Klarna/Apple Upgrade, Extract Alpha And AI Agents Among This Week’s Fintech News
Klarna/Apple Upgrade
Klarna is the leasing provider behind the Apple Upgrade program, a new hardware leasing option available from Apple in the United States.
Apple Upgrade offers a new way to pay for eligible iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. Customers can select from 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month leasing options for Mac and iPad. Trade-ins can lower monthly payments.
Extract Alpha launches stock selection signal
Transcripts AI Model is an upgraded NLP-based stock selection signal designed to extract predictive insights from earnings call transcripts. The model uses contextual embeddings and machine learning to capture deeper language patterns associated with future stock performance. The Transcripts AI Model includes Global English, based on English-language earnings calls across the US, Americas ex-US, EMEA, and APAC; and Japan, based on Japanese-language earnings calls from SCRIPTS Asia.
CryptEscrow, First American Title, to expand crypto-backed real estate transactions
The partnership gives buyers holding digital assets a straightforward way to convert cryptocurrency into U.S. dollars for residential and commercial real estate purchases, while preserving the familiar closing experience expected by buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. By integrating CryptEscrow’s cryptocurrency settlement capabilities into First American’s network, title agents can support a broader range of transactions without adding unnecessary complexity to the closing process.
Opportun unveils smart billing feature
Opportun’s Smart Bills is an AI-powered feature designed to help members of its Set & Save product prepare for ongoing bills and expenses. Smart Bills help members automatically set aside money for regular bills like rent, utilities, insurance, or subscriptions.
XPlace, Credit Coop to scale card settlement through on-chain credit
The two will finance card settlement through Credit Coop’s credit rails. The new structure reduces XPlace’s reliance on capital deposited in advance to cover card transactions, allowing its settlement capacity to scale as member spending grows.
Form.io launches digital signature solution for regulated industries
Form.io E-Sign+ enables certifiable digital signatures to be embedded directly into applications. E-Sign+ eliminates the need to route users, data, and signature workflows through a separate, third-party service. Features include self-hosted signature creation, cryptographic verification, consolidated infrastructure, full ownership, and PDF support.
Earnin, Workday to integrate
EarnIn is an earnings management company, while Workday is an enterprise AI platform for HR, finance and IT. EarnIn will be integrated into Workday’s Enhanced Direct Deposit Switching experience, enabling access to EarnIn’s earnings management tools
Corpay adds virtual card creation for AI commerce
Agent Card enables secure virtual card creation for AI-driven commerce workflows. Supported services include supplier payments, digital advertising purchases, travel bookings, and procurement workflows
Wise to access Malaysia via PayNet
Wise now has direct access to Malaysiaʼs national payments infrastructure, operated by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet). This integration enables Wise’s support for DuitNow, Malaysia’s national QR standard. It also introduces simpler ways to transfer Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
Wondergate launches Payment SaaS platform
It’s designed to help payment platforms and merchants rapidly build global acquiring capabilities and is backed by Hong Kong MSO and US/Canada MSB licenses.
A single API integration facilitates connectivity to more than 100 global payment methods and local acquiring channels.
Milli, Global Relay confirm AI record partnership
Mili is an AI platform for wealth management firms, while Global Relay provides integrated digital communications and mobile compliance solutions for regulated industries. Through the Global Relay Open Connector API, every record that Mili creates will now be automatically captured and stored in firms’ archives with a complete audit trail.
MoonPay’s PayBox seeks to simplify AI-led commerce
PayBox lets a person’s AI agent transact on the open internet without leaving the conversation. The AI prepares the transaction, and the user approves it with a passkey.
Pinwheel, MeridianLink partnership targets direct deposit and bill switches
Pinwheel’s Switch Kit will be integrated with MeridianLink, so institutions can deploy embedded Direct Deposit Switch and Bill Switch in their digital account onboarding experience.
Juniper Square launches admin oversight agent Fay
Fay prevents restatements, auditor rework, and difficult calls to investors while cutting review work time.
