Lloyds Banking Group preps deal to buy digital wallet technology specialist Curve for £120m
Lloyds Banking Group is working on deal to buy Curve, a provider of digital wallet technology, and could announce the acquisition for around £120 million as soon as this week.
A Sky News report, citing city sources, states that the terms of a transaction have been agreed, although a formal announcement might not be made until later in the month.
According to Sky News: “The financial services giant, which owns the Halifax brand and operates the biggest bank branch network in the UK, believes Curve's digital wallet platform will be a valuable asset amid growing regulatory pressure on Apple to open its payment services to rivals.”
Curve was founded in 2016 and has raised more than £200 million in equity to date. In 2019, founder Shachar Bialick said in an interview: "In ten years' time we are going to be IPOed, and hopefully worth around $50 billion to $60 billion."
It currently pitches itself as a rival to Apple Pay, having initially launched as an app enabling consumers to combine their debit and credit cards in a single wallet.
The company did not respond to our request for comment.
The ultimate Christmas gift for that friend who’s always on 2% 🪫
— Curve (@imaginecurve) December 9, 2023
No card, cash, or phone required.
We now have a whole marketplace of payment rings, keychains, bracelets and more.
Tag that friend in the comments and we might just sort them out ourselves 😉 pic.twitter.com/Wql09ScE84
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Digital payments will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards. which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”
He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”
“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”
Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering.
For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.
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