Open Bank & Universal Banking API: Future or Utopia? [INTERVIEW]

The recent Barcampbank in Paris was very well attended with an energized crowd mainly from Paris but also a few participants from other countries such as the UK or Germany.  Two members of the 'Open Bank Project' team came all the way from Berlin to talk us through their game changing concept of universal banking API to drive transparency in financial services and fight corruption. 
  
I invite you to watch my video with the man who came up with the idea.

SPEAR.fr: l'Epargne Solidaire 'a la Banca Civica' en 'Marque Blanche'

La semaine derniere, je me suis deplace a Paris pour contribuer a la 7eme edition du BarCampBank Paris ou j'ai passe une excellente journee avec pres d'une centaine de passiones de l'innovation bancaire.  
 
A l'occasion de ce deplacement parisien, j'ai filme quelques interviews au Credit Agricole (CAStore et SDK) a la Societe Generale (iPad, twitter), et avec quelques startups innovantes au BarCamp, dont SPEAR.fr.

Si vous etes lecteur regulier du blog Visible Banking, vous comprendrez tout de suite ma comparaison de cette nouvelle plateforme a Caja Navarra (maintenant membre foundateur du groupe 'Banca Civica') l'une des banques les plus transparentes au monde...

French P2P Lending Pioneer Reopens After Long Quiet Period [INTERVIEW]

In the last couple of years, many P2P lending companies had to shut down temporarily due to pressure from the regulator.  It happened to the leading online communities in the US, Prosper.com and LendingClub, and to the pioneers in social lending this side of the pond too.  
 
FriendsClear.com, the French P2P lending community started a 'quiet period' back in April 2011.  Yesterday, after nine months of hard work behind close doors, they are open for business again.
  
I invite you to watch my video interview with FirendsClear.com's Co-Founder and CEO. 

BarCampBank Paris: 80+ Crowd Shapes the Future of Banking [COVERAGE]

As mentioned in a previous article, I was in Paris on Saturday to participate to the 7th edition of the BarCampBank Paris.  The event was extremely well attended with over 80 energized participants, all willing to engage in (occasionally heated) conversations on the broad topic of innovation in banking.
 
A big thank you to the organizers for putting together such a successful 'un-conference': Christophe Ducamp (la Maison Ducamp), Kristell Le Nadan (Pole Finance Innovation), Emmanuel Papadacci (Credit Agricole) and Nicolas Debock (XAnge).  I hope I am not forgetting anyone.
  
Now, I invite you to check my coverage of the event which includes about 60 pictures and video interviews.

Visible Banking Covers BarCampBank Paris: Big Data, Innovation, Mobile

I am not sure how familiar you are with the very concept of "unconference" and the "BarCamp" movement?  In the last few years, a group of passionate banking innovators organized a number of similar events all over the world, events focused on the finance industry, the "BarCampBanks".   
As far as I am concerned, I had the opportunity to attend three BarCampBanks: BarCampBank London #1 and #2, BarCampBank Madrid #2.
 
Last week, Christophe Ducamp, one of the main organizers of the BarCampBank Paris #7, invited me to participate in Paris on Saturday 28 January.  And thanks to Emmanuel Papadacci for his contribution. ;)
 
If you are working in financial services in the area of innovation, digital, mobile or payments I strongly recommend you attend this event, for at least two good reasons: