EMEA Daily: Flutterwave Adds Google Pay for African Businesses

Today in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (EMEA), the pan-African payment firm Flutterwave announced that merchants using its business platform will now be able to accept payments via Google Pay. In the U.K., Liverpool Football Club is expanding its partnership with NFT fantasy sports startup Sorare.

Flutterwave Adds Google Pay Integration for African Businesses

Pan-African payment platform Flutterwave on Thursday (Sept. 22) announced a Google Pay integration that will allow merchants using Flutterwave for business, the San Francisco-based firm’s eCommerce platform, to accept the payment method.

In a press release announcing the news, Flutterwave said Google Pay users in supported countries across the world can now pay businesses on Flutterwave across Africa. To get paid via Google Pay, merchants simply have to opt in from their Flutterwave dashboard.

Lithuanian Watchdog Launches Probe Into Revolut Data Breach

Digital bank Revolut is being investigated by a regulator in Lithuania following a data breach earlier this month that exposed sensitive information on 50,150 customers, including those in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The State Data Protection Inspectorate (SDPI) opened an investigation after being alerted of a personal data breach (PDB) from Revolut, according to a statement from the regulator. Preliminary data showed that an unknown actor likely gained access to the Revolut database by using malicious social engineering tactics.

Of the customers exposed worldwide, 20,687 were from the EEA and 379 were from Lithuania, according to the statement. Data potentially affected includes names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, part of the payment card data and other account details.

EMEA FinTech NORD.Investments, Mastercard Team on Open Banking Payments

Mastercard company Aiia is collaborating with NORD.Investments to allow more open banking payments in Denmark’s largest independent digital investment advisor platform, a press release from Mastercard said.

The customers for NORD.Investments have seen challenges while adding funds to the investment platform, with the process involving going through the online bank and manually entering investment account details to move money.

Through Mastercard’s open banking network, NORD.Investments will facilitate customers’ account-to-account payments in a single unifying investment platform, making it quicker and easier and cutting down the possibility of errors.

Liverpool FC Expands NFT Fantasy Sports Partnership With Sorare

The English soccer team, Liverpool Football Club (Liverpool FC) announced on its website Thursday that it is deepening its partnership with the French company Sorare, which operates player-owned fantasy sports games that issue virtual collectible cards as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Liverpool FC first joined forces with Sorare last year, launching digital cards of first-team players — including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk — on Sorare’s platform.

The expanded partnership will see Liverpool FC and Sorare collaborate on “multimedia fan content and release new unique experiences for Reds fans and Sorare’s managers,” the post states.

Citi to Exit UK Retail Banking, Focus on Wealthiest Customers

Citigroup is planning to end its retail banking operations in the U.K., shifting its focus to its wealthiest clients.

According to a Wednesday (Sept. 21) press release, Citi is inviting its wealthier customers to begin using its private banking services as it scales down its retail business. Customers who don’t meet the criteria for this new service will see their accounts closed.

“Citi has begun the process of collectively consulting with employees of its UK retail bank in more detail about the proposal,” the bank said in a statement. “No final decision can be taken until that process concludes.”

The bank reportedly added that “the overwhelming majority of clients would not be affected until 2023.” Citi has one branch in the U.K., based at Canary Wharf in London.

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