Cloud computing

Deloitte is partnering with five blockchain companies as it seeks practical uses for the emerging technology in its consulting business.

IBM has released a set of blockchain cloud services built to meet security and compliance standards for companies in regulated industries — particularly, financial services, health care and government.

NCino, a vendor of cloud-based banking technology, has added deposit account opening to its platform.

R3 CEV, the blockchain consortium backed by some of the largest global banks, has partnered with Microsoft to accelerate the deployment of distributed ledger technology.

Rather than replace aging servers and add an on-site backup system, The Eastern Colorado Bank moved its IT infrastructure to the cloud. While some bankers fear outsourcing such systems, the community bank has had a hosted core for several years.

The blockchain could move from testing to reality, APIs are likely to expand, and more functions will move to the cloud as banks look for ways to fend off fintechs in 2016.

Next year, look for banks to finally start putting mission-critical applications on public cloud services, with Capital One leading the way.

Umpqua Holdings wants other banks to join its recently announced innovation lab in Silicon Valley. The company says if smaller banks pool resources they can compete with the deep pockets of the big banks in disruption.

Major cloud, consulting and software providers like Microsoft and Deloitte are plugging "blockchain as a service" for financial institutions that want to experiment with this technology without making huge investments.

The core-processing vendor FIS wants to dream big like fintech startups when it comes to developing future services, but it also seeks to be large enough to offer multiple services in an era when banks are cutting back on third-party providers.

So-called containers can lessen the IT workload and help companies bring applications into the cloud. New security and management tools, like automatic patching, are bringing containers into the mainstream.

Q2, in Austin, Texas, paid $10.6 million to acquire all outstanding interests in Social Money, according to a Tuesday news release. The purchase price was subject to a customary working capital adjustment.

The proliferation of easy-to-use analytics tools has allowed community banks to do what used to take teams of quants to accomplish. Some are using it to get an edge in M&A, others are using it to improve efficiency.

Community banks are embracing branch innovations to deliver a more personalized experience to customers, and differentiate themselves from larger competitors.

Nasdaq has unveiled its blockchain technology initiative. The platform uses blockchain technology to issue shares for privately held companies on the Nasdaq Private Market and record their transfers. Clients receive a comprehensive record of issuance and transfer.

To identify fintech startups deserving of special recognition this year as part of the FinTech Forward program, a team of American Banker editors, BAI staff and industry members debated the merits of self-nominees and companies we know.

Swift CEO Gottfried Leibbrandt talks about how the global messaging network is looking to stay relevant to its bank members; the potential and limitations of blockchain technology; and his views on the startups looking to disrupt banking.

Fintech firm Tanium says it has found a unique method for securing the tens of thousands of vulnerable points in the computer networks of banks and other companies.

Iron Mountain, the leading provider of document storage, is buying its main rival. If the merged company tried to raise prices, it might be the final straw that motivates banks to shift data storage to the cloud.

A data breach-related court case involving Wyndham hotels and new Defense Department rules governing contractors provide banks some dos and don'ts in bringing vendors' security practices into line.