Proposed bank-led pilot to bring together local banking services and digital-asset settlement infrastructure to support Ghanaian businesses paying Asian suppliers

ACCRA, Ghana, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stanbic Bank Ghana and RD Technologies today announced that they are working together to explore a bank-led cross-border trade settlement solution supported by stablecoin technology. The initial focus will be legitimate business-to-business payments from Ghanaian businesses to suppliers in Asia, with regulatory engagement, technical validation and pilot planning forming the next phase of work.

For Ghanaian businesses paying suppliers in Asia, cross-border payments can involve multiple intermediaries, adding time, cost and complexity to settlement and payment tracking. The parties intend to assess how digital-asset settlement infrastructure can complement existing banking services to deliver a more efficient and transparent trade payment experience within the regulated banking system.

Under the proposed model, Stanbic Bank Ghana would remain the customer-facing bank, responsible for customer onboarding and account opening, know-your-customer (KYC) checks, transaction approval and local-currency settlement, together with the associated local compliance oversight. RD Technologies would provide payment technology, digital-asset infrastructure and access to its Asian settlement network, coordinating overseas settlement. Stablecoin technology would support the underlying cross-border settlement process, while business customers would access the relevant banking services through Stanbic Bank Ghana.

Subject to the requisite regulatory no-objection, the parties intend to establish a project team to progress technical testing and the design of a controlled pilot. Stanbic Bank Ghana will support the pilot by facilitating participation of eligible customers introduced for the proposed use case, subject to the bank’s normal onboarding, compliance, risk assessment, and transaction-approval requirements.

Darwin Mireku, Head, Strategy Enablement, Stanbic Bank Ghana, said:

“Reliable and efficient payments are essential for Ghanaian businesses engaged in international trade. Through this collaboration, we aim to assess how new technology can help customers settle legitimate trade payments with suppliers in Asia more smoothly. Customer needs, compliance and risk management will guide the design and testing of the proposed solution as we engage with the relevant regulators and work towards a controlled pilot.”

Rita Liu, CEO, RD Technologies, said:

“This collaboration brings together Stanbic Bank Ghana’s domestic banking capabilities and RD Technologies’ digital-asset infrastructure and connectivity with Asian markets. Our shared objective is to explore a secure, compliant and more efficient way for Ghanaian businesses to settle legitimate trade payments with suppliers in Asia. The next phase will focus on regulatory engagement, technical validation and the design of a controlled pilot.”

The parties will continue engagement with the relevant regulatory stakeholders and, subject to the necessary regulatory no-objection, proceed with technical validation and operating-model design. Through this initiative, the parties aim to support the modernization of Ghana’s payments ecosystem and strengthen its trade connectivity with Asian markets.

About Stanbic Bank Ghana

For over 26 years, Stanbic Bank Ghana has been a leading force in the nation’s banking sector, distinguished by financial strength, innovation, and a commitment to driving national growth. Since its establishment in 1999, the bank has maintained its position among Ghana’s top tier-one institutions, delivering world-class solutions guided by a highly experienced leadership team. As a subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, Stanbic Bank leverages deep sector expertise and a strong pan-African presence across 20 countries. Standard Bank Group is the first African banking group to be licensed as a direct CIPS participant. Standard Bank’s strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), a 20% shareholder, further enhances Stanbic Bank Ghana’s access to global trade finance networks, Asian markets, and competitive cross-border financing opportunities. Stanbic Bank provides structured finance, capital solutions, treasury services, commodity trade expertise, and strategic advisory support. Guided by the purpose that “Ghana is our home,” Stanbic Bank Ghana remains committed to driving growth by empowering businesses, enabling prosperity, and supporting national development for decades to come.

About RD Technologies

RD Technologies is a global financial technology group that provides innovative digital financial services to enterprises through its regulated subsidiaries. The group is dedicated to building the next generation of financial infrastructure bridging traditional finance (Web2) and Web3. As an early participant admitted into the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Stablecoins Issuer Sandbox, RD Technologies maintains a steadfast commitment to balancing rigorous compliance with pioneering innovation. To date, the group has secured over $90 million USD in cumulative funding. Its prestigious investor base features prominent global institutions and strategic industry heavyweights, including HashKey Group, HongShan (HSG), ZA Global, Solana Foundation, Guotai Junan International, China Harbour, Bright Venture Capital, Hivemind Capital, Eternal Digital Capital, Junsan Capital, and Aptos Labs.

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SOURCE RD Technologies

New guidance highlights the connection between Vendor Master governance, information reporting readiness, and evolving IRS filing requirements

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RAS AP Consulting, a leading advisory firm specializing in Accounts Payable Governance, Vendor Master Management, and Information Reporting Compliance, today announced its new educational resource, “1099 Compliance Starts in the Vendor Master File,” to help organizations prepare for major changes affecting information return reporting and filing.

The educational initiative comes as organizations prepare to retire the IRS Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system and transition to the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS). The IRS announced that November 19, 2026, will be the final day to file information returns through the FIRE system, requiring current FIRE users to transition to IRIS beginning with the 2027 filing season.

In addition to system changes, organizations must navigate new IRIS Transmitter Control Code (TCC) requirements, application timelines that may take up to 45 days, and reporting threshold changes affecting certain information returns.

According to RAS AP Consulting, many organizations still treat 1099 compliance as a year-end filing exercise rather than an enterprise data governance initiative.

“Many filing issues begin long before forms are submitted,” said Rosemarie A. Smith, BSBA, Founder and CEO of RAS AP Consulting, a certified 1099 and 1042‑S Information Reporting professional with more than 30 years of experience in Accounts Payable operations, supplier governance, and compliance. “Missing W-9S, inaccurate taxpayer information, duplicate vendor records, and weak onboarding controls can all create unnecessary compliance risk. The transition from FIRE to IRIS serves as an important reminder that information reporting begins with strong Vendor Master governance.”

LinkedIn carousel: https://lnkd.in/p/etsiKA28

The firm’s new educational LinkedIn carousel outlines key considerations for AP, Tax, Procurement, Shared Services, and Finance leaders, including:

FIRE-to-IRIS transition requirementsCritical IRS filing deadlinesIRIS TCC application requirementsReporting threshold changes for certain information returnsVendor Master File governance leading practicesW-9 and TIN validation readinessAP Governance considerations for year-end compliance

The campaign reinforces a core principle promoted by RAS AP Consulting:

“1099 compliance starts in the Vendor Master File, not at filing time.”

The firm believes organizations that proactively evaluate supplier data quality, tax documentation processes, and Vendor Master controls before reporting season will be better positioned to reduce compliance risk, improve information reporting accuracy, and support successful year-end filing initiatives.

As part of the initiative, RAS AP Consulting is offering complimentary readiness discussions focused on Vendor Master integrity, taxpayer data validation, IRIS preparedness, and AP Governance best practices.

About Rosemarie A. Smith

Rosemarie A. Smith, BSBA, is the Founder and CEO of RAS AP Consulting and a recognized Accounts Payable Governance professional with more than three decades of experience in Accounts Payable operations, supplier governance, information reporting compliance, internal controls, and AP transformation. Smith holds professional certifications in both 1099 Information Reporting and 1042-S Information Reporting and has led compliance, supplier governance, and AP modernization initiatives across multiple industries throughout her career.

About RAS AP Consulting

RAS AP Consulting is a Florida-based advisory firm specializing in Accounts Payable Governance, Vendor Master Management, Information Reporting Compliance, AP Transformation, and Supplier Lifecycle Governance. The firm helps organizations strengthen controls, reduce compliance risk, improve supplier data integrity, and modernize AP operations through practical governance frameworks and operational excellence initiatives.

Media Contact

Rosemarie A. Smith, BSBA
Founder & CEO
RAS AP Consulting™
Port St. Lucie, Florida

AP Governance | Vendor Master Management | 1099 & 1042-S Compliance

Contact:
Rosemarie Smith
***@rasapconsulting.com

Photo(s):
https://www.prlog.org/13177773

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SOURCE RAS AP Consulting LLC

National class action law firm offers free, confidential case evaluations to Parker Hannifin clients, employees, and others whose personal information may have been exposed in the reported data breach.

NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from a reported data breach at Parker-Hannifin Corporation, commonly known as Parker Hannifin, a major manufacturer of motion and control technologies. Anyone who received a breach notice or believes their information may have been exposed can request a free case evaluation.

What Happened

According to an October 16, 2026 post on the dark web monitoring site Ransomware.live, a hacker group calling itself Redact claimed responsibility for an attack on Parker Hannifin and described approximately 10.9 terabytes of data. The suspected attack was estimated to have occurred the same day the claim was posted. A separate cybersecurity site also reported that Redact was behind the alleged attack. Both reports rely on the group’s own claim, not on any statement from Parker Hannifin.

Parker Hannifin has not publicly confirmed the breach, said what kinds of information may have been involved, or said how many people could be affected. A listing on a leak-monitoring site is an unverified claim. Such claims can prove accurate, partly accurate, or overstated, and the details often become clearer only after a company completes its own investigation.

Because nothing has been confirmed, this release does not state what was taken or whom it may concern. The size of the claimed data set is notable — a volume of that scale could in theory include many kinds of business and personnel records — but that is a general observation, not a finding about this incident.

Background

Parker Hannifin previously disclosed a March 2022 data breach involving sensitive information related to current and former employees and their dependents. That earlier incident is separate, with its own facts, and nothing reported so far ties it to the new claim. It is noted here only as background for readers who may have been notified about both.

Manufacturers are frequent targets for extortion-style attacks because production and supply-chain interruptions create pressure to resolve incidents quickly, and large manufacturers keep a wide range of records—human resources files, payroll details, supplier and customer contracts, and technical documents. This is general context about the sector, not a statement about what Parker Hannifin’s systems contained or what was affected.

Who May Be Affected

The investigation focuses on people connected to Parker Hannifin — including clients, current and former employees, their family members, job applicants, and business contacts — whose personal information the company may have maintained. If Parker Hannifin determines that personal information was involved, state laws generally require it to notify affected individuals, and many states also require notice to regulators. Those notices typically describe what happened, what information was involved, and what protections, such as credit monitoring, are offered.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action on behalf of individuals whose data may have been compromised. A successful case could recover compensation for losses such as lost time, out-of-pocket costs, and loss of privacy, and could press Parker Hannifin to strengthen its data protection. The firm evaluates rights and potential claims at no cost. At this stage, the incident is only reported and remains unconfirmed.

Recommended Steps to Protect Yourself

Watch for any official notice from Parker Hannifin by mail or email, and keep it along with any enrollment details for protection services it offers.If a notice arrives and offers free credit monitoring, consider enrolling before the deadline.Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and obtain your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.Review your bank, card, and insurance statements for anything you do not recognize.Be skeptical of unexpected calls, texts, or emails that mention the incident; use only contact details you have verified independently, and report suspected identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, antitrust violations, ERISA benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The reported data breach and the ransomware group’s claim described above are unconfirmed.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP