Weekly FinTech & Financial News
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September 21-25, 2026
Top FinTech Updates this Week
🤝 Woveo, Calgary-based AI-powered lending-as-a-service for credit‑invisible and underserved small businesses is partnering with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to launch a microlending program
🤝 Shopify becomes OpenAI’s first e-commerce partner with ChatGPT Ads integration and the free-to-install integration allows Shopify merchants to sync their storefronts to ChatGPT, set ad campaigns within a budget, and feature their products in marked ads inside the chatbot
🤝 Shopify and Meta have partnered to extend the shopping capabilities of Meta’s Muse artificial intelligence assistant with Shop Pay on all Shopify stores, offering people an easy and delightful way to shop and check out with Muse
🤝 Flybits, Rogers Bank and Mastercard Launch Canada’s First Agentic Commerce Transaction
🚀 DeFi Technologies, a Toronto-based decentralised finance firm's subsidiary Valour, a issuer of exchange traded products launched Valour Funds SPC, a new business line, and introduces Its first hedge fund, Smart Crypto Fund SP, powered by Neuronomics' proprietary AI strategy
🚀 Robinhood, US-based wealthtech platform is expanding its presence in Canada as it opens a new Canadian headquarters in downtown Toronto viewing Canada as one of its “priority markets” and wants to expand its presence in the country, both in cryptocurrency and beyond
Top Financial Institutions Updates this Week
🤝 TD introduces $25M strategic relationship with Cohere to support AI adoption that will bring together leading research, talent and expertise from both to boost AI development and adoption
🤝 Blue Rewards and BMO Insurance entered in a new partnership that enables Blue Rewards Members to earn Blue Points through eligible BMO Insurance programs and activities, rewarding Canadians for taking proactive steps to safeguard their health and the well-being of those they care about most
🚀 BMO, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Bank are jointly exploring the development of Canadian dollar based digital money solutions, starting with a tokenized deposits initiative
💼 Tru Cooperative Bank (formerly known as First West Credit Union), Langley-based cooperative bank and Libro Credit Union, London, Ontario-based credit union have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a proposed merger
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The new Ramp Accounts Receivable product automates the entire invoice-to-cash lifecycle, targeting a significant pain point in B2B commerce where 43% of U.S. invoice value was overdue last year. The tool uses AI to extract data from contracts and purchase orders to generate ready-to-review invoices, eliminating manual data entry. Beyond collection, the system tracks incoming payments to match them with outstanding invoices and automatically generates revenue recognition schedules. These schedules are designed to sync directly with a business’s ERP system, reducing the risk of reconciliation errors.Currently, the product is available to single-entity businesses based in the United States. It launches with native integrations for QuickBooks Online and NetSuite, though the company has indicated that further ERP integrations are in development. | Merchant’s Eye
Adyen partnered with Google, Mastercard and Visa to bring next-generation authentication protocols into a single platform. Authenticate now routes every transaction to the highest-performing authentication technology in real-time, while simultaneously optimizing the data issuers use to approve transactions. This makes it easier for shoppers to complete purchases while removing the engineering and compliance overhead required by Adyen’s customers to maintain multiple authentication protocols in a fragmented ecosystem. Authenticate eliminates the operational burden of global expansion by combining real-time regulatory context with transaction, issuer, and shopper signals. Adyen’s customers no longer need to build or maintain complex, market-by-market authentication rules to stay compliant and maximize authorization. | Adyen
Flybits, Rogers Bank and Mastercard Launch Canada’s First Agentic Commerce Transaction
The milestone builds on Mastercard’s Agent Pay framework for secure, responsible agentic commerce. In the demonstration, a Flybits-powered AI assistant used a Rogers Red cardholder’s instructions and spending limit to select and purchase an eligible product through Mastercard Agent Pay, showcasing personalized, explainable AI-driven commerce. Future phases will explore Mastercard Insight Tokens to enable more personalized experiences with consumer consent. | Mastercard
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This collaborative effort reflects a shared view that as digital money evolves globally, Canada's payments infrastructure must continue to be competitive and secure. This project is exploring tokenized deposit solutions to drive responsible innovation and facilitate broad participation in the digital money ecosystem for the benefit of all Canadians. It seeks to deliver faster, more efficient and programmable payments to Canadian customers while preserving safety, stability, and effective regulatory oversight. The first phase of the project aims to move tokenized deposits efficiently across Canadian financial institutions with a longer-term goal to connect with other emerging digital assets initiatives. | Newswire
If approved by members, the combination would bring together two of Canada’s largest financial cooperatives in one of the largest mergers of its kind in Canadian history, and create a stronger, made-in-Canada choice in financial services. The proposed merger would bring together two member-owned financial cooperatives with complementary strengths and deep roots in the communities they serve. The combined organization would serve approximately 470,000 members, employ more than 2,200 employees and have nearly $33 billion in combined total assets and assets under administration. The combined entity, which would be known legally as Tru Cooperative Bank, would operate through a multi-brand model designed to preserve trusted local brands, relationships and community presence while creating the shared capabilities needed to compete and grow nationally. The Libro brand would continue serving members and communities across Ontario, building on the local relationships and community focus that members know and trust while gaining access to additional capabilities and resources. | Tru Cooperative Bank
The strategic collaboration between Layer 6, a globally recognized leader in AI research and development, and Cohere, the world's leading sovereign AI company, will explore how Canadian AI innovation can be applied within TD to improve productivity, strengthen decision-making and create better experiences for clients. The collaboration brings together Cohere's secure enterprise AI models and technical expertise with Layer 6's applied research capabilities and deep understanding of TD to explore practical, high-value applications of AI across the Bank. Areas of focus will include knowledge management with a focus on practical value, security and responsible adoption. A dedicated team of Cohere experts will work alongside Layer 6 at the MaRS Discovery District location, bringing technical expertise closer to the teams identifying, developing and applying high-value AI use cases. The collaboration will complement the Bank's efforts to advance AI literacy, research and knowledge sharing across Canada. The collaboration builds on the expertise of Layer 6, which has helped shape TD leadership in machine learning, predictive analytics, and AI. | TD Bank
Combining the businesses will create a new, independent tower platform across Belgium and the Netherlands, with more than 6,600 sites and a diversified customer base anchored by VodafoneZiggo and Telenet, alongside other leading mobile network operators. The transaction would bring together two complementary businesses across established European telecoms markets, creating greater scale and a stronger neutral-host platform positioned to support customers' long-term network requirements, including continued 5G deployment, densification and network expansion. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to close in early 2027. | TD Bank
It is an eight-week program for underrepresented founders to expand AI skills. TD funding will support Tech Spark's eight-week AI literacy accelerator, providing 2,000 underrepresented founders tools and training on AI strategy, product innovation, and financial literacy needed to create scalable, future-ready businesses.. TD's community giving, which includes previous funding for Tech Spark, has supported more than 400,000 entrepreneurs over the past eight years. Small businesses are key to Canada's economic success. TD's community giving supports initiatives that can give entrepreneurs the tools to succeed, while helping to deepen the Bank's impact in areas where needs are growing. | TD Bank
Through this partnership, Blue Rewards Members can earn Points and enjoy exclusive offers on BMO Health & Dental Insurance and Pet Insurance solutions, making it even more rewarding to protect the health of their families and pets. Blue Rewards Members are also eligible to receive the following limited time offers, as an added benefit, from September 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026: BMO Health & Dental Insurance: Blue Rewards Members will receive a 5% discount on their policy | BMO Pet Insurance: Eligible Members who obtain a pet insurance quote during the promotional period and provide their Blue Rewards Member number will receive a one-time award of 500 Blue Points and one entry into a contest for a chance to win free pet food for a year from Global Pet Foods valued at $4,000. The prize will be awarded in the form of Global Pet Foods gift cards and no purchase is required. | BMO
RBC Capital Markets’ Canada Derivatives House of the Year recognition reflects its leadership in delivering innovative derivatives solutions across rates, equities, foreign exchange and futures. Over the past year, RBC supported more than 2,000 Canadian clients, achieved #1 rankings across multiple trading segments and more than doubled its Canadian market share in structured note issuances. Combining strong execution, AI-enabled technology and continuous innovation, RBC continues to strengthen its derivatives franchise across Canadian and global markets. | RBC
Tabatha Bull, a proud member of Nipissing First Nation and a leading voice on Indigenous economic development, brings extensive experience working with Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. As President & CEO of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, she has championed economic reconciliation and expanded opportunities for Indigenous businesses. Appointed in April 2026 to the Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations, she joins the Scotia Growth Institute alongside Lead Strategic Advisor and former ambassador Kirsten Hillman. | Scotiabank
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Valour launches Valour Funds SPC, a new business line expanding its offering beyond exchange traded products into actively managed digital asset investment strategies. Smart Crypto Fund SP is its first hedge fund, providing professional and qualified investors with an actively managed strategy powered by Neuronomics' proprietary AI strategy. The fund builds on Valour's range of over 100 digital asset ETPs, more than any other digital asset manager globally, and combines Valour's institutional infrastructure with Neuronomics' systematic investment expertise. Smart Crypto Fund SP has been established as the first Hedge Fund portfolio of Valour Funds SPC, a Cayman Islands company registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. The strategy uses proprietary AI models to adjust allocations across a regularly reviewed selection of liquid digital assets, rather than maintaining fixed exposure to a single cryptocurrency or a static basket. | PR Newswire
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The $10-million partnership will provide access to loans of up to $25,000 for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Canada, with the exception of Québec, where Woveo is still working to meet the province’s French-language requirements. The microlending program is intended to help small businesses or new-to-Canada entrepreneurs access financing and build credit when traditional means of doing so may be out of reach. Eligibility for the program requires that businesses have at least $5,000 in monthly revenue, are located in Canada, have been operational for more than 12 months, and have a minimum credit score of 600 or more. Applicants are able to check eligibility, complete applications, and receive pre-approval through Woveo’s website. | BetaKit
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Robinhood senior vice-president and general manager of crypto, Johann Kerbrat, said the company aims to demonstrate its “long-term investment and [its] commitment” to Canada with the space, which integrates multiple teams under the same roof. The new headquarters comes months after Robinhood officially launched in Canada with cryptocurrency trading services, following the close of its $250-million CAD acquisition of Toronto crypto firm WonderFi.Robinhood described Canada as a “priority” market for the brokerage, which also offers stock trading and other financial services and tools in the United States (US) and United Kingdom, but not Canada. Robinhood is “excited to keep building on top of” its initial Canadian crypto offering as it looks to roll out broader trading services over time and bring more competition to the Canadian market. | BetaKit
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Revolut Pay with Smile is being piloted at Kiss the Hippo locations in Bloomsbury, Soho and Chelsea from 24–26 September, allowing customers to authenticate and pay using facial recognition via the Revolut app. Powered by Revolut Register, the new POS system also features built-in eSIM backup and 0% processing fees for Pay with Smile transactions. During the pilot, customers can enjoy £1 speciality coffees and earn triple RevPoints. Merchants can purchase Revolut Register at a 50% promotional discount (£349.50 + VAT) until 31 December 2026. | Merchant’s Eye
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At the moment, ChatGPT Ads is only available for Shopify merchants in the United States. According to OpenAI, the app will be available in international markets where ChatGPT Ads are available starting September 23. ChatGPT leads the AI assistant market, and became the fastest mobile app to reach one billion monthly active users this past May. Outside of advertising, Shopify has been working on allowing merchants to sell their products across popular AI chatbots since last year, and much of its product updates since then have been focused on bolstering the platform’s agentic commerce capabilities. Shopify has also struck similar partnerships with Google and Microsoft to increase merchant discoverability in their chatbots. | BetaKit
Whitecap Venture Partners, Mistral Ventures, the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund, N49P, Amar Varma, and Farhan Thawar, as well as several undisclosed individual investors, contributed to the fund. Thri5’s platform developed out of the frustration both founders experienced during their stints in retail operations: that there is a gap between businesses’ central strategy and the ground-level execution of that strategy. It claims its platform can bridge the two ends of an operation, streamlining execution across the value chain by using agentic AI to understand how work gets done, identify where value is being lost, and help teams take action. The company has already completed a nine-week pilot project with Wild Fork Foods, where it reported delivering an increase in sales of three percent. Based on those results, Thri5 is moving toward a broader rollout for enterprise retailers in North America and Europe. | BetaKit
Shop Pay is Shopify’s accelerated checkout solution for Shopify merchants that lets buyers make purchases with one-tap checkout, according to the company’s website. Shop Pay can be integrated with any platform or app, anywhere Shopify merchants sell online. Meta launched Muse, describing it as a personal AI agent that is “built for everyone.” Muse is designed to be simple to use, allowing users to communicate with the personal AI agent in the Muse app or in WhatsApp as if they were messaging another person. | PYMNTS
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The eight-storey, $30-million investment features a cybersecurity community hub, a customer experience centre, a training facility, and a Fortinet Cloud point of presence that the company says will bring Fortinet’s cloud security network closer to Alberta organizations. The company’s Calgary hub joins Burnaby, BC, and Ottawa as homes for Fortinet’s Canadian operations. Fortinet said Calgary’s research operations will focus on both AI-driven cybersecurity threats and risks to operational technology (OT). OT is hardware and software used to monitor or control physical, industrial equipment or infrastructure. Security around OT is particularly important in Alberta, where much of the province’s cornerstone industries, like oil and gas, are integrating physical and digital operations. | BetaKit
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Amplify’s third fund is anchored by repeat limited partners (LPs) in Québec’s Fondaction and the Royal Bank of Canada, with support from newcomers the Business Development Bank of Canada, and the Government of Canada (via Toronto-based Social Finance Fund distributor Realize Capital Partners and the inclusive growth stream of its Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative). Several undisclosed family offices and high-net-worth individuals are also supporting. Fund III brings Amplify’s total assets under management to over $110 million. Amplify is already more than halfway there: it has made 14 Fund III investments to date, backing Cura, Vancouver-based Reusables, Halifax’s Planetary Technologies, and Montréal-based Lyteflo, among others. | BetaKit
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Built directly into Jobber, Jobber Teammate uses the context it already has about a service pro's business to provide a personalized morning briefing, take on work across the business, and adapt over time to a service pro's preferences. Jobber Teammate headlines a broader set of introductions from Jobber Now including new tools for managing larger teams and a more complete view of business finances. It's the latest expansion of Jobber's role as the operating system for businesses running at scale. Jobber Teammate proactively identifies what needs attention, prepares the work, and brings it to a service pro ready for review and approval. | PR Newswire
Blair Health Raises $4.24M CAD Pre-Seed to Expand Specialized Women’s Care
This simple agreement for future equity and convertible note funding also saw support from the Ontario Centre of Innovation’s Life Sciences Innovation Fund and undisclosed angels. Blair plans to use the capital to accelerate product development, fuel its expansion across Canada and into the United States, and grow its clinical operations, provider network, and 12-person team. Blair aims to help close the “specialist gap” in women’s health. As Blair co-founder and CEO Madge Rumman told “women get specialist-grade care for perimenopause and menopause, pelvic health and urology, nutrition and weight management, without the long wait for a specialist.” | BetaKit
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