Virtual Banking

ZA Bank First to Soft Launch Virtual Banking Service Despite Unrest in Hong Kong

Ever since the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) dished out 8 virtual banking licenses much of Asia and perhaps even the world has been watching the space with great interest. Most of the players, including WeLab were aiming to launch their

Read More

WeLab Raises US$ 156 Million — Gearing up To Launch WeLab Bank by 2020

WeLab, one of the 8 companies granted license from the HKMA to operate a virtual bank announced today that it has raised US$ 156 million ( HK$ 1.2 billion) of Series C strategic financing, which makes it one of the

Read More

After Hong Kong, Ant Financial is Now Eyeing Virtual Banking License in Singapore

Fresh off securing virtual banking license in Hong Kong, Ant Financial confirms that they are actively looking into pursuing virtual banking license in Singapore. Previously, Ping An’s One Connect and AMTD Group have also voiced similar ambitions, making this the

Read More

Challenger Bank Tandem Recruits Ex-HSBC Banker Ahead of its Hong Kong Launch

Tandem, a full-service digital bank in the UK, announced that they have appointed ex HSBC banker Kunal Malani as their Chief Growth Officer. This news follows their earlier announcement that targetting to launch their digital financial services in Hong Kong

Read More

Hong Kong’s AMTD May Apply for Virtual Banking License in Singapore

AMTD is reportedly keen to apply for Singapore’s virtual banking license. In an interview with local Singaporean media, its CEO Calvin Choi expressed that AMTD is very interested in Singapore and that they see this as a great opportunity to

Read More

HKMA: Hong Kong Could Expect Soft Launch of Virtual Banks in The Next Few Months

Speaking at the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers Conference yesterday, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of HKMA, Arthur Yuen said that Hong Kong’s new virtual banks could potentially soft launch some of its services in the fourth quarter of this year.

Read More

How China’s Virtual Banks Are Offering Loans to Micro-Businesses Within Minutes

In China, online lenders are filling the credit gap, leveraging cutting edge technology including artificial intelligence (AI) to make lending decision in just a second. E-commerce giant Alibaba’s MyBank and Internet conglomerate Tencent’s WeBank, have dramatically changed the domestic financial

Read More

Where Does The Future Lie for Virtual Banks?

As Asia goes through our own virtual banking revolution, looking to our western counterparts may provide hints as to where this journey could eventually take us. Though the first virtual bank (or internet-only bank as it was known then) was

Read More

South Korea Eyeing to Grant More Virtual Banking Licenses

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), the government’s top financial regulator, will resume a new round of procedures for granting preliminary approval for digital banks, the FSC said on July 17. Earlier this year, the FSC said it intended to

Read More

Line and Rakuten Are Among The First to Receive Taiwan’s Virtual Banking Licenses

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is said to have issued it virtual banking licences to three consortiums, according to a report by Reuters. The licenses were granted to Line Financial Taiwan, Next Commercial Banking (led by local telco Chunghwa Telecom) and

Read More