Bankloch

Over the past decade, the financial landscape has been reshaped by a wave of alternative financing models. Leading the charge was   crowdfunding — the practice of raising small contributions from many individuals to fund a project or venture. Whether donation-based, debt-based, rewards-based, or equity-based, crowdfunding laid the foundation for other models like   P2P lending, microcredits, and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms   such as Aave, Compound, and MakerDAO. These tools opened up financing for ideas deemed too risky or complex for traditional banks. One of the latest evolutions is   crowd-owning   — a model that blends co-ownership or fractional ownership with investment flexibility. Rather than merely funding a project, participants co-own an asset — often real estate — and share in its returns. This approach empowers individuals to invest in high-value assets like homes, land, or infrastructure, without bearing the full cost of ownership. Consid...

  On June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into effect across all EU member states. As part of the EU’s broader commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which it ratified in 2011, the EAA aims to harmonize accessibility requirements across the EU. Its goal is to ensure equal access to essential products and services, including those in the financial sector. For financial institutions and fintech companies, this is not just a legal mandate — it is an opportunity to innovate and grow. The EAA defines disability broadly, covering individuals with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have cognitive conditions like dementia or dyslexia, or experience mobility challenges. Crucially, the Act also acknowledges the needs of older individuals and those with temporary impairments. In total, the EAA is exp...

Payment fraud remains a hot topic in the financial services industry (cfr. my blog "Payment Fraud Exposed: Top Techniques and How Financial Institutions Respond" -   https://bankloch.blogspot.com/2025/01/payment-fraud-exposed-top-techniques.html   for more info). Despite significant investments in fraud detection and prevention, fraud continues to rise. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging tools like generative AI and operating in a more professionalized manner. Simultaneously, regulators are holding financial institutions increasingly accountable for customer losses resulting from fraud. Currently, fraud is primarily tackled through two key methods: Customer education   – Banks, federations and governments run awareness campaigns to inform customers about risks and best practices (e.g. a bank will never ask for your PIN or password, and you should never access your bank via a link in an email, but always through the official URL). Fraud detectio...