Fintech

Fintech Brief — March 15, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. India’s Neobank Fi Discontinues Banking Services India’s neobank Fi is discontinuing banking services on its platform more than four years after launching them in partnership with Federal Bank. Customers who opened accounts through the Fi app received emails stating that banking services will soon be discontinued, directing them to access their savings accounts through Federal Bank’s mobile app. Founded in 2019 by former Google Pay India executives Sujith Narayanan and Sumit Gwalani, Fi launched its app-based banking service in partnership with Federal Bank in 2021 to offer digital savings accounts and money management tools aimed at younger users. Federal Bank confirmed the partnership ending as part of “business re-alignment,” with new users no longer able to open savings accounts through the Fi app. 1 ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Saturday | March 14, 2026 Focus: Consumer Rights — Complaints, Fraud, and Safeguards Coverage Period: March 7-14, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s Consumer Rights themed deep dive examines critical developments in Indian fintech that directly impact consumer protection. The FBI’s joint crackdown with Indian authorities exposed a massive $48 million call center scam network affecting 660 victims in the US, highlighting the growing cross-border nature of financial fraud. Meanwhile, IDFC First Bank’s $70 million fraud settlement and Fi’s abrupt discontinuation of banking services for 3.5 million customers underscore the importance of robust consumer safeguards in India’s rapidly evolving digital finance ecosystem. These developments come amid increased global scrutiny of scam operations across Southeast Asia. ...

Fintech Brief — March 14, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. India’s Neobank Fi Discontinues Banking Services India’s neobank Fi is winding down its banking services on the platform, marking a significant shift in the country’s digital banking landscape. The company, founded in 2019 by former Google Pay India executives Sujith Narayanan and Sumit Gwalani, launched its app-based banking service in partnership with Federal Bank in 2021 to offer digital savings accounts and money management tools aimed at younger users. ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Friday | March 13, 2026 Focus: Policy & Regulation (RBI, SEBI, compliance) Coverage Period: March 6-13, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s regulatory developments in Indian fintech showcase a significant push towards enhanced security, transparency, and consumer protection. The Reserve Bank of India continues to modernize digital payment authentication frameworks with mandatory two-factor authentication, while simultaneously strengthening customer liability protections. SEBI has escalated its technology-driven enforcement against investment scams, mandating social media disclosures for regulated entities. Meanwhile, the regulatory landscape is evolving to address emerging challenges in the fintech space, with both regulators emphasizing substance over form in their supervisory approach. ...

CashlessWatch Stock Market Summary — March 13, 2026 Data Status: Pre-market — Market opens 9:15 AM IST Timestamp: 08:15 AM IST Market Status: Weak global cues, oil surge continues 📊 Indices — Previous Day Close (March 12) Index Prev Close Change % Change Nifty 50 23,639.15 -227.70 🔴 -0.95% Nifty Bank 55,100.95 -634.80 🔴 -1.14% FinNifty 25,663.20 +2,128.00* 🟢 +9.04%* Nifty IT 29,579.45 +129.45* 🟢 +0.44%* SGX Nifty ~23,400* - 🔴 ~-1.0%* *Estimated based on available data; SGX Nifty unavailable at time of writing ...

Fintech Brief — March 13, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. RBI Launches Digital Payments Awareness Program in Maharashtra The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a pilot programme titled “Awareness Program on Digital Payments” to promote safe and widespread adoption of digital payments across the country. The pilot is being conducted in Maharashtra in partnership with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd, as part of the sixth edition of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW), observed during March 9-13, 2026. ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Thursday | March 12, 2026 Focus: International & Cross-Border (Global fintech, UPI abroad, remittances) Coverage Period: March 5-12, 2026 Executive Summary This week’s international fintech developments highlight India’s growing integration into global payment networks, with Swift’s new retail framework positioning India among priority corridors. Cross-border payment infrastructure continues to attract significant capital, with TransFi processing over $1 billion and raising targets to $5 billion. Meanwhile, stablecoin-based payments are gaining mainstream traction, and India’s digital commerce ecosystem is seeing strategic repositioning ahead of anticipated IPOs. ...

CashlessWatch Stock Market Summary — March 12, 2026 Data Status: Market closed yesterday (March 11) with steep losses Timestamp: 08:20 AM IST Market Status: Pre-market open expected at 9:15 AM IST 📊 Indices — Previous Day Close (March 11) Index Prev Close Change % Change Nifty 50 23,866.85 -394.75 🔴 -1.63% Nifty Bank 55,735.75 -1,212.90 🔴 -2.13% FinNifty 23,535.20* - 🔴 -2.0%* Nifty IT 29,450.00* - 🔴 -1.2%* SGX Nifty 23,900.00 -375.00 🔴 -1.56% *Estimated based on sector performance ...

Fintech Brief — March 12, 2026 Today’s Top Stories 1. RBI Allows UPI Access for Prepaid Payment Instruments The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a significant circular in March 2026, permitting full-KYC compliant Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) to be linked with UPI-enabled apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. This landmark decision allows users to make and receive UPI payments directly from their digital wallets and prepaid instruments, significantly enhancing interoperability and convenience in India’s digital payment ecosystem. ...

Fintech Deep Dive — Wednesday | March 11, 2026 Focus: Consumer Fintech — Neobanks, BNPL, and Insurance Coverage Period: March 4-11, 2026 (Last 7 days) Executive Summary This week’s consumer fintech landscape reveals a sector in transformation. Globally, neobanks are pushing beyond their roots toward full banking licenses, while embedded insurance emerges as the next big growth vector. In India, the consumer fintech ecosystem continues to evolve with the upcoming PhonePe IPO and the growing convergence between e-commerce and financial services. The lines between payments, lending, and insurance are blurring as platforms build integrated financial ecosystems. AI-driven personalization and fraud prevention remain critical differentiators as consumer fintech companies compete for wallet share in an increasingly crowded market. ...