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Yacht operations deserve more than outdated prepaid systems and manual workarounds. Qorbis delivers a fully integrated financial platform, purpose-built for the precision, speed, and scale the marine industry demands. 

For an industry known for luxury, precision, and seamless service, yacht chartering has long accepted a messy truth behind the scenes: financial operations are often anything but seamless. Expense management is riddled with friction: think clunky prepaid cards, top-ups requiring an awkward conversations with clients, and a flurry of spreadsheets struggling to keep up with provisioning, payroll, and APA reconciliation. 

In an environment where every minute and every dollar counts, that simply doesn’t cut it anymore. 

That’s where Qorbis changes the game. While many platforms attempt to digitize legacy processes, Qorbis does something bolder: it reimagines them from the ground up. Not as a bolt-on solution, but as a fully integrated banking platform built specifically for the marine world. 

When Prepaid Just Isn’t Enough 

The problem with most spend platforms is simple: they’re built on prepaid card systems. That sounds convenient in theory, but plays out poorly in practice. Funds must be preloaded, budgets guessed at, and limits navigated in real-time with frustrating delays. Large payments, like bunkering or emergency maintenance, can trigger alerts or rejections, requiring time-consuming workarounds. 

And because prepaid systems aren’t true bank accounts, they can’t support critical functions like payroll, multi-departmental budgeting, or real-time fund management. 

Qorbis sidesteps all of this. 

It operates not as a workaround, but as a proper bank account: equipped to handle every aspect of financial operations, from crew expenses to ownership costs. That core difference enables a set of capabilities others simply can’t match. 

True Financial Control, No Waiting Required 

Imagine being able to create unlimited virtual or physical cards on demand, each with custom spending limits, categories, and expiration dates. Imagine instantly allocating funds and (in a worst case scenario) freezing cards mid-charter as plans evolve. Imagine shifting funds instantly between departments, crew, or vessels with a tap instead of a ticket. 

Qorbis makes all of this possible, without calling support or waiting for approvals. 

Where other platforms offer surface-level control, Qorbis delivers complete, real-time financial oversight. It adapts as fast as your charters do, letting managers and captains respond to change with precision and confidence. 

Built for More Than Just APAs 

Most marine spend platforms are narrowly focused on Advanced Provisioning Allowances, and to be fair, it’s a major operational pain point. But what happens outside of charter weeks? What about managing a fleet year-round? What about handling fuel bills, owner expenses, crew payroll, or maintenance budgets? 

That’s where Qorbis pulls away from the pack. 

Because it's a full-service banking system, Qorbis supports: 

This isn’t just about making APA tracking easier, it’s about running your entire yacht operation from a single, streamlined platform. 

Real-Time Visibility, No Surprises 

Time delays kill efficiency. And in yacht management, they also kill trust. Waiting days, or even hours, for updated financials is no longer acceptable. Yet too many systems still rely on end-of-day batch updates or weekly exports. 

Qorbis gives you a live, always-on financial dashboard. Every transaction, every budget, every department, updated in real-time and accessible from anywhere. If a crew member makes a provisioning purchase in Naples, it’s visible in Fort Lauderdale before the receipt hits the countertop. 

And when funds need to be reallocated or new budgets deployed, it happens instantly - no need to call the bank, no waiting for top-ups, no gaps in service. 

Your Brand, Front and Center 

The level of detail and customization expected at sea should extend to the systems that power the experience. Qorbis lets you reflect your professionalism in every financial touchpoint—not with generic cards or platforms, but with tools that carry your identity. 

You can: 

In an industry where detail defines the difference between premium and forgettable, branding matters. 

Future-Ready Finance, Today 

APA allocations are on the rise, while operating costs soar and client expectations tighten. Meanwhile, the pressure on managers, captains, and brokers to deliver smooth, transparent service has never been greater. 

Patchwork systems built on prepaid cards or old-school accounting tools simply can’t keep up. 

Qorbis isn’t a patch. It’s a leap forward. A fully integrated platform designed not just to fix yesterday’s problems, but to future-proof your operations, whether you manage one yacht or an entire fleet. 

Smarter. Faster. Built for the sea. 
Qorbis is changing how the marine industry manages money. Ready to take control? Get in touch and discover how Qorbis can transform your yacht’s finances: on charter, off charter, and everywhere in between. 

Outdated systems are sinking efficiency in the yacht charter world. Qorbis offers a smart, digital solution that streamlines expense management for captains, crew, owners, and charter guests alike. 

In the gleaming world of luxury yacht charters, where bespoke service and million-dollar views are the norm, the one area still stuck in the dark ages is expense management. Beneath the glossy decks lies a logistical nightmare: captains juggling paper receipts, crew managing thousands in cash or shared credit cards, and managers manually reconciling expenses long after the charter has ended. Welcome to the charter industry’s hidden challenge: financial chaos. 

As the charter market grows – and with it, costs and recruitment challenges - the operational cracks are widening. The problem? A decades-old system that’s been duct-taped together with spreadsheets, paper receipts, and fragmented communication. But that’s where Qorbis steps in—bringing modern spend management to an industry that deserves user-friendly, streamlined digital solutions. 

The Problem: Luxury Above, Chaos Below Deck 

The industry’s reliance on manual processes, particularly around Advanced Provisioning Allowances (APAs), is not only inefficient but costly. In 2024, APA allocations jumped from the traditional 20 to 30% of charter fees to as high as 40%, reflecting skyrocketing operational costs like fuel, dockage, and provisions. Yet the tracking systems didn’t evolve alongside the costs. 

Joe Killian of Killian Yachts, has witnessed this firsthand.

“Dockage in one popular location in the Bahamas doubled overnight. That kind of volatility wreaks havoc on APA calculations, especially when the charter rate is locked in months in advance.” 

With outdated spreadsheets and disconnected payment methods, captains are left scrambling to explain charges post-charter—sometimes weeks later. This often results in disputes over reconciliations, eroding client trust and creating tension in what should be a seamless luxury experience. 

The Hidden Toll on Captains and Crew 

The toll isn’t just financial; it’s human. Captains and crew are expected to deliver 5-star service while moonlighting as accountants. One industry insider joked about the old process involving “patting down your pockets, desperate to find that receipt you thought you’d tucked away.” But it’s no laughing matter when those lost receipts cost thousands—or trigger an IRS audit for a U.S.-based yacht owner. Says Killian:

“More and more captains refuse to work on vessels where they’re expected to manually track physical receipts. With the salaries these crew members command, the expectation of professional-grade tools is completely reasonable.” 

Qorbis: A Digital Lifeline for Charter Management 

This is where Qorbis is making waves. Purpose-built for the marine industry, Qorbis offers a spend management solution that turns expense chaos into clarity. 

“Qorbis delivers transparency and real-time financial visibility,” says Killian. “Charter clients can see how their APA is being used in real time. Captains no longer need to ask for credit cards mid-charter. It’s all visible, seamless, and intuitive.” 

Captain John Curtis of Mambo Yacht uses the Qorbis platform on a day-to-day basis and says its app’s automated receipt capture feature eliminates the frustration of stacks of loose paper receipts. He says:

“I just take a photo, upload it to the app, and throw away the receipt - done!"

With this on-the-go receipt capture capability plus audit-proof digital storage, Qorbis eliminates the inefficiencies that plague the traditional process. The system also integrates directly with QuickBooks and other accounting platforms, reducing manual entry and the risk of human error. 

The impact goes beyond operations. Killian believes it can also improve recruitment and retention: “Qorbis can be a powerful crew recruitment tool. When you offer a platform that simplifies their job and reduces stress, that’s a huge win in a competitive talent market.” 

A Better Experience for Owners and Charterers 

For owners, Qorbis provides unmatched transparency and control. No more waiting weeks for end-of-charter statements. No more surprise charges. Instead, a real-time dashboard offers complete visibility offuel costs, provisioning, port fees, all tracked and categorized automatically. 

And for high-net-worth charter clients, that visibility builds trust. With APA disputes being one of the leading causes of post-charter dissatisfaction, a digital solution isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. 

According to industry research, 19% of expense claims contain errors, each taking about 20 minutes to correct. When applied to multi-week charters involving tens of thousands of dollars, these errors compound quickly. 

Fixing the System Before It Breaks 

The cost of inaction is mounting. Client trust is eroding. Crews are burning out. Owners are questioning renewals. All because the back office hasn’t kept pace with the luxury product above deck. 

But there is a fix. Qorbis brings financial clarity. It’s time to move beyond the spreadsheet—and into an era where expense management is as polished and professional as the charters themselves. 

Ready to bring clarity to your charter operations? Contact Qorbis today and discover how our marine-specific spend management solution can transform your yacht’s financial operations. 

Smart foreign exchange management and low rates protect your bottom line and help your business thrive in a global marketplace.

Global commerce is no longer reserved for the Fortune 500. Today, independent film producers shoot on location in Europe, startups source components from Asia, and boutique agencies invoice clients across continents. Cross-border transactions have become the norm, not the exception.

But with every international payment comes a silent threat: the foreign exchange (FX) fee. Whether you’re wiring euros to a French supplier or transferring pesos for a shipment in Mexico, fluctuating exchange rates and hidden markups quietly chip away at your bottom line. And as the volume of global trade accelerates, so does the cost of doing business in multiple currencies.

The FX Trap: Profits Lost in Translation

Cross-border commerce is booming.

$7.9 trillion

The projected volume of global e-commerce across borders by 2030, according to Statista, fueled by double-digit annual growth.

Meanwhile, daily FX trading volume hovers around $7.5 trillion, according to the Bank for International Settlements.

You’d think that scale would drive down the cost of currency exchange. But for small and midsize businesses, the opposite is often true.

Traditional banks still charge a 2–3% markup on FX conversions, and some stretch that even further—to 4.4%, depending on currency and transaction size. For a company sending $100,000 overseas, that can mean losing up to $4,400 in a single transaction.

“Cross-border fees are often hiding in plain sight,” one CFO told us. “You don’t really notice them until you compare options. Then it hits you—you’ve been bleeding money.”

And the problem isn’t just the cost. Global payments through conventional channels can take days to settle, adding operational drag to financial pain.

For Some Industries, FX Isn’t Just a Cost—It’s a Risk

In industries with thin margins—like logistics, hospitality, or entertainment production—even small FX inefficiencies compound quickly. A few percentage points in hidden fees or unfavorable rates can derail budgets, delay operations, or eat away at hard-earned profit.

Qorbis: Rewriting the FX Playbook

Enter Qorbis, a platform built to modernize and simplify how businesses manage currency conversion. By combining ultra-low fees, real-time tools, and enterprise-grade flexibility, Qorbis is helping companies take back control of their cross-border finances.

Here’s how:

A 0.5% FX Rate—Flat. Transparent. Scalable.

Say goodbye to the mysterious markups of big banks. With Qorbis, you pay a clear, fixed 0.5% fee—no matter the size of your transaction. Whether you're sending $5,000 or $500,000, the rate stays low, giving you full predictability and transparency.

Lightning-Fast FX Settlement, Worldwide

In the global economy, speed is currency. Qorbis eliminates the need to choose between fast and affordable by delivering rapid settlement times—without the bloated fees.

Simple, Effective Currency Hedging

Qorbis makes hedging accessible. Lock in favorable exchange rates today to guard against tomorrow’s volatility. Ideal for long-term contracts, international productions, and seasonal procurement, the platform’s forward-rate capabilities offer protection without the traditional complexity—or cost.

Multi-Currency Accounts and Smart Cards

Hold, pay, and spend in multiple currencies with ease. Qorbis enables businesses to create unlimited multi-currency accounts, complete with instantly issued debit cards for staff—ideal for global teams managing local expenses.

Built-In Expense Management

No more lost paper receipts or clunky reconciliation. Staff can snap receipts on the go, while finance teams benefit from automatic capture and digital storage—streamlining approvals policy compliance and accelerating reporting.

Real-Time FX Trading and Reporting Tools

Execute FX trades instantly at your agreed rate, then track every move in real time with intuitive dashboards. From forecasting to reconciliation, Qorbis turns financial oversight into a competitive advantage.

No Gatekeepers. No FX Delays. Just Go.

Forget the old-school red tape. With Qorbis, treasury and finance teams can self-serve from day one. Set up accounts, issue cards, hedge currency—all without waiting on approvals or dealing with endless onboarding.

Where Qorbis Makes a Measurable Difference

Let’s talk impact. Here’s how Qorbis is helping real-world businesses:

The FX Advantage: From Hidden Cost to Strategic Lever

FX shouldn’t be a silent drain on your business. Used strategically, it can become a source of stability, speed, and cost savings. Qorbis helps businesses transform FX from a financial burden into an operational asset.

Here’s what you gain with Qorbis:

It’s Time to Rethink the FX Status Quo

Whether you're managing overseas shoots, importing goods, or funding international operations, there's no reason to overpay—or wait days for your money to arrive.

Qorbis offers a modern solution to an outdated problem. It's fast. It's transparent. And it’s built for the realities of global business.

Ready to make international payments work for you? Discover Qorbis today.

Using a wider range of sources than ever before, Qorbis transforms data into deep insights, delivering rich 360 customer profiles that are the ‘secret sauce’ of successful brands.

Understanding your customers is no longer a mere advantage - it’s a necessity. Brands and businesses that harness comprehensive data to build 360 customer profiles are not only surviving but thriving. These profiles provide a holistic view of customers, gleaned from multiple data points, and can significantly impact how organizations engage, retain, and grow their customer base.  

What Are 360 Customer Profiles? 

A 360 customer profile is an all-encompassing view of a customer, built using a wide range of data sources. Unlike traditional customer profiles that may rely solely on demographic or historical purchasing information, 360 profiles integrate behavioral, transactional, and engagement data, giving businesses a richer and more detailed understanding of their audience. 

Instead of just knowing a customer’s age, gender, or purchase history, this allows a business to understand when a customer is most active online, the types of content they prefer, how they respond to promotions, and even their payment behaviors. The result is a deeper, more actionable insight into customer preferences and potential future behaviors. 

How Are 360 Customer Profiles Built? 

The creation of 360 customer profiles involves collecting and analyzing data from multiple touchpoints. These can include: 

Web and app engagement data. Tracks how users interact with content, what they view, share, or react to. 

Transaction data. Monitors purchase behaviors, including the frequency of purchases, payment methods, and spending patterns. 

Customer service interactions. Insights gained from communications, feedback, and support inquiries. 

Social media activity. Analyzes likes, shares, comments, and follows. 

Email and direct marketing response rates. Evaluates how recipients interact with marketing campaigns. 

The more data points integrated into these profiles, the richer and more detailed the insight becomes. This is where the power of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), comes into play. AI algorithms can process massive amounts of data efficiently, identify trends, and generate actionable insights that would be impossible to derive manually. 

Qorbis: Revolutionizing 360 Customer Profiles 

Qorbis’ Fan Engagement Platform takes the concept of 360 customer profiles to the next level. By integrating data from an unprecedented range of sources—including content engagement and payment transactions—Qorbis provides organizations with unparalleled insights into their audiences. 

1. Content Engagement Analysis. Qorbis tracks user interactions with various types of content, such as articles, videos, and promotions via the Fan Engagement Apps it rolls out for clients. This helps brands understand what resonates with their audience, enabling them to tailor future content and marketing campaigns for maximum impact. 

2. Payment Transaction Data. Unlike other platforms, Qorbis incorporates payment data as a core component of its profiling. This allows organizations to gain a deeper understanding of purchasing behavior, such as average spend, transaction frequency, and preferred payment methods. These insights can help refine product offerings, identify high-value customers, and develop targeted loyalty programs. 

3. AI-Powered Insights. The platform’s AI capabilities are designed to track, analyze, and learn from data across multiple channels. This approach builds comprehensive, real-time customer profiles that businesses can leverage to make informed and timely decisions. Whether it’s adjusting the timing of campaigns, offering personalized promotions, or identifying potential churn risks, Qorbis’ technology ensures brands are one step ahead. 

Benefits of Rich 360 Customer Profiles 

Enhanced Personalization. By having an all-encompassing view of customers, businesses can offer highly personalized content, offers, and recommendations that resonate on an individual level. 

Improved Customer Retention. With deeper insights into customer preferences and behaviors, brands can anticipate needs and provide value at key touchpoints, improving loyalty and long-term retention. 

Optimized Marketing Strategies. Access to a wealth of data enables more precise segmentation and targeted campaigns, reducing ad spend waste and boosting ROI. 

Better Product Development. Understanding customer preferences helps businesses refine existing products and develop new offerings that meet actual demand. 

Increased Revenue Opportunities. The ability to track transactional and behavioral data opens up new possibilities for cross-selling and upselling, ensuring that organizations maximize each customer relationship. 

The Qorbis Advantage 

Qorbis’ world-first Fan Engagement Platform connects the dots to reveal the bigger picture. By merging content engagement data with transaction data and using AI to track and analyze these sources, Qorbis delivers a comprehensive ecosystem that goes beyond conventional analytics. This means businesses can drive merchandise sales, enhance sponsorship ROI, and deepen fan engagement with a level of insight previously unattainable. 

In a market where consumer attention is fragmented across numerous channels, having access to holistic and actionable insights is crucial. Qorbis empowers businesses to understand their audience like never before and to make decisions that foster growth, loyalty, and innovation. 

Find out how the Qorbis Fan Engagement Platform brings your fans closer to your brand and unlocks your data's true potential to transform your business strategies and outcomes – talk to us today. 

Imagine instantly getting the best deal on a loan or credit card tailored to your spending habits—no more jumping through hoops or hidden fees. Open banking puts users in control, delivering faster, smarter financial options right when and where they're needed.

The landscape of banking and financial services is transforming rapidly, with open banking at the forefront of this revolution. While Open Banking regulations have been fully established in Europe through initiatives like PSD2 (the Revised Payment Services Directive), the United States has moved at a slower place with relevant rules unveiled in October, 2024. With the rise of fintech solutions and increased consumer demand for better control over personal financial data, this news is long overdue.

But what exactly is open banking, and how will it benefit users in the US?

Understanding Open Banking

At its core, open banking refers to the practice of banks sharing financial data with third-party service providers (with users' explicit consent) through the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This allows fintech companies, payment apps, and other financial services to offer innovative products and services that cater directly to consumers' needs.

Currently, many American consumers are already familiar with some open banking-like experiences, such as linking their bank accounts to apps like PayPal, Venmo, or budgeting tools like Mint. However, full-fledged open banking would make this process more secure, standardized, and far-reaching, offering numerous benefits for users.

More Financial Control for Consumers

One of the most significant advantages open banking brings is increased control over personal financial data. In today’s environment, consumers are often limited to the services and tools offered by their own banks, which may not always suit their financial habits or goals. Open banking allows users to access a variety of services from fintech companies and other financial institutions, enabling them to make more informed decisions.

For example, instead of being locked into one bank’s savings account, open banking allows users to compare interest rates across various institutions and switch accounts more easily. Consumers are no longer tethered to their bank’s limited offering of services; instead, they can explore the best financial products available across the market.

80% of U.S. consumers would consider using third-party providers for financial services if it saved them time or money. 

McKinsey

This reflects a growing appetite for better access to personalized financial services, which open banking could readily provide.

Personalized (and Hyper-Personalized) Financial Services

Open banking creates the foundation for more tailored financial experiences. When consumers grant third-party providers access to their financial data, fintech companies can aggregate that information to create highly personalized services. For instance, budgeting apps can track spending patterns, analyze transaction data, and offer actionable advice on saving, debt management, or investment opportunities. 

AI-driven solutions could use this data to recommend the best credit cards, loans, or even investment strategies based on a user’s financial behavior. For example, someone with recurring expenses on travel might receive targeted recommendations for travel rewards cards with low interest rates. 

59% of U.S. consumers expect their financial institutions to provide tailored financial advice based on their habits and behaviors. 

Accenture

Open banking creates the infrastructure for this kind of personalization, enabling better user experiences through intelligent, data-driven recommendations.

A More Competitive Financial Ecosystem

Traditionally, the banking sector has been dominated by a few large institutions. However, open banking levels the playing field by allowing smaller fintech companies and challenger banks to compete directly with larger incumbents. This increased competition ultimately benefits the end user, as financial institutions are forced to innovate, reduce fees, and offer more user-centric products to stay competitive.

For example, many users are frustrated by hidden fees and high account maintenance costs from their current banks. Open banking allows fintech startups to offer more transparent and low-fee options, which could prompt larger banks to do the same. As more third-party providers enter the market, consumers can expect a broader selection of better-priced financial products.

This increased competition has the potential to lower costs for users. 

Better data sharing and collaboration could help users save anywhere between $2 billion and $5 billion annually.

The Clearing House

Enhanced Security and Data Protection

When it comes to personal finances, security is paramount. One concern often raised about open banking is the potential for data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive information. However, open banking is built with robust security protocols designed to protect consumers.

Currently, many Americans give fintech apps access to their financial data through screen scraping, where the app uses a consumer’s login credentials to access the data. This process is inherently risky as it requires users to share sensitive information with third-party providers, potentially exposing their accounts to fraud. Open banking replaces this with API-based access, which offers far greater security by eliminating the need to share passwords.

With open banking, consumers maintain full control over which data they share and with whom. Regulations mandate that third-party providers must obtain explicit consent from users to access their financial information, and users can revoke this access at any time. This gives users more confidence in sharing their data securely.

Additionally, banks and fintech companies involved in open banking must comply with rigorous security and privacy standards. For example, all data sharing must be encrypted, and providers must be registered with regulatory bodies to ensure they adhere to best practices. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rules regulate data access and protection within the open banking framework, enhancing trust and security for users.

Faster, More Efficient Services

Another major benefit of open banking is the speed and efficiency of financial services it enables. With direct access to financial data, fintech apps can process transactions, verify identities, and approve loans much faster than traditional banks. 

For example, consider the often tedious process of applying for a mortgage. Typically, this involves providing banks with a mountain of financial documentation, which then needs to be manually verified. Open banking could simplify this by allowing lenders to instantly access a potential borrower’s financial data, cutting down the approval process from weeks to days.

This kind of seamless integration is particularly important as more consumers demand real-time banking services. 

47% of U.S. consumers expect faster payment services and instant approvals when interacting with their financial institutions. 

PYMNTS.com

Open banking enables exactly that, helping users avoid delays and streamline their financial lives.

The Path Forward for Open Banking in America

While the US. is still in the early stages of fully adopting open banking, there is clear momentum building. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s new rules will govern consumer financial data rights,  with open banking likely to become more widespread rapidly, offering consumers all the benefits of a more competitive, personalized, and secure financial ecosystem.

The adoption of open banking in America represents a massive shift toward consumer empowerment. From increased control over personal finances to better access to tailored services, reduced fees, enhanced security, and faster transactions, open banking holds the potential to revolutionize the way Americans manage their money. While the regulatory framework continues to evolve, the benefits of open banking for US consumers are undeniable, making it a promising development for the future of financial services.

Find out how Qorbis will use open banking to deliver seamless and efficient banking for consumers and businesses - talk to us today.

Connecting with fans across fragmented digital channels is increasingly challenging. For sports teams, music artists, and influencers, Qorbis has emerged as a groundbreaking solution to this challenge, allowing brands in this space to not only engage, but also monetize their fan bases.

Combining loyalty, payments, and fan engagement, Qorbis offers organizations a unique platform to drive meaningful interactions, deepen loyalty, generate valuable insights, and drive ROI.

What makes the Qorbis Fan Engagement Platform unique?

At its core, the Qorbis Fan Engagement Platform is an all-in-one solution that unites content, data, and payments into a single app. Unlike traditional fan engagement tools, which often struggle with fragmented interactions spread across various channels, Qorbis provides a cohesive, centralized experience. This open platform aggregates a brand’s social channels, integrates a card program, and captures both engagement and transaction data. The result? Richer customer insights that enable hyper-personalized offers, deals, and discounts.

Another key differentiator is the platform's 360-degree customer profile capability. By combining content engagement data with payment transaction data, Qorbis creates comprehensive profiles that reveal not only how fans interact with content but also how they spend money. This data-driven approach allows organizations to make informed decisions, deliver personalized experiences, and maximize fan loyalty.

How does Qorbis deliver a win-win-win for brands, fans, and sponsors?

The Qorbis Fan Engagement Platform delivers powerful advantages for all stakeholders involved.

For brands:

For fans:

For sponsors and partners:

A Data-Driven Future for Fan Engagement

Qorbis is leading the next generation of fan engagement propositions with its broad data sources. Brands get visibility of the complete user journey: from content engagement to transactions, allowing them to build far richer 360 customer profiles than ever before. 

Organizations leveraging Qorbis can also tap into new revenue streams, minimize operational costs, and provide a superior fan experience—all while capturing deep, actionable insights. Whether it’s sports, music, or other entertainment sectors, Qorbis empowers brands to maximize fan engagement and loyalty like never before.

In a world where consumers with emotional brand connections have a 306% higher lifetime value, Qorbis is a powerful tool for transforming casual fans into loyal, high-spending "fanatics."

Qorbis is more than just a fan engagement platform; it’s a new marketing channel that combines the power of loyalty programs, payment data, and AI-driven insights to create limitless experiences for fans and endless opportunities for brands. 

Book a demo and see how we can help transform your relationship with your fans.

First we unbundled. Now, we’re rebundling. The latest evolution of banking is here and fintechs are ensuring it’s a better solution for businesses and consumers.

When fintech unbundled the banking industry in the 2010’s it signaled the start of change the likes of which the industry had arguably never seen. Rather than rely on the entrenched relationships they had with traditional incumbents, customers suddenly had a choice. A choice of products and ultimately, better value.

Like any major change in an industry, however, it became apparent that there were shortfalls in what this new way of banking could deliver. Unbundling meant customer service was disjointed and opportunities for brand loyalty for almost non-existent. 

It was time for the next phase of fintech. A new phase that built on lessons learned from unbundling that delivered its benefits, overcame the downsides and more. 

Enter: rebundling. 

The Problem With Unbundling

In the past, success as a fintech meant being a master of a single solution. A solution to a financial challenge that was better and cheaper than the solutions offered by a bank.

“Unbundling: the shift from department stores to boutiques.”

International Banker

By unbundling traditional bank services, fintechs could specialize in singular areas: savings or mobile payments, for instance. It was the very opposite of the jack-of-all-trades approach that banks had been operating under. Retail analogies abounded:

“For decades, the bank has been a ‘supermarket’ for our financial needs. The bank pays once to acquire you as a customer but can cross-sell multiple products over the course of your relationship. The hub of it all was the ‘free’ current account – one of the great customer acquisition tools of all time. Of the above services, the bank can give you one to three for ‘free’ and seek to make revenue from doing the other jobs. Because you spend a lot of time engaging with your bank, when you need something else related, they are the natural starting point.”

Deloitte

Unbundling allowed users to rethink this natural starting point. A proliferation of ‘compare’ websites helped, offering an easy way to look outside the traditional bank box and at fintech-driven options. While this had benefits for customers – and the fintechs taking advantage of the changes – it also had significant downsides. 

Huge competition meant the market was dispersed. The result was poor value proposition and an often disjointed customer experience. The convenience of a one-stop-shop was lost as was the opportunity for brands to develop a deep understanding of their customers and offer products and services accordingly. 

Banks and fintechs were at war. Collaboration was a dirty word. 

Now, thanks to an evolved and highly competitive market, fintechs are rebundling it all back up again and cooperation is back on the menu. This isn’t a movement back towards the original banking model, though. It’s a complete rethinking. 

The Next Phase: Rebundling

Unbundling may have had some downsides but overall it meant a realisation that change was possible. That better banking was possible, and that fintechs were the most likely vehicle for driving this change. 

“[Fintechs] have grown from a sideshow to the elephant in the room for banks. By engaging customers in their daily lives to solve specific financial needs with a distinctive experience while delivering back useful customer insights with advanced analytics, these digital companies have gained customers by the millions and a rapt audience of investors attracted to their compelling growth story.” 

S&P Global Research

And true to their entrepreneurial roots, fintechs are now leading the rebundling of the industry.

Instead of challenging singular verticals, fintechs have rebundled and are focussed on offering products and services that offer value as well as a seamless user experience and the benefits of brand loyalty. 

Shopping for a whole product suite (and more – we’ll delve into that later) in supermarket-style was originally popular for a reason. Convenience and one source of trust are powerful aspects of the decision-making process. There’s a strong case for this style of banking – but we now know that this doesn’t have to be in the form of a traditional bank. Evolved fintechs can offer all of this while still offering the type of innovation and value that drove the unbundling phase in the first place.

The benefits don’t just lie with customers though. 

Being a single source for multiple points of products and services means new, evolved fintechs can build a wealth of customer data. Data that they and the brands they partner with can use to gain insight into the financial behavior of their customers and make decisions accordingly. 

A rebundled future

The most competitive fintechs in the future will be those that offer the elements of a bank – loans, savings accounts etc. – as well as additional and complementary products and services. We’re entering a time in which users might sign up for a credit card through the same brand that might shop for energy deals, secure insurance or receive bespoke offers. 

Traditional banking is still on the rebundling journey, thanks to cooperation with startups as they optimize internal processes and customer journeys, launch joint products, and create an ecosystem of financial services around the bank. 

study by Cornerstone Advisors found that nearly two-thirds of banks and credit unions had partnered with at least one fintech in the past three years. Of those who hadn’t, 37% planned to partner with a fintech in the next year.

Many agree though that the horse already has bolted. That the incumbents have been too slow to change and that the gap is now too wide for them to close. That naturally agile fintechs will outpace banking in this new phase of rebundling, a position that will be emphasized as digital-native generations like Gen Z reach decision-making age.  

One thing is for sure: it’s good news for customers. 

“The overriding driver in all of this innovation is how the experience can be improved (securely) for the customer.”

The Payments Association
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We pride ourselves on cutting out the jargon and communicating in simple, easy-to-understand language. But fintech is a jargon-heavy sector - even the word fintech (that’s shorthand for financial technology) is jargon.

Get to grips with what everyone else is really saying with our insider’s glossary - updated regularly.

Application Programming Interface (API). A set of protocols that facilitates communication between two applications. APIs allow the creation of applications that access data from and the features of third parties.

API economy. The ecosystem of APIs. In an API economy, businesses leverage and monetize APIs to create new services, integrate with partners, and enhance their offerings.

Banking as a Service (BaaS). A model that allows a licensed provider to integrate financial products and services into a non-financial service brand’s own environment. This is done using APIs and a white-labeled front end.

Bank Identification Number (BIN). Also referred to as an Issuer Identification Number (IIN). This is the initial four to six numbers on a payment card that identifies the institution that issues the card. BINs are vital to the process of matching transactions to the issuer of the charge card.

Blockchain. A shared database or ledger that collects information into digital blocks. This decentralized approach means the sharing of these blocks of information is easier and cheaper.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). A short-term financing product that allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them later. BNPL is one of the fastest-growing digital financial products. This is in part due to the speed of approval, term flexibility, low-to-no-interest, and no credit impact if paid on time.

Cross-border payments. Transactions involving individuals, banks, companies, and other entities in which the payee and the recipient operate from different countries. These could be wholesale, retail, or recurring transactions.

CX. Shorthand for customer experience. CX refers to a customer’s entire experience of a brand. It includes the journey from marketing to post-sales service and everything in between.

Cybersecurity. The practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, or damage.

Digital identity. The electronic representation of an individual's personal information. This is used for authentication, verification, and access to online services.

Digital wallet. An electronic device or software that allows individuals to store, manage, and make electronic transactions. Examples include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.

Electronic Funds Transfer (eFt). Any transfer of funds initiated electronically. This includes card payments, cash machine/ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale (Pos), and debit transfers without requiring the intervention of bank staff.

Financial inclusion. The effort to provide access to affordable and quality financial services to all. Some individuals and businesses who are traditionally underserved or excluded from the mainstream financial system benefit most from financial inclusion.

Fintech as a Service (FaaS). When any company uses fintech APIs to embed financial capabilities into their existing applications, products and services. Sound familiar? FaaS is pretty much interchangeable with BaaS, but is fast becoming the preferable term in this fast-growing industry.

Know Your Customer (KYC). Standards used within the financial services industry to protect all parties from risk. This is done through the mandatory verification and authentication of a customer’s identity. All legal and financial institutions must validate their customers’ Proof of Identity (POI) and Proof of Address (POA) to prevent illegal or fraudulent activities.

Metaverse. The next iteration of the Internet. The metaverse is a digital, immersive 3D world that mimics aspects of the physical world using technologies like virtual reality (VR). Research suggests that 25% of people will spend at least one hour a day in a metaverse for work, shopping, education, social media and/or entertainment by 2026.

Open banking. The practice of sharing customer financial information securely. This information is shared with third-party financial service providers through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs).

Payment gateway. An interface between a merchant and the acquirer that allows the acceptance of credit/debit transactions. The technology behind a payment gateway validates card details, ensures sufficient funds, and then enables merchants to get paid.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). A set of standards that protect consumers’ sensitive data. It is applicable to organizations that store/process/transmit cardholder data either as clear or in an encrypted manner.

Point-to-Point Encryption (P2P). Payment encryption. Specifically, customer account data is encrypted at the swipe and decrypted at either a retailer’s switch, a payment gateway, or by the processor depending on the scheme. 

OS financing. Also referred to as point-of-sale financing. This is an increasingly popular style of financial product that offers customers flexible, pay-over-time installment options when completing a sale via e-commerce. BNPL is an example of POS financing. 

PSD2. A European regulation for electronic payment services that aims to make payments more secure, boost innovation, and help banking services adapt to new technologies. 

Regulated sandbox/Regulatory sandbox. A controlled environment provided by regulatory authorities. This environment allows fintech startups to test and experiment with innovative products and services under relaxed regulatory conditions.

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). The use of two authentication factors for bank operations that were not previously required. This includes payments and access to accounts online or via apps. It also includes a stricter definition of what counts as an authentication factor.

Tokenization. The process of replacing cardholder data with a random string of characters called Tokens to move sensitive data. This minimizes the threat of fraud or identity theft.

Virtual card. A payment card that exists digitally, rather than as a plastic, physical card. Virtual versions still offers users the same capabilities, though. This includes contactless payments via a smartphone.

White-Label platform. Also referred to as a cleanskin platform. A software platform that can be rebranded by a third party, allowing a bank or lender to put their stamp on a platform. These platforms are generally developed by a third party (often a fintech).

Remember, this glossary provides a brief overview of common terms. There may be more detailed definitions and variations within each term.

Regulatory and compliance measures in digital banking have become increasingly important as technology continues to transform the finance and banking industry. With the rise of online banking, mobile payments, and financial technology (fintech) innovations, regulatory bodies are faced with a crucial task: to adapt and develop frameworks to address the unique challenges and risks associated with digital financial services.

This framework serves as the foundation for maintaining a secure and transparent financial system, protecting businesses and consumers, and preventing illicit activities.  

Regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act, and Bank Secrecy Act are in place to prevent fraud, money laundering, and illegal activities. Governments and regulatory bodies put these in place to ensure fair and ethical practices, protect the interests of consumers, and maintain the stability and integrity of the financial system.  

This article explores the main pillars of regulatory and compliance measures in American banking and finance, with a focus on the evolving fintech and digital banking sectors. 

Cybersecurity and Data Protection 

Digital banking brings with it a heightened need for robust cybersecurity measures and data protection. Regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), have established guidelines and requirements for financial institutions. First and foremost this is to safeguard customer data and protect against cyber threats. Compliance measures, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), provide additional frameworks for ensuring the privacy and security of customer information. 

Digital Identity Verification and Authentication 

As digital banking expands, the challenge of verifying the identity of customers and ensuring secure authentication becomes crucial. Regulatory bodies are working on establishing standards and guidelines for digital identity verification processes, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. These measures aim to prevent identity theft, fraud, and money laundering by implementing robust identity verification procedures and multi-factor authentication protocols. 

READ MORE:

Bridging the digital divide: Does digital banking need a human touch?

Regulatory Sandboxes and Innovation 

To foster innovation in the digital banking space while maintaining regulatory oversight, some jurisdictions have introduced regulatory sandboxes. These sandboxes allow fintech companies and startups to test new products and services in a controlled environment, while regulatory authorities monitor their operations. This approach encourages innovation, facilitates collaboration between regulators and industry players, and helps strike a balance between innovation and compliance. 

Consumer Protection and Dispute Resolution 

In the digital banking realm, consumer protection is of paramount importance. Regulatory bodies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), enforce regulations that ensure fair practices, transparency, and effective dispute-resolution mechanisms. These measures help protect consumers from fraudulent activities, unauthorized transactions, and unfair practices in digital financial services. 

Cross-Border Regulations 

With the global nature of digital banking services, cross-border regulatory cooperation is vital. Regulatory bodies across different jurisdictions collaborate to establish frameworks that facilitate international transactions, mitigate risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing, and promote regulatory harmonization. Initiatives such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision work towards aligning international standards and promoting consistency in regulatory approaches. 

READ MORE:

How digital banking is rising to the challenge of cross-border payments

The financial industry is extremely highly regulated in the USA and globally. As digital banking continues to reshape the finance and banking industry, regulatory and compliance measures must keep pace with technological advancements. By addressing cybersecurity risks, enhancing data protection, establishing identity verification protocols, fostering innovation through regulatory sandboxes, ensuring consumer protection, and facilitating cross-border cooperation, regulators play a crucial role in creating a secure and trustworthy digital banking environment. Striking the right balance between innovation and compliance is key to unlocking the full potential of digital banking while safeguarding the interests of consumers and maintaining the stability of the financial system. 

Qorbis and its partners adhere to the highest standards of regulatory and compliance measures so you can be confident your money is in safe hands. Talk to us about how the FDIC protects your Qorbis account, today. 
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