Finance, Banking & Insurance

LONDON – September 17, 2026 -- Sokin has released a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector that links its licensed payment infrastructure directly to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity, allowing finance teams to prepare cross-border payments without leaving the chat interface.

Sokin's MCP connector processed 10 multi-currency invoices in under 10 minutes during testing

In internal testing, the connector handled 10 multi-currency invoices and treasury moves in under 10 minutes, a task that would normally require manual keying by accounts payable staff. Every instruction generated by the AI agent is still presented to the customer for confirmation, and existing Sokin approval rules apply before any payment settles on its rails.

London – September 17, 2026 -- Finastra has partnered with Komgo to connect their respective trade finance platforms through an open API layer called Trade Innovation Nexus, targeting inefficiencies caused by fragmented systems and manual processing across bank and corporate trade workflows.

Nexus API links Komgo's Konsole platform with Finastra's Trade Innovation system

The integration connects Komgo's Konsole digital trade finance platform with Finastra's Trade Innovation solution without requiring changes to existing bank infrastructure. The companies state the link will reduce transaction times, onboarding delays and manual exceptions through automated workflows, while adding built-in regulatory checks and audit-readiness features.

New York – September 17, 2026 -- Active ETFs have moved into the mainstream of adviser portfolios, with 71% of surveyed advisers planning to increase their use over the next two years, according to MSCI Inc.'s (NYSE: MSCI) ETF Intelligence Survey 2026, which polled 450 advisers across the U.S. and Europe.

Already, 87% of respondents hold active ETFs, and the shift is displacing incumbent fund structures rather than simply adding new options. Fifty-eight percent of advisers say a new active ETF allocation from a manager they already use would most likely replace an existing mutual fund or UCITS holding.

Riyadh – September 17, 2026 -- Thunes has expanded its Direct Global Network to add payout services across six Middle East markets, giving Members faster and more transparent access to bank accounts, mobile wallets, and cash pickup points in Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, South Yemen, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.

Members can now process payouts in local currencies through direct API integration with Thunes or via existing Swift connectivity, extending reach into millions of bank accounts and mobile wallets across the region. The rollout follows Thunes' September 2025 expansion of real-time payments in Saudi Arabia.

Xiamen – September 17, 2026 -- More than 100,000 business participants and over 1,200 registered delegations from 129 countries and regions attended the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), held in Xiamen, Fujian, from September 8 to 11, 2026.

Forty-eight of the world's top 50 economies by GDP sent delegations to the fair.

Representatives from 30 international organizations joined government agencies and industrial enterprises for the event, underscoring sustained cross-border interest in Chinese investment channels despite global trade tensions.

San Diego – September 17, 2026 -- ICW Group Insurance Companies joined thousands of volunteers across the United States to help pack an estimated 20 million meals for people facing food insecurity, marking the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 through a nationwide day of service organized by nonprofit 9/11 Day.

ICW Group deploys teams across five U.S. regions for the volunteer effort

Nashville, Tenn. – September 17, 2026 -- XLCS Partners, Inc. served as buyside advisor to CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates, LLC, a deal that closed on September 17, 2026.

CID Capital completes third platform investment from its latest fund

The Kaiser transaction marks the third platform investment from CID Capital Opportunity Fund IV, L.P. CID Capital, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a private equity firm that takes control positions in lower middle market companies, focusing on founder- and family-owned businesses.

Kaiser brings 30-plus years of regional operations across Arizona

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Kaiser installs and services residential and commercial overhead doors and gates across the Phoenix, Tucson, and White Mountains markets. The company has built its footprint over more than three decades, establishing long-standing customer relationships in the region.

Beijing – – September 17, 2026 -- The New Development Bank (NDB), the BRICS-backed lender championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has approved 139 projects worth roughly $43 billion by the end of 2025, funding renewable energy, transport infrastructure, affordable housing and clean water access across emerging markets.

Xi Jinping Joins New Delhi Summit as BRICS Marks 20 Years

Xi will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the theme 'Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.' The gathering marks two decades of BRICS cooperation and arrives as Global South economies push for more self-reliant development models.

Tinley Park – September 17, 2026 -- Payroc, a global payment-processing acquirer processing more than $125 billion in card volume annually, has won four categories at The Digital Banker's Global Cards & Payments Innovation Awards 2026.

Payroc sweeps gateway and in-store payment categories

The company was named Best Payments Gateway Provider for its multi-region gateway serving merchants, independent software vendors, SaaS platforms, independent sales organizations and enterprise channel partners. Payroc also won Best POS & In-Store Payments Solution Provider, recognizing its card-present and in-store payment capabilities for merchants and partners.

Dallas – September 17, 2026 -- Toby R. Neugebauer, together with Vicksburg Investments Management LLC and the Melissa A. Neugebauer 2020 Trust, has filed a formal SEC Rule 14a-8 shareholder proposal demanding Fermi Inc. (Nasdaq: FRMI) retain an independent, nationally recognized investment bank to review the full range of extraordinary transactions available to the company, including a full-value sale or majority recapitalization. The Fermi Founder Parties, who hold approximately 22% of shares outstanding, submitted the proposal September 10 ahead of the company's October 30 Annual Meeting, following a letter to the Board on September 9 and a detailed presentation on September 10.