YES Bank and BriskPe partner to provide cross-border payment solutions to the MSME sector

Partnerships
Afreximbank signs MOU with Anambra State for development, USD 200 Mn debt financing
Afreximbank has signed an MOU with Nigeria’s Anambra State Government for collaboration on state development and potential debt financing of up to USD 200 million. The partnership will prioritize strategic projects, including industrial and automotive parks, to foster sustainable growth. Read More>>
Judo Bank partners with Backbase to enhance digital customer experience
Judo Bank partners with Backbase to enhance SME banking and term deposit customer experiences through Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform. The partnership enables monthly feature releases, supporting Judo’s vision of becoming a world-class SME bank. Read More>>
YES Bank and BriskPe partner to provide cross-border payment solutions to the MSME sector
Yes Bank and BriskPe partner to provide cross-border payment solutions, benefiting MSMEs in India’s manufacturing and services sectors. The collaboration allows a seamless collection of payments in over 36 foreign currencies, promoting export growth and India’s global competitiveness. Read More>>

Centre Setup and Expansion
Eton Solutions expands global presence with strategic launch of new office in the UAE
Eton Solutions is opening a new office in Dubai, UAE, to better serve clients in the Middle East and enhance its global presence. The cloud-based AtlasFive  ERP platform is designed for family offices, and the expansion aims to strengthen partnerships and meet growing market demand. Read More>>
Standard Chartered Bank launches private banking center in Chennai
Standard Chartered Bank expands its private banking services by launching a new center in Chennai, targeting ultra-high net worth customers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The bank aims to tap into the growing UHNW segment in the region, with an estimated 65% increase in the next five years. Read More>>

Mergers and Acquisitions
Intesa closer to taking over First Bank in Romania
Italian group Intesa is on the verge of acquiring First Bank in Romania, a move that could position it among the top ten players in the country’s banking sector. Negotiations with American investment fund JC Flowers appear to be progressing well, with the deal estimated to be worth between USD 128 million and USD 160 million. Read More>>
Optimal Blue acquired by Constellation Software’s Perseus Group
Optimal Blue has completed its acquisition by Constellation Software’s Perseus Group, a significant move in the mortgage secondary marketing technology sector. The acquisition is expected to facilitate rapid innovation and growth for Optimal Blue while it continues to serve its clients independently. Read More>>
Fidelity Bank completes 100% acquisition of Union Bank UK
The acquisition aims to unlock significant value for Fidelity Bank Group. This move aligns with Fidelity Bank’s strategy to expand its presence into five African countries post-acquisition. Read More>>

Executive Movements
Dean joins ISPT
Andrew Dean has been appointed as the new Chief Legal, Risk, and Safety Officer at ISPT, an industry superannuation fund-backed property investor. With over 15 years of experience in property across the Asia Pacific region, Dean will lead legal matters, risk mitigation, governance, compliance, and safety initiatives at ISPT. Read More>>
Penrod joins First Federal Savings Bank
Travis Penrod has been appointed as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at First Federal Savings Bank. With over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 10 years as a CFO, Penrod brings extensive expertise to his new role. Read More>>
Rachel Kobetz named Chief Design Officer at PayPal
In her role at PayPal, Kobetz will oversee design strategy and execution for a range of experiences globally, including PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom. Read More>>

Layoff
Zions says job cuts will reduce headcount by 3%
Zions Bancorp plans to reduce its headcount by 3% in 2024, affecting approximately 300 of its 10,000 employees. The cuts target roles not directly involved with clients or revenue generation, spanning various departments and geographic locations. Read More>>
National Australia Bank will shut its Hong Kong office
National Australia Bank will shut down its Hong Kong office over the next 18 months, affecting around 50 employees. This decision is part of NAB’s strategy to consolidate operations in China, Singapore, and Japan. Read More>>

• Wells Fargo is keen on improving its digital banking experience by utilizing an Artificial Intelligence-powered virtual assistant that helps customers better manage their finances. This increased investment in next-generation technology gives customers an experience that meets their expectations for intuitive, seamless, and personalized digital experiences. 
• Service providers with rich expertise in digital banking to improve consumer experience could be the prospective deal winners.

• Wells Fargo is keen on investing in digital payments across the platform, enhancing its capabilities, increasing limits, and broadly reducing the friction in moving money by introducing more credit options for customers. These efforts have driven an increase in digital card activation and enrollment in paperless statements and alerts. 
• Service providers with rich expertise in providing digital credit solutions would be apt to serve Wells Fargo with better solutions.

Key Funding Alert

Start-up Spotlight 

Here’s what’s new on our Sales Intelligence Platform
Save and revisit important signals with the new Bookmark feature in Signals

• Effortlessly save and revisit important signals with the new Bookmark feature in Signals
• Identify companies by the primary vertical they focus on, with the new ‘Primary Vertical’ filter in the Universe
• Utilize the potential of filters in results visualization in Recruitment by accessing them on the visualization screen
• Introducing a new Draup login experience