page of the Wall Street Journal, to promote its Facebook page (see inset and below). The bottom-of-the-page banner invites readers to Like Citibank on Facebook to "find amazing ways to use your (ThankYou) points," and directs them to Citi's main Facebook page, facebook.com/citibank.

Visitors are shown a special page promising exclusive access to an upcoming Beyonce concert for Citibank ThankYou customers (see first screenshot). After, clicking the Like button, a new screen appears with a "coming soon" message (second screenshot).

As of 11:30 Eastern this morning, Citi had 34,500 likes, by midnight the total had grown by about 2,000 to 36,500. I don't know where they started the day, but according Visible Banking, the Citi Facebook page debuted in mid-November 2010 with 7,000 likes, mostly from employees.

…