Disruptors

The U.S. is steadily building the foundation of a nationwide faster payments system, but not all of the pieces are connected. Many of the elements developed independently, with influence from across the globe.

Fintech firms and millennial-focused advisers are providing advice on student loan refinancing, with the expectation that over time it will eventually lead to new business, in the form of brokerage and retirement accounts.

Many times, bitter rivals must set aside their differences for the common good. This has happened a lot in recent years as the payments industry adjusts to the fast pace of innovation.

Hedgeable sees the peer-to-peer business and personal loans as an alternative to fixed-income investments that are traditionally offered through exchange-traded funds.

Now that Verizon has nailed down a deal to buy Yahoo's search and advertising business, it's starting to look a lot more like Google — and it might even have the tools to take a second stab at the payments industry.

Visa and Mastercard both face the prospect of becoming "dumb pipes" as other companies innovate on top of their networks. To combat this trend, both are taking steps to be major players in the digital economy.

Of the 10 fintech startups that pitched their wares at startupbootcamp FinTech New York on Wednesday, half plan to sell their software to banks. Only a few vie to take on established players.

N26, a Berlin startup that offers financial services directly to consumers, said Thursday it's received a German banking license that will let it offer a fuller range of products across Europe.

Wells Fargo plans to pilot a digital advice platform in early 2017, according to a high-ranking executive at the wirehouse.

The fragmentation of the U.S. regulatory system and uncertainty around what agencies will regulate fintech firms could slow down innovation.