Weekly FinTech & Financial News
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February 9-13, 2026
Top FinTech Updates this Week
🌟 Y Combinator revised its standard deal terms to add Canada back to its list of accepted countries of incorporation
💼 Navacord, Toronto-based insurance brokerage firm and Acera Insurance, Canada-based insurance brokerage firm are successfully merged to create the a largest privately held insurance brokerage, employee benefits and wealth advisory firm
💼 Beast Industries, owned by YouTube creator MrBeast acquired U.S.-based FinTech platform Step, which focuses on banking and financial education for teens and young adults
🚀 Stripe launched 'Machine Payments', a support for the x402 protocol, allowing developers to charge AI agents and settle using USDC on the Base chain
🚀 Adyen launched Personalize, a new product within its Adyen Uplift payment optimization suite to tailor checkout experiences in real-time
🌟 Alan, France-based insurtech which expanded in Canada last year targets $100M ARR as it triples sales team following rapid growth
🤝 Interac Corp. launched the integration of Interac Debit as an e-commerce payment option for online and in-app payments with Stripe’s customers through participating digital wallets
💼 Lenders API, Toronto-based fraud prevention platform for lender acquired by Trust Science, Edmonton-based FinTech which helps lenders vet prospective borrowers with limited credit histories
Top Financial Institutions Updates this Week
🌟 Erebor Bank become the first to receive a national bank charter under the new administration, is a digital-first bank designed specifically to serve startups, particularly in the defense, AI, and crypto sectors
🚀 RBC Direct Investing launched GoSmart, a new mobile-based solution designed to empower new and aspiring self-directed investors to help them take the first step with confidence
🚀 TD Bank launched new brand platform "More Human", reflecting a digital first, people-centered future
🚀 Scotiabank launched the Scotiabank Accountant Banking Program, tailored to meet the unique professional and business needs of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) and practice owners across Canada
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American Express expanded its long-running partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in a multi-year deal adding USA Basketball and NBA Take-Two Media to American Express’ portfolio. Under a new multi-year agreement, American Express is expanding its partnership with the NBA by increasing its investment in the WNBA, adding USA Basketball and NBA Take-Two Media, and becoming the entitlement partner of NBA Tip-Off and NBA G League Tip-Off, as well as the title sponsor of NBC and Peacock’s halftime show. The deal also includes a connected rewards program with NBA ID offering exclusive perks and expanded presenting sponsorship across NBA-related social channels. | American Express
Stripe launched 'Machine Payments', a support for the x402 protocol, allowing developers to charge AI agents and settle using USDC on the Base chain. Stripe integrates with the PaymentIntents API x402, allowing developers to implement machine payments, suitable for API calls, tool usage, and other scenarios. Transactions are unified in the Stripe dashboard, supporting near-zero fees and instant settlement. Stripe continues to invest in stablecoin infrastructure, incubating the Tempo Layer 1 blockchain, aiming to replace traditional systems like SWIFT. | Binance
Adyen launched Personalize, a new product within its Adyen Uplift payment optimization suite to tailor checkout experiences in real-time. Personalize allows businesses to adjust their checkout pages in real-time based on individual shopper preferences, making it easier for customers to pay while reducing processing costs for the merchant. The all-new Personalize, uses AI to adapt checkouts to shopper behavior, helping businesses increase conversion rates and lower transaction costs. In 2025, Adyen Uplift helped 6,500+ businesses average 1.19% higher conversions than industry baselines, with some reaching 6%. | Adyen
Interac Corp. launched the integration of Interac Debit as an e-commerce payment option for online and in-app payments with Stripe’s customers through participating digital wallets. With this new integration, more businesses can now give Canadians the option to pay with their own money at online checkout. Interac Debit is available to any Canadian merchant using Stripe to power their online shopping transactions and will allow customers who bank with participating financial institutions convenient and secure payments through their digital wallets. SKIP, Canada’s homegrown food delivery service has signed up to offer its customers Interac Debit for in-app wallet purchases through Stripe. | Interac
Interpolitan Money Canada Inc secures Payment Service Provider (PSP) registration under the Retail Payment Activities Act by Bank of Canada. The registration places Interpolitan within Canada’s new federal retail payments oversight regime, which introduces mandatory registration, operational risk controls, safeguarding standards, and incident reporting obligations for payment service providers operating in the market. For Interpolitan, the approval supports a structural enhancement of its North American infrastructure. The Canadian entity now operates within the Bank of Canada’s supervisory perimeter, forming part of the group’s regulated framework supporting complex domestic and cross-border capital flows. | Fintech Finance News
Visa launched Visa & Main, a new platform designed to give small business owners across the United States better access to the resources they need to succeed. Built in direct response to the most pressing challenges entrepreneurs face—access to capital, reaching customers and adopting modern business tools—the platform brings together capabilities across Visa’s network to help small businesses succeed. Three Ways Visa & Main Supports Small Businesses: Business Capital: $100M to Expand Access to Flexible Financing; Business Connect: Helping Entrepreneurs Reach More Customers and Business Essentials: Tools and Training to Help Businesses Grow. | Fintech Finance News
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Erebor Bank become the first to receive a national bank charter under the new administration, is a digital-first bank designed specifically to serve startups, particularly in the defense, AI, and crypto sectors. The approval allows the entity to operate as a bank nationwide, and occurred less than eight months after it applied for a charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Launched by Anduril co-founder Luckey, Erebor received conditional approval from U.S. banking regulators in October. Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale is an investor in the bank, while Peter Thiel has also been widely reported to back the initiative. Erebor plans to serve technology businesses in artificial intelligence, crypto, defense and manufacturing, as well as individuals who work at or invest in them, according to its charter application. | Yahoo! Finance
RBC Direct Investing launched GoSmart, a new mobile-based solution designed to empower new and aspiring self-directed investors to help them take the first step with confidence. GoSmart by RBC Direct Investing combines speed and convenience, commission-free trading, and the ability to invest on your terms. RBC clients can open an account in minutes, transfer funds from their RBC bank account, and start enjoying commission-free trades right away. GoSmart pairs commission-free trading with recurring investments and an easy-to-use mobile experience. For new investors who are unsure of where to start and are seeking a simple, cost-effective way to invest, GoSmart offers an automated investment solution to help them confidently build wealth on their terms. For those with more experience, GoSmart provides users the flexibility to actively select individual stocks and ETFs. | RBC
National Bank Investments' five of its mutual funds and exchange-traded funds is been recognized with Fundata 2025 FundGrade A+® Awards. These awards recognize Canadian investment funds that have maintained a consistently high performance score throughout the previous calendar year. The following NBI Funds and ETFs were recognized by Fundata for their superior performance in 2025: NBI Floating Rate Income Fund; NBI Innovators Fund; NBI U.S. Equity Private Portfolio; NBI Canadian Equity Index Fund and NBI Sustainable Canadian Short Term Bond ETF (NSSB). | National Bank of Canada
CIBC Asset Management is been recognized with seven 2025 FundGrade A+ Awards, highlighting the leading performance of five CIBC mutual funds and two Renaissance Investments mutual funds. These prestigious awards are presented annually to investment funds and their managers who demonstrate consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance over the year. CIBC Asset Management was recognized for the following funds: CIBC International Equity Fund ; CIBC Core Fixed Income Pool ; CIBC MSCI Canadian Equity Index ETF (CCEI) ; Renaissance Global Innovation Fund; Renaissance Canadian Small-Cap Fund; CIBC Balanced Index Fund and CIBC Nasdaq Index Fund. | CIBC
TD Bank launched new brand platform "More Human", reflecting a digital first, people-centered future. The platform unifies TD under a single identity across Canada and the United States for the first time, reinforcing the Bank's commitment to creating simpler, more intuitive experiences shaped around people's needs. To introduce the new brand platform at scale, TD is launching a multimedia campaign across North America, debuting with a 60-second ad during the televised broadcast of football's biggest game in Canada and launching simultaneously in the U.S. across highly visible television and digital channels. This marks the start of a comprehensive, multi-channel rollout of the More Human brand across platforms and touchpoints throughout the year. | TD Bank
Scotiabank launched the Scotiabank Accountant Banking Program, tailored to meet the unique professional and business needs of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) and practice owners across Canada. The program recognizes that accounting practices have distinct cash flow cycles and operational needs. It combines preferred pricing and discounts with access to Scotiabank Professional Banking Specialists, who provide tailored advice and support the unique needs of accountants. The Scotiabank Accountant Banking Program delivers specific, high‑value benefits designed to reduce overhead and simplify day‑to‑day operations through a dedicated, specialized advisor who understands the unique needs of accountants. | Scotiabank
TD Bank confirmed its role as a partner bank of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) Development Group. The DSRB Development Group supports the advancement of the DSRB, an international financial institution whose goal will be to mobilize the capital needed to help NATO members and allied nations finance their capabilities for defence, security and resilience. The DSRB will give governments access to affordable funding and strengthen opportunities across defence, security and resilience supply chains, including small and medium enterprises. | TD Bank
Scotia Global Asset Management's investment teams were recognized with 15 awards at the annual FundGrade A+® Awards, presented by Fundata Canada Inc. The awards celebrate investment funds and managers that have demonstrated outstanding, risk-adjusted performance over the past year. Scotia Global Asset Management's award-winning mutual funds and ETFs for 2025 are: Dynamic Active Ultra Short Term Bond ETF (DXV); Dynamic Active Credit Strategies Private Pool; Scotia Wealth High Yield Income Pool; Dynamic Active Preferred Shares ETF (DXP); Dynamic Preferred Yield Class; Scotia Wealth Canadian Corporate Bond Pool*; Scotia Canadian Growth Fund; Dynamic Active Enhanced Yield Covered Options ETF (DXQ); Scotia Nasdaq Index Fund; Scotia U.S. Equity Fund; Dynamic Power Balanced Fund; Dynamic U.S. Balanced Class; Dynamic Premium Balanced Private Pool Class; Scotia Diversified Balanced Fund; Dynamic Short Term Credit PLUS Fund. | Scotiabank
BMO Exchange Traded Funds and BMO Mutual Funds earned 27 Fundata FundGrade A+® Awards, recognizing consistent, risk-adjusted performance across multiple categories. The FundGrade A+® Awards are presented annually to investment funds and managers that demonstrate outstanding performance over time, drawing on up to ten years of risk‑adjusted return history to identify the industry's top performers. List of Winning BMO ETFs and Mutual Funds: BMO Balanced ETF – (ZBAL); BMO BBB Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZBBB); BMO Canadian Bank Income Index ETF (ZBI); BMO Conservative ETF (ZCON); BMO Equal Weight Global Gold Index ETF (ZGD); BMO Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF (ZEO); BMO Floating Rate High Yield ETF (ZFH); BMO Long Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZLC); BMO Growth ETF (ZGRO); BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB); BMO Mid Provincial Bond Index ETF (ZMP); BMO MSCI All Country World High Quality Index ETF (ZGQ) ; BMO MSCI EAFE Hedged to CAD Index ETF (ZDM); BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF (ZUQ); BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Index ETF (ZNQ); BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP); BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCS); BMO Short-Term US TIPS Index ETF (ZTIP); BMO Short-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF(ZTS); BMO Canadian Income & Growth Fund; BMO Global Dividend Opportunities Fund ; BMO Global Equity Fund; BMO Global Income & Growth Fund; BMO Monthly Dividend Fund Ltd.; BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity ETF Fund; BMO U.S. Dollar Balanced Fund and BMO U.S. Small Cap Fund. | BMO
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Lenders API, Toronto-based fraud prevention platform for lender acquired by Trust Science, Edmonton-based FinTech which helps lenders vet prospective borrowers with limited credit histories. The deal creates Canada’s first industry-wide defence system against coordinated lending fraud. Trust Science intends to integrate Lenders API into its AI-driven risk and decisioning infrastructure to help it prevent fraud, spot identity risks, and make credit decisions. Going forward, Lenders API’s platform will continue to help SMB, consumer, and auto lenders collaboratively spot fraud, with Tal and Gary Schwartz staying on as advisors. | BetaKit
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Navacord, Toronto-based insurance brokerage firm and Acera Insurance, Canada-based insurance brokerage firm are successfully merged to create the a largest privately held insurance brokerage, employee benefits and wealth advisory firm. This merger also reinforces the power of the employee ownership model that has built the foundation for both businesses, now positioning Navacord as one of the largest employee-owned brokerages in Canada, enabling a continued focus on clients, communities and employees. Effective February 2, the transaction formally closed following confirmation of all required regulatory, court and shareholder approvals. | Insurance-Canada.ca
Alan, France-based insurtech which expanded in Canada last year targets $100M ARR as it triples sales team following rapid growth. The expansion follows a health carrier license secured in 2024 and product-market fit achieved in 2025, alongside sustained high customer satisfaction despite strong quarter-over-quarter growth. | LinkedIn
BOXX Insurance, Toronto-based all-in-one cyber insurance and protection firm findings highlight that AI is now embedded within everyday broker workflows as a core capability for Canadian Insurance Brokers. AI is helping them simplify complex cyber risks, surface emerging threats and deliver faster, clearer, and more tailored advice to clients. All cyber and tech insurance Brokers (100%) surveyed reported using AI in their day-to-day work at least multiple times per day. | Insurance-Canada.ca
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Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, and Ripple, US-based crypto solutions provider for businesses, entered a strategic partnership with the intention of tokenising traditional fund structures on the XRP Ledger. Ripple will support Aviva Investors with the initiative as part of its broader effort to bring traditional financial assets with real utility to the XRP Ledger – a decentralized open-source public blockchain that is designed for fast and efficient global financial transactions. The initiative is also the first of its kind for Aviva Investors, as they seek to incorporate tokenised solutions into their existing product offering. The collaboration is anchored in a shared long-term vision, with both parties set to work together closely over 2026 and beyond to bring tokenised funds to the XRP Ledger. | Fintech Finance News
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Y Combinator revised its standard deal terms to add Canada back to its list of accepted countries of incorporation. The accelerator’s standard deal terms webpage was revised at some point between November and January to remove Canada as a supported country, which would have forced Canadian founders to reincorporate their startups in the United States, the Cayman Islands, or Singapore to participate. The change sent shockwaves through a Canadian tech community that was already struggling to keep “high-potential” startups in the country. After more than a week of backlash and discourse, Y Combinator posted that it had added Canada back to its list of accepted countries of incorporation. | BetaKit
Beast Industries, owned by YouTube creator MrBeast acquired U.S.-based FinTech platform Step, which focuses on banking and financial education for teens and young adults. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Beast Industries, bringing together Step's robust technology platform and full-stack FinTech team with Beast Industries’ extensive audience reach and proven track record in philanthropic initiatives. Together, the combined organization will deliver innovative solutions that make financial wellness achievable for people at every step of their life journey. | Business Wire
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Trulioo, a Vancouver-based an identity verification platform is recognized as a BC Top Employer for the second consecutive year and appointed Jana Hill as Chief People Officer. BC’s Top Employers is an annual editorial competition that recognizes the British Columbia employers leading their industries in creating exceptional workplaces. Trulioo was highlighted for its investment in professional development, progressive vacation and personal time policies, and family-friendly programs that promote flexibility, inclusion and employee wellbeing. In conjunction with the award, Trulioo appointed Jana Hill as chief people officer, a newly elevated role that reflects the strategic importance of people and culture to the company’s long-term success. | Fintech Finance News
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Appficiency Inc., Mississauga-based provider of AI-powered enterprise digital transformation received a minority equity investment from the Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF). The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its global expansion strategy, and AI innovation, and broaden its service portfolio across platforms such as Oracle NetSuite, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Appficiency develops proprietary AI solutions like AskCipher, a natural-language interface designed to manage multi-system workflows and enforce organizational governance across existing tech stacks. | FinSMEs
Thomson Reuters, a Toronto-based information provider acquired Noetica, US-based developer of an AI-native platform for corporate transaction intelligence. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. With the deal, Thomson Reuters will extend its CoCounsel AI capabilities by integrating structured market intelligence and benchmarking tools directly into legal workflows. This will enable deal professionals to benchmark key deal terms during transaction negotiations, assist with legal drafting, and offer professional’s deeper transaction data analysis throughout the deal workflow. As part of the acquisition, Noetica brings its AI talent – including AI scientists, PhDs, and legal and finance experts – further expanding Thomson Reuters vertical AI capabilities in transactional markets. | FinSMEs
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