Top Fintech News Stories for February 22, 2021

Here are the top news stories from our daily newsletter today:

• The Secret Financial Lives of Consumers that Banks Don’t Know About – The Financial Brand
• Brex applies for bank charter, taps former Silicon Valley Bank exec as CEO of Brex Bank – TechCrunch
• Podcast 286: Billy Libby of Upper90 – LendIt Fintech News
• Fintech Affirm Reveals that 43% of New Users Prefer the Firm’s Pay Over Time Services as it Helps them Stay Within Budget: Survey – Crowdfund Insider
• SME Lender October Confirms that French Government has Extended State-Guaranteed Loans Program to June 2021 – Crowdfund Insider
• TransUnion Report Confirms that Credit Activity Keeps Rising from COVID-19 Pandemic Lows, Origination Activity Recovering – Crowdfund Insider
• TransferWise rebrands as Wise ahead of an expected IPO – TechCrunch
• SPACs supercharging fintechs – American Banker
• Lack of Digital Maturity Threatens Survival of Banks Worldwide – The Financial Brand