Technology

VERSABANK RECEIVES FINAL U.S. APPROVAL FOR U.S. BANK ACQUISITON

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2024

– Acquisition Will Enable VersaBank to Broadly Launch its Unique and Highly Successful
Receivable Purchase Program Financing Solution in the United States –

LONDON, ON, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – VersaBank (TSX: VBNK) (NASDAQ: VBNK), a North American leader in business-to-business digital banking, as well as technology solutions for cybersecurity, today announced that it has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), the primary regulator of banks chartered under the United States National Bank Act, to proceed with its proposed acquisition of Minnesota-based Stearns Bank Holdingford N.A. (“Stearns Holdingford”). Stearns Holdingford is an independent OCC-chartered national bank with US$79 million in assets located in Holdingford, Minnesota that is wholly owned by Stearns Financial Services, Inc. (“Stearns Financial”). The OCC approval is the second and final U.S. regulatory approval required for VersaBank to proceed with the Stearns Holdingford acquisition. VersaBank will now seek approval for the Stearns Holdingford acquisition from its Canadian regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). Upon VersaBank’s receipt of OSFI approval, it will proceed to close the Stearns Holdingford acquisition as soon as possible.

Stearns Financial, a multi-bank holding company owning two additional and separate national bank charters, Stearns Bank Upsala National Association and Stearns Financial’s flagship and largest national bank, Stearns Bank National Association (headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota), is not part of the VersaBank transaction and will continue to exist and operate independently.

“OCC approval of our proposed acquisition of Stearns Holdingford is a critical milestone in the process of taking our unique and highly successful Receivable Purchase Program (RPP) to the largest financing market in the world,” said David Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, VersaBank. “Having proven out the value of our innovative and proprietary RPP financing solution in Canada, our acquisition of Stearns Holdingford, a national, federally licensed U.S. bank, will enable us to pursue a methodical, phased roll out of this solution across the U.S. There is simply no equivalent to this type of funding mechanism for point-of-sale finance companies anywhere in North America. The very favourable market response to the limited initial roll out of our RPP solution in the U.S. to date, as well as the long list of potential partners waiting on our ability to broadly roll out our program, has confirmed our belief that our offering is both one-of-a-kind and an attractive alternative to the existing sources of funding for our partners. It gives us great confidence in our ability to replicate the success of our Canadian solution in the U.S. market.”

Mr. Taylor added, “Importantly, in our expansion into the U.S., we will maintain our steadfast commitment to risk mitigation throughout our organization, which has enabled us to lead the Canadian banking industry in terms of credit risk and achieve a 30-year track record of no material loan losses. Our RPP opportunity in the U.S., combined with the expected continued growth in our RPP portfolio in Canada, will enable VersaBank to drive strong, sustainable growth in our loan portfolio for years to come and increasingly capitalize on the significant operating leverage in our business model, driving outsized improvements in efficiency and growth in profitability and return on common equity that is unmatched in the North American banking industry.”

Mr. Taylor added, “As we capitalize on the significant opportunity this acquisition affords us, we look forward to continuing to serve the community of Holdingford, providing the same level of service and support that its customers have come to know for many decades.”

“On behalf of the entire team at Stearns Financial and all of the communities we serve, I would like to congratulate VersaBank on this monumental achievement and welcome VersaBank with open arms,” said Kelly Skalicky, President and CEO of Stearns Financial. “It is a testament to the diligence and integrity of the VersaBank management team and the strength and soundness of their banking model that VersaBank’s acquisition of Stearns Holdingford was approved by both the OCC and the Fed, providing VersaBank the opportunity to bring successful solutions and positively contribute to our local communities and the larger U.S. financing sector by delivering their well-established, proven Receivable Purchase Program and innovative financing offerings. We look forward to being able to proceed with the closing of the Stearns Holdingford transaction and continuing to work with VersaBank on additional future opportunities as they emerge.”

“It speaks volumes that our Canadian neighbor, VersaBank, has chosen Holdingford as its home base for entry into the U.S. market,” said Heather Plumski, President of Stearns Bank Holdingford. “The VersaBank team shares our values and culture and is committed to continuing Stearns Bank’s legacy as a vital contributor to and supporter of the local economy.”

About VersaBank’s Receivables Purchase Program

VersaBank’s Receivable Purchase Program is an innovative and highly attractive digital funding solution for finance companies who lend money to consumers and small businesses for what are typically “big ticket” purchases (e.g. consumer home improvement/HVAC projects and a wide variety of commercial equipment). It was specifically designed to address an unmet need in the market for consistently available, readily accessible, economically attractive capital using VersaBank’s proprietary, state-of-the-art banking technology. Consistent with its branchless, business-to-business, partner-based digital banking strategy, VersaBank’s RPP enables it to access the massive and growing consumer and small business financing market in an indirect, efficient and highly risk-mitigated manner.

As of April 30, 2024, VersaBank’s Receivable Purchase Program portfolio was in excess of C$3.1 billion (US$2.3 billion), growing at compounded annual rate of more than 26% over the last five years (fiscal year ended October 31). Since the Bank’s RPP was first launched in Canada in 2010 and launched on a limited basis in the U.S. in April 2022, VersaBank has provided more than C$9 billion (more than US$6.5 billion) in funding to North American finance companies.

About Stearns Financial Services, Inc.

Stearns Financial Services Inc. (SFSI) is a well-capitalized, $3.3 billion independent financial holding company based in St. Cloud, MN. It is the holding company for Stearns Bank N.A. and Stearns Bank Upsala, N.A., as well as Stearns Bank Holdingford N.A., which has been approved by U.S. regulators for acquisition by VersaBank. Recognized as one of the nation’s top-performing banks by both American Banker and Independent Banker magazines, Stearns Bank N.A. specializes in affordable housing, construction finance, small business lending, and equipment financing. Driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions, Stearns Bank gets the job done! For more information, visit StearnsBank.com.

About VersaBank

VersaBank is a Canadian Schedule I chartered (federally licensed) bank with a difference. VersaBank became the world’s first fully digital financial institution when it adopted its highly efficient business-to-business model in 1993 using its proprietary state-of-the-art financial technology to profitably address underserved segments of the Canadian banking market in the pursuit of superior net interest margins while mitigating risk. VersaBank obtains all of its deposits and provides the majority of its loans and leases electronically, with innovative deposit and lending solutions for financial intermediaries that allow them to excel in their core businesses. In addition, leveraging its internally developed IT security software and capabilities, VersaBank established wholly owned, Washington, DC-based subsidiary, DRT Cyber Inc. to pursue significant large-market opportunities in cyber security and develop innovative solutions to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities on a daily basis.

VersaBank’s Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and Nasdaq under the symbol VBNK. Its Series 1 Preferred Shares trade on the TSX under the symbol VBNK.PR.A.

Forward-Looking Statements

VersaBank’s public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document, and may be included in other filings and with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. The statements in this press release that relate to the future are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, many of which are out of our control. Risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian and U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies within Canada and U.S. in which we conduct operations; the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve; changing global commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations pertaining to financial services; changes in tax laws; technological changes; unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; unexpected changes in consumer spending and savings habits; the impact of wars or conflicts including the crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the crisis on global supply chains; the impact of new variants of COVID-19 and the Bank’s anticipation of and success in managing the risks implicated by the foregoing. For a detailed discussion of certain key factors that may affect our future results, please see our annual MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2022.

The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information contained in this document and the related management’s discussion and analysis is presented to assist our shareholders and others in understanding our financial position and may not be appropriate for any other purposes. Except as required by securities law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this document and the related management’s discussion and analysis or made from time to time by the Bank or on its behalf.

Visit our website at: www.versabank.com

Follow VersaBank on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

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SOURCE VersaBank

Technology

Best Accounting Software for Medium-Sized Business UK (2026): QuickBooks Advanced Recognised as a Scalable Finance Platform for UK Mid-Market Businesses by Consumer365

Published

16 hours ago

May 9, 2026

NEW YORK, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As demand for scalable financial tools grows, attention is shifting towards the best accounting software for medium-sized businesses in the UK in 2026, as organisations face increasingly complex accounting requirements. Consumer365 has recognised QuickBooks as a cloud-based platform supporting more structured financial management, reflecting a wider focus on improving automation, visibility, and compliance readiness.

Best Accounting Software for Medium-Sized Business UK

QuickBooks – developed as a cloud-based accounting platform, it enables medium-sized businesses to manage financial operations, automate core accounting processes, and maintain compliance with UK regulatory requirements.

Growing Demand for Scalable Financial Systems in the UK Mid-Market

Medium-sized businesses in the UK are operating in an environment where financial management is becoming increasingly complex. Growth introduces additional reporting layers, heightened regulatory expectations, and the need for consistent financial oversight across departments.

Traditional accounting methods are often no longer sufficient under these conditions. Spreadsheet-based systems and entry-level tools can struggle to deliver accurate, timely insights. This creates visibility gaps that can impact planning and decision-making.

QuickBooks has been identified within this context as a platform designed to support more structured financial management. Its positioning reflects a broader shift towards systems that centralise financial data and reduce fragmentation across business operations.

QuickBooks Positioned as a Scalable Financial Platform

QuickBooks operates as a cloud-based accounting system developed by Intuit. It is designed to support businesses that require more than basic bookkeeping functionality, focusing on helping organisations manage financial processes in a more connected and scalable way.

A key aspect of its design is the ability to consolidate financial information within a single system. This allows businesses to manage invoicing, expenses, reporting, and cash flow tracking without relying on multiple disconnected tools.

The platform is also structured to support growth. As businesses expand, financial operations often become more distributed across teams. QuickBooks enables multiple users to work within the same system while maintaining structured access controls, helping ensure consistency and oversight as complexity increases.

Financial Visibility, Automation, and Operational Control

One of the central functions of QuickBooks is improving financial visibility across business operations. Real-time data access allows organisations to monitor cash flow, expenses, and overall financial performance without waiting for end-of-period reporting cycles.

Automation plays a significant role in reducing manual workload. Financial processes such as invoicing, transaction categorisation, and expense tracking can be streamlined, reducing reliance on repetitive manual input and supporting more consistent financial records.

Operational control is reinforced through structured user permissions. Businesses can assign access levels based on roles, ensuring financial data is managed securely while still enabling collaboration across departments. This structure is particularly relevant for medium-sized organisations where multiple teams interact with financial systems.

Integration, Compliance, and System Connectivity

QuickBooks is designed to integrate with a range of business tools commonly used by UK organisations. These include payroll systems, customer relationship management platforms, and other operational software. This level of connectivity helps ensure that financial data remains consistent across systems.

Compliance is also a core part of the platform’s structure. UK businesses must meet specific regulatory requirements, including VAT reporting and Making Tax Digital standards. QuickBooks includes features that support these obligations within the system, reducing the need for manual compliance processes.

By aligning financial reporting with regulatory standards, the platform helps organisations maintain accurate records while reducing the administrative burden associated with tax and compliance requirements.

Operational Impact and Long-Term Financial Structure

As businesses grow, financial systems often become central to overall operational structure. Decisions related to hiring, investment, and expansion rely on access to accurate and timely financial data. Systems that lack integration or real-time visibility can slow decision-making and introduce inefficiencies.

QuickBooks supports a more structured approach by centralising financial information. This reduces fragmentation and helps ensure consistency across the organisation. It also supports continuity, minimising the need for frequent system changes as businesses scale.

The platform is designed to adapt to increasing complexity over time. As transaction volumes grow and reporting requirements expand, it remains stable while accommodating additional users and workflows.

This approach aligns with the needs of medium-sized businesses transitioning from smaller-scale operations to more advanced financial environments.

Market Context and Financial Management Trends

The recognition of QuickBooks reflects broader developments in financial technology adoption among UK medium-sized businesses. Organisations are increasingly prioritising systems that improve efficiency while reducing operational complexity.

Financial management is no longer limited to recordkeeping. It has become a core business function that influences strategic planning and overall performance. As a result, platforms that provide integrated financial oversight are becoming more relevant across a wide range of industries.

QuickBooks fits within this shift by offering a system that combines core accounting functionality with workflow automation and reporting capabilities. This supports businesses that require both day-to-day financial management and longer-term planning tools.

The emphasis on scalability also reflects changing expectations in the mid-market sector. Businesses are seeking platforms that can grow with them, rather than systems that need to be replaced as operational requirements evolve.

Conclusion

Consumer365 has recognised QuickBooks as a relevant financial platform for medium-sized businesses operating in the UK in 2026. The recognition highlights its focus on scalability, financial visibility, and structured operational control.

The platform is positioned to support organisations as they move beyond basic accounting systems and adopt more integrated financial management structures. Its emphasis on automation, compliance support, and system connectivity aligns with the operational needs of growing businesses.

As financial complexity continues to increase across the mid-market sector, tools that centralise financial data and support real-time decision-making are becoming more widely adopted. QuickBooks represents one of the platforms contributing to this shift towards more structured financial management approaches.

To read the full review, please visit the Consumer365 website.

About Intuit

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.

About Consumer365.org: Consumer365 provides consumer news and industry insights. As an affiliate, Consumer365 may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

Disclaimer

Where AI content is used: This information is intended to outline our general product direction, but represents no obligation and should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. Additional terms, conditions and fees may apply with certain features and functionality. Eligibility criteria may apply. Product offers, features, functionality are subject to change without notice.

General content disclaimer: This information is provided free of charge and is intended to be helpful to a wide range of businesses. Because of its general nature the information cannot be taken as comprehensive and they do not constitute and should never be used as a substitute for legal, accounting, tax or professional advice. Intuit cannot guarantee that the information applies to the individual circumstances of your business. Despite our best efforts it is possible that some information may be out of date.

Any reliance you place on information found on this site or linked to on other websites will be at your own risk. You should consider seeking the advice of independent advisers and should always check your decisions against your normal business methods and best practice in your field of business.

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SOURCE Consumer365.org

Technology

BOE continues to launch new products and solutions in the field of high-end displays

Published

17 hours ago

May 9, 2026

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

1、Redefine Visual Experience with Scientific Standards! BOE Releases Core Research Findings on OLED Display Clarity-Legibility Index, Paving the Way for the Industry’s First Transparent Pro Standard to Deliver Supreme Visual Experience

With the rapid popularization of OLED display technology, basic screen indicators including resolution, color gamut and brightness keep improving. Meanwhile, display transparency — a core experience metric that determines visual comfort , image authenticity and premium visual quality — has drawn growing attention across the industry.

Recently, BOE has empowered the launch of the industry’s first flagship high-transparency OLED display panel, setting an industry-leading benchmark in four key dimensions: color, depth , clarity and dynamic range. It ushers high-end display into a new era, shifting from purely numerical technical specifications to ultimate user-centric visual experience.

In addition, BOE officially unveiled its in-depth research achievements on OLED display transparency. It has identified the core underlying factors affecting visual transparency through scientific research, pioneered the industry’s first display transparency index formula, and facilitated the release of the first authoritative evaluation standard for OLED display transparency. This marks an industry’s transformation from specs-oriented to experience-driven development. This marks a full-process breakthrough covering underlying technical analysis, scientifically guided image quality development and mass production application.

At present, the group standard 《Standard of Associations Organic light emitting diode display —Evaluation method for display clarity》, led and formulated by BOE based on relevant research outcomes, has been officially issued. As the world’s first dedicated evaluation standard focusing on OLED display transparency, it fills the long-standing industry gap in correlating subjective visual perception with objective image quality parameters.

Leveraging this standard and transparency research results, BOE has assisted partners in developing the industry’s first flagship high-transparency OLED screen. The company has built a comprehensive technical system for OLED visual transparency. Supported by cutting-edge technologies such as tandem, LTPO and high-precision Demura crosstalk optimization algorithms, BOE and its partners have carried out full-link optimization from display panels to end devices.

Going forward, BOE will continue to deepen research on display human factors engineering and visual experience. Through technological innovation and standard leadership, it will bring more ultimate, high-transparency premium display experiences to users worldwide.

2、BOE Beneficial “Natural” Light Technology (BNL): Solving Visual Health Pain Points and Leading the Display Industry Trend

In an era of ubiquitous displays, users are spending increasingly longer hours on screens. Nevertheless, the luminous properties of conventional displays poorly align with the human visual system, sparking widespread consumer concerns over visual health. To address such challenges, BOE draws inspiration from natural light. By deeply analyzing natural light and extracting beneficial features highly consistent with health and comfort, BOE established the Beneficial “Natural” Light Technology (BNL) architecture. Evolving from single technical upgrades to a systematic solution, BNL replicates the merits of natural light across four core dimensions: Depolarization Adjustment, Spectrum Optimization, Light Profile Optimization and Time-varying Adaptation, advancing display technology toward healthy viewing.

BNL & Visual Health

Depolarization Adjustment: The linearly polarized light of traditional displays causes targeted stimulation to retinal lutein, resulting in dry eyes, eyelid redness and other discomforts. Based on the mainstream Circular Polarization (QWP) solution, BOE BNL has developed a series of technologies like BSF/RDF Random Depolarization technology and un-Polarization，which convert linearly polarized light into randomly polarized light, enabling balanced lutein utilization across the entire visual field, and deliver natural-light-level eye protection.

Spectrum Optimization: Conventional narrow-band RGB spectra feature poor continuity and imbalanced energy distribution, with excessive high-energy blue light that induces eye strain and increases risks of macular damage. Beyond Low Blue Light solutions, BOE BNL has developed Natural-like Spectrum, Beneficial Red Light, Infrared Light and Circadian Rhythm technologies. Multiple clinical studies have verified that Beneficial Red Light and Infrared Light can effectively inhibit axial elongation and accelerate eye microcirculation. BOE takes the lead in integrating such optics into displays，achieving a spectral distribution matching degree of over 60%, an energy ratio of Beneficial Red Light (650–670 nm) exceeding 50%, and independent on/off switching and energy adjustment of Infrared Light. Meanwhile, Circadian Rhythm technology regulates melatonin secretion to safeguard sleep quality. Shifting from passive harm reduction to active eye benefits, BOE BNL delivers all-round visual health protection.

Light Profile Optimization: Conventional screens are prone to surface reflection and glare, which interfere with visual recognition and cause cumulative eye fatigue. Powered by industry-leading Anti-Glare, Low Reflection and Wide Viewing Angle technologies, BOE BNL accurately simulates the diffuse reflection of natural light to deliver consistent visual comfort across diverse viewing angles. For instance, BOE UB Cell technology achieves a DGR value below 5 with negligible glare and reflection, ensuring sustained visual comfort.

Time-varying Adaptation: Conventional displays tend to produce low-frequency flicker and fixed brightness and color temperature that fail to adapt to ambient changes, forcing frequent eye muscle adjustments and leading to discomfort. By adopting Flicker Free and Light Self-adaptive technologies, BOE BNL delivers stable, ultra-smooth visuals that replicate the comfort of natural light.

SID 2026: BOE Launches New BNL Display Products

At SID Display Week 2026, BOE launched new BNL health display products. The highlight product is the industry’s first 13.8-inch BNL health display tablet. It integrates all four core dimensions，supported by 7 core BNL technologies， to deliver a healthy and comfortable visual experience.

As a global leader in the display industry, BOE has led the development and officially issued the world’s first “Natural Light” display standard via the Zhongguancun Standardization Association，and has jointly issued the White Paper on Natural Light Display Technologies (Engineering Considerations, Application Value and Challenges) with TÜV Rheinland to drive standardized and high-quality industrial development. In the future, BOE will continue to iterate on technologies, diversify product forms and application scenarios, advance the grading standards for Beneficial “Natural” Light displays, and protect users’ visual health.

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SOURCE BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.

Technology

BitradeX BXC First Two Subscription Rounds Sell Out, Total Subscriptions Exceed 14M USDT

Published

20 hours ago

May 9, 2026

LONDON, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BitradeX Capital’s ecosystem equity token, BXC, has completed its first and second subscription rounds, selling a total of 50 million BXC with subscriptions exceeding 14 million USDT. The first round sold out in 90 seconds, while the second closed within 48 hours.

While the fundraising size is not unusually large by crypto standards, the structure of the sale has attracted market attention. The first two rounds were not open to the public, but limited to high-tier BitradeX users. The first round was available only to V5 users and above, while the second round expanded access to V3 users and above.

According to BitradeX’s tier system, V3+ users typically have higher recurring investment activity through AiBot, longer platform usage history, and stronger ecosystem participation. This means the early BXC allocation was absorbed mainly by the platform’s internal high-value user base, rather than short-term speculative participants.

This approach differs from many token fundraising campaigns that prioritize broad public participation and market hype. BitradeX instead adopted a more selective, staged model, gradually lowering the participation threshold while keeping the sale within its active ecosystem community.

BXC is positioned as more than a standard platform token. Its value framework is linked to BitradeX Capital’s broader ecosystem, including its exchange business, AiBot quantitative strategies, BTX Card payments, and Labs incubation platform. Public information indicates that BXC holders may receive staking rewards, benefit from ecosystem buybacks and burns, and gain priority access to Launchpad projects and governance participation.

The third subscription round is launched on April 30 at $0.35 USDT per BXC, with a total supply of 100 million BXC. It is now open to users participating in AiBot recurring investment. The fourth round price is expected to rise to $0.45 USDT.

The long-term value of BXC will ultimately depend on the growth of BitradeX’s underlying businesses, including exchange profitability, AiBot user expansion, and BTX Card adoption. However, the rapid sellout of the first two rounds suggests that BitradeX’s core user base has already shown strong confidence in the ecosystem’s future.

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SOURCE BitradeX Capital