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Are fintech companies threatening traditional banks?

How much of a threat are fintech companies to traditional banks?

By Pauline BoudonPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Are fintech companies threatening traditional banks?
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Are fintech companies threatening traditional banks? It's not the first time people have asked this question. Back in the 90s, everyone was asking "Are financial services companies challenging banks?" or "Will the Internet replace banks?". Those who monitor the financial industry know that the answer to these questions is always "Yes.

Fintech companies may not be considered financial institutions but they are still regulated.

The financial services industry is undergoing a transformation as new disruptors such as fintech companies are challenging the status quo. While some analysts believe that these newcomers will replace traditional banks, others believe that the two can exist together. Fintech companies may not be considered financial institutions but they are still regulated.

Therefore, if your business offers financial services to customers, you are required to be licensed or registered with the relevant regulatory body in your country. This means that you need to keep up with all of their rules and regulations. The main difference between fintech companies and traditional banks is that fintech firms offer more innovative services than traditional banks do — but they don’t offer everything a bank offers.

For example, while a bank will offer checking accounts and savings accounts, it might not offer loans or mortgages. Therefore, if you want those types of products and services, then you would need to go through a traditional bank instead of going straight to a fintech company like LendKey or SoFi (one of our partners).

Fintech companies are more convenient than traditional banks and credit unions.

Fintech companies are disrupting the traditional banking system. The growing popularity of fintech companies, or financial technology firms, is changing the way people bank and spend money. Fintech companies are more convenient than traditional banks and credit unions. They're also cheaper than traditional banks and credit unions, which have high fees for basic services like checking accounts, debit cards and online bill pay.

Many fintech companies are mobile-first businesses that use technology to make banking easier and more convenient for customers. They offer everything from prepaid debit cards to mobile check deposits and budgeting apps. Some even offer services like insurance or mortgages — all through a smartphone app. Traditional banks don't always offer these features at competitive prices — sometimes because they're reluctant to change their business model or because they're legally required by regulators to do things differently than fintech companies do them.

But there's another reason why fintechs put pressure on traditional banks: They often offer better customer service than traditional banks do.

Fintech companies do not offer the same services as banks and credit unions

Are fintech companies threatening traditional banks? The answer is no. Fintech companies do not offer the same services as banks and credit unions. They are different businesses with different offerings, different customers and different goals. Fintech companies don't have your money on deposit. They provide financial services through online platforms for consumers and small businesses, but they are not financial institutions.

They also don't have bank charters, so they are not subject to banking regulations like capital requirements, liquidity requirements or FDIC insurance that apply to traditional banks and credit unions. Fintech companies do provide some of the same types of services as banks: Mobile payments: Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay allow customers to pay for purchases with their mobile devices at merchants that accept contactless payments.

Venmo is an electronic peer-to-peer payment system that allows users to make or receive payments from friends through a mobile app or website. PayPal allows users to send money between email addresses or accounts instantly by entering an email address or scanning a QR code from their mobile device's camera roll.

Square Cash lets users send cash via text message from their smartphones without having a Square account.

Banks, credit unions, and fintech companies can coexist for the benefit of consumers.

The financial industry is undergoing a period of rapid change. New technology is making it easier for people to manage their money, and the rise of fintech companies is a major reason why. Banks, credit unions and fintech companies can coexist for the benefit of consumers. All three have different strengths and weaknesses that complement each other.

What are fintech companies? Fintech companies are startups that provide financial services online. These include payment apps like Venmo, online banking services like Ally Bank and money management tools such as Mint.com. Fintech companies have been growing rapidly in recent years, with many earning big valuations from investors who see them as future disruptors in the industry.

Some believe they could replace traditional banks altogether; others say banks will always be needed because they offer essential services like checking accounts and debit cards. Why should banks care about fintech? As more people start using fintech products instead of traditional banking services, banks risk losing customers and revenue — both of which would hurt their bottom lines significantly over time.

All in All...

Fintech companies are changing the way that banks think about technology. Fintech is a growing industry that is here to stay, and it's allowing financial institutions to grow while innovating faster than they ever would have without fintech. This new way of thinking has big implications for the banking industry, and an uncertain future—but it doesn't necessarily spell doom and gloom for traditional financial institutions.

After all, fintech exists because consumers want banks to improve. In other words, customers want more convenience—and this is something that banks can provide with the help of fintech.

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About the Creator

Pauline Boudon

👋 I'm a Finance afficionado and happy writer. I love Finance and technology. I hope so much you will enjoy my posts & articles!

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