Mizuho exploring alliance with IT startup on settlement services

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. has entered talks with information technology startup Metaps Inc. about forming a business alliance on settlement services using advanced financial technology, Jiji Press learned Thursday. Metaps is a leading provider of fintech services, which use artificial intelligence and big data. The envisaged tie-up is aimed at developing new settlement services, sources said. The predecessor of Metaps was established in Tokyo in September 2007. The firm offers online settlement services, including Spike.