Finastra calls developers for community bank-focused appathon

Finastra is running its first public appathon, inviting fintech firms and developers to build applications that help North American community banks and credit unions.

Participants have until 1 September to build their app, using Finastra’s US Banking APIs, accessible for free on the FusionFabric.cloud platform. Apps should focus on areas such as saving and spending controls, personal finance management, engagement channels, payments, and notifications.

A panel will pick a shortlist of 10 entrants, which will get their efforts promoted to retail banks. A final three apps will then be presented to the audience at Finastra Universe - Community Markets in Chicago, where a winner will be picked.

Vincent Pugliese, GM, US retail and lending solutions, Finastra, says: "Finastra works with more than 4000 community banks and credit unions in North America, all of which are eager to deliver new and innovative products and services to their customers. FusionFabric.cloud makes this possible by blasting open the doors for collaboration between financial institutions, Fintechs, developers, students and others."

The appathon follows a recent successful 48-hour hackathon in London, which saw over 100 developers from fintech and tech firms code around the clock. The winner, 15-year-old student Scott Hiett, built Hyber, an AI-based foreign exchange app that allows users to grow holiday money ahead of their trip.