The Monday Roundup: what we are watching this week | Dec 8th

By Puja Sharma

The Monday Roundup sets the scene for the week’s biggest news stories, industry deals, and upcoming events. For Prime subscribers only.

Bill payment products

Diebold Nixdorf has expanded its self-service banking portfolio with the launch of the DN Series 300 and 350 cash dispensers, introducing higher-capacity machines designed to streamline cash operations and reduce physical footprint at branches and remote service points.

The new systems are powered by Diebold Nixdorf’s DM7V dispensing module, which supports up to 14,000 notes, nearly eight denominations, and a modular dual-cassette design. According to the company, the platform offers approximately 40% higher availability and increased note-handling accuracy, positioning it for high-traffic locations where uptime and cash efficiency are critical.

A key feature is a shared cassette infrastructure across both dispensers and recycling units, an approach that aims to simplify replenishment planning and cash-in-transit movement. This model could reduce operational overhead and unlock greater consistency across teller assist units, cash recyclers, and ATM networks, an area where banks have been seeking tighter integration to curb costs.

Flex, a US-based FinTech startup, has secured $60 million in Series B funding led by Portage, bringing its total equity raised to $105 million. Founded in 2022 by CEO Zaid Rahman, Flex provides AI-powered financial solutions for middle-market businesses, helping them manage payments, private credit, and treasury operations. The company recently launched a bill payment product that processed over $1 billion in transactions and acquired Maza, a finance app for the Spanish-speaking diaspora, for $40 million. With this fresh capital, Flex plans to expand its AI agent infrastructure and introduce personal finance tools to strengthen its market presence.

Efficient international payment solutions is growing rapidly

Airwallex, a global FinTech unicorn, has raised $330 million in Series G funding to accelerate its expansion in the United States. The round was led by Greenoaks Capital, with participation from existing investors including Sequoia Capital, Lone Pine Capital, and Square Peg Capital. Founded in Melbourne, Airwallex provides cross-border payment and financial services to businesses, enabling seamless global transactions. The fresh capital will support product innovation, hiring, and scaling operations in North America, where demand for efficient international payment solutions is growing rapidly. This funding strengthens Airwallex’s position as a leading player in the global fintech ecosystem.

Lumia, an AI-driven security platform, has raised $18 million in seed funding to strengthen its mission of safeguarding enterprises against evolving cyber threats. The round was led by XYZ Ventures, with participation from several global investors. Lumia’s platform leverages artificial intelligence to provide real-time threat detection, automated response, and predictive analytics, helping organisations protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure. The fresh capital will be used to expand product development, grow its engineering team, and accelerate market entry across North America and Europe. This funding highlights growing investor confidence in AI-powered cybersecurity solutions as demand for advanced protection rises.

What is the Buzz

Clearstream, part of Deutsche Börse Group, has introduced Next Data Solutions to enhance post-trade transparency. The new suite consolidates four products—SettlementNext, LendingNext, CollateralNext, and LiquidityNext—into a unified data and analytics framework. These tools aim to help financial institutions move beyond retrospective reporting toward proactive decision-making. By offering real-time insights, the solutions enable firms to anticipate settlement challenges, optimise collateral allocation, and manage liquidity more effectively. Accessible via the Clearstream Xact web portal, the suite also supports Europe’s upcoming accelerated settlement cycle. With additional modules planned for 2026, Next Data Solutions represents a significant step in modernising post-trade operations