Financial Services

East Lansing, Mich. – September 18, 2026 -- Reseda Group has launched Bolt, a Banking-as-a-Service platform that connects fintech companies directly to MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) as the Financial Institution of Record, with cash management provider TAPP Engine signed as the platform's first fintech partner.

Bolt links fintechs to MSUFCU through API and SDK infrastructure

The platform, developed by Reseda Group and shaped by MSUFCU's fintech deployment experience, provides APIs, SDKs and software tools supporting account opening, payments, debit card issuance, external account connectivity and embedded finance. Financial institutions can use Bolt to accelerate fintech partnerships and expand digital banking capabilities, while fintechs avoid the regulatory burden of becoming licensed institutions themselves.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – September 18, 2026 -- KuCoin has gone live on Arc as a mainnet launch partner, enabling eligible users to move USDC directly between the exchange and the new Layer-1 blockchain from day one.

KuCoin becomes one of first global exchanges to support Arc at launch

The integration lets eligible users transfer USDC directly between KuCoin and Arc, cutting the steps needed to access applications built on the network. Arc is an open Layer-1 blockchain launched by Arc Network Services LLC and operated by a permissioned validator set, built around payments, treasury management, tokenized assets and programmable finance.

Xiamen – September 18, 2026 -- XTransfer, a global B2B cross-border trade payment platform, signed strategic cooperation agreements with China ZheShang Bank (CZ Bank) and Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. (CIB) at the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen, targeting minor-currency collection in emerging markets and RMB conversion services for foreign trade firms.

CIPS launches first cross-border bank-enterprise zone with over 70 banks at CIFIT

The agreements were signed inside a newly established cross-border bank-enterprise cooperation zone set up by CIPS at this year's fair, hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce. More than 70 Chinese and foreign banks showcased cross-border RMB services in the zone, with XTransfer signing its deals there to align with national-level financial infrastructure.

Washington – September 18, 2026 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury has moved forward with fiscal year 2025 and 2026 awards across multiple Community Development Financial Institutions Fund programs, ending more than a year of advocacy by the CDFI industry for the release of the funds.

Opportunity Finance Network credits bipartisan pressure for the award release

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), which represents nearly 500 CDFI members, said the announcement followed sustained lobbying by OFN, the broader CDFI sector, industry partners, and congressional champions from both parties. Harold Pettigrew, President and CEO of OFN, said CDFIs form part of America's economic and financial infrastructure, financing small businesses, affordable housing, and community facilities nationwide. "The CDFI Fund has earned broad bipartisan support because it produces measurable economic results in rural, urban, and Native communities alike," Pettigrew said.

Southlake, Texas – September 18, 2026 -- Sabre Corporation (Nasdaq: SABR) has commenced additional tender offers through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sabre GLBL Inc. to repurchase outstanding securities for cash, capping the aggregate purchase price at $250 million.

Sabre GLBL sets a September 24 deadline for bondholders to tender securities

The tender offers expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on September 24, 2026, unless extended or terminated early. Holders must validly tender by that deadline to receive the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, with settlement expected on September 28, 2026. Withdrawal rights also close at the same September 24 deadline.

Easton, Pa. – September 18, 2026 -- David Wolff of Kressler Wolff & Miller has laid out a benefits strategy for small businesses competing against larger employers with bigger budgets, in a feature published by HelloNation titled "Creating a Competitive Benefits Package for Small Businesses."

The article argues that a competitive employee benefits package does not depend on matching corporate spending levels but on aligning offerings with what workers actually value, including health insurance, retirement savings, and wellness support.

Wolff recommends tiered health plans to balance cost and coverage

The feature outlines tiered health insurance plans, high-deductible options paired with health savings accounts, and network structures designed to contain premium costs while preserving reliable access to care. Transparency about how a plan functions is presented as equally important to employees as the generosity of the coverage itself.

McLean, Va. – September 18, 2026 -- ID.me and Plaid have launched a partnership allowing government agencies to verify a benefits claimant's identity and confirm their linked bank account belongs to them before disbursing funds, addressing a gap that contributed to $5.6 billion in unemployment insurance improper payments in fiscal year 2025.

Improper payment rate hit 14.9% for the fourth straight year

According to the Government Accountability Office, the 14.9 percent improper payment rate for unemployment insurance exceeded the federal standard for four consecutive years. Agencies have strengthened identity verification but lacked equivalent controls over where payments land, allowing claimants to pass identity checks and then enter a bank account that is not theirs.

Singapore – September 17, 2026 -- Peak3 has launched Graphene Harness, an end-to-end AI-driven delivery lifecycle (AI-DLC) for insurance software, alongside Graphene v4, an AI-native evolution of its core platform, cutting end-to-end new-feature development and core system implementation costs by 50% where deployed.

Peak3 targets an 80% cost reduction within 18 to 36 months

The Singapore-based insurance software provider said the current 50% reduction already applies to clients using Graphene Harness, with timelines shortened accordingly. Peak3 builds and maintains Graphene on the Harness system itself and is now extending access to selected implementation partners, with client availability planned over the next 6 to 12 months.

Tacoma, WA – September 17, 2026 -- Sound Credit Union and the University of Washington Tacoma Milgard Center for Business Analytics will host the second annual HuskyHack fintech competition on October 17, 2026, offering a $15,000 grand prize to the winning team.

Student Teams Get 24 Hours to Build Fintech Solutions

Students from colleges and universities across Washington State will compete individually or in teams at the University of Washington Tacoma campus. Participants have 24 hours to develop a product, prototype, or concept aimed at helping consumers manage their finances with greater confidence while building trust in financial services. The specific challenge topic will be disclosed at the opening ceremony.

Toronto – September 17, 2026 -- Thomson Reuters has become the only provider named a Leader across four IDC MarketScape categories covering value-added tax, sales and use tax, global trade, and e-invoicing compliance.

ONESOURCE Pagero earns Leader status in worldwide e-invoicing assessment

IDC positioned the company's e-invoicing and continuous transaction control (CTC) solution as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Compliant e-Invoicing 2026 Vendor Assessment (doc #EUR154882626, September 2026). The platform now covers compliance across more than 90 jurisdictions, serving over 65,000 active e-invoicing customers and a business network reaching approximately 14 million companies globally.