It’s an odd, and unwelcome, test of new retail technology that allows consumers to shop with minimal interaction with others.

The heads of the two companies explain how the deal came about, what hurdles they face and how they plan to mash up their very different operations.

Under the partnership with Fundation, Fifth Third will offer loans and credit lines up to $100,000 that can be funded in as little as a day.

The startup’s tools help banks and consumers deter account takeover in the aftermath of a data breach.

Akoya has been building a data-sharing network that gives fintechs access to bank account data through application programming interfaces as an alternative to screen scraping. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Capital One are among its new owners.

LendingClub and Varo Money are making inroads into the traditional financial system, but other fintechs still face long odds.

Some institutions say the combination of chatbots and social media could entice new borrowers, but burdensome legacy systems may limit their effectiveness.

The challenge for other fintechs will be to find banks that are as compatible as Radius Bank, an online-only lender, is for LendingClub.

The move comes as the fintech tries to shake off criticism that its main products are payday loans by another name.

When established card networks such as Visa, American Express and Mastercard start investing in fintech lending platforms such as Divido and ChargeAfter — as well as in the fintech lenders themselves such as Klarna and Vyze — it’s a clear signal that the future of unsecured personal loans may not be delivered by banks.

The game has changed and bank executives will have to do more homework before striking a deal.

Clearer standards make it easier for shareholders to boost their stakes in banks without having to file for bank holding company status.

The deal for Boston-based Radius would be the first in history in which an online lender buys a mainstream bank.

Consumer advocates and policymakers are railing against use of the technology by government, universities and others. Banks using it for authentication need to tread cautiously, experts say.

Binance Holdings Ltd., one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency-trading platforms, has made its first foray into business services by lending its technology and liquidity to those who want to start their own exchanges.

As faster payments change how quickly companies get paid, these same organizations are looking to add speed to the way they manage internal expenses.

Long-term success in the adoption of cloud technology requires a focus and integration of cloud within the broader business transformation plan, says Unisys' Maria Allen.

"To wake up one day and assume everyone in America is going to be above average at math and above average rational is crazy," says Ethan Bloch, whose app is designed to help people achieve financial health.

Want to satisfy regulators and better compete with the big banks? Here's where to start.

Wells Fargo appears to be outpacing its rivals in the API race; CFPB's unexpected showdown with Citizens; Varo gets vital FDIC OK for bank charter; and more from this week's most-read stories.