Category: Finance

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Finance news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Techcombank redefines Vietnam’s banking landscape through digital innovation

    Techcombank redefines Vietnam’s banking landscape through digital innovation

    Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) is redefining banking services by using digital corporate identity and setting innovation benchmarks.

    The bank ended H1 with 12.2 million customers, adding around 1.4 million new customers during the period, with 45.3% acquired digitally and 43.8% through ecosystem partners.

    It set a record for customer acquisition in the first half of the year, with even more than across the whole of 2022.

    The number of retail customer transactions through e-banking channels grew to 499.7 million during Q2, up 16.4% quarter on quarter, while total transaction value amounted to about VND2.3 quadrillion, up 6.8% in comparison with the previous quarter.

    Techcombank also launched a new merchant proposition, extending integrated and customized digital offerings to Vietnamese households and micro-SMEs.

    The bank was one of the first in the market to launch an instant notification application for multi-cashiers and owners. This solution significantly removes transaction bottlenecks and allows businesses to optimize efficiency.

    Techcombank’s relentless pursuit of customer-centricity has yielded remarkable results.

    Today, more than 90% of the bank’s retail transactions are conducted digitally, marking a 40% surge in new digital customers in 2022.

    The remarkable retention rate of 88% further affirms Techcombank’s triumphant adaptation to the digital age.

    Techcombank’s unwavering commitment to digitalization extends far beyond the corporate banking sphere. The bank has successfully broadened its reach, providing basic accounts to millions of customers.

    In a mere two years, its active digital customer base has skyrocketed from 2 million to nearly 5.3 million, Pranav Seth, chief digital officer of Techcombank, underscored the potential of digitalization to democratize access to banking services, at the Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF), held on July 7 in Hanoi.

    Seth said that by seamlessly integrating the bank’s digital corporate identity with lending capabilities, they had unlocked unparalleled support for businesses participating in the digital economy.

    “This integration has propelled Techcombank to trailblazer status in the digital economy, enabling it to provide critical financial assistance to enterprises navigating this transformative landscape,” he said.

    As Techcombank continues to leverage digitalization to enhance services and expand its market presence, it stands as an unparalleled exemplar for other banks navigating the treacherous waters of the digital economy.

    The bank’s success underscores the transformative potential of digitalization, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the future of banking in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.

    During the SRBF, Techcombank unveiled two pivotal partnerships that promise to reshape Vietnam’s banking landscape. The first was a strategic alliance with the esteemed Singapore Business Federation, aimed at fostering cooperation between Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses.

    The second was an audacious collaboration with global titans Kyriba, Deloitte Vietnam, and PWC, targeting the pioneering of revolutionary payment and treasury management solutions in Vietnam.

    On July 24, Techcombank announced its financial results, which showed steady performance during the second quarter in an environment that remains challenging.

    The bank continued to outperform the market in credit and deposit growth, while NPL and CAR stayed at healthy levels.

    The result shows increases in CASA balances, and the ratio improved to nearly 35% at the end of the period.

    Beyond the normalization of interest rates and aggressive customer acquisition strategies, CASA is expected to further benefit from the targeted propositions that are being developed in corporate as well as retail banking.

    Besides, its funding position remained robust, with a regulatory loan-to-deposit ratio of 80.4% on June 30 and a short-term funding to medium- and long-term loan ratio of 31.6%.

    Techcombank achieved PBT of VND11.3 trillion and TOI of VND18.6 trillion, broadly stable versus Q1.

    Total assets grew 17.4% year on year to VND732.5 trillion in H1.

  • Gold price up

    Gold price up

    SJC gold price gained 0.07% to VND67.25 million ($2,844.76) per tael Thursday morning.

    Gold ring price rose 0.26% to VND57.1 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally gold prices inched up on Thursday, hovering near an eight-week peak on bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve might soon hit pause on its interest rate-hiking cycle.

    Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,978.59 per ounce. U.S. gold futures were little changed at $1,981.30.

    The dollar index wobbled near a more than one-year low, making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies.

    The Fed is expected to raise rates by 25 basis points (bps) in their meeting next week, keeping them in the 5.25%-5.5% range until cuts are seen 2024 onwards, per CME’s Fedwatch tool.

  • Dollar continues to weaken on black market

    Dollar continues to weaken on black market

    The U.S. dollar fell against the Vietnamese dong on the black market Monday morning. Unofficial exchange points sold the greenback at VND23,700, down 0.04% from Sunday. Techcombank raised its rate by 0.01% to VND23,818. Vietcombank maintained it at VND23,810.

    The State Bank of Vietnam decreased its reference rate by 0.08% to VND23,701.

    The dollar has gained over the dong by 0.34% since the beginning of the year.

    Globally a bruised dollar took respite on Monday after suffering its worst weekly drop of the year, as traders waited on economic data and policy decisions before selling it down any further.

    Chinese growth data and loan-rate settings are due later in the session, ahead of U.S. retail sales and British inflation later in the week and a slew of central bank meetings next week.

    The euro, which jumped 2.4% last week to a 16-month high, held just below that peak at $1.1228. The yen, also up 2.4% last week, held at 138.69 per dollar.

    The dollar’s slide began with yen buying, as investors unwound yen-funded positions in emerging markets, but extended sharply after softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data leant support to wagers that U.S. interest rates will soon peak.

  • EY Bags the Elephant With UBS Audit Deal

    EY Bags the Elephant With UBS Audit Deal

    UBS selects EY as its auditor for the expanded bank following its takeover of Credit Suisse in March. PwC will audit Credit Suisse’s books for 2023.

    EY will have lots more work to do at UBS starting next year, having been retained to audit the merged entity starting next. The Big Four firm has been auditing UBS’s books since 1998, charging it $70 million last year for its services, while Credit Suisse paid PwC $90 million.

    EZ declined to comment on whether it was retained by UBS, saying only that The size and scale of the global EY financial services audit practice means we are able to access resource and specialist skills from across our network.

    The firm can tap into a global staff of about 20,000 bank auditors. The source told the FT that EY’s international operations are more closely integrated than those of its rivals, making it easier for resources to be shared internationally.

    The report went on to say that EY will probably have to drop the work that it does for Credit Suisse to avoid conflicts of interest. The auditor was hired about two years ago by Credit Suisse to look into anti-money laundering measures in its Asian wealth unit.

    PwC has a much shorter relationship with Credit Suisse than EY does with UBS. In 2020, PwC replaced KPMG as Credit Suisse’s external auditor. Earlier this year, Credit Suisse had to delay the release of its annual report after an SEC inquiry.

    The report came out mere days before Credit Suisse was taken over by UBS on March 19.

    On March 10 the SEC asked the bank to explain how it concluded entity-level material weakness did not exist for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, according to the documents.

    EY is not without blemish, having signed off on the books of German fintech Wirecard which collapsed in 2020. It was subsequently barred for two years from bidding for audit contracts for publicly listed companies in Germany.

    UBS, Credit Suisse, and PwC declined to comment to the FT.

  • Apple Pay all set to come to Vietnam

    Apple Pay all set to come to Vietnam

    Digital wallet Apple Pay will soon be available in Vietnam. At least one bank has announced that it will soon support Apple Pay services.

    Sources have told VnExpress that three other major banks will also launch Apple Pay by the end of this month.

    Users can add their credit and debit card information to Apple Pay and make payments through their iPhone or Apple Watch.

    Devices connect through near-field communication and are authenticated by users’ FaceID or fingerprints.

    In most markets, users do not have to pay Apple Pay fees since their banks cover them.

  • UBS Announces Latest Round of Personnel Decisions

    UBS Announces Latest Round of Personnel Decisions

    The bank has made further personnel decisions as it reshuffles staff following its takeover of Credit Suisse.

    UBS has made another round of personnel decisions, appointing Patrick Grob as head of Global Wealth Management Unified Global Markets in the process, according to an internal memo.

    The global markets team also reportedly includes Brent Johnson (head of execution services), Dushyant Chadha (head of derivatives & solutions), Natalie Horton (head of financing), Chris Purves (head of digital platforms), and David Innerdale (head of global markets risk & trading).

    In Asia Pacific, Thomas de Garidel and Tim Wannenmacher are co-heads of Global Markets APAC, and in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Paolo Croce gets the leadership role.

    Credit Suisse also made several new appointments. Olivier Charhon is named operating officer for risk and resource management at the UBS investment bank. Neil Hosie, formerly head of Global Equities at Credit Suisse, is appointed co-head of Global Markets Distribution.

  • UOB celebrates 30th anniversary in Vietnam

    UOB celebrates 30th anniversary in Vietnam

    UOB Vietnam, a subsidiary of UOB, is proud to mark three decades of unrelenting support for Vietnam and its people.

    The bank held a gala dinner on Wednesday for clients and partners to thank them for their support and trust.

    To commemorate the 30th anniversary, it also announced a partnership with Saigon Children’s Charity to power a project to set up computer rooms at five schools in the Mekong Delta over the next five years.

    This is expected to help more than 2,000 young students gain access to digital learning and improve their computer skills. The bank has also been supporting the Saigon Children’s Charity this past year to support children in need.

    This project is part of the UOB Heartbeat corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, which aims to create sustainable products for caring and inclusive societies.

    To mark this momentous occasion, UOB Vietnam is also launching promotional campaigns for its customers.

    From now until July 17 the first 300 UOB cardholders who meet certain requirements when spending on their cards will get the chance to win a pair of Apple AirPods 3rd generation (MagSafe) with a limited-edition Paul Smith AirPods Case worth more than VND11.3 million

    UOB is the only Singapore bank to have had a subsidiary in Vietnam since 1993. Thirty years ago, it established a representative office with only three employees. In 1995 UOB became the first Singapore bank to set up a branch in HCMC.

    Throughout its 30-year journey, UOB Vietnam has achieved significant milestones, reflecting its dedication to Vietnam’s growth and development.

    The bank successfully transformed from a branch to a 100 percent foreign-owned subsidiary bank while maintaining steady growth even through the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Since signing an MoU with Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency in 2015, UOB has helped over 250 companies invest more than S$5.8 billion in Vietnam, enabling the creation of more than 30,000 jobs.

    This year marked another milestone for UOB Vietnam as the bank welcomed 575 colleagues from Citibank as part of its acquisition of Citigroup’s consumer banking business in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    With an expanded network, more ecosystem partners, and an enhanced suite of products and capabilities, UOB Vietnam is in a good position to serve the needs of its enlarged customer base.

    The addition of new colleagues will help drive its ambition to be a truly regional bank that helps its customers achieve their financial aspirations.

    As UOB celebrates its 30th anniversary in Vietnam, it is reaffirming its long-term commitment to Vietnam and its people.

    Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, said Vietnam is an important pillar in UOB’s vision of becoming the number one bank in Southeast Asia.

    Therefore, it would continue to encourage international investment and local businesses to facilitate the expansion of trade and investment flows into Vietnam, he said.

    Besides, UOB would also strengthen its capabilities by investing in digitalization and collaborating with ecosystem partners, which would help meet the evolving needs of customers in Vietnam, he said.

    “Our vision is to be among the top foreign and consumer banks in Vietnam, as well as an inclusive and forward-thinking organization that cares about its people and puts customers first.”

    UOB Vietnam is dedicated to doing the right thing for its clients for 30 years and beyond. The bank is also committed to continuing support for the sustainable growth of enterprises in the digital economy through a wide range of activities.

    It offers innovative financial solutions to SMEs and large enterprises through digital platforms such as Infinity, UOB BizMerchant, the UOB SME app, and UOB BizSmart.

    UOB Vietnam also strives to enhance the customer experience by providing personalized products and services through multiple channels.

    For its exceptional performance, it has been conferred a number of prestigious awards in Vietnam and elsewhere in the region.

    UOB BizMerchant was named the Best Financial Inclusion Project by Asian Banking & Finance in 2019 and received the Best Financial Inclusion Project award from The Asian Banker in 2020 and the Best SME Bank in Asia Pacific Award for seven straight years from The Asian Banker.

    Recently UOB Vietnam was named the Most Innovative Bank for SMEs by The Global Business.

    These accolades point to UOB Vietnam’s dedication to delivering superior banking services, innovative solutions and outstanding customer experiences.

    Besides, as a responsible corporate citizen, UOB Vietnam actively engages in CSR initiatives to keep the good going. These include the UOB Global Heartbeat Run/Walk and the UOB Painting of the Year.

    Driven by a passion to encourage talented artists in their creative pursuits, a flagship regional art competition, UOB Painting of the Year, was launched in Vietnam this year.

    Through this competition, the bank aims to uncover and nurture the region’s next generation of great artists.

    In October UOB Vietnam will welcome the first eight winners in Vietnam who will go on to compete in the ASEAN competition.

  • Techcombank strengthens cooperation with international partners

    Techcombank strengthens cooperation with international partners

    Techcombank has been extending technological collaboration with worldwide partners and organizations in order to improve client personalization, digitization, and security.

    The bank aims to lead the digital transformation of Vietnam’s financial industry with a three-pillared strategy focusing on digital, data, and talent.

    Digital banking would make regular banking easier, more convenient, and simpler. Data is the basis for utilizing analytical skills to make quicker and better decisions. In the “talent” pillar, the bank taking the extra miles to go overseas to bring the best Vietnamese talents to Vietnam, at the same time training all the bank’s staff to use digital and data to provide better services to their customers.

    Techcombank has been focusing on innovation and technology since its establishment.

    This long-term target has led to several technological industry milestones in Vietnam’s banking industry, such as the first credit card launch, zero-fee bank transfers, the digital signature platform for corporate clients, and various world-class platforms being synced on the cloud.

    The three-pillar strategy had been discussed at a virtual press conference of the 7th Singapore Regional Business Forum held in Hanoi on July 7, for which Techcombank is one of two platinum sponsors.

    During this press conference, participants also discussed the crucial role of its partners, trustees, and friends across the region.

    Partners are keys to Techcombank’s success and have shaped its growth story over the last 30 years since its establishment. The bank was founded at a pivotal time for Vietnam, as the government encouraged the transition to a more market-oriented economy.

    Ever since, it has been part of the extraordinary growth of Vietnam’s banking industry over the past three decades, with over 11.2 million retail and corporate customers and more than 12,000 employees in over 46 Vietnamese cities and provinces.

    Partners that are key to its strategic success include McKinsey, Salesforce, Adobe, MISA, and Amazon Web Services.

    In 2009, Techcombank became the very first Vietnamese bank to partner with McKinsey. Following this, in recent years it has also announced partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Adobe, Personetics, and MISA…

    The Techcombank mobile app, developed with Backbase in late 2021, will be instrumental in offering a seamless, highly personalized user experience on a modern digital platform.

    The bank has also partnered with Amazon Web Services to enable a “cloud first” strategy, shifting over the coming years nearly all its applications and, consequently, transactions to the cloud. This will lay the foundation to create and scale new innovative business models, synchronize customer information for better insights, and drive employee productivity.

    In late 2022, Techcombank has partnered with Adobe to provide personalized customer experiences across offline and online platforms.

    The investment in Adobe Experience Cloud and the Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform will enable instant interactions and analysis of user behavior.

    In addition, the bank has worked with leading local companies like Masan to launch its WINLife ecosystem, with the aim of ultimately bringing financial services and deepening customer engagement in over 3,400 WIN stores nationwide.

    According to Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, Vietnam’s privatization process has highlighted the importance of cooperation and outward thinking in today’s connected world, such as strategic partnerships between Vietnam and Singapore, for many years.

    “Vietnam and Singapore are attractive global economies with different profiles. Vietnam offers tremendous growth opportunities with its rapidly growing incomes and low financial penetration. Banks and businesses play a critical role in accelerating growth in Vietnam, while Singapore’s highly educated and skilled workforce attracts global businesses. Both countries will continue to leverage their respective strengths for growth,” Lottner said.

    The CEO hopes that both nations will play critical roles in addressing global challenges and capitalizing on opportunities.

  • VietinBank to sell 358 properties to collect debts

    VietinBank to sell 358 properties to collect debts

    State-owned VietinBank is selling 358 foreclosed properties pledged by loan borrowers, including four- and five-star hotels, worth a total of VND8 trillion (US$337.69 million) to realize their debts.

    The properties will be either auctioned or negotiated for sale.

    The bank is also selling 38 vehicles, machines and other equipment.

    The most valuable asset is a five-star hotel in Da Nang City built on a 1,200-square-meter parcel of land with 236 rooms and priced at around VND600 billion.

    The second most expensive are two four-star hotels in Hoi An with around 100 rooms each and priced at VND420 billion apiece.

    The lender is also set to sell nearly 60 other hotels and properties in Hoi An.

    Vietinbank is also selling office buildings, including one worth VND213 billion in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12, and a water treatment plant worth VND108 billion in Gia Lai Province.

    The bank is also selling 566 consumer loans at 90% of their remaining value.

    Other banks too have been selling off collateral assets this year to restructure their credit portfolio.

    BIDV has been trying to auction a hydropower plant with a reserve price of VND325 billion but 10 attempts have proven unsuccessful.

    Sacombank has been selling bad debts this year.

    Banks saw credit quality deteriorate in the first quarter this year due to the slump in the property and consumer goods markets.

    Bad debts in the sector rose from 2% to 2.91% in the first two months, according to the latest data available from the State Bank of Vietnam.

    VNDirect analysts said in a note that banks’ rising bad debts are driven by the property sector, which accounts for 21% of all credit.

  • VietinBank to sell 358 properties to collect debts

    VietinBank to sell 358 properties to collect debts

    State-owned VietinBank is selling 358 foreclosed properties pledged by loan borrowers, including four- and five-star hotels, worth a total of VND8 trillion (US$337.69 million) to realize their debts.

    The properties will be either auctioned or negotiated for sale.

    The bank is also selling 38 vehicles, machines and other equipment.

    The most valuable asset is a five-star hotel in Da Nang City built on a 1,200-square-meter parcel of land with 236 rooms and priced at around VND600 billion.

    The second most expensive are two four-star hotels in Hoi An with around 100 rooms each and priced at VND420 billion apiece.

    The lender is also set to sell nearly 60 other hotels and properties in Hoi An.

    Vietinbank is also selling office buildings, including one worth VND213 billion in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12, and a water treatment plant worth VND108 billion in Gia Lai Province.

    The bank is also selling 566 consumer loans at 90% of their remaining value.

    Other banks too have been selling off collateral assets this year to restructure their credit portfolio.

    BIDV has been trying to auction a hydropower plant with a reserve price of VND325 billion but 10 attempts have proven unsuccessful.

    Sacombank has been selling bad debts this year.

    Banks saw credit quality deteriorate in the first quarter this year due to the slump in the property and consumer goods markets.

    Bad debts in the sector rose from 2% to 2.91% in the first two months, according to the latest data available from the State Bank of Vietnam.

    VNDirect analysts said in a note that banks’ rising bad debts are driven by the property sector, which accounts for 21% of all credit.

  • Three of the Biggest Asian Cryptocurrency Projects

    Three of the Biggest Asian Cryptocurrency Projects

    As we’re sure you’ve seen, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have become very popular over the past decade, gaining ground in all markets, including Asia. It is for this reason that numerous exciting cryptocurrency and blockchain projects are currently being developed in Asia, having the ability to have a significant impact on a variety of industries.

    Here, we’ll show you three of the most exciting cryptocurrency projects to have come out of Asia in recent years. If these have inspired you and you’re looking to get ahead of the curve when it comes to presales for the next best Asian cryptocurrencies, you can read more here.

    1. NEO

    In case you’re unaware, NEO is a blockchain platform developed in China and was launched in 2014, although it is sometimes known as Antshares, which is its old name. Referred to as the “Chinese Ethereum” by many because of how similar they are, NEO was the first large-scale blockchain project to be released in China. With a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and the ability to support smart contracts, NEO clearly has a lot of potential and should be watched with interest.

    Despite China not having a free market, as we can see in the West, NEO is interesting to investors because it was a strong focus on enterprise adoption. The NEO technology is still being developed, but it already has numerous partnerships with major Chinese businesses. China appears keen to get ahead of the blockchain curve, with attitudes towards cryptocurrencies seeming to soften in Beijing.

    As of June 2023, NEO has a market capitalisation of over $615 billion and a price of around $8.70 per coin.

    2. VeChain

    Like NEO, VeChain is an Asian blockchain project. It was founded in Singapore way back in 2015 and has a strong focus on supply chain and product management, using RFID technology to make the supply chain process more transparent and accountable.

    Unlike many projects that are yet to demonstrate real-world value, no matter how interesting, VeChain has a number of real-world applications that have value. As it stands, VeChain is currently being used by a number of luxury brands to track the authenticity of their products.

    As of June 2023, VeChain has a market capitalisation of over $1.39 billion and a price of around $0.019 per coin.

    3. Conflux

    The newest inclusion on our list, Conflux is another Chinese blockchain project that was launched in 2018, focussing on decentralised applications with high-performance capabilities. Like NEO, Conflux uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, while it also supports smart contracts.

    Having a focus on decentralised applications (dApps), it has a number of key features, including a low transaction cost and the ability to process numerous requests simultaneously. Despite being a high-performance project, it also uses sustainable technology and is energy efficient.

    As of June 2023, Conflux has a market capitalisation of over $612 million and a price of around $0.2 per coin.

    What Does the Future Hold?

    Countless cryptocurrency and blockchain projects are of great interest, with many being developed in Asia. The future for projects coming out of Asia looks bright, with China positioning itself to be a key player in the digital currency market. There’s no way we can predict how the market might move in the future, but by doing your research and watching the market, you’ll always stand a better chance of getting the results you want.

     

  • HSBC Private Bank Hauls in Staff from Competitors

    HSBC Private Bank Hauls in Staff from Competitors

    HSBC’s Swiss private banking unit is hiring a whole range of new staff from major banks and Geneva-based competitors like Lombard Odier.

    HSBC Private Bank (Switzerland) has been busy recruiting and strengthening its offshore business from Switzerland in the first half of the year, according to a statement on Thursday.

    Juan Antonio Roche is appointed the new head of sales, and Esty Dwek joins as a new investment advisory officer. Roche previously worked at UBS and Santander, while Dwek held senior positions at Geneva-based Flow Bank and Natixis Investment Managers.

    Based in Switzerland, they are part of a newly formed team to drive growth in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (Emea) region.

    HSBC Private Bank expanded its local offshore banking for clients in Asia with new additions including Neil De Sousa, who is promoted to head of the Emea desk for Asia after seven years at the bank. Klara Chan, who had previously worked at Credit Suisse and JP Morgan is appointed senior relationship manager for Asia.

    The HSBC subsidiary was able to recruit Martin Hediger as senior advisor for clients in Switzerland’s domestic market from UBS. The local desk for super-rich Saudis comes under the leadership of Mario Luis Penabad, formerly of Geneva-based private bank Lombard Odier and UBS. Mathieu Brizon joins from Lombard Odier as a senior client advisor.

    Marco Ardigo, formerly with Credit Suisse, takes on the newly created position of heading the business with Italian billionaires. Ten-year HSBC veteran Carl Forsgren becomes responsible for the UHNWI clientele in Northern Europe and international markets.

    The expansion is taking place under the aegis of Gabriel Castello, head of the Swiss private bank since last year, and Emea regional head in the bank’s Global Private Banking division. According to Castello, the recruiting drive underscores the bank’s growth intentions in Switzerland and Emea focusing on super-rich clients and entrepreneurial families.

    The Swiss private bank reported strong asset inflows in the first quarter of the year. In Europe HSBC said it had $153 billion in funds under management from private individuals at the end of last year, making Switzerland stand out as its most important booking center.

  • Google Wallet is adding QR code card payments for phones without NFC

    Google Wallet is adding QR code card payments for phones without NFC

    Google Wallet is adding support for QR code payments, making it easier for users to pay for goods and services at locations and with devices that do not support NFC. With QR code payments, users can simply scan a code displayed by the merchant with their phone’s camera, and the payment will be processed automatically.

    This capability was announced by Google today via a blog post specifically targeting the Google for Brazil conference taking place in said country. Expanding digital payments in the country was referenced as one of the initiatives currently in the works.
    As such, Brazilians who use Google Wallet will be the first that will get to experience this new way of making payments. QR codes are pretty universal and as long as the device has a camera, it will be able to use them with their digital wallet.
    The QR code payment feature is being launched in Brazil first because a significant portion of smartphones in the country do not have NFC, the technology used in contactless payment methods. This means that many Brazilians have been unable to use Google Wallet’s digital payments feature.

    This addition will make Google Wallet more accessible as well as bring the safety and ease of digital payments to more people. QR code payments are a secure and convenient way to pay for goods and services, and their worldwide popularity makes them the perfect workaround for those that lack the necessary hardware to use NFC.

    Google Wallet is expected to launch the QR code payment feature in Brazil in the coming months and will, of course, be available to all Android devices with a camera. Hopefully, if this experiment works out well in Brazil, this could open up the possibility for this payment method to become available elsewhere in the world via Google Wallet.
  • Mastercard launches global plan to recycle credit cards

    Mastercard launches global plan to recycle credit cards

    Payments company Mastercard on Wednesday launched a global project to recycle credit and debit cards as part of a plan to save the billions of cards in circulation across the industry from landfill.

    Initially partnering with British lender HSBC Holdings Plc in eight branches in Britain, Mastercard said banks across the world, some of which have launched local initiatives, would be able to join the programme and help build economies of scale.

    “We are inviting all card issuers around the world to partner with us, no matter what region they are in, and offer card recycling to their customers,” said Ajay Bhalla, president of cyber and intelligence at Mastercard.

    Under the plan, Mastercard will provide shredding machines to HSBC, each of which is capable of holding 10,000 cards, equivalent to 50 kg (110 pounds) of plastic. Once full, it will be transferred to a plastic recycling facility.

    Financial details about the plan were not disclosed. The pilot project, which will run for an initial six months, will allow customers to recycle any plastic card, including those from rivals.

    “This recycling pilot will provide us with some very important insight and will inform our longer-term plans,” said Jose Carvalho, head of wealth and personal banking at HSBC UK.

    Initiatives like Mastercard’s recycling programme not only promote sustainability but also offer banks opportunities to boost customer engagement through innovative offerings. For example, CIMB’s credit card promotion rewards users with attractive incentives for optimized card usage. By providing direct cash credit, CIMB’s promotion seamlessly blends financial rewards with responsible consumer behavior, underscoring the need for versatile credit card strategies in today’s market.

    Currently, Mastercard said it has around 3.1 billion cards in circulation. Each year, it estimates around 600 million cards are produced by the industry, each with a life span of around five years.

    The Nilson Report, which analyses the industry, put total cards in circulation at nearly 26 billion in 2022, and forecast that could rise to 28.4 billion by 2027.

    Soaring plastic use has created one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges, with plastic waste buried in landfills or polluting rivers and oceans. The manufacturing process for plastic is also a major source of planet-warming greenhouse gas.

  • LPBank appoints new CEO

    LPBank appoints new CEO

    Lender LPBank, formerly LienVietPostBank, has named Ho Nam Tien its new CEO.

    Tien, 52, has been with the bank since 2010 and has 30 years of experience in the financial and banking sector, including in senior positions at several companies.

    He replaces Pham Doan Son, who resigned as CEO in March due to personal reasons.

    LPBank is focused on digital transformation in the next five years and has ambitions of becoming the top retail bank in Vietnam.

    LPBank targets a pre-tax profit of VND6 trillion this year, up 11% from 2022.

    The company eyes to increase its capital by VND11 trillion ($468 million), mostly by rights issue.