In recent years, contactless payments have become one of the fastest and safest ways to carry out financial transactions. Driven by NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, this modality has grown exponentially, bringing benefits to both consumers and companies. But how does this technology work and what are its advantages? In this article, we will explore the impact of NFC on the financial industry and how it is shaping the future of payments.
What is NFC technology?
NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that allows the exchange of information between compatible devices when they are in close proximity, usually a few centimeters apart. This functionality is widely used in credit and debit cards, smartphones, smart watches, and other devices enabled for digital payments.
The basis of NFC is radio frequency identification (RFID), allowing devices to communicate with each other without the need for physical contact. When a customer brings their card or smartphone close to a compatible payment machine, the transaction is processed in a matter of seconds, without the need to enter passwords for amounts within certain limits set by banks.
Benefits of contactless payments
The use of NFC technology has transformed the payment experience in several ways:
· Speed and convenience: Transactions are processed in seconds, reducing queues and waiting time at the store.
· Increased security: As payments are made contactless and have multiple layers of encryption, the risk of card cloning is reduced.
· Hygiene and practicality: In a post-pandemic world, avoiding physical contact with POS machines and cash has become a priority for many consumers.
· Integration with mobile devices: NFC-enabled smartphones and smartwatches allow users to make payments without the need to carry physical cards.
The impact of NFC on the financial sector
The financial industry has invested heavily in technologies such as NFC to enhance the customer experience. With the growing adoption of digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, contactless payments have become even more accessible and secure.
In addition, new regulations and security standards, such as data tokenization, are making this technology even more robust, protecting user information, and reducing fraud. Banks and FinTech's are also developing innovative solutions to integrate NFC with other financial services, such as loyalty and cashback programs.
The future of contactless payments
The trend is for NFC to continue evolving and expanding its presence in the market. With the advancement of biometrics and digital authentication technologies, it is possible that contactless payments will become even more secure and personalized. Additionally, the
Integration of NFC with the Internet of Things (IoT) concept could lead to new applications, such as automated payments in public transportation, parking lots, and even smart home appliances. How Topaz, a Stefanini Group company, can help
Contactless payments via NFC represent a milestone in the digital transformation of the financial sector. Offering security, practicality, and innovation, this technology is already part of the daily lives of millions of people and has the potential to further revolutionize the way we conduct transactions in the future. At Topaz, we are attentive to technological trends and seek to offer innovative solutions to enhance customer experience in the digital universe. Want to know more about how technology can boost your business? Talk to our experts!
Mayra Alves
Marketing Analyst at Topaz, a Stefanini Group company.

Artificial intelligence in banking: applications and keys to adopt it

Digital transformation has redefined the global banking landscape, and artificial intelligence (AI) has established itself as one of the most disruptive technological pillars in the sector. In 2024, eight out of ten banks in Latin America have implemented some form of AI, mainly in customer service and fraud detection, according to the Finnovista & Microsoft Latin America Report 2024.
The adoption of this technology is driven by the need for operational efficiency, security, and personalization of services. What are the main trends?
Applications of artificial intelligence in financial services
Intelligent automation: reduction of operating costs through the optimization of internal processes.
Hyper-personalization: creation of products and services based on user behavior.
Advanced risk management: predictive models for fraud prevention and compliance.
Conversational banking: chatbots and virtual assistants powered by generative AI.
In Latin America, AI adoption is at an intermediate stage of maturation. Financial institutions have recognized their value, but face barriers such as limited technological infrastructure, implementation costs, and fragmented regulation. However, countries
such as Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia are leading the charge with strategic investments in AI applied to digital banks.
Investment in AI in the financial sector in the region reached approximately $1.5 billion in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023 (IDC Latin America AI Spending Guide, 2024). This reflects the growing interest of institutions in harnessing advanced technologies to improve their competitiveness and security.
Artificial intelligence use cases in banking and the financial sector
Data analysis and personalization of services
Banks have begun to use AI algorithms to perform real-time analysis of customers' financial behavior and offer products that fit their profile.
BBVA Mexico has implemented AI to assess the creditworthiness of customers without a traditional financial history, enabling the financial inclusion of thousands of people through alternative data analysis.
60% of Latin American fintechs are using AI to personalize products and improve the customer experience (Latam Fintech Hub, AI Trends Report 2024).
Fraud prevention and cybersecurity
Financial fraud is one of the main threats to digital banking. Machine learning models and neural networks allow you to detect suspicious transactions in seconds, with a precision superior to traditional methods.
Bancolombia has adopted an AI system to analyze transactional behavior patterns, reducing mobile banking fraud by 40% in the last two years.
The adoption of AI for fraud detection has made it possible to reduce losses from bank fraud by 25% in the last two years (Association of Latin American Banks – FELABAN, Report 2024).
Growth of chatbots and virtual assistants
Conversational AI has dramatically improved customer service in the banking industry, allowing for immediate responses and personalized assistance.
Bradesco, in Brazil, launched "BIA", a virtual assistant based on generative AI, which achieved a query resolution rate of 85% without human intervention.
70% of banks in the region use AI-powered chatbots to interact with customers, with a 40% reduction in operational costs related to customer service (Capgemini Research Institute, World Banking AI Report 2024).
The Future of AI in Financial Services
In the short and medium term, artificial intelligence in the banking and financial sectors will evolve in three key axes:
Evolution of generative AI: use of advanced models for personalized financial advice.
RegTech and compliance: Implementing AI to streamline audits and regulatory processes.
Expansion of alternative credit models: AI applied to the credit assessment of unbanked populations.
For Latin America, the challenge will not only be to adopt the technology, but to design strategies that allow it to overcome current barriers and maximize its impact. Financial institutions that integrate AI ethically, safely, and efficiently will have a competitive advantage in this digital age. Future of AI Artificial Intelligence Banking

What is a Financial Core?

In the dynamic scenario of the financial sector, operational efficiency and the ability to adapt are fundamental to the success of institutions. In this context, the financial core emerges as the heart of banking operations, playing a crucial role in the management of financial products and services.
What is it?
The financial core, or banking core, refers to the central system that manages the main operations of a financial institution. He is responsible for processing transactions, maintaining checking and savings accounts, managing loans, investments, and other financial products. In addition, it ensures compliance with regulations and facilitates integration with various service channels, such as physical branches, ATMs, internet banking, and mobile applications.
Importance of Core Finance
The implementation of a robust financial core is vital to ensure the efficiency and security of banking operations. A well-structured system allows:
· Scalability: Ability to handle growing transaction and customer volume without compromising performance.
· Flexibility: Rapid adaptation to new market demands and regulations, enabling the introduction of new products and services.
· Security: Protection against fraud and cyber threats, ensuring data integrity and customer trust.
· Integration: Connectivity with other systems and platforms, facilitating interoperability between different channels and services.
Evolution to Modern Solutions
With the advancement of technology, core financial systems have evolved into more modern and efficient architectures. The adoption of cloud solutions, for example, offers
benefits such as reduced operational costs, greater scalability, and continuous updates. Additionally, the modularity of these solutions allows institutions to customize and expand their functionalities as needed. Topaz, a Stefanini Group company and leader in digital financial solutions, stands out for offering state-of-the-art core banking systems. Its solutions are characterized by a modular architecture in the cloud, providing unparalleled scalability and configurability, which increases the competitiveness of financial institutions.
Topaz Solutions Topaz offers different core financial solutions to meet the specific needs of various institutions:
· Core Universal: Designed to empower large and medium-sized companies looking to offer a wide range of products and services. This robust and scalable system efficiently manages pick-up and placement products, ensuring interoperability with multiple channels such as branches, ATMs, and digital platforms.
· Core Digital: Ideal for online banks and neobanks, this agile system allows the launch of new products and services in record time. Focused on the best user experience, it integrates emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and APIs, promoting constant innovation and low operating costs, without the need for physical branches.
· Core Microfinance: Developed to transform the lives of unbanked or underbanked people, this system manages microloans and short-term financial products efficiently, reducing operating costs. In addition, it empowers customers by educating them in the use of financial products, promoting economic development and improving the quality of life in communities.
How Topaz, a Stefanini Group company, can help
For financial institutions looking to expand or upgrade their financial core, it is essential to consider solutions that offer flexibility, scalability, and security. Choosing a modern and efficient system, such as those offered by Topaz, can be decisive in leading the digital transformation in the financial sector and meeting the demands of a constantly evolving market. Investing in a robust financial core is not only an operational necessity, but a fundamental strategy to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of financial institutions in the current scenario.
Mayra Alves
Marketing Analyst at Topaz, a Stefanini Group company Core Finance AI Digital financial solutions Topaz

The future of the consortium market: How technology is revolutionizing the management and operation of consortia in Brazil

The consortium market in Brazil is experiencing a real revolution. Driven by technology, the sector has presented advances that simplify processes, optimize operations and offer a superior experience for both administrators and consortium members.
Last year, the sector moved more than R$ 101 billion, an impressive growth of 17.8% compared to the previous period. These numbers directly reflect the impact of new technologies on the sector. In this transformation scenario, NewM stands out as a protagonist, offering solutions that are redefining the management, operation and experience of consortium members. In this context of transformation, NewM, a Stefanini Group company, consolidates itself as one of the protagonists of innovation in the sector. With technologies that integrate management, operation and service, we offer solutions such as:
✓ Self-service application for consortium members: Simplifies access to information, promotes autonomy and improves the customer experience.
✓ Mobile and web management platform for commercial teams: Facilitates the operation, bringing agility and efficiency to administrators.
✓ Contract generator with electronic acceptance: An innovation that eliminates bureaucracy and accelerates the formalization of contracts. The technological transformation of the sector is not just a trend, but a necessity to meet the demands of an increasingly connected and demanding market. With innovative solutions and a focus on the future, NewM is ready to help consortium administrators lead this new era. Want to lead this transformation? Get to know our solutions and be prepared to boost the operation of your consortium administrator. Automation Consortium AI

4 Processes Your Bank Should Have Automated

Process automation in today's financial services is an essential component of meeting industry challenges, improving operational efficiency, and adapting to market demands. By integrating technological solutions, repetitive and routine tasks can be automated, reducing manual intervention and instead allowing more resources to be dedicated to strategic efforts.
For banks and other businesses to remain more competitive and profitable, automation is a crucial technology that offers many benefits, including optimizing the customer experience and improving regulatory compliance.
Next, let's look at four processes that can be leveraged with this technology.
Onboarding, Account Opening, and Online Products
The implementation of technologies such as facial and voice biometrics, as well as artificial intelligence, makes it possible to simplify the collection of information and verify the identity of customers. From the convenience of their devices, customers can quickly complete the process of opening accounts, applying for credit cards, or other financial products, eliminating the need for traditional paperwork and streamlining service delivery.
This digital transformation not only improves operational efficiency, but also contributes significantly to improving the customer experience, providing faster access to financial services and strengthening confidence in the security of electronic transactions.
Data analytics for personalized offers
The ability to deliver real-time, personalized experiences of individual offers, content, and customer experience has become a differentiating factor, which is made possible by advances in processing power, new technologies for analyzing large volumes of data, such as AI, and its various branches, such as machine learning and deep learning.
Banks and institutions that include the customization of their services to digital and commercial strategies are able to transform their customer data into value propositions, through which they must not only meet customer expectations, but anticipate and exceed them.
Fraud and Money Laundering Detection
Through the use of advanced algorithms and machine learning models, it is possible to analyze behavior patterns, transactions, and customer data in real time, proactively identifying suspicious activity. This predictive approach makes it possible to anticipate new forms of fraud, dynamically adapting to the new tactics of criminals.
AI also makes it possible to analyze user behavior, both in online transactions and when interacting with mobile applications. Suspicious activity can be detected by comparing current behavior to historical customer patterns.
Risk Management and Compliance
The implementation of automated systems enables the continuous monitoring and assessment of risks, identifying potentially risky patterns and taking preventive measures in an agile way. It also facilitates regulatory compliance by generating reports, tracking regulatory changes, and updating internal policies that instantly adapt to changing requirements.
Data-driven, technologies such as AI and machine learning contribute to proactive identification of potential threats and better decision-making. What Topaz, a Stefanini Group company, can do
As a strategic ally for your financial services and solutions business, we have Topaz One, the world's first full banking platform, which offers digital solutions and components integrated with artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Our state-of-the-art technology exceeds users' expectations, converting them into potential customers by introducing new offers that are better suited to their profile. Our origination solutions offer automation of complex processes that optimize workflow, ensuring business efficiency and competitiveness, and increasing customer satisfaction. To prevent and detect online fraud before it happens, our SecureJourney family features end-to-end protection for digital transactions across a complete ecosystem. It is prepared to face emerging challenges and adapt to the trends of an ever-evolving landscape.