Nynke Postma Joins Encompass Corporation to Transform KYC with Corporate Digital Identity

Encompass Corporation, the leader in Corporate Digital Identity (CDI), has announced the appointment of Nynke Postma, the founder and former CEO of Blacksmith KYC, to its leadership team. This strategic move aims to enhance the global banking sector’s utilisation of CDI.

Postma will assume the role of Head of Business Development for Asia and the Middle East, operating from Singapore. She will work closely with Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Steve Hadaway to optimise the value and potential that customers derive from Encompass’ CDI product propositions.

This appointment comes on the heels of Encompass’ recent acquisitions of ING-led innovations Blacksmith KYC and CoorpID. These acquisitions, completed earlier this year, underscore Encompass’ commitment to addressing the critical challenge of corporate and institutional client identification and verification through CDI.

With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Postma has held several senior positions at ING, covering diverse areas such as programme and product management, software delivery, and fraud management. In 2017, she founded Blacksmith KYC in Singapore, where she built and led the team. Prior to this, she orchestrated a strategic merger of daily banking operations in ING’s core markets of the Netherlands and Belgium, affecting 11 million retail customers.

Blacksmith KYC, established as part of ING Labs Singapore, was designed to revolutionise Know Your Customer (KYC) processes within the financial industry. It allows banks to configure their Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements through a Digital Policy Manager, streamlining the data collection process. This unique capability aligns seamlessly with Encompass’ mission, enabling banks to convert manual KYC policies into efficient automated processes, thereby providing analysts with invaluable risk insights from customer profiles.

Postma’s extensive experience and innovative approach are set to drive significant advancements in Encompass’ CDI offerings, ultimately benefiting the global banking community. Her leadership is poised to bring transformative change to the way banks manage corporate digital identities, ensuring robust and efficient compliance processes.

“I am thrilled to welcome Nynke as our new Head of Business Development, and excited to see her extensive industry background and knowledge bring significant benefits to our customer base. Her passion and vision for Blacksmith KYC led to great success, as she was the driving force behind the growth of a product that brings tangible efficiencies, with the next chapter of that journey only beginning at Encompass.

“We are committed to offering the very best, both in terms of innovation and expertise, as we move forward with our CDI mission, and bringing someone of Nynke’s calibre on board is another milestone that shows there is much to be positive about for the business and our customers in the months and years to come.”

“I am excited and proud to be able to continue the Blacksmith story as part of Encompass. Having witnessed the possibilities of the platform and the value it holds for banks as we brought the product to life, I relish the chance to take it even further as part of the Encompass team, creating a diversified product portfolio and competitive offering tailored to our customers’ needs. At Encompass, we have all the ingredients to create game-changing outcomes with the delivery of CDI.”

docStribute® and Hinckley & Rugby Building Society to Revolutionise Customer Engagement

Fintech docStribute that specialises in regulated document distribution solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Hinckley & Rugby Building Society. This collaboration aims to transform how Hinckley & Rugby engage with their members, significantly cut costs, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

A Commitment to Efficiency and Sustainability

Hinckley & Rugby Building Society is well-known for its commitment to customer-centric practices and operational efficiency. Their clear strategy focuses on embracing digital solutions to streamline all business areas. This partnership with docStribute is a major step forward in this strategy. Hinckley & Rugby aims to reduce document delivery costs by over 70%, developing more sustainable and climate-friendly business practices.

Enhancing Member Engagement

At the heart of this partnership is a shared dedication to enhancing customer engagement. Hinckley & Rugby understand the importance of clear, secure, and engaging communication with their members. With docStribute’s technology, they can provide customers with digital access to important regulatory information in a way that is not only secure but also easy to understand and interact with. This approach will help members make well-informed financial decisions, further strengthening their connection with the Society.

The collaboration is also set to revolutionise how Hinckley & Rugby communicate with their members. The Society will be able to deliver personalised, timely, and tailored communications that align with individual preferences and needs. This level of customisation and responsiveness is expected to significantly enhance member engagement and satisfaction.

Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technology

docStribute stands out for its use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to ensure the security and integrity of customer documents. DLT creates secure, unchangeable records of information and communication interactions, providing transparency and security in the document distribution process. This technological edge ensures that Hinckley & Rugby can maintain the highest standards of regulatory compliance while offering their members the best possible service.

Chris Ansara, CEO of docStribute, said,

“We are excited about our collaboration with Hinckley & Rugby Building Society. This is the third Building Society customer for us and reflects the priority Building Societies put on customer engagement. Our innovative approach means we can quickly reduce cost and carbon usage, whilst enhancing customer experience, and we are already distributing over 5 million documents a year. We very much look forward to helping other financial services firms do the same.”

Barry Carter, CEO of Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, said,

“This partnership with docStribute aligns with our commitment to provide outstanding service to our members, as a truly customer centric organisation.”

Cheryl Pidler, Director of Operations of Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, added,

“The partnership with docStribute allows us to communicate with members in the way they want whilst at the same time improving our operational efficiency, reducing costs, and lowering our carbon footprint.  We are looking forward to working with docStribute towards the launch later this year.”

Scottish Fintechs Shine at the ScotlandIS Digital Tech Awards 2024

The ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards 2024 celebrated outstanding achievements in the tech sector, acknowledging the innovation, expertise, and ambition of businesses both large and small, alongside the incredible individuals who power them. The event highlighted remarkable advancements in the digital tech industry over the past year, recognising a total of 11 winners across 11 categories.

Among the winners, several Scottish fintech companies stood out, showcasing their leadership and ingenuity:

• Bellrock Technology: Securing the Data Trailblazer award, Bellrock Technology demonstrated their pioneering approach to harnessing data, setting a new standard in the industry for innovative data solutions.
• Lupovis: Earning the Cyber Trailblazer title, Lupovis was recognised for its innovative cybersecurity strategies, reinforcing the importance of cutting-edge protection in an increasingly digital world.
• FreeAgent: Taking the Best Wellbeing at Work category, FreeAgent underscored the significance of prioritising employee welfare, fostering an environment that promotes productivity and satisfaction.
• loveelectric: As the Start-Up Digital Tech Business of the Year, loveelectric’s innovative business model and remarkable growth exemplified the dynamic spirit of emerging tech enterprises.

These wins show the vibrancy and ingenuity within Scotland’s fintech sector and are a testament to the country’s growing influence and capability in digital innovation.

Amiqus Reaches Fundraising Milestone, Donating £35,000 Towards £100,000 Goal for the Scottish Refugee Council

Scottish fintech Amiqus, has celebrated a major achievement in its partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC). The firm recently contributed £35,000 from its initial fundraising efforts of 2023, moving towards its ambitious target of raising over £100,000 in a three-year campaign from 2023 to 2025.

Callum Murray, the founding CEO of Amiqus, expressed pride in the company’s collaboration with the SRC, emphasising the importance of the partnership:

“We’re now one year into our partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, supporting the vital work they do across the country. Their front-line support services provide help and direction for people as they move from a position of danger and desperation to a safe place they can settle, call home and rebuild their lives, integrated with local communities. Working together with a shared purpose, we’re developing the means to make sure Amiqus enables access to legal help, financial services and pathways into employment for people who need it most. Speaking on behalf of our board and everyone at Amiqus, we’re committed to playing our part for the long run and making an outsized impact on the SRC’s long-term objectives as we continue to sustainably scale Amiqus as one of the fastest-growing tech businesses in the UK.”

Now in the second year of their partnership, Amiqus has stepped up its fundraising activities. Notably, they sponsored the SRC Spring Ceilidh in Glasgow this April, which successfully raised over £9,000. Additionally, for the second year running, the Amiqus team will participate in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 25th May 2024, collectively covering over 100 miles in support of the SRC.

Amiqus invites individuals and organisations to join them in supporting the SRC’s vital work. Contributions can be made via the Amiqus JustGiving page.

Dr Sabir Zazai, Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, highlighted the significance of their collaboration: ”

We are honoured to work in partnership with Amiqus who have passionately been supporting our work for over a year now. Through supporting our Leadership programme with laptops, completing marathons, to sponsoring our fundraising events, Amiqus have been instrumental in helping us achieve our aims. We have a great relationship with the team, and we are already looking forward to working with Amiqus on their future fundraising and their upcoming initiatives which will support people as they seek to make a new life for themselves in Scotland.”

CreditNature’s Accreditation: Pioneering Natural Capital Investment

CreditNature has announced a new achievement. The Scottish fintech just secured the world’s first independent accreditation for a Terrestrial Ecosystem Condition Method under the Accounting for Nature® Standard, which represents a huge leap forward for ecosystem restoration and natural capital investment.

The accreditation is a result of a year-long process where CreditNature, in collaboration with the renowned Accounting for Nature® and their expert panel, developed a robust method enabling businesses to measure and report on nature-positive impacts of their investments. This method aligns with crucial reporting frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ensuring that businesses can disclose impactful Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes.

The Ecosystem Condition Method, forming part of CreditNature’s NARIA framework, provides a standardised and accredited metric that quantifies ecosystem integrity on a scale of 0 to 100. This allows for consistent reporting across varied landscapes, not just in Europe, but with plans to expand globally including regions like Africa, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.

• Impacts and Visualisation CreditNature’s method does more than quantify; it also offers real-world visualisations of restoration progress through their innovative dashboard. This feature provides investors with evidence and insights into restoration gains, complemented by narratives, accredited Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and vivid media of nature restoration successes.
• Endorsements and Support The method has garnered support from key environmental figures and governmental bodies. Dr. Peter Phillips of the Scottish Government and Prof Hugh Possingham of Accounting for Nature have both praised the accreditation for setting high standards and providing a reliable method for quantifying Nature Positive outcomes.

This development not only showcases CreditNature’s commitment to scientific excellence and innovation but also enhances the credibility and viability of investing in natural capital on a global scale.

Stuart Barnard Becomes First CFO of Encompass Corporation

Scotland-based fintech Encompass Corporation, a leader in the field of Corporate Digital Identity (CDI), just announced the appointment of Stuart Barnard as its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Stuart joins the company with over 15 years experience in the industry. He brings extensive expertise in finance, particularly in growing start-ups and scale-ups, to look after Encompass’ global financial strategies and operations. His new role at Encompass will see him lead finance, legal, human resources, revenue operations, IT, and information security.

Barnard’s appointment recognises his pivotal contributions to the company since joining the team in 2016. Initially serving as Head of Finance, and later as VP of Finance and Business Operations, Stuart has been instrumental in driving Encompass’ rapid growth and international expansion.

Reflecting on his new role, Stuart Barnard remarked,

“I am delighted to continue what has been a remarkable journey at Encompass by taking up the role of CFO. It has been a privilege to be part of establishing the organisation as a global leader, with the foundations in place to continue to go from strength to strength, supported by a first-class team and innovation. It is a truly exciting time, and we are well placed to continue to flourish as a top player in the market, fuelled by our focus on unlocking the benefits of CDI for our customers.”

Wayne Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Encompass Corporation, expressed his enthusiasm about Barnard’s promotion, saying,

“Stuart has been instrumental to the success of Encompass, from the early days until now, as we have developed our offering, operations and culture ”“ all of which have allowed us to scale internationally. His knowledge, expertise, and business acumen have been vital to ensuring Encompass remains ahead of the curve, and the diverse, high-performing talent that he has brought into his teams has been central to not only how we operate on a daily basis, but to instilling the values that we pride ourselves on as a forward-thinking employer that enables individuals to thrive”

Stuart’s appointment to the executive team follows other significant hires this year, including Neil Acworth as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Job den Hamer, former CEO of CoorpID, as Head of Business Development, highlighting Encompass’ ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership team and enhancing its market position.