News

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Moneyhub’s Sam Seaton on Open Wishes for the New Year

I have two special requests for the New Year:

I would love to see more institutions, government sectors, and private entities embracing the principles of Open Data, making datasets publicly available in machine-readable format.

Equally important is helping people to become more aware of the value of their own data and how useful it is when used in an Open Data environment.

It is so important to remember the power of Open Data lies in its use, so the ultimate wish would be to see more innovative applications of Open Data in solving real-world problems and enhancing people’s lives.

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FDATA’s Ghela Boskovich on Open Wishes for the New Year

My wishes for 2024 hastening an open data sharing economy are centred around two things:

1) Enhancing trust in the system by ensuring permissioned data sharing and consent best practice principles are adopted by each and every government, industry, sector and scheme. Without a robust consent and authentication framework, trust in the system cannot exist. Consumers need to trust their data is safe and secure before even considering sharing it; without trust, adoption is doomed. Consent and permission is the key to unlocking data sharing.

2) Getting governments to accelerate opening up their own data sets, leading by example in those jurisdictions that have active data sharing legislation in play or being developed. If they want specific industry sectors to participate in those wider schemes, governments can easily incentivise that by cracking open government held data. It also increases outside investment in creating the necessary frameworks to enable safe, secure data sharing across sectors.

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FDATA’s Walter Pereira on Open Wishes for the New Year

In 2024, I believe that some countries in the region will still face technical challenges and issues related to the financing and maintenance of data-sharing infrastructures.

However, Brazil, with its advanced implementation and exploration of investment and insurance data, and the regulatory advancements in Chile, could position both countries as regional and global benchmarks.

The primary challenge for Brazil, in my opinion, may revolve around the monetization of the data collected by institutions, whether they are major banks or third-party providers (TPPs). As for Chile, the key challenge might be the implementation of a technical and governance model that enables the emergence of new use cases.

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FDATA’s Jamie Leach on Open Wishes for the New Year

Open Data has always been and will always be about placing “The Right Data, into the Hands, at the Right Time, Changing the World.”

As we see some regions around the world maturing their regimes whilst others come online, my wish is to see the proverbial “Carrot and Stick” approach be sidelined, with the spotlight placed firmly on “Value Realisation” by the consumer. I hope to see an increase in Collaborative Data Initiatives leading to Greater Consumer Engagement with the realisation that access and control through privacy-focused data channelling into fit-for-purpose Use-Cases can change lives/livelihoods. Success for Open Data is when the user no longer focuses on the puppet strings or rails as the Industry refers to them; and, is not burdened by how it works, but rather the user experience that Open Data allows. Will it increase Data Literacy? It should. Will it provide enhanced consumer experiences and create greater internal efficiencies for the Data suppliers? Quite possibly. Will we see a greater focus on Tech being built with Privacy-by-Design? Definitely.

2024 will see the continued adoption of Open Data practices; some mandatory, some voluntary; ALL will benefit consumers in the long run. 2024 will also be the year that increased focus on the burden of participation must be considered. If we prevent sections of the Industry from participating, we will scuttle Open Data before we even start. 2024 will also be the year of closing the loop between data sharing and action initiation. Without this final piece of the puzzle, the incentives for consumers to adopt Open Data for “part of their requirements” just don’t make sense. If it doesn’t satisfy their entire needs, why change from the antiquated but familiar practices that already exist?!

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FDATA’s Steve Boms on Open Wishes for the New Year

As we usher in the new year, members of FDATA North America are poised with great anticipation for the advancements in open banking and open finance, both regionally and globally. With significant strides made in the United States and Canada, there’s a collective optimism about shaping a more consumer-focused financial landscape.

In the United States, the attention is riveted on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed rule under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. FDATA NA members view this as a pivotal shift towards a mandatory regulatory framework in open banking. The hope is that this change will catalyze a financial ecosystem that champions innovation, competitiveness, and inclusivity, breaking free from the traditional dominance of large institutions. The expectation is a financial marketplace that is not only dynamic but also more attuned to the needs and rights of consumers.

The recent developments in Canada, particularly the anticipated enactment of the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, also resonate positively with FDATA NA members. This move is seen as a foundational step towards a structured, mandatory open finance regime. Members anticipate that these measures will significantly advance Canada’s open banking framework, fostering an environment ripe for innovative financial solutions tailored to consumer needs.

Overall, FDATA NA members are hopeful that these regulatory evolutions in the U.S. and Canada will lead to a broader global transition towards secure, efficient, and consumer-driven open banking and finance systems. As we step into this new year, there’s an air of expectancy for transformative changes that could redefine the interaction between consumers and financial services on a global scale.

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FDATA North America January Newsletter

FDATA North America Monthly Newsletter for January 2024

Welcome to FDATA North America’s monthly newsletter! These regular dispatches will share developments from our organization and our 30+ member companies, all of which are promoting financial access and inclusion with open finance use cases. We also include a list of upcoming industry events, and coverage of any market developments that impact fintech innovators. Know someone who’d like to receive these monthly updates? Send them here to sign up.

FDATA North America News

FDATA NA Comment Letter Submitted on CFPB’s Section 1033 NPRM. On December 27, 2023, FDATA NA filed a comment letter in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on personal financial data rights, which will implement Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. FDATA views this rulemaking as a crucial step forward for U.S. competitiveness in a global economy in which many other countries have already developed and implemented open finance regimes. In its comment letter, FDATA underscored areas for potential improvements in the final rule that will more effectively align the rule with the vision the CFPB presented when announcing its pursuit of this rulemaking. FDATA released a statement on its submission of the comment letter, which can be found here.

Member News & Activity

API Metrics published a blog post providing comments to the CFPB’s Personal Financial Data Rights rulemaking, emphasizing the need for real-time compliance monitoring, scalability testing, standardization and compliance verification, and improved performance and uptime metrics in open banking. They stated that these measures are crucial for enhancing the security, efficiency, and consumer experience in the financial data services ecosystem.

Basis Theory published a blog post discussing the concept and importance of frictionless payments in both physical and digital retail environments. It highlighted the benefits and challenges of implementing such systems, emphasizing their growing relevance in the evolving e-commerce landscape and the increasing use of mobile technologies.

Envestnet Yodlee hosted a webinar entitled “The Opportunities and Challenges of Open Banking in Wealth Management.” During the webinar, they provided insights into how firms can leverage the right infrastructure to gain a competitive edge through enhanced data utilization, improved customer experiences, and increased loyalty, while also addressing U.S. open banking regulations and exploring innovative use cases.

Experian issued a press release announcing they integrated NeuroID’s behavioral analytics into its fraud prevention solutions, including CrossCore® and Precise ID®, to enhance protection against fraud rings and AI-enabled bots.

Fiserv published a press release discussing the rise of embedded finance and its integration into various business sectors, emphasizing how it enhances customer experiences and financial services.

Flinks posted a blog highlighting the transformative impact of transactional data on lending operations, detailing how it enhances understanding of borrowing behaviors and informs credit decision-making.

GoCardless was featured in an Open Banking Expo Unplugged podcast to discuss the key themes and trends set to define Open Banking payments in 2024. During the podcast, Siamac Rezaiezadeh, Vice President of product marketing and insights at GoCardless, took stock of the progress made in 2023, as Open Banking payments took off.

Intuit published a press release announcing their global QuickBooks brand campaign, “Business Differently,” which highlighted the innovative ways small businesses and solopreneurs work towards success.

Morningstar announced it unveiled Direct Web Services, a suite of APIs designed to enhance digital platforms with sophisticated investment data, research, and calculations.

Ozone API published a blog entitled “5 Observations from Supporting the Major Global Open Banking Standards,” which explored the fragmented yet interoperable landscape of global open banking standards and highlighted their mission to assist banks and financial institutions in leveraging these standards for regulatory compliance and revenue generation.

Plaid was featured in a PR Newswire article announcing a significant data-access agreement between it and TD Bank Group, facilitating secure and convenient financial data sharing for TD customers across North America.

Questrade was featured in a Yahoo Finance article announcing that it has been ranked #1 for providing the best mobile experience among Canadian self-directed online brokerages, as per Surviscor’s 2023 Mobile Brokerage Experience Review.

Trustly published a press release highlighting the transformative impact of Open Banking APIs in improving business processes for financial institutions. The release emphasized how these APIs facilitate secure and automated data exchange, driving efficiency, and innovation in the banking sector, and details Trustly’s role in enhancing customer experiences and operational capabilities.

Xero announced it partnered with Flinks to connect more Canadian and U.S. small businesses to their banking data, offering secure access to over 20 direct bank connections and enhancing the accuracy of banking transactions for Xero’s customers.

Events and Submission Deadlines

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FDATA North America: Comment Letter Submitted on CFPB’s Section 1033 NPRM

Contact: Laine Williams, (202) 897-4757, lwilliams@allonadvocacy.com 

December 27, 2023 Washington, DC – The Financial Data and Technology Association of North America (FDATA), a trade association representing more than 30 financial technology companies and consumer-permissioned data access platforms in Canada and the United States, today filed a comment letter in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on personal financial data rights, which will implement Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Steve Boms, Executive Director of FDATA, released the following statement:

“We are pleased to comment on the CFPB’s proposed personal financial data rights rulemaking, which once implemented, will create a legally binding consumer financial data right in the United States. Under this open finance regime, consumers will have the right to access and securely share their financial data electronically with third-party providers of financial tools, products, and services, heralding an era of improved competition and greater consumer control in the U.S. financial services marketplace. Beyond the obvious benefits to consumers, FDATA views this rulemaking as a crucial step forward for U.S. competitiveness in a global economy in which many other countries have already developed and implemented open finance regimes.

Our comments to the CFPB underscore areas for potential improvements in the final rule. We believe these changes will more effectively align the rule with the vision the CFPB presented when announcing its pursuit of this rulemaking, as well as with the open finance regimes implemented by other jurisdictions globally. FDATA looks forward to continued engagement with the CFPB as it works to finalize this pivotal rule in 2024.”

A FDATA member company released the following statement alongside the submission of FDATA’s comment letter.

Brian Costello, Head of Data Aggregation Strategy and Governance at Morningstar Wealth, a member of FDATA, stated:

“Morningstar Wealth actively champions the interests of both investors and the professionals who serve them as the U.S. Open Banking landscape transitions from a commercially managed ecosystem to a regulated financial data right for consumers. The CFPB’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making underscores the Bureau’s strong commitment to addressing this pivotal issue, which holds significant implications for millions of Americans. FDATA’s response letter draws upon the collective expertise of its diverse membership of responsible innovators to provide practical guidance and recommendations essential for the seamless adoption and execution of the final rule. As long-standing members of FDATA, we are pleased to contribute our perspective and experience to this response.”

Click here to read FDATA’s full comment letter.

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FDATA North America December Newsletter

FDATA North America Newsletter December 2023

Welcome to FDATA North America’s monthly newsletter! These regular dispatches will share developments from our organization and our 30+ member companies, all of which are promoting financial access and inclusion with open finance use cases. We also include a list of upcoming industry events, and coverage of any market developments that impact fintech innovators. Know someone who’d like to receive these monthly updates? Send them here to sign up.

FDATA North America News

FDATA NA Statement On Canada’s FES Implementing Consumer-Driven Finance. On November 21, 2023, the Canadian Government released its 2023 Fall Economic Statement, which included a comprehensive framework for consumer-driven finance and open finance directives. The Canadian Government’s implementation plan includes a data portability right for financial institutions and fintechs, a third-party accreditation regime with audits and a public registry, an overseeing government-led entity, a single technical standard deemed fit for purpose, and a liability framework for consumer harm in cases of data misuse or fraudulent account access. FDATA released a statement on the inclusion of consumer-driven finance in the FES, which can be found here.

Member News & Activity

API Metrics announced it launched a free service level agreement (“SLA”) monitoring feature for popular API suppliers like Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud, aimed at helping application owners track API performance and automatically request service credits for issues. This new capability allows easy integration and monitoring without coding, providing insights into API quality for both technical and business users.

Basis Theory published a blog post emphasizing the importance of continuously enhancing payment performance for businesses, highlighting strategies such as diversifying Payment Service Providers, employing tokenization for data management, and optimizing transactions through automated processing and specific payment method routing.

Envestnet Yodlee published a blog post detailing the expansion of Australia’s Consumer Data Right (“CDR”) into open finance, emphasizing the inclusion of non-bank lending in the statutory data sharing regime from November 2024. This development highlights significant steps for non-bank lenders to become compliant data holders under new CDR rules.

Experian announced it expanded its digital verification service, Work Report™, by partnering with Datagraphic, enabling employees using Epay to consent to digital payroll information sharing for identity verification. This integration now covers 82% of UK employees, significantly streamlining financial processes like mortgage and car finance applications.

Fiserv published its consumer survey, “Expectations & Experiences: AI and Payments Innovation,” highlighting the increasing role of conversational and generative AI in personal finance management, with consumers using these technologies for various financial insights. The survey revealed the growing opportunities and challenges for AI in banking, emphasizing the need for financial service providers to adapt to evolving consumer preferences.

Flinks announced that the Large Credit Union Coalition (“LCUC”) in Canada has chosen Caspian One as their preferred partner to create a customized Open Banking platform, tailored to the Canadian credit union system.

Intuit announced new e-commerce innovations for QuickBooks Online, designed to aid small businesses in managing their inventory across multiple sales channels from a single platform.

Method posted a blog on how their partnership with Budge enabled the launch of a financial management solution for millennials struggling with personal debt and savings. Budge’s platform, supported by Method’s technology, offers tailored financial advice and seamless integration of users’ debt accounts.

MX was featured in a B FinTec Buzz article announcing their new open finance product innovations, including advanced data-driven insights, budgeting tools, and a mobile banking SDK to enhance financial health and enable customized mobile banking app development.

Plaid was featured in a Alkami Technology press release announcing their partnership to provide financial institutions direct API access to Plaid via the Financial Data Exchange Aligned (“FDX”) API Core Exchange.

Questrade published a press release welcoming the Canadian Government’s Fall Economic Statement, which outlines steps towards establishing Canada’s open finance framework in Budget 2024.

Trustly published a blog outlining five key use cases of Open Banking for merchants. These use cases include providing instant payouts for quick consumer refunds, verifying account information efficiently, enhancing “Know Your Customer” (“KYC”) processes through bank-grade data, preventing payment fraud with secure ACH transactions, and modernizing subscription payments with stable bank account alternatives.

Xero was featured in a Open Banking Expo article for unveiling two new payment features aimed at aiding UK small businesses with cash flow management. These features, including a bill payments tool powered by Open Banking, enable businesses to efficiently handle bills directly within Xero, marking Xero as the first major small business cloud accounting software in the UK to offer such Open Banking-enabled functionalities.

Events and Submission Deadlines

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FDATA North America Statement on Deputy Prime Minister Freeland’s FES Implementing Consumer-Driven Finance Directives

Contact: Laine Williams, (202) 897-4757, lwilliams@allonadvocacy.com 

November 21, 2023 Washington, DC – The Financial Data and Technology Association of North America (FDATA), a trade association representing more than 30 financial technology companies and consumer-permissioned data access platforms in Canada and the United States, today applauded the inclusion of consumer-driven finance in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement (FES).  

Steve Boms, Executive Director of FDATA, released the following statement:  

“We are greatly encouraged by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Freeland’s commitment to advance consumer-driven finance in Canada. The inclusion of consumer-driven finance in the FES marks a significant step for the financial empowerment of consumers and for small and medium-sized enterprises, for fostering a more innovative Canadian financial services marketplace, and for promoting a fairer and more inclusive financial services ecosystem. It reflects a global trend towards consumer-centric financial services, and brings Canada in line with the regimes established by nearly every other G-7 nation.  

We applaud the comprehensive consumer-driven finance framework announced in the FES and look forward to working closely with the Government of Canada as it delivers consumer-driven finance through next year’s budget to benefit all Canadian consumers and businesses.” 

Additionally, we have received supportive comments from our member groups, highlighting the significance of these developments. Tanya Woods, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs & Policy Counsel at Questrade Financial Group, a member of FDATA, stated

“We welcome today’s announcements on open banking which will give Canadians more power over their financial wellbeing. These are positive developments towards a fulsome and competitive open finance framework which we will continue to advocate for.” 

Faye Pang, Canada Country Manager, Xero, provided the following statement: 

“We are incredibly energized by the language in the FES that supports the progress of open banking and applaud Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Freeland for their support. A fair, fast, and efficient open banking system can not only open up new avenues of capital, but help small business owners focus on what’s important: running their business. Today’s commitments noted in the FES take us one step closer to achieving this vision.” 

 

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FDATA North America November Newsletter

FDATA North America Newsletter November 2023

Welcome to FDATA North America’s monthly newsletter! These regular dispatches will share developments from our organization and our 30+ member companies, all of which are promoting financial access and inclusion with open finance use cases. We also include a list of upcoming industry events, and coverage of any market developments that impact fintech innovators. Know someone who’d like to receive these monthly updates? Send them here to sign up.

FDATA North America News

FDATA NA Statement On The CFPB Proposed Rule Implementing Section 1033. On October 19, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) released its long-awaited proposed rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. As anticipated, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) calls for a legal right for consumers to access and share to their data, requires that data providers build dedicated “developer portals” to make data available to consumer-permissioned third parties, promotes competition and innovation, and includes data privacy and security requirements for third parties. FDATA released a statement on the NPRM, which can be found here.

Submission by FDATA NA To the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) Regarding the Study of Bill C-27. On October 31, 2023 – FDATA NA submitted a written brief to the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology ahead of testifying before the panel, advocating for consumer-permissioned access to financial data in Canada. FDATA NA noted it supports the implementation of an open finance regime in Canada, emphasizing the right of consumers and SMEs to securely share their financial data across providers. FDATA NA praised recent U.S. advancements in open finance regulation and urged Canada to follow suit, highlighting the importance of Bill C-27 for data portability and privacy. Click here to read the brief and click here to watch the hearing.

Member News & Activity

API Metrics released a blog post entitled “Navigating The CFPB’s Latest Rulemaking On Personal Financial Data Rights: Lessons From Open Banking And Beyond,” focusing on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new draft rules on Personal Financial Data Rights.

Basis Theory published a blog post highlighting its pivotal role in empowering businesses across various industries to offer branded debit and credit cards to their customers. The blog noted that the platform does more than just issue cards; it assumes responsibility for numerous security elements, including KYC, and extends additional services like funding, transaction monitoring, and reporting.

Envestnet Yodlee introduced Credit Accelerator, a new technology solution that uses alternative data to enhance credit access, particularly for those with limited or no traditional credit history. The press release noted that this innovation aligns with the CFPB’s proposed open banking rule, enabling more inclusive credit decisions.

Experian announced a partnership with what3words, integrating their unique location system into Experian’s address validation solution. This enhancement allows businesses to provide more accurate delivery locations, particularly beneficial in hard-to-find areas.

Fiserv announced that it enhanced its financial technology offerings by streamlining access to its core banking APIs, enabling immediate, self-service access for developers. This development, part of the Banking Hub within Fiserv’s Developer Studio, aims to accelerate innovation in the financial industry.

Intuit announced that it expanded its financial offerings with QuickBooks Bill Pay, designed to enhance bill payment and accounts payable automation for businesses. This new feature within QuickBooks streamlines bill management, offering automated bill creation from vendor invoices, digital record-keeping, and various payment options.

Method published a blog announcing its strategic partnership with Plannery, focusing on alleviating the financial burdens of healthcare professionals. This collaboration introduces a bespoke financial wellness platform, specifically designed to address the unique debt challenges faced by healthcare workers.

MX announced that the Financial Technology Report named MX as one of The Top 100 Financial Technology Companies of 2023.

Plaid was featured in a PYMNTS article highlighting “consumer-centric” innovation in empowering money movement.

Questrade announced that MoneySense recognized Questrade as the Best Low-Fee Robo Advisor is Canada. Robo-advisors, like Questrade’s Questwealth Portfolios, use financial technology to make investment management more affordable and accessible.

Trustly published a blog summarizing how open banking transforms the consumer onboarding process by simplifying account verification. Trustly’s solution, Trustly Connect, leverages this technology to offer real-time, secure account information retrieval, streamlining the onboarding process, reducing fraud, and enhancing customer experience.

Xero announced its newest artificial intelligence (AI) feature that it said would enhance user experience by providing quick and efficient responses to queries asked in Xero Central. In addition to direct answers, the AI also supplies a list of other relevant content, significantly speeding up the process of accessing needed information.

Events and Submission Deadlines

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