Resisting data silos: from data sharing to platforms

One of the most valuable financial companies in the world offers payment and banking solutions, provides loans and enables wealth management to its customers. But this company is not a traditional bank. Chinese provider Ant Financial has built an impressive platform in just a few years. Last year, Jack Ma's FinTech already boasted 1.3 billion monthly active users worldwide, bringing its valuation to more than $200 billion before its canceled IPO. Originally launched as a pure payment provider under the name Alipay, the subsidiary of e-commerce giant Alibaba has managed to expand its business model to include a variety of services to create a complex ecosystem. The world's largest money market fund, Yu'e Bao, is part of Ant Financial, as is credit rating system Sesame Credit and UK-based financial services provider WorldFirst. Ant Financial is always data-driven and successfully covers the alphabet of the Internet: from A for Artificial Intelligence to B for Blockchain and C for Cloud Computing.

In short: Ant Financial is not a classic bank. But the fintech from the Far East is already doing much of what established financial institutions could model for the future: With the intelligent use of data, they can build complex platforms – and thus formulate an answer to the industry's biggest challenges – be it the changing behavior of customers, the new data-driven competition of the fintech scene or the consequences of the persistent low-interest environment.

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What is a Direct Express Cash Advance?

Can you get a cash advance on your Direct Express card? What are the fees associated with Direct Express Cash Advance? In this post, we go over companies that offer payday loans against SSI, disability and other federal benefit checks.

We explain how these cash advance loans work and what you need to know.

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Home renovation: Good planning is half the battle

Home renovation: Good planning is half the battle

If you want to renovate your home, you should plan this undertaking carefully. Depending on the nature of the renovation work, daily life in the home will be affected at least temporarily. Landlords are obliged to carry out certain renovation works, while tenants need permission if they want to renovate themselves. Property owners are also prohibited from doing anything that conflicts with building code or historic preservation laws. Read more about what constitutes housing renovation and what to consider from the owner, tenant and landlord side here.

The difference between renovation and refurbishment

The terms renovation and restoration are often used interchangeably. This leads to confusion because they are quite different:

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Caution rip-off – therefore a loan from abroad is dangerous!

Caution rip-off - therefore a loan from abroad is dangerous!

A loan from abroad often seems tempting. Especially if a negative Schufa entry makes your life difficult. But is such a foreign loan a real alternative to the German financial institution? Who is behind it and do they really not check your creditworthiness?? Learn more here – with tips on how to recognize black sheep!

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Exciting ways to earn extra money in Denmark

Exciting ways to earn extra money in Denmark

As soon as you enter Denmark as a foreigner, the first thing you ask yourself is how you can earn a living. You will have to figure out how to pay your bills, live a good life, and still have something left over to save.

With a legal residence in Denmark, you will undoubtedly lack for nothing to do. Get a variety of job opportunities ranging from jobs for people with and without education, to skilled and technical jobs, and everything in between. Jobs in Denmark pay well compared to other countries in the world. Even with a good salary, you will find that you have to earn more money to have something left for yourself.

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Out of debt – Lower Saxony’s municipalities show what private households can do too

Out of debt - Lower Saxony's municipalities show what private households can do too

UELZEN. The debt clock in Germany climbs incessantly. Nevertheless, there are significant regional differences in terms of state or municipal debt and debt per capita. Uelzen is a positive example of how optimal household management works. In fiscal year 2018, the municipality actually manages to generate a surplus of 2 million euros. Private households can also learn from this, not only in terms of proper financial planning, but also in terms of optimal financing solutions.

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What student loan forgiveness could mean for your student loans

Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS number 1681276, hereafter referred to as Credible, is dedicated to giving you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we advertise products from our partner lenders who compensate us for our services, all opinions are our own.

Advocates of student loan forgiveness hope the Biden administration will sign broad forgiveness. ( Shutterstock )

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For whom is an occupational disability insurance useful??

As soon as you start your professional life, everybody recommends you this insurance: the occupational disability insurance. But what does it cover? And does everyone really need disability insurance? Does this make sense for any profession? At what time it should be taken out? Here you can find out everything you need to know.

What is the risk of occupational disability?

On average, one in four people in Germany becomes unable to work before reaching retirement age. Depending on age and gender, this percentage ranges from 30 to 43. Only 10% of cases are due to accidents. The rest are all kinds of diseases, which in principle can hit anyone.

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Between full-time studies and a part-time job

Students often have the reputation of rarely attending lectures, sleeping late and having a lot of other free time as well. A prejudice that does not apply to all, because many students spend their free time working. An additional challenge that students face in addition to full-time studies.

A variety of reasons

The cost of studying in Germany is usually manageable, but for many students there are still a lot of living costs to consider. Some have no other choice but to earn something on the side. There are many reasons for this: either BAfoG is not enough or you are not eligible at all. Often the support from home is not enough or there is no support at all. And still others also work voluntarily simply to earn some extra money. "Unfortunately, I don't get BAfoG, but I work voluntarily. For me, it's a nice change of pace alongside my studies, but I try to concentrate mainly on my studies," says Janna, who is studying tourism at the Jade University of Applied Sciences.

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