"Mozido an Austin-based mobile financial services provider, today announced an investment from Latin American business leader Adolfo Salume to implement an innovative mobile EcoSystem in El Salvador that will provide a range of marketing, retail, and banking opportunities for the unbanked and under-banked population.

Salumes investment and his local staff will help support adoption of Mozidos mobile applications providing users with services such as financial management with Constelacion Bank, loyalty programs, analytics-based offers, shopping, and payment services in retail stores such as Mr. Donut, and mobile cash logistic automation, lending, and marketing services with one of the leading consumer packaged goods distributors in El Salvador." Continue Reading

Mozido Eyes Caribbean Mobile-Money Roll-Out
"With at least one tangible project in the works in Jamaica, Kavin Hewitt, CEO of Mozido Jamaica Limited, says the company will use expertise developed over the last three years to execute a Caribbean roll-out of mobile banking services and other products. The company is the technology partner to Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League on JCUES, the first private mobile-money product to be approved by the central bank."

YellowPepper secures 15ドルM in funding, now based in Miami
"A Latin American tech company is planting itself in South Florida — and has a fresh round of funding to grow on. YellowPepper, which provides mobile-banking and payment solutions in the region and recently moved to Miami, announced it has received 15ドル million in venture funding. The Series C fund-raising round, which brings the total venture funding to 30ドル million, was led by Latin Idea Ventures, and included IFC/World Bank and other investors. Serge Elkiner, YellowPepper’s CEO and co-founder, said the funding will be used to sharpen its new focus on the mobile payments industry and initially launch into four key markets: Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and Peru."

Bank of Scotland boss targets brand 'magic'
"Robin Bulloch, appointed to the role in January this year and with more than three decades of banking experience, says he wants to reclaim the "magic" the brand has had in the past and separate it from the HBOS legacy in the minds of the public. He indicated Bank of Scotland is keen to present a modern front and use technology to help customers but recognises many of its patrons still prefer to use one of its 294 branches."

UAB launches mobile banking app
"United Arab Bank (UAB), a key lender based in Sharjah, said it has introduced a free mobile banking app allowing its customers to have secure and easy access to manage their accounts whilst on the move. Established in 1975 as a joint venture between UAE investors and Societe Generale, UAB presently has a network of 20 branches and offices spread across the UAE."

Indian banks to increase IT spend by 13%
"Indian banks and investment firms will spend 13% more on IT in 2013 compared to last year with IT services the largest segment, according to research from Gartner. Indian banking and securities companies will spend about 417bn INR on IT in 2013 compared to 369bn INR in 2012. The IT services spend will account for 131bn INR. This represents an 18% increase driven by a strong focus on the finance sector from IT service providers."

Mobile Money Can Be Used In Regular Transactions – Analyst
"Speaking on Channels Television Business Morning, Mr. Okoli explained that mobile money is different from mobile banking. He mentioned that mobile banking, money is still in the bank account but the use of mobile phone is needed while mobile money the money is in an E-account which is tied to the phone. He mentioned the benefits of mobile money stating that it can be used in regular transaction, transferring of money just like the regular transactions."

ACLEDA Bank Earns Celent Model Bank Status for its Fiserv-Powered Mobile Banking Initiative
"Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced today that its client, ACLEDA Bank, PLC., was named a Celent Model Bank for 2013. Celent selected ACLEDA, headquartered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, based on its successful initiative to bring mobile financial services to consumers without banking relationships, which the bank accomplished using Mobiliti Reach™ from Fiserv."

Mobile banking passes 6 million . . . fast
"Using a mobile phone for banking passed through 6 million users in Australia in the September quarter 2012, which was six months faster to that mark than Internet banking a white paper has revealed. While Internet banking took 15 quarters (3.75 years) to be adopted by 6 million users in Australia, mobile banking took only 13 quarters (3.25 years) to reach the same mark."

Banks moving towards mobile banking
"Bankers and software designers are meeting in Singapore to discuss how to take advantage of smartphones and tablets to expand their business. Banks are shifting investment, from brick and mortar branches packed with staff to slick IT solutions. Singapore software company Tagit is tailoring solutions differently for emerging markets like Indonesia and the Philippines, and banks with established networks in developed countries like Japan and Australia."

New Research Reveals China’s Potential for a Mobile Banking Revolution
"Researcher Patrick Ainslie calls it ‘handshakes over hetongs’ (the Mandarin word for ‘contract’). It’s an opportunity, an open challenge even, to reach 250 million people in China and potentially transform their lives. Ainslie is part of a team of researchers at New York-based social enterprise Reboot, which recently published a study, based on extensive field interviews, on designing financial services for China’s marginalized groups."

The Moving Target of Mobile Banking Service
"When my colleagues and I talk about mobile banking, we are struck by how many banks operating in mature markets could learn from Africa. Despite the infrastructure challenges – and in some ways because of them – many African banks display a real commitment to innovation in service. Standard Bank of South Africa, for example, is working to provide “inclusive banking” – banking services for the previously unbanked. These customers may not own smartphones, but they can now deposit money and pay for utilities using the phones they have."

Mozido Appeals To Politicos For Action On Mobile Banking
"Gregory Corona, president and chief executive officer of Mozido LLC, has reached out to two top administration officials to run interference for his company with the Bank of Jamaica over a mobile banking deal with the credit union league that has been stalled by regulatory review. Texas-based Mozido operates a local subsidiary, Mozido Jamaica, managed by Kavin Hewitt."

Only three weeks left to register for the third Annual Mobile Banking Southern Africa Conference
"With only three weeks left to register for the third Annual Mobile Banking Southern Africa Conference 2013, we invite all financial, retail and IT professionals dealing with mobile banking and mobile payments to secure their seats at this high powered event. Registrations are filling up and the conference once again promises to be a full-house."