Commercial Banking Services

As you know, I am passionate about ensuring minority-owned small businesses succeed and are able to scale. Part of doing so is taking advantage of opportunities provided for you! Here are 4 available benefits I commonly see minority and women-owned SMBs leaving on the table: 1. Special Grant and Loan Programs: Have you tapped into all relevant minority small business funds and support programs in your region? If not, devote some time (or delegate to a VA) to see what is available. 2. Contracting opportunities with Corporations: Large corporations are incentivized to work with minority-owned businesses! Register for supplier diversity and procurement programs unlocking partnerships with big companies. Some common programs are Supplier Gateway and the National Minority Supplier Development Council. 3. Contracting opportunities with regional and federal government organizations: join the local chamber of commerce and other regional commercial nonprofits for referral-based bidding and contracting processes. 4. University Supplier Registries: Many colleges/universities are huge employers and maintain minority & women-owned business portals that enable certified businesses to get prioritized for local contracts. Get registered to access privileged bidding processes and university spending. Subscribe to my free newsletter for more resources for Small Business Owners: What other overlooked opportunities or resources exist that more diverse SMB leaders should leverage?

Banking is Resilient – Backed by Regulators, Driven by Technology  In 2025 , We stand at the intersection of #FutureFinance and #EmergingTechnologies, the resilience of banking institutions is no longer just about compliance or cybersecurity—it’s about transformational readiness across every unit. 💡 I recently mapped 25+ banking units and how each will be impacted by AI, Blockchain, CBDC, Open Banking, and beyond. Want to know how your banking unit ranks in readiness for Future Finance ? 1. Retail Banking Hyper-personalized financial services using AI/ML, AI-driven customer support, digital onboarding. 2. Corporate Banking Real-time cross-border settlements, tokenized trade finance, automated cash flow forecasting. 3. Digital Channels API-first infrastructure, embedded finance, super app ecosystems on Mobile , Internet Banking 4. Treasury & Investment Management Quantum algorithms for portfolio optimization, AI-based risk analytics. 5. Risk Management Real-time risk scoring, predictive modeling, fraud detection. 6. Compliance & Regulatory Automated compliance checks, real-time transaction monitoring, smart audit trails. 7. Credit Underwriting Alternative credit scoring using AI and behavioral data 8. Loan Origination & Servicing End-to-end digital loan journeys, auto-repayment logic via smart contracts. 9. Customer Experience (CX) & Engagement AI chatbots, behavioral personalization, voice and facial biometric interfaces. 10. Fraud Prevention & Cybersecurity Real-time fraud alerts, zero-trust architecture, biometric-based access. 11. Payment Systems Instant domestic and cross-border payments, programmable money, tokenized assets. 12. Trade Finance & Supply Chain Finance Smart contracts for letter of credit, tokenized documents, traceability. 13. Wealth Management Robo-advisory, AI-based portfolio management, tokenized investment options. 15. Data Analytics & Business Intelligence Unified dashboards, behavioral analytics, real-time performance insights. 16. Core Banking Systems (CBS) Microservices, real-time ledger updates, blockchain-based CBS extensions. 17. IT Infrastructure & Cloud Operations Serverless banking, secured edge computing, resilient multi-cloud. 18. Fintech Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement API marketplaces, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), ecosystem monetization. 19. Human Resources (Future of Work) Talent upskilling in AI/Blockchain, virtual onboarding, gig workforce models. 20. Audit & Internal Controls Continuous auditing, automated red-flag systems, smart logs. 21. Branch Operations & Automation Smart kiosks, paperless branches 22. Sustainability & ESG Reporting Real-time carbon tracking, green investment , ESG tokenization. 23. AI/ML Model Governance Unit Bias detection, regulatory validation. 24. Centralized KYC/AML Unit Self-sovereign digital identity, cross-bank KYC sharing, AI for anomaly detection. 25. Innovation Office Sandbox testing, emerging tech adoption, innovation KPIs.

Subscription fraud is often invisible - but its impact is significant. Fake free trials and recurring payment abuse rarely appear fraudulent at the start. They typically mimic legitimate user behavior, making detection challenging. Common fraud patterns in subscription businesses • Multiple accounts created by the same user • Use of temporary emails and shared or stolen cards • Abnormal usage during trial periods • Intentional chargebacks after extensive consumption Business impact • Revenue leakage • Increased chargeback ratios • Payment gateway penalties • Distorted growth and retention metrics • Higher customer acquisition costs How fraud is detected effectively • Device and IP intelligence • Behavioral signal analysis • Payment reuse and failure patterns • Usage anomalies during trials and renewals Prevention strategies that scale • Limit free trials per device and payment method • Apply step-up verification for high-risk users • Monitor usage prior to renewals • Block bots and high-risk IP ranges • Leverage AI models to identify evolving fraud patterns Outcomes of a strong fraud strategy • Reduced fake users • Lower chargebacks • Accurate business metrics • Protected recurring revenue • Improved trust with genuine customers Fraud prevention is not friction. It is a safeguard for legitimate users and sustainable growth.

Open Banking Options For Financial Institutions 💡 Open banking helps create innovative business models. Using APIs, banks can transform themselves from a business to a platform, allowing the ability to multiply value creation by enabling business ecosystems within and outside the enterprise. While every bank chooses its own path, there are 4 broad options that banks can adopt which are common across B2C (bank > customer) and B2B (bank > corporate) scenarios: 1️⃣ Comply Businesses expose selected (often mandatory) services and data through APIs to help the ecosystem develop new service offerings. Normally relevant where Open Banking regulations exist (e.g., UK, Europe, Canada, Bahrain etc.) 2️⃣ Compete Turn the tables. Banks consume Open Banking data from other financial institutions, like a fintech would. Businesses can use APIs to access third-party services and data, empowering themselves to develop new offerings in their bouquet of services. 3️⃣ Collaborate As Open data sharing extends its footprint to other sectors, Open Banking changes to Open Economies, and offers joined-up propositions built on data-sharing across sectors. Examples include insurance, pensions, healthcare, and utilities. 4️⃣ Platform-Play In 2020, market capitalization of the top 4 payment companies overtook that of the big 6 banks on Wall Street. Banks can follow a platform approach built around unbundling and re-assembling products and services through Open Platforms. These platform plays can take the shape of: 🔹 API Marketplace 🔹 Financial services hubs 🔹 Aggregated data APIs 🔹 Banking as a Service 🔹 Embedded Banking / Finance Whichever route you choose, one indisputable fact is that APIs are the channel for all, are everywhere today, and without doubt have become omnipresent in financial services. APIs are the digital glue of modern banking. Source: Fiorano - https://bit.ly/4aZetEe #Innovation #Fintech #Banking #OpenBanking #EmbeddedFinance #BaaS #Marketplace #API #FinancialServices #Payments #Lending #OpenData #OpenEconomy 

This Deep Dive edition of Fintech Wrap Up explores the great bank unbundling offering a comprehensive analysis of how the financial services industry has evolved through technological innovation and regulatory shifts. Analyses by Contrary Research, break down fintech's transformation into three major phases: Digitization – The transition from traditional banking to online services, driven by innovations like online banking in the 1990s and early digital financial tools. Disintermediation – Post-2008 financial crisis distrust in large banks and the rise of smartphones led fintech startups to disrupt traditional banking with digital payments and simplified infrastructure. Embedded Infrastructure – Platforms like Stripe and Plaid enabled fintechs to deliver financial services more efficiently, fueling the growth of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS). The article also highlights how community banks partnered with fintechs to stay competitive, taking advantage of regulatory changes like the Durbin Amendment. Companies like Uber leveraged embedded finance to unlock new revenue streams and improve customer retention, while BaaS providers empowered non-bank companies to launch financial products faster and more affordably. However, the piece also underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny and compliance challenges in BaaS, stressing the importance of balancing innovation with regulatory compliance. #fintech #banking #baas Prasanna Thomas Richard Panagiotis Tony Nicolas Arjun Dr Ritesh Sandra

I’ve been to more accelerator demo days than I can count, but this one was different. Innovation Day showcased impactful POC collaborations with FIS that are pushing the boundaries in fintech: 1. Prelim: A seamless integration pulling core data into treasury management documents, removing manual input and boosting efficiency. In partnership with FIS, this innovation transformed a bank’s workflow, making data entry accurate and fast. 2. RiskScout: As financial crime rises, RiskScout provides real-time solutions that streamline compliance, automate workflows, and ease BSA team workloads. Partnering with FIS, they tested transaction monitoring, risk scoring, and automation, setting a new standard for regulatory compliance at reduced costs. 3. Entrio: Simplifying vendor management, Entrio offers visibility into tech stacks, identifying and optimizing existing solutions. FIS worked with Entrio to clean and consolidate its own vast supplier network, unlocking new efficiency in vendor governance. 4. Spade: With real-time merchant intelligence, Spade identifies genuine merchant identities to enhance transaction clarity. A POC with FIS saw 96.4% of transactions accurately matched to merchants, improving approval rates while preventing fraud. 5. MoneyKit: Connecting fragmented financial accounts is key, and MoneyKit offers FIS a single API for five major platforms, driving seamless customer interactions. The POC demo showed how consolidating data can boost engagement and loyalty in digital banking. 6. Blooma CRE: Automating commercial real estate underwriting, Blooma’s cloud-based platform delivers faster and smarter insights. FIS’s POC confirmed Blooma’s potential to minimize implementation fatigue and manage risk, with AI adding value without replacing human judgment. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll cover the remaining companies and panel takeaways! #fis #innovationday #fintechinnovation #ecosystembanking

Key Findings from the 2025 State of #Fraud Report 🔸 Rising Fraud Incidents Across All Sectors: 60% of financial institutions and #fintechs reported an increase in fraud events targeting #consumer and business accounts in 2024. Fraud was predominantly digital, with 80% of events occurring on #online or #mobilebanking channels 🔸 Key Fraud Types: Credit card fraud, identity theft, and account takeover (ATO) #fraud were the most common types of fraud reported. 20% of enterprise #banks ranked check fraud as their most frequent fraud type. 🔸 Financial and Reputational Costs: 31% of organizations experienced fraud losses exceeding $1M in 2024. 73% ranked #reputational damage as the most severe consequence of fraud, followed closely by direct financial losses (72%) and loss of clients (72%). 🔸 Role of Organized Crime: 71% of fraud attempts were attributed to financial #criminals or fraud rings, marking a shift from first-party to third-party fraud. 🔸 Fraud #Detection and Prevention: 56% of financial organizations most commonly detected fraud at the transaction stage, while 33% identified it during onboarding. Real-time interdiction was conducted by only 47% of respondents, highlighting a gap in immediate fraud prevention. 🔸 Fraud Detection Trends: Inconsistent user #behavior (28%) and mismatched personal data (20%) were leading indicators of fraud attempts. Mid-market banks reported the highest incidence of fraud, with 56% facing over 1,000 fraud cases. 🔸 AI and Technology Adoption: 99% of organizations reported using AI in fraud prevention, with 93% agreeing that machine learning and #generativeAI will revolutionize detection capabilities. #AI was predominantly used for anomaly detection (59%) and explaining large datasets for #risk analysis (67%). 🔸 Fraud Prevention Investments: 93% of respondents indicated ongoing #investments in fraud prevention, with identity risk solutions being the most impactful (34%). Top technologies for 2025 include identity risk solutions (64%), document #verification software (49%), and voice/facial recognition systems (38%). 🔸 Regulatory Impact: 62% of organizations plan to increase fraud prevention investments in response to #regulatory scrutiny and potential #reimbursement requirements for fraud losses. Predictions for 2025: 🔆 Fraud will continue to rise, driven by increased availability of consumer data on the #darkweb 🔆 Financial institutions are expected to adopt #centralized platforms for fraud and identity risk management to enhance efficiency and reduce losses 🔆 Advanced AI tools and real-time #payments systems will remain key focus areas for fraud mitigation strategies. These findings emphasize the need for a multi-layered approach to fraud prevention, prioritizing identity verification, AI-driven analytics, and real-time interdiction

Mastering Trade Finance: Types of Letters of Credit Every Exporter Should Know In international trade, securing payment is just as important as securing the deal. As someone actively involved in import-export, I often work with Letters of Credit (LCs) to ensure smooth, secure transactions across borders. Here’s a quick guide to the most important types of LCs: 1. Irrevocable LC – Offers the strongest protection for exporters; terms can’t be changed without mutual agreement. 2. Confirmed LC – Adds an extra layer of safety with a second bank guaranteeing payment. 3. Sight LC – Payment is made immediately upon verification of documents. 4. Usance LC – Payment is deferred, giving buyers time while ensuring sellers get paid eventually. 5. Transferable LC – Useful when working with middlemen or multiple suppliers. 6. Back-to-Back LC – Perfect for businesses like mine, where a supplier and final buyer are linked through intermediaries. 7. Standby LC – Acts more like a guarantee in case of non-performance. As a farmer and founder of an import-export company, understanding these instruments helps me close deals confidently while protecting my business and partners. #LetterOfCredit #TradeFinance #ExportImport #AgriExports #SpicesExport #GlobalTrade #LCExplained #Entrepreneurship

New support to help grow your business internationally During the summer, the Department for Business and Trade announced several new initiatives, and one caught my eye. The 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 has been launched to support companies in exporting and working with international clients. Think of it as a way to mitigate the risk of working with a new client, one you may not have met. You'll be familiar with the scenario: new client, based on the other side of the world, and you are concerned that the invoice may not be settled on time, so you hesitate to take the order. In today’s digital-first world, exporting isn’t just physical; it's also digital. Software, SaaS, digital consulting, and creative services are thriving exports, but they come with their risks. My take on the Small Export Builder is that it's a way to offset the concern of getting paid on time by a new client. What seems to be particularly good about the support is that it starts small and grows as your export business develops. ☑️ You begin with £25,000 in protection, enough to cover your early overseas deals. ☑️ Once you get paid on time, you're eligible for a 50% increase in your coverage up to £100,00. ☑️ Registration process is reported to be straightforward. This model rewards trust and reliability, ie, invoices settled on time, allowing you to grow with confidence, even if you're just getting started. The benefits of the support are that: ✅ It's appropriate whether you sell physical goods or digital services. Software, subscriptions, licensing, online training, etc. are all covered. ✅ It provides you with payment insurance from day one without arduous costs or commitments. ✅ Perfect for companies with recurring revenue. ✅ The approval process seems straightforward. I haven't personally tried this yet (we will be later this year), but it looks encouraging. The Small Export Builder programme is part of a broader push to help small businesses, especially in digital and innovation-led sectors, capitalise on global opportunities. There are also great plans for addressing late payments to small businesses from corporations, down to a maximum of 45 days (still seems a long time, but better than what we have now). I reckon the Small Export Builder isn't just protection for your business, it could be a growth tool that helps you accelerate your international business plans. If you've tried the service, it would be great to hear your thoughts. Please share this if you feel it could assist someone in your network. #ScotlandIsNow #International #Export

#FinTech | #Payments | #SupplyChain | #CrossBorderPayments : 🚀 Empowering Global Trade Finance Through ITFS Platforms 🌐 International Trade Finance Services (ITFS) platforms are revolutionizing trade finance by offering digitally-enabled, regulated access to global exporters and importers at competitive prices through a bidding mechanism. These platforms streamline trade finance solutions, including factoring, forfaiting, bill discounting, and supply chain financing—making cross-border transactions more efficient and accessible. The introduction of ITFS within International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) is a game-changer, designed to address the financing gap for exporters and importers worldwide, including in India. With expanded eligibility criteria, the platform now welcomes payment service providers alongside financiers, exporters, importers, and #insurance entities. This allows for smoother currency exchange and faster payment processing in local currencies—saving both time and cost for participants. Key Highlights: (1) Permitted Financiers: Includes factors registered under the Factoring Registration Act, 2011, finance companies/units in IFSC, and others meeting specific guidelines. (2) Regulatory Compliance: All financiers must be incorporated in FATF-compliant jurisdictions with experience in financing or managing assets worth USD 5 million. (3) Capital Requirements: Financing entities must have a minimum capital of USD 5 million to ensure reliability and trust. With ITFS platforms, businesses can unlock new opportunities in global trade while bridging critical financing gaps. 🌍💼 EmpowerEdge Ventures