The 10 Most Innovative Companies in Finance

01 / PayPal

For leading the charge on digital money. In November 2009, PayPal made the radical move to open up its system to third-party developers and allow them to integrate its payment system into their Web sites, mobile apps, and devices, which enabled all kinds of innovation in the past year. There are currently more than 15,000 developers working with its code, producing apps such as Bling Nation (tap to pay at offline merchants with an add-on sticker); iConcessionStand (order food and merchandise from a mobile device at sporting events); and IndieGoGo (fundraise for ideas or projects, a la Kickstarter).

02 / Citibank

For developing a new model for retail banking, and engineering the tech to make it possible. By focusing on user experience, Citi's innovation lab has developed multifunctional ATMs and interactive store displays that seek to attract younger, more tech-savvy customers and transform banks into a destination. In the past year, it has revamped seven branches in Asia, and doubled the amount of customers they attract.

03 / SecondMarket

For creating the largest "secondary market" for private-company shares. SecondMarket helps later-stage, fast-growing companies set up their own stock exchanges, where they govern everything from disclosure rules to pricing to market hours. Among the participants: Facebook, Twitter, and Craigslist.

04 / mPower Group

For committing more than $100 million to provide high-quality, low-cost financial services to the world's unbanked masses. In the past year, mPower has launched a mobile-payments credit initiative in India and a first-of-its-kind tap-to-pay system in Kosovo. Stateside, mPower took on the $106 billion alternative-finance industry--whose oft-predatory practices center on cashing checks amid bulletproof glass and neon signs--with the Mango Store, an Austin-based institution that aims to forge transparent, long-term relationships with the unbanked, instead of treating them like transient customers.

05 / Intuit

For its Mint-y fresh makeover. Money-management site Mint.com was last year's most buzzed-about Intuit offering--sorry, Quicken--thanks to explosive growth (its user base more than tripled to 4 million) and exciting new features (a data aggregator publishes spending reports in real-time). To lure younger, more international customers, Intuit also launched mobile app SnapTax (which has users snap a photo of their W2s to streamline tax-filings); and Nokia-powered Go Connect (an SMS-marketing system for small businesses in India).

06 / StockTwits

For building the Web's most comprehensive--and accessible--virtual trading floor. The site, which launched in 2008 and now attracts 300,000-plus unique visitors a month, lets users share stock-related ideas and data in real time without paying or registering (premium services deliver most of StockTwits' revenue). Last year, it expanded to include its own news feed, user-generated charts, and Web TV channel.

07 / Kiva

For applying its uber-successful microfinance model to student loans. Since its 2004 launch, lending network Kiva has helped more than 560,000 people fund $200 million worth of microloans--average size: $381.81--to needy entrepreneurs, both abroad and, as of October 2009, at home. In September, San Francisco-based nonprofit expanded into higher education, allowing people all over the world to give as little as $25 to fund student loans in the developing world, where student loans don't really exist. Kiva has already launched the program in Lebanon, Paraguay, and Bolivia, and plans to expand to at least 15 countries after the year-long pilot.

08 / BancVue

For arming long-struggling community banks and credit unions with better-than-the-big-guys perks. BancVue partners with indie financials to help them offer perks such as rewards checking, ATM-fee reimbursements, up to 4.5% APY savings accounts, online banking, proprietary credit cards and high-impact marketing campaigns. On average, its rewards-checking partners increase new-account openings by 30%--meaning that business is booming for the banks and for BancVue, whose revenues doubled last year to $80 million. Although it's still a ways from toppling Big Money, BancVue's 1,300-plus clients, if rolled up into one firm, would tout the nation's largest banking network.

09 / Yodlee

For developing a platform that serves as the back-end for 85% of all online personal financial management services. Yodlee claims some 17 million users in total, many of which access its platform via top U.S. banks, such as Bank of America, and leading portal sites, such as Mint.com. Last year, Yodlee continued to build out its FinApp Store, which is open-API so developers can build apps for the company's various program suites; in October, it announced the launch of Yodlee 10, it's most customizable platform yet.

10 / Wealthfront

For developing an investment-centric social network that's peeling back the curtain on the $10 trillion mutual-fund industry. Wealthfront gives professional investors a platform to share everything about their portfolios--including how much of their own money they've put in them--in hopes that others will pay to mimic their trades. Since launching as an SEC-registered investment advisor one year ago, the site has attracted more than $100 million in assets, and its managers, which undergo an intensive selection process, have collectively outperformed the S&P 500 by 6%.

The Benefits of Using a Real Estate Website Design Service

There are a large number of real estate agencies or individual agents throughout the world. With the proper training it is possible for just about anyone with the ambition to make a profit selling real estate.

If you have or are interested in obtaining a real estate license there are a number of ways to help maximize your potential profits. The majority of successful real estate agencies have a company website. A real estate website will help you get your business name out into the public. There are also a number of individuals who use real estate websites to search for a home that is in another state. Websites are extremely helpful to these people because it allows them to search for and purchase a home without having to make multiple long-distance trips.

To have a real estate website you do not have to be experienced in web design. There are a number of other professionals who can do it for you. Acquiring the services of a real estate website design company will cost money; however, it is money that will be well spent. Even if you can develop a standard website you may still wish to use the services of a real estate website design company. Individuals or companies who operate a real estate website design service are often fully trained and experienced in producing quality work. Depending on who you use to build your website, a website developed by a professional will generally turn out a lot better than one developed by an everyday individual.


Once you make the decision to acquire outside help from a real estate website design company you will need to find one. There are a large number of web designers that are looking for work; however, you should carefully examine each individual or business before officially obtaining their services.

Each designer will likely charge a different rate for their services. You should compare the fees of a wide variety of different real estate website design companies before selecting one. When pricing comparing you should also keep in mind that each individual or company will have different levels of experiences. To find a quality website design company you should also examine the quality of their work. A reputable and experienced real estate website design company will be more than willing to show you examples of their past work. Viewing completed projects is a great way to determine if you will be getting your moneys worth when selecting a person to do business with.

The best way to learn about the different real estate website design companies is by doing an internet search. Almost all website designers will advertise their business online; therefore, this may be your best way to develop a list of multiple website designers. When you visit the website of a design company you should fully examine their own website. This will give you a good idea on the quality of work that they will be likely to produce.

There are a large number of website designers; however, there are limited number who have experience designing real estate websites. If you are interested in producing a quality real estate website you should hire the services of an individual or company that acts as a real estate website designer or at least has some experience in real estate design.

An Overview Of The Direct Deposit System

Direct deposit is an excellent feature offered by many banks all around your area. Banking is supposed to be convenient and easy, it has been made that much easier and more convenient with the offering of direct deposits. When thinking about direct deposit, consider many of the things that could apply to you. Have you found yourself hurrying off to make the cutoff point for bank deposits? Do you travel to your banking institution on a weekly basis to deposit a paycheck? Have you found yourself losing a check you intend to take to the bank to deposit or cash? If you have answered any of these questions with a yes, it may be time to consider direct deposit.
Direct deposits are the action of your employer depositing your paycheck directly into your bank account by electronic means. This is extremely safe and easy for you to do, all you simply have to do is first, ensure that your employer offers direct deposits (many employers now days ONLY offer direct deposits to their employees). The next thing you will have to do is fill out a form that supplies your employer with your bank routing number, account number, and bank information.
By choosing direct deposits, you are ensuring easy and safe transfer of your funds to your bank account. It is reliable and your paycheck is deposited into your bank account on time, you no longer have to keep track of the banking hours or hurry to meet the deposit deadline. You also decrease the risk of losing your paycheck by using direct deposits. There are other benefits to direct deposits including, when your funds are deposited directly the funds are available to you immediately upon completion of the transfer. Occasionally, some banks require you to wait a specified number of days before the funds will become available, to wait for check clearance.
Another excellent benefit, is if you are away from your home on business or on a vacation, you will not have to worry about your paycheck coming in the mail or being stolen, your money will be in your account safely. They are also extremely secure, stolen, misplaced, or lost checks will become a thing of the past. Direct deposits leave such a trail behind it that tracking these are much easier than tracking a paper check.
As you can see direct deposits can make your life much easier and reduce the number of trips you will need to make to your banking institution.