Today in FinTech: Italy to Germany; London to Brazil; Legacy Meets FinTech

In today’s FinTech news, the Italian bank Nets is buying German point of sale firm orderbird, while London financial services firm Ebury signs a deal for the Brazilian FinTech Bexs. Plus, Checkout.com is acquiring the French digital identity verification startup ubble.

Italian Payments Bank Nexi Acquires German POS Firm Orderbird

Nets, the payments unit of the Italian bank Nexi, is picking up a majority stake in Germany’s cloud-based point of sale firm orderbird.

The purchase will help orderbird with its hospitality-focused integrated payment services and support the firm as it moves to expand globally. Under the agreement, orderbird will retain its branding and operate as a separate business within Nexi.

London FinTech Ebury Expands Global Footprint with Bexs Acquisition

London financial services firm Ebury is set to acquire Brazilian FinTech Bexs, a move which will broaden Ebury’s global money transfer solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Ebury operates in 20 countries and the two companies will facilitate the opening of accounts in other countries, enabling SMBs to transact directly in local currencies.

Huntington National Bank Acquires FinTech Torana to Expand Digital Payments

Huntington National Bank has acquired business-to-consumer payments FinTech Torana for undisclosed terms.

Torana’s digital payments solution will launch as Huntington ChoicePay and will enable customers to distribute digital payments to end-users. Founded in 1866, Huntington is a $177 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Checkout.com to Acquire French IDV Firm ubble

In a move to grow its financial services offerings, London cloud-based payments provider Checkout.com is acquiring French digital identity verification (IDV) startup ubble.

The tie-up aims to tackle the global rise in fraud and money laundering that followed the increase in digital payment transactions. Checkout.com also said that offering IDV capabilities will help ensure merchants and FinTechs are compliant with local regulations.

Mastercard Brings Financial Inclusion Offering to Central America

Mastercard is launching a financial inclusion program in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to address its goal of offering financial services to the estimated 5 million unbanked individuals in that region.

Over the next five years, the program also aims to offer credit to the 1 million micro and small businesses in those countries.