Fintechs eye partnerships with digital banks, expect to retain competitive edge with specialised offerings 

Benjamin Cher

Benjamin Cher

Published Wed, Sep 21, 2022 · 05:50 AM
    • Digital banks such as Trust Bank could be partners rather than competitors to some fintechs.
    • Digital banks such as Trust Bank could be partners rather than competitors to some fintechs. PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT

    DIGITAL banks have landed in Singapore, dangling higher interest rates, a free bag of rice and bonus NTUC LinkPoints in an effort to lure customers from incumbents.

    But fintech startups claim the lack of wealth management products and credit lines make these digital newcomers less of an immediate threat.

    Atome, for one, said the arrival of digital banks isn’t going to sway the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) player’s focus on providing financial services.