BILL Launches New Procurement Capabilities for Small Businesses

BILL Launches New Procurement Capabilities for Small Businesses
  • BILL is expanding beyond payments by launching new procurement tools that unify accounts payable, receivable, expense management, forecasting, and payments into one centralized platform for small businesses.
  • The new release offers features like advanced approval routing, invoice matching, and bulk payments.
  • With the launch, BILL positions itself as a financial command center for SMBs, offering a holistic alternative to point solutions like Ramp by delivering integrated, customizable, and scalable cash flow management.

Small business financial software provider BILL unveiled new procurement capabilities this week. The California-based company is releasing new tools to help businesses and accountants take control of their cash flow. Adding this well-rounded set of procurement capabilities signals BILL’s intent to move beyond payments into a broader role as a small business financial command center.

BILL is enhancing its platform with new procure-to-pay capabilities, and bringing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payment cards, expense management, insights, and forecasting in a single solution. The additional procurement tools will enable businesses to efficiently manage, approve, and track purchase orders with greater accuracy. Features like advanced approval routing and automated invoice matching will help reduce fraud risk and payment errors, while streamlining workflows to minimize manual effort and increase operational efficiency.

While other platforms, such as Ramp, focus on specific elements of small business financial operations, BILL differentiates itself with a holistic approach that combines procurement, payments, and forecasting in one platform. Consolidating all of a business’ needs into one platform not only streamlines operations but also reduces the need for third-party add-ons and disjointed data reconciliation between systems.

“Our expansion into procurement reinforces how BILL is driving innovation and setting new standards for helping businesses and accountants to manage and control their cash flow, eliminate ‘busy work’, and make strategic decisions that drive long-term growth and success,” said BILL Founder and CEO René Lacerte.

The three new capabilities BILL is releasing include BILL Multi-Entity, which enables businesses and accounting firms to manage payments across multiple organizations from a single, centralized platform; the BILL API Platform, which allows businesses and accountants to tailor financial workflows to meet their own needs; and a bulk payments option that will save businesses time and money by paying thousands of bills at a time.

The new capabilities will allow, for example, a multi-location accounting firm to route purchase approvals through custom rules for each entity while managing all payments from a single dashboard. This reduces manual tracking, improves compliance, and frees up teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

“In an uncertain environment, control and visibility of cash flow is not only key to efficiency—it’s one of the most powerful levers a business has to be more resilient. Legacy spreadsheets and disparate tools are costing American businesses time, money and opportunity, and BILL is the only technology partner delivering more control, more value and more innovation SMBs need and deserve,” added Lacerte.

Founded in 2006, BILL helps 460,000 businesses automate their financial operations and has processed $266 billion in payments volume. The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BILL, went public in 2019 and has a market capitalization of $4.55 billion.


Photo by Amina Filkins

Feedzai Acquires Demyst to Enhance Data Orchestration

Feedzai Acquires Demyst to Enhance Data Orchestration
  • Feedzai is acquiring Demyst to unify its AI-powered risk management with external data orchestration, enabling faster, smarter fraud detection and compliance decisions.
  • The integration of Demyst’s Zonic platform will help financial institutions streamline onboarding, enhance fraud prediction, and reduce friction in real-time risk operations.
  • As demand grows for dynamic, real-time data in financial services, this deal will enable Feedzai to offer a more comprehensive risk intelligence platform.

Risk management provider Feedzai is acquiring data-as-a-service (DaaS) platform Demyst this week. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Feedzai will use Demyst to unify its risk management solutions with external data orchestration to offer faster, smarter fraud detection.

“There is no shortage of data in our industry—the trick is how to access the right data as quickly as possible so that you can accelerate risk decisions with the fewest consumer friction points,” said Feedzai CEO and Co-founder Nuno Sebastiao. “Demyst is a first mover and leader in accessing necessary data—internal or external—at the critical moment for any part of the user journey. Paired with Feedzai’s market-leading AI, this ensures every data point is fully utilized to drive smarter and faster decisions. More broadly, this acquisition marks a pivotal moment in continuing Feedzai’s evolution from a data consumer to a data provider.”

Feedzai aims to leverage Demyst’s Zonic data workflow orchestration platform, intellectual property, and sophisticated data-integration capabilities to unify data orchestration and risk management into a single platform. Together, the two companies will deliver a data orchestration platform with fraud prevention measures, enhanced account opening capabilities, contextual intelligence for fraud prediction and prevention, better customer experiences, improved risk insights, and operational efficiency.

Founded in 2011, Feedzai is a risk operations platform specializing in identity verification, fraud prevention, and financial crime detection. The company’s AI-powered solutions span KYC, AML, watchlist screening, and transaction fraud monitoring to help financial institutions stop fraud in real time without compromising the customer experience. Today, Feedzai protects over one billion consumers in more than 190 countries and safeguards over $8 billion in transactions annually.

“External data is the next frontier of business impact for financial institutions, yet it is notoriously complex, involving a labyrinth of sources for KYC/AML, identity, fraud, credit checks, and compliance,” said Demyst CEO Mark Hookey. “We’re thrilled to join Feedzai to bring AI and data together at scale for our customers. Together we are building the most advanced solution for customer onboarding, fraud prevention, and risk management.”

Hookey, along with other key members of the Demyst team, will remain with Feedzai.

Demyst was founded in 2010 as an external data platform that enables financial institutions to discover, evaluate, and deploy third-party data quickly and securely. By streamlining access to hundreds of curated data providers across categories like identity, income, business verification, and credit risk, Demyst helps banks and fintechs make smarter decisions faster, without the typical data integration friction.

The deal highlights a growing interest in data orchestration and AI-driven risk management. As financial services companies grapple with increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics and regulatory demands, the ability to access, integrate, and act on real-time data is becoming crucial, especially as the costs of accessing and analyzing the data are increasing. By combining Feedzai’s AI and risk operations platform with Demyst’s external data orchestration capabilities, the deal positions Feedzai to offer a more holistic, end-to-end risk intelligence solution.


Photo by Markus Spiske

ValidiFI Adds Authoritative Bank Account Verification to its vAccount+ Suite

ValidiFI Adds Authoritative Bank Account Verification to its vAccount+ Suite
  • ValidiFI has expanded its vAccount+ suite to include authoritative bank account verification, enabling real-time validation of account status and ownership using direct-source financial data.
  • The new tools include vAccount+ Verify and vAccount+ Coverage, which will help firms onboard customers, initiate ACH payments, and detect fraud with higher accuracy.
  • Built with AI and machine learning, the enhanced suite supports compliance with NACHA regulations and helps banks, lenders, and fintechs make smarter, faster decisions at scale.

Bank account and payment intelligence company ValidiFI recently unveiled enhancements to its vAccount+ suite. This week’s release will add new capabilities for authoritative bank account verification that firms can use when onboarding new customers, initiating ACH transactions, verifying payouts, and ensuring compliance with NACHA and anti-fraud regulations.

Authoritative bank account verification refers to the process of confirming a retail or commercial customer’s bank account ownership and status using official, direct-source data that is obtained from banks, core processors, or authoritative financial institutions. This is in contrast to traditional verification methods that rely on information supplied by the user, manual document uploads, or even micro-deposits. Instead, authoritative bank account verification leverages real-time data to confirm that an account exists, is open and active, and that the person or business claiming the account is indeed the rightful owner.

ValidiFI can leverage the new capabilities to validate up to 85% of accounts based on authoritative data and known transaction history. ValidiFI’s new authoritative bank account verification tool leverages AI and machine learning to analyze bank account and routing number patterns and relationships, which extends coverage to provide insights on 96% of accounts.

“Expanding the vAccount+ suite to include authoritative bank account verification empowers organizations in the B2B payments space to make informed decisions, optimize workflows, and improve risk management strategies,” said ValidiFI CEO John Gordon. “This addition reflects our commitment to delivering actionable insights that drive smarter, more efficient business operations.”

The two authoritative bank account verification tools include vAccount+ Verify, which verifies with authoritative sources for higher accuracy; and vAccount+ Coverage, which maximzes verification using all available data, including authoritative sources.

The tools verify the accuracy of the customer’s bank account and routing number, and offer the option to authenticate bank account ownership by matching the applicant’s details with the account owner’s information. The ownership details help organizations detect discrepancies and potential fraud.

Founded in 2014, ValidiFI offers real-time bank account verification and payment intelligence solutions for both retail and commercial customers. Its tools help lenders, banks, and fintechs improve credit decisioning, prevent fraud, and manage risk with more precision. ValidiFI’s platform is particularly effective in spotting suspicious patterns, such as synthetic identities or mule accounts, and in supporting compliance with account verification mandates such as NACHA’s WEB Debit Rule. By delivering actionable insights instantly, ValidiFI enables its clients to make confident, data-driven decisions at scale.


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Checkout.com to Launch Card Issuing in the UAE

Checkout.com to Launch Card Issuing in the UAE
  • Checkout.com plans to launch card issuing services in the UAE by 2026, allowing businesses to create branded virtual and physical cards, pending regulatory approval.
  • The move supports the UAE’s 2031 Agenda to drive digital innovation and financial services growth across the region.
  • Checkout.com continues expanding its MENA presence, following milestones like securing its Retail Payment Services license and bringing Mada (Saudi Arabia’s National Payment Network) and Apple Pay to UAE and KSA merchants.

Payments service provider Checkout.com announced plans this week to expand its card issuing capabilities in the UAE, marking the first time the company will offer this service in the region.

The UK-based fintech says it will roll out domestic card issuance in the UAE in 2026. The rollout, however, is still waiting and dependent on regulatory approval. Once it goes live in the UAE, Checkout.com will enable businesses to launch branded virtual and physical cards, power customer rewards, streamline expenses, and offer business-to-business payouts.

“As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy,” said Checkout.com MENA General Manager Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo. “The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it.”

Founded in 2012, Checkout.com is a global payments platform that empowers businesses to accept, process, and manage payments seamlessly. Through its unified payments network, Checkout.com enables organizations to accept payments locally and internationally with global acquiring capabilities. The company also offers a suite of services, including card issuing that allows businesses to create and manage their own payment cards, advanced risk management tools to optimize performance and reduce fraud, and treasury management services to streamline cash flow and reconciliation.

Checkout.com obtained its Retail Payment Services license from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates in 2023. Since then, it has brought Mada (Saudi Arabia’s National Payment Network) and Apple Pay to merchants across the UAE and KSA.

Today’s announcement supports the UAE’s broader vision to be a leader in digital transformation and financial innovation. As part of its UAE 2031 Agenda, the country aims to create a competitive, knowledge-based economy driven by advanced technology, including in its financial services sector. Checkout.com’s expansion into card issuing aligns with these national goals by offering businesses more flexible, digital-first payment solutions. “With bold moves like Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda, MENA is fast becoming a global standard for digital transformation,” added Abbondandolo, underscoring how the region’s strategies are shaping the future of commerce and payments.


Photo by Nextvoyage

Fiserv Acquires Pinch Payments to Enhance its Payments Offerings in Asia Pacific

Fiserv Acquires Pinch Payments to Enhance its Payments Offerings in Asia Pacific
  • Fiserv has acquired Australia-based PayFac Pinch Payments to strengthen its digital payments offerings and expand its merchant reach across the Asia Pacific region.
  • Pinch’s cloud-based SaaS platform and PayFac expertise will help Fiserv deliver more flexible solutions for PayFacs, ISVs, BPSPs, ISOs, and enterprise clients.
  • Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Payments innovator Fiserv has acquired Australia-based payment facilitator (PayFac) Pinch Payments for an undisclosed amount.

Fiserv anticipates that bringing Pinch into its ecosystem will help it offer more flexible options for PayFacs, ISVs, BPSPs, ISOs and enterprise clients. Pinch will enhance Fiserv’s reach with its access to a greater number of merchants. It will also help fuel Fiserv’s delivery of new payments solutions such as Pinch’s cloud-based SaaS business operating platform for merchants across Asia Pacific. 

“This acquisition further demonstrates Fiserv’s commitment to the local payments market, following our recent launch of Clover in Australia,” said Fiserv Head of Australia Gavin Jones. “By integrating our leading digital payments solutions with Pinch’s innovative technology and local expertise, we are able to deliver innovative payment solutions to empower merchants across the APAC region. We welcome the Pinch associates to the Fiserv family and are committed to seamless integration of services for our customers.”

Pinch was founded in 2017 and currently serves 2,000 merchants throughout Australia and New Zealand. The company is best known for its PayFac enablement and its management platform Glassbox. The company serves both enterprises and small businesses, and also offers a developer API, providing a comprehensive set of tools to help businesses facilitate payments more efficiently at scale. 

“Joining Fiserv is an incredible opportunity for the Pinch team and furthers our mission to provide seamless partner experiences to a growing number of merchants,” said Pinch Payments Co-Founder and CEO Paul Allen. “Having worked closely with the Fiserv team, I am confident in our roadmap to expand into new markets.”

The acquisition of Pinch Payments highlights a broader trend in the payments industry as demand grows for faster, more flexible, and embedded payment experiences. Traditional card-based transactions are increasingly being challenged with alternative payment methods such as pay-by-bank, in which consumers make direct, account-to-account transfers without the need for a card network. This shift is being driven by the rise of open banking and a push for lower-cost, real-time payment options.

As businesses and consumers across the Asia Pacific region look for more efficient ways to move money, partnerships and acquisitions like this one position companies like Fiserv to offer a wider range of solutions for customers in more geographies. With PayFac enablement, cloud-based platforms, and emerging capabilities like pay-by-bank, the payments landscape is now offering more speed, transparency, and options.

SoFi’s Galileo Helps Fintechs Extend FDIC Insurance Beyond the Coverage Limit

SoFi’s Galileo Helps Fintechs Extend FDIC Insurance Beyond the Coverage Limit
  • Galileo launched Deposit Sweep to help fintechs extend FDIC insurance protection and offer higher interest earnings by partnering with a network of banks.
  • The tool automates the movement of funds across banks once a balance hits a set threshold to maximize interest earnings and secure more funds.
  • The launch of Deposit Sweep comes in response to rising concerns around deposit safety post-Silicon Valley Bank collapse, helping fintechs protect customer funds beyond the traditional $250,000 limit.

SoFi-owned Galileo unveiled a new tool today called Deposit Sweep, designed to help fintechs and their sponsor banks offer customers extended FDIC insurance protection beyond the $250,000 limit. The tool makes it easier for fintechs to safeguard deposits beyond the traditional coverage limit while helping customers earn more interest on their balances.

Deposit Sweep connects fintechs with a network of participating banks through a leading deposit sweep provider. It enables them to select partner banks based on factors like pricing, regulatory requirements, operational needs, and interest rates, which can offer customers a secure, streamlined way to protect and grow their funds.

“Galileo Deposit Sweep empowers fintechs to deliver more competitive returns for their customers by leveraging a network of participating banks and a deposit sweep provider,” said David Feuer, CPO at Galileo. “This solution enables fintechs to offer better interest rates without increasing operational complexity.”

Deposit Sweep can be easily integrated with a customer’s existing systems, and it can automate the movement of funds once the balance reaches a predefined threshold. Fintechs can offer Deposit Sweep as an opt-in service or automatically enroll all accountholders, who will still be able to view their full balances while funds and interest earnings transfer seamlessly in the background.

Founded in 2001, Galileo offers a payment processing platform that allows third-party fintechs and businesses to build and scale their own financial services offerings. The company, which was acquired by SoFi in 2020 in a $1.2 billion deal, powers a range of fintech and banking solutions, including digital banking, credit and debit card issuing, and money movement services. With the addition of Deposit Sweep, Galileo is further expanding its suite of products designed to help fintechs deliver more secure, competitive, and customer-friendly financial experiences.

Among Galileo’s customers is business banking platform Bluevine, which is currently piloting Deposit Sweep. “Working with Galileo to enable Deposit Sweep was seamless, allowing us to quickly bring the benefits of increased FDIC insurance and higher returns to our customers,” said Bluevine CPO Herman Man. “Our business customers rely on us for security and value, and Galileo’s support has been instrumental in enhancing our offerings and delivering on that promise.”

The launch of Deposit Sweep comes at a time when deposit security is top of mind for fintechs and their customers. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 highlighted the risks of holding large, uninsured deposits at a single institution. By making it easier to spread funds across multiple banks and extend FDIC coverage, Galileo’s Deposit Sweep addresses a key lesson from the Silicon Valley Bank fallout. Many fintechs learned that ensuring that customer funds is protected beyond traditional insurance limits is no longer just a value-add, but a necessity.


Photo by cottonbro studio

Ripple Moves into Prime Brokerage with Hidden Road Acquisition

Ripple Moves into Prime Brokerage with Hidden Road Acquisition
  • Ripple will acquire Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, making it the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.
  • The acquisition expands Ripple’s offerings beyond payments into trading, custody, and lending services, providing financial institutions the infrastructure they need for crypto adoption.
  • Between recent regulatory shifts in the US and Hidden Road’s capabilities, Ripple is positioning itself to become a full-service financial hub as digital assets gain mainstream traction.

Blockchain and crypto solutions company Ripple announced plans to acquire multi-asset prime brokerage company Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. The deal will make Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.

Hidden Road was founded in 2019 to offer financial institutions a one-stop-shop of services such as clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across foreign exchange (FX), digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed income. The UK-based company clears $3 trillion annually across markets with more than 300 institutional customers. 

Hidden Road anticipates that being backed by Ripple will exponentially expand its capacity to service firms in its pipeline. “With new resources, licenses, and added risk capital, this deal will unlock significant growth in Hidden Road’s business, allowing us to increase capacity to our customer base, expand into new products, and service more markets and asset classes,” said Hidden Road Founder and CEO Marc Asch. “Together with Ripple, we’re bringing the same level of trust and reliability that institutional clients are accustomed to in traditional markets—designed and optimized for a digital world.”

For Ripple, buying Hidden Road will make it a major back-end infrastructure provider for big investors trading digital assets. The company will not just offer crypto payments, but also trading, borrowing, and custody services.

“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption–the US market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” said Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. “With these tailwinds, we are continuing to pursue opportunities to massively transform the space, leveraging our position and the strengths of XRP to accelerate our business and enhance our current solutions and technology.”

There are a few reasons why this acquisition is a huge deal for both Ripple and decentralized finance. First, it will help Ripple move beyond payments into full-scale financial services. The company, which is best known for cross-border payments using XRP, will now be able to offer trading, custody, and lending, which is the essential “plumbing” that institutional investors rely on.

Second, Hidden Road gives Ripple the infrastructure that institutions need to trade crypto confidently. By bundling execution, clearing, custody, and credit services all together, hedge fund and asset managers will be more likely to move more funds into crypto.

Finally, the acquisition positions Ripple as a strong player as US markets shift toward a more friendly crypto stance. Last week, the SEC published its official statement on stablecoins, ruling that they are generally not considered securities as long as they are pegged to USD and aren’t used or marketed for investment purposes.

With all of these aspects combined, the timing of today’s acquisition is ideal. Hidden Road will help Ripple become a full-service financial hub for crypto just as institutions are starting to take digital assets seriously again. It’s also a reminder that the structure of the future of finance will not look like it does today. Instead, it will likely be built on blockchain and driven by AI.


Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery

WSECU Invests in AKUVO to Modernize Collections and Credit Risk Management

WSECU Invests in AKUVO to Modernize Collections and Credit Risk Management
  • AKUVO secured a new investment from Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), adding to its $13 million in previously raised funds.
  • The investment will help AKUVO expand its cloud-native collections and credit risk solutions, enhancing efficiency and customer experience for banks, credit unions, and fintechs.
  • The move signals growing interest in modernizing collections technology across the financial services industry amid economic uncertainty and evolving consumer behavior.

Digital collections and credit risk platform AKUVO landed a new round of funding today. The Pennsylvania-based company received an undisclosed amount from Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), a $5.2 billion credit union based in Olympia, Washington.

While the amount of the funding was undisclosed, it adds to the $13 million AKUVO has received since it was founded in 2019. Among the company’s other investors are VyStar Credit Union, Curql, Reseda Group, and Coastal Federal Credit Union.

AKUVO offers collections software to help banks and fintechs collect and manage their debt portfolios. The company’s tools include a standalone virtual collector and a collections platform with automated call and text reminders. AKUVO’s technology helps increase collections efficiency, improve the customer experience, anticipate delinquencies, and offer insight into future credit decisions.

“Our partnership with AKUVO supports our mission to improve the financial wellbeing of our members and the communities we serve,” said WSECU COO Paul Kirkbride. “This investment reflects a commitment and confidence in AKUVO as a company and technology provider. We believe that AKUVO’s platform will help us enhance collections strategies, improve efficiency, and deliver exceptional member experiences. We are excited to further contribute to the company’s long-term vision through this investment.”

Today’s funding comes from WSECU’s holding company, One Washington Financial, which will join AKUVO’s Advisory Board.

“We are honored to welcome WSECU as they join six credit unions and CURQL as an investor in AKUVO,” said AKUVO Founder and CEO Jay Mossman. “The commitment to innovation and member service aligns perfectly with our goals, and we look forward to a successful partnership that drives positive outcomes for both organizations.”

This funding represents a significant vote of confidence in AKUVO’s role in the future of collections and credit risk management. As financial institutions continue to navigate economic uncertainty and evolving consumer behaviors, the demand for more intelligent, automated, and customer-friendly collections solutions is growing. AKUVO’s ability to combine emerging technologies like AI, natural language processing, and machine learning into its platform positions it as a key player helping banks and fintechs modernize their debt management strategies.

More broadly, the investment signals a growing trend among credit unions and banks to prioritize innovation in traditionally overlooked areas like collections. Instead of treating collections solely as a back-end operation, institutions are increasingly viewing it as a strategic function that can impact customer experience, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation. As economic uncertainty persists, platforms like AKUVO that enable early intervention, personalized outreach, and data-driven insights will become essential tools for financial institutions seeking to maintain strong portfolio health and deepen member and customer loyalty.


Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Bilt Selects FIS Premium Payback to Make it Easier to Redeem Points

Bilt Selects FIS Premium Payback to Make it Easier to Redeem Points
  • Bilt is partnering with FIS to integrate Premium Payback, enabling members to instantly redeem loyalty points at checkout without additional apps or sign-ups.
  • Bilt Rewards members can now use points earned from rent, dining, rideshare, and travel purchases for immediate savings at participating merchants.
  • FIS’s Premium Payback network, which supports 7,000+ card loyalty programs, helps drive customer engagement by increasing point redemption and boosting cardholder spending.

Loyalty platform Bilt has selected payment, banking, and investment systems provider FIS to allow users to redeem their points directly at the point of purchase.

Bilt is using FIS’ Premium Payback solution, an engagement tool that connects participating issuers with participating merchants to allow point redemption directly at the point of purchase. By adding the ability to redeem their points at the moment of their transaction, users benefit from immediate savings. Premium Payback displays offers at checkout to provide cardholders with instant gratification on their point usage. It does not require users to sign up for new services, download a special app, or anything else that adds friction.

Bilt Rewards was founded in 2021 to offer a loyalty rewards program and credit card that allows renters to earn points when they pay their rent, building credit with every payment. With no annual fee, the Bilt Mastercard credit card also allows cardholders to earn points on select dining experiences, rideshare purchases, and travel purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel, fitness classes, home decor, and even a down payment on a future home.

Bilt anticipates that, with Premium Payback, customers will be able to see their money work more effectively and instantly.

“We are constantly looking for ways to give our members more ways to redeem their points,” said Bilt Chief Strategy Officer Brandt Smallwood. “FIS’ Premium Payback network will allow Bilt Members to redeem their Bilt Points to save on their purchases with some of their favorite merchants in their neighborhood.”

FIS’s Premium Payback solution has thousands of financial institutions representing more than 7,000 card loyalty programs enrolled in its ecosystem. Of the customers enrolled in Premium Payback, 50% redeemed points two-plus times in one year, and 36% increased their spending.

“The current economy is significantly increasing the demand for loyalty programs that maximize the utility of money, but inadequate technology can complicate the experience cardholders have when redeeming loyalty points, hindering the efficient movement of money,” said FIS Head of Products and Services for Loyalty Mladen Vladic. “Credit and debit cards continue to play a leading role in the payment experience as money moves between banks, consumers, businesses and beyond in a complex, never-ending cycle. In the fight for customer loyalty, every payment card program is a vital opportunity to seize competitive advantage and drive growth. We’re proud that FIS Premium Payback can help our clients—like Bilt—accomplish these goals.”


 Photo courtesy Suzy Hazelwood via Pexels

Plaid’s $575 Million Round Signals Strength Despite Valuation Drop and Delayed IPO

  • Plaid raised $575 million in a down round valuing the company at $6.1 billion, which is less than half its 2021 valuation.
  • The funding will support employee restricted stock units tax obligations and provide internal liquidity.
  • Plaid’s delayed IPO likely reflects US open banking uncertainty, as the CFPB finalizes its data access rule. Waiting for regulatory clarity and consumer awareness could position Plaid for a stronger public debut down the road.

Financial data network Plaid announced it has brought in $575 million in a round led by new investor Franklin Templeton, with existing investors NEA and Ribbit Capital, as well as new investors BlackRock and Fidelity, also contributing.

The Venture Round is a sale of common stock; Plaid has directly issued the new shares to raise capital. In a company blog post announcement, Plaid CEO and Co-Founder Zach Perret said that the funds will be used “to address employee tax withholding obligations related to the conversion of expiring restricted stock units (RSUs) to shares, and to offer some liquidity to our current team.”

While today’s funds increase Plaid’s total funding to $1.3 billion, the round revealed a decreased valuation for the California-based fintech. Once valued at $13.4 billion during fintech’s brief hype days of 2021, Plaid’s valuation is currently less than half that, at $6.1 billion.

In explaining the significant gap in valuation to the Financial Times, Perret said, “In 2025, tech multiples have massively compressed between the time that we raised last and today. What I will say is that the fundamentals of the business underneath are dramatically stronger than they were in 2021. Revenue is much higher.”

Plaid’s $575 million comes at a time of growth for the company. Not only did the fintech expand its product suite, but it also saw an increase in organizations building with its account connection tools. In 2024, Plaid boasted positive operating margins, saw a revenue increase of more than 25%, and experienced an increase in both the number companies and markets it serves. As a result, more than 1 in 2 Americans have used Plaid.

​If you are wondering when Plaid plans to IPO, you’re not alone. A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that Plaid will not go public this year, but it plans to continue tracking towards a public listing. “An IPO is certainly a part of the longer-term plan. We have not attached a specific timeline to it,” Perret told the Financial Times. “As I’ve said in the past, it will not be this year.”

Plaid’s decision to hold off on an IPO may also be a strategic move given the evolving state of open banking in the US. Unlike regions such as the UK and EU, where open banking is well-established and governed by clear regulatory frameworks such as PSD2, the US market remains in flux. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is currently working toward finalizing its proposed Personal Financial Data Rights rule under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act, but the lack of formalized standards has created uncertainty for data aggregators like Plaid.

By delaying its public debut, Plaid may be seeking to ride out regulatory headwinds and position itself on more solid ground once clearer guidelines are in place. In addition to regulatory clarity, Plaid may also benefit from a recognition and understanding from mainstream consumers, many of whom have never heard the term “open banking.” Once regulations go into effect, banks will slowly begin in educate consumers on the benefits of open banking, and the concept of the value that Plaid brings will come to light. This regulatory clarity, combined with consumer understanding, could improve investor confidence and support a stronger valuation when the company ultimately decides to go public.


Image courtesy David Clarke via Unsplash


Atomic Raises $10 Million to Boost Innovation and Expansion

Atomic Raises $10 Million to Boost Innovation and Expansion
  • Atomic has raised $10 million in a strategic round led by Capital One Ventures, Citi Ventures, and FNB Corporation, bringing its total funding to nearly $79 million.
  • Atomic provides APIs that connect payroll and HRIS systems to financial institutions, supporting services like direct deposit switching, income verification, and subscription management.
  • With backing from top banks and FNB as both an investor and a client, Atomic aims to fuel deposit growth and power the next wave of personalized, real-time financial services.

Financial connectivity fintech Atomic is the latest fintech basking in this year’s fintech spring. The Utah-based company announced it has raised $10 million, adding to its $68.6 million previously raised, bringing its total funding to almost $79 million.

Today’s strategic round comes from Capital One Ventures, Citi Ventures, and FNB Corporation, which join Atomic’s previous investors Greylock, Portage Ventures, ATX Venture Partners, Mercato Partners, and Core Innovation Capital.

Atomic, founded in 2019, aims to connect consumer data with modern financial solutions. The company partners with eight of the top 10 US financial institutions, along with many leading fintechs, to provide seamless access to a suite of services—including direct deposit switching, income and employment verification, payment method updates, and subscription management—through integrations with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and merchants.

Atomic said the new funding will fuel both innovation and expansion. The company plans to deepen its investment in existing solutions while also accelerating the development of new products to better serve its financial institution and fintech partners.

“We’re excited to have these industry leaders join us on our mission to champion upward financial mobility,” said Atomic Co-founder and CEO Jordan Wright. “Together, we’re building the infrastructure that will drive the next generation of financial products and unlock deposit growth, as well as improved experiences for our customers and the customers that work with them.”

In addition to investing in Atomic, FNB is also a client of the fintech. FNB tapped Atomic to lower acquisition costs, increase lifetime value, and become consumers’ primary financial hub.

“Through our omnichannel Clicks-to-Bricks strategy and eStore, FNB is driven to remain a banking industry leader in client engagement and innovation. We will continue to invest in and develop creative technology solutions that bring the full array of banking products and services to our digital platform and branch system,” said FNB Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent J. Delie, Jr. “Our investment in Atomic is another investment in the future of banking. By integrating their solutions with eStore, we can offer our customers more personalized, real-time financial services that meet their needs in today’s fast-paced world.”

Atomic most recently demoed at FinovateSpring 2024, where the company showcased PayLink, a tool to simplify subscription management by allowing consumers to manage, modify, and optimize their recurring payments and subscriptions within their bank.


Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki

Chime Launches Chime Workplace, a Financial Wellness Suite

Chime Launches Chime Workplace, a Financial Wellness Suite
  • Chime Enterprise launched Chime Workplace, offering employers a single platform with financial wellness tools and an aggregated view of employee financial health.
  • The suite includes tools for income management, savings, credit building, and an employee rewards program modeled after airline miles programs.
  • Chime is expanding its fintech offerings significantly, having recently launched premium memberships, instant micro-loans, and free tax filing to attract underbanked users and enhance financial inclusion.

Chime Enterprise, the enterprise division of the neobank Chime, announced the launch of Chime Workplace, a financial wellness services suite available to employers and employees.

Chime Workplace offers free financial tools with workforce financial health insights for employers. The newly launched platform takes existing Chime tools and brings them to employees via the employer portal. Among the tools included are pay and income management tools, a high-yield savings account, credit health and credit building tools, and an employee rewards program that is modeled after airline miles loyalty programs.

“Employers have told us their biggest frustration with existing financial wellness programs is that they don’t make an impact or empower employees to get to the next step in their journey,” said Chief of Chime Enterprise Jason Lee. “Multiple vendors, logins, and endless apps only compound this problem and, ultimately, hinder effectiveness. Chime Workplace works with employers to solve these challenges by delivering one trusted app that meets employees where they are and gets them to where they want to be.”

While the financial wellness capabilities launching within the employer portal are not new, the employer visibility piece is. The financial health insights piece shows employers aggregated insights into their employees’ financial health, including their savings growth, credit health improvement, and engagement with the tools. These stats can be important for employers, as two out of three workers consider financial health the top area where they seek employer support, and nearly three-quarters of financially stressed employees prefer an employer that genuinely cares for their financial well-being.

Chime Enterprise was formed in 2024 after Chime acquired employee rewards and loyalty platform Salt Labs. Chime simultaneously unveiled news of its own today. The company is launching a premium membership tier called Chime+ that will offer a higher savings rate, custom cashback offers from retailers, and expedited customer support.

These changes come in addition to the California-based company’s launch last week of Instant Loans, a micro-lending product offering up to $500 instantly with a fixed interest rate. Additionally, the company announced a fee-free tax filing service in partnerships with April and Column Tax in January.

Chime is obviously working hard to become a robust competitor in the challenger banking field. Deeper than that, however, the fintech is positioning itself to capture the attention of underbanked individuals. By offering a seamless user experience, financial wellness solutions, and tailored financial products such as micro-loans and workplace financial wellness tools, Chime is strategically aligning itself to attract both employers and employees alike. As Chime continues to diversify its offerings with premium memberships and enhanced app functionality, it’s clear the company aims not only to expand its footprint but also to solidify its role as a trusted partner in helping underserved communities achieve financial stability.


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