Today in the Connected Economy: Google Turns Its Eye to Visual Shopping

Today in the connected economy, Google debuts more tools to make users’ buying experience more visual, part of a larger effort to make its sites more shoppable. Plus, J.P. Morgan teams with Sightline Payments to expand its gaming payments operations, while NatWest launches a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) business in the United Kingdom with the help of BaaS company Vodeno.

Google Unveils ‘More Visual’ Shopping Tools

Continuing its efforts to make its sites more shoppable, Google has unveiled what it called “a more visual experience” to people using its desktop search to look for products. Shoppers will now find results that show products, brands, articles and videos.

Sightline, JPMorgan Partner to Expand Gaming Payments Platform

Gaming payments platform Sightline Payments has landed a strategic investment from J.P. Morgan Payments, as the companies work together to create an integrated omnichannel solution for resort and online gaming operators. This investment follows news from earlier this year that J.P. Morgan Payments would become the chief merchant acquirer for Sightline’s Play+ ecosystem.

NatWest, Vodeno Enter BaaS Partnership

Commerical and retail banking group NatWest has teamed with Vodeno to launch a BaaS business in the U.K. The business will focus on developing embedded financial services products using Vodeno’s BaaS technology and NatWest’s banking systems and U.K. licenses.

Item-Level Data Network Banyan Gets $43M to Power Next FinTech Wave

FinTech Banyan has raised $43 million in a Series A funding round led by Fin Capital and M13, a sign that investors are confident in the company’s item-level data offering. In an interview with PYMNTS’ Karen Webster just before the Series A announcement, Banyan CEO Jehan Luth said the fundraise in a flagging economy is a testament to his team, and more so to the concept itself.