Entries for the Fintech Innovation Awards 2016 are now open, and we’re looking for the best and brightest people and projects in the sector. Thinking of entering? Here are five tips from the organisers on how to impress our panel of expert judges.

The Antipodean countries appear to be taking digital innovation by the scruff of the neck as the region’s digital drive expands to innovate everyone’s first bank – the piggy bank.

In its 19th year of sponsorship of the Toronto International Film Festival, Visa will will be showcasing the future of retail through immersive experiences, including demonstrations of its proof of concept Connected Car and a virtual reality retail experience.

Abra, a payments startup based in Silicon Valley, has raised $14m in venture financing during its Series A funding round. Leveraging blockchain technology, Abra hopes to challenge banks and financial institutions within the payment processing market.

The Federal Reserve System has appointed Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago senior vice president Todd Aadland as its payments security strategy leader.

Prepaid cards and mobile banking has become the payment method of choice for the next generation of financial service customers, as they look to ditch traditional bank accounts when they begin to pay for goods and services.