Today in the Connected Economy: Google Helps KeyBank Go Cloud First

Today in the connected economy, Google Cloud works with KeyBank to help it become a cloud-first financial institution (FI), while Barclays tries to help FinTech founders develop their companies. Plus, J.P. Morgan’s Julie Lubell tells PYMNTS’ Karen Webster why 2022 will be the year of connectivity.

KeyBank to Go Cloud-First With Google’s Help

Google Cloud, KeyBank and Deloitte have formed a multi-year partnership to accelerate the bank’s commitment to cloud-first banking. The collaboration will make Cleveland-based KeyBank one of the country’s largest regional banks to host its main platforms and applications on Google Cloud infrastructure. KeyBank said it plans to begin migrating its infrastructure to the cloud this year, and its goal is to have most of its products and services there by 2025.

Barclays Partners With Rainmaking to Help FinTech Founders

Barclays is working with corporate venture builder Rainmaking on a series of initiatives to help FinTech founders around the world grow and develop their companies. The first of the initiatives, the Rise Start-Up Academy, is now accepting applications, with new programs set to be launched in the coming months.

JPMorgan Sees 2022 as Year of Connectivity, Predicts Rise of ‘Anything as a Service’

It’s normal to begin each year trying to predict what trends the next 12 months will bring. For Julie Lubell, global head of Trends and Intelligence Advisory at J.P. Morgan, some of the trends this year have their roots in the pandemic and will linger on long past 2022. The five trends the banking giant is watching as it works to bring treasury management professionals and client firms more completely into the digital age are: digital as a culture; anything-as-a-service; payments as a revenue driver; the alignment of working capital and liquidity; and addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. The thread tying these trends together? Connectivity.

Visa, Morocco’s CMI Hope to Streamline B2B Transactions

Visa has teamed up with digital payments manager Interbank Monetary Center (CMI) to create a channel to help businesses in Morocco streamline their B2B transactions. The channel is designed to “improve and secure” cash flow between businesses, the companies said, noting that a chief aim of the project is to accelerate digital payment adoption among Moroccan businesses.

Connected Micromobility Solutions Tackle ‘Last Mile’ of the Daily Commute

Traveling by car isn’t always desirable, necessary or practical. Tourists may want to see the sights up close, consumers may live within walking distance of their supermarket and commuters might have access to public transit. These are some of the use cases for micromobility — the eScooters, eBikes and eMopeds often seen available for rent in cities around the world. These small, environmentally friendly transportation methods make it easier to get around, and not just for travelers.