IBS Intelligence Podcasts: Recent Episodes
IBS Intelligence Podcasts | A Cedar Consulting Unit
IBSi podcasts for insights and discussions from the world of FinTech and Banking. Listen in to what’s trending in the ever-evolving financial industry.
This interview with Aditya Tulsian explores a paradigm shift in how Indian MSMEs access the project economy by moving from collateral-based credit to digital trust infrastructure. The source argues that traditional bank guarantees stifle growth by freezing vital working capital, whereas surety bonds offer a way to verify performance credibility without immobilising cash. By implementing a digital layer for monitoring and enforcement, the ecosystem can transition to a de-collateralised model that rewards execution capability over balance-sheet depth. These reforms aim to unlock significant liquidity, allowing smaller enterprises to compete more effectively and accelerating national economic growth. Ultimately, the text positions AxiTrust as a critical orchestrator that connects insurers and businesses to make contractual trust a scalable and efficient resource.
This interview features Balaji Vasudevan of SysArc Infomatix, discussing the evolution of India’s digital lending through regulatory innovation and API-driven ecosystems. He emphasizes the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox as essential for testing products like LENDperfect Shishu Mudra, which reduces compliance risks. SysArc’s API BUS streamlines bank-FinTech collaboration, while proactive tools like Early Warning Systems shift risk management from reactive to preventive. Vasudevan highlights how zero-touch mobility solutions drive rural financial inclusion and how FUNDperfect supports MSMEs with revenue-linked credit. While competitors focus on cloud-native models, SysArc differentiates itself through nearly thirty years of domain expertise and deep alignment with India-specific regulatory nuances. Ultimately, technology is transforming traditional services like locker management now into fully integrated and technology-driven digital banking ecosystems today.
DN Prahlad, Founder and Chairman, Surya FinTech
As banks move beyond AI experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment, Puja Sharma speaks with DN Prahlad, Founder and Chairman, Surya FinTech, on why the industry must shift its focus from AI hype to measurable business outcomes, how agentic AI is reshaping financial services, the critical role of data readiness, and the strategic priorities bank boards should embrace to unlock AI's long-term value.
Booshan Rengachari, founder and CEO of Finzly
As banks look beyond traditional core modernisation, the industry is increasingly focused on building a modern bank operating system that combines real-time payments, AI-driven intelligence, and connected financial ecosystems. Puja Sharma speaks with Booshan Rengachari, Founder and CEO of Finzly, about overcoming legacy constraints, enabling low-risk transformation, and preparing banks for a future shaped by agentic AI, tokenised assets, and next-generation payment infrastructure.
In this interview, Mambu CEO Fernando Zandona discusses the critical importance of securing younger customers, specifically Gen Z and Alpha, because bank loyalty often lasts a lifetime. These demographics demand fast, digitally native experiences that traditional institutions struggle to provide using outdated legacy systems. To remain competitive against agile neobanks, Zandona suggests that established firms adopt cloud-based, composable banking platforms to launch modern services quickly without disrupting their main infrastructure. This strategy, exemplified by ABN Amro, allows banks to maintain compliance and trust while innovating through a "sidecar" core approach. Ultimately, the source highlights how technology partnerships enable financial institutions to meet the evolving expectations of a savvy new generation.
This interview highlights the significant transformation of transaction banking as it moves from a traditional product-based model to an intelligence-led service. By utilizing API-driven architectures and real-time data, banks are now embedding financial capabilities directly into their clients' daily business workflows and internal systems. The text emphasizes how artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are turning treasury operations into autonomous, value-generating functions that provide continuous visibility and predictive insights. This shift allows financial institutions to act as strategic partners rather than simple transaction processors, focusing on improving client outcomes and liquidity management. Ultimately, the future of the industry lies in "banking-as-a-capability," where automated decision-making and seamless ecosystem integration become the primary drivers of competitive differentiation.
This interview outlines Murex’s strategic expansion into India’s rapidly evolving capital markets through the year 2026. This growth plan centers on providing sophisticated trading and risk management infrastructure to help local banks handle rising derivatives volumes and complex regulatory standards. By establishing a dedicated Mumbai office, Murex aims to leverage local technical talent and offer closer support for its cloud-native platforms, such as MX.3 and MXGO. These solutions facilitate a seamless transition from fragmented legacy systems to integrated, front-to-back workflows that prioritize real-time analytics and capital efficiency. Ultimately, the company is positioning itself as a key partner for Indian financial institutions by combining global expertise with flexible deployment models like SaaS and managed services.
This interview features Jean-Charles Duyck from SBS discussing a successful core banking modernization project for Fransabank France. Rather than a risky total system replacement, the approach utilized modular, cloud-native components to update digital services and instant payment capabilities. This incremental strategy allowed the bank to maintain operational stability and regulatory compliance while integrating modern API-driven architectures. By decoupling new features from the existing core, the bank achieved greater agility and resilience against technical disruptions. Looking forward, the source emphasizes that data analytics and artificial intelligence will drive future innovation within these scalable frameworks. Overall, the text highlights a low-risk transformation model tailored for the complex regulatory environment of the French banking sector.
This interview talks about the financial sector is undergoing a massive shift from physical trading floors to cloud-based ecosystems that prioritise speed and global accessibility. This evolution is democratising market infrastructure, allowing smaller banks to utilise the same high-powered tools as major global institutions. However, many firms struggle with costly system fragmentation and siloed data, which act as a hidden tax on their ability to scale and innovate. To overcome these hurdles, institutions are increasingly seeking regulated technology partners like Nasdaq to provide secure, managed services and reliable governance frameworks. The future of the industry lies in the integration of AI and real-time data, which will enable more intelligent risk management and automated decision-making. Ultimately, the most successful organisations will be those that simplify their digital architecture through proactive collaboration and transparent regulatory engagement.
This interview explores the global shift toward unified real-time payment ecosystems, highlighting how interoperability and 24/7 settlement are becoming the new international standards. It details how traditional banks are adopting cloud-native stacks and API-driven architectures to modernise legacy systems and remain competitive against agile FinTech rivals. Key innovations such as ISO 20022 data standards and Credit on UPI are identified as essential tools for improving fraud detection and expanding financial inclusion. Furthermore, the source outlines how corporate treasuries are transitioning toward instant liquidity management and automated reconciliation. Finally, it showcases Mindgate’s strategic role in exporting India's digital payment expertise to global markets through resilient, scalable infrastructure.
Pat Bermingham, CEO, Adflex
We review the top trends that will transform how businesses make and take payments in the modern world. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pat Bermingham, CEO of UK-based B2B digital payment processor Adflex. The company is Europe’s leading processor of commercial card payments, processing over 7 million transactions a year for more than 4,000 businesses. Among the topics discussed: the consumerisation of B2B payments, digital identity, ISO 20022, straight-through processing and the role of agentic AI.
This interview explores the strategic development of the B2B Buy Now, Pay Later industry through insights from the co-founder of PastPay, a major financial provider in Eastern Europe. The discussion highlights how deferred payment solutions help businesses optimize cash flow management during periods of economic uncertainty and inflation. The source emphasizes that the sector must adopt proactive self-regulation to avoid the reputational challenges and stricter regulations faced by the consumer BNPL market. A key theme is the importance of prioritizing sustainable long-term value instead of focusing solely on transaction volume, ensuring stability for both providers and clients. Additionally, the interview explains that business-to-business transactions are generally more reliable because of clearer financial data and stronger credit evaluation processes. Overall, the article promotes a responsible growth strategy that builds trust between financial innovators and the businesses they support.
This interview features Krishna Subramanyan discussing the major FinTech trends expected to shape the financial industry in 2025. The conversation highlights the growing importance of embedded compliance, where regulatory processes are integrated directly into digital workflows to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Subramanyan also explains that digital assets and central bank digital currencies are likely to gain wider mainstream acceptance due to more supportive political and regulatory environments. The interview identifies artificial intelligence as a key driver for improving operational decision-making, strengthening security systems, and enhancing risk management. Additionally, these technological developments are expected to make cross-border payments faster, more accessible, and more efficient for businesses, especially SMEs. Overall, the discussion demonstrates how innovation is helping financial institutions manage an increasingly complex global regulatory landscape while improving customer experiences and operational agility.
This interview features an interview with Lina Mestari from Skaleet, a technology provider that recently won an award for its cloud-native core banking platform. The text highlights a successful partnership with FDJ Services, illustrating how the Nirio payment solution achieved significant growth in transactions and customer retention within months of launching. Beyond this specific case study, the source examines broader European banking trends, such as the transition from legacy systems to modular architectures that allow for incremental modernisation. It further explores the transformative roles of artificial intelligence and instant payments, which are pushing financial institutions toward more agile, real-time operations. Ultimately, the document advocates for a hybrid SaaS model, allowing banks to maintain reliable infrastructure while focusing their internal innovation on unique customer experiences.
This interview features Raji Challita discussing the changing financial technology landscape across the Middle East and North Africa. The conversation highlights how traditional banks and agile BML Istisharat are increasingly working alongside FinTech firms to combine financial stability with rapid innovation. Challita explains that major regional trends include the adoption of cloud-based technologies, open banking frameworks, and the growing use of artificial intelligence to improve credit scoring, customer experiences, and fraud prevention. The interview also explores the rise of digital lending and the need to maintain ethical and regulatory standards within Islamic banking systems. Overall, the discussion shows how digitization is helping financial institutions streamline operations, improve accessibility, and expand financial inclusion for underserved communities in the region and globally.
This interview features Myles Bertrand discussing how Tuum is helping modernize core banking systems through flexible and cloud-based solutions. The discussion highlights Tuum’s successful collaboration with LHV, which shifted the bank’s IT focus from costly maintenance toward innovation-driven growth. Bertrand explains the importance of the company’s cloud-agnostic strategy and its partnership with Google Cloud in supporting scalable and future-ready banking operations. The interview also explores Tuum’s expansion into Islamic banking and SME financial services, emphasizing the need for adaptable digital infrastructure. Additionally, Bertrand advocates for progressive modernization, where banks upgrade systems gradually instead of replacing them entirely. Overall, the interview shows how API-first architectures and AI-ready platforms help banks remain competitive in an evolving financial landscape.
This interview highlights a successful partnership between Bluering and Housing Bank in Jordan, which resulted in a prestigious award for the rapid deployment of a corporate lending platform. CEO Fares Kobeissi explains that modern financial institutions require comprehensive digital solutions that automate the entire credit lifecycle while remaining flexible enough to integrate with existing systems. A key focus of the discussion is the importance of no-code technology, which allows banks to customize workflows and adapt to market changes without extensive technical overhead. The source also emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence and high-quality data in improving credit decisioning, reducing risks, and enhancing the user experience. Looking ahead, the company aims to innovate through open banking and specialized software designed for the microfinance sector. Ultimately, the text argues that banks must replace outdated legacy systems with agile, automated platforms to stay competitive in an evolving financial landscape.
This interview features Ben Goldin discussing how Plumery aims to democratize financial technology for smaller and mid-sized banks. Goldin explains that the company’s composable banking platform enables institutions to rapidly launch advanced mobile and web banking services without the extensive resources of major global banks. The discussion highlights Plumery’s move beyond traditional banking functions toward creating lifestyle-focused digital experiences that improve customer engagement. The interview also introduces the company’s digital lending solution, which uses advanced data scoring to expand financial inclusion while reducing operational risk. Looking ahead, Goldin emphasizes the growing role of artificial intelligence and hyper-personalization in seamlessly integrating banking into consumers’ everyday lives. Overall, the source demonstrates how modular technology and strategic partnerships help smaller banks stay innovative, competitive, and customer-focused in a rapidly evolving financial industry.
Deepak Dastrala, CEO, Purple Fabric, Intellect Design arena
As the Middle East prepares for a massive intergenerational wealth transfer and rising demand for personalised financial advice, wealth management firms are rethinking how they engage clients, empower relationship managers, and scale operations. Puja Sharma speaks with Deepak Dastrala, CEO, Purple Fabric, IDA, aboutthe growing role of AI-driven intelligence in wealth management, the shift from technology-led to insight-led advisory models, and how firms can balance growth, productivity, trust, and compliance in an increasingly competitive landscape.
This interview explores how Visa’s acquisition of Pismo is shaping the future of digital banking. CEO Vishal Dalai explains that the partnership strengthens innovation, improves global resource access, and helps financial institutions modernize faster through cloud-native core banking solutions. The discussion highlights the shift from outdated legacy systems to flexible API-first architectures, which allow banks to scale operations more efficiently and deliver better customer experiences. The interview also emphasizes that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a tool for optimization and data-driven insights rather than a replacement for banking infrastructure. Additionally, the use of microservices and cloud scalability is presented as essential for building resilient, future-ready financial systems that can adapt quickly to changing market demands and digital transformation trends.
This interview explores how Skaleet is helping modernize the banking industry through modular, cloud-native technology and flexible digital infrastructure. The company’s Chief Product Officer explains that Skaleet’s API-first architecture and SaaS-based solutions enable financial institutions to move beyond the limitations of outdated legacy systems and traditional banking models. The discussion highlights successful collaborations with partners such as NiuPay and Helios, demonstrating how operational agility and scalable technology can improve efficiency while reducing costs. The interview also examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence in enhancing data accessibility, improving customer experiences, and strengthening fraud prevention across European banking. Overall, the source presents Skaleet as a key innovator delivering customizable and compliant financial infrastructure that supports rapid digital transformation and long-term growth.
This podcast revisits an interview with Herve Carrere discussing how financial institutions must modernize outdated legacy systems to manage economic uncertainty and increasingly strict regulations. Teciem executive Herve Carrere, formerly of Finastra, explains that cloud-native platforms and modular architectures help banks improve flexibility, reduce operational risks, and respond faster to market changes. The interview also highlights the growing impact of Generative and Agentic AI, which can automate complex financial processes, deliver real-time insights, and improve decision-making in treasury and capital markets. Carrere emphasizes the importance of continuous software “evergreening” through automated testing and strategic partnerships to keep systems updated without interrupting operations. Additionally, the discussion points to increasing demand for Islamic finance solutions that combine innovation with cultural and regulatory requirements. Overall, the interview presents a future where customer-focused technology and autonomous systems drive efficiency, adaptability, and long-term competitiveness in banking.
This interview with IBSi FinTech Journal explores how artificial intelligence and cloud-native technologies are transforming the global banking industry. Oracle executive Venky Srinivasan explains that banks are evolving from traditional money custodians into data custodians, where embedded AI plays a major role in improving customer experiences, strengthening regulatory compliance, and detecting financial fraud more efficiently. The discussion highlights how many financial institutions are replacing large-scale transformation projects with progressive modernization, allowing faster and more flexible digital upgrades. Srinivasan also notes that both retail and corporate banking are prioritizing real-time and immersive banking experiences to meet growing customer expectations. Overall, the interview emphasizes that overcoming outdated legacy systems is critical for banks to remain competitive in the era of Open Banking, automation, and intelligent financial services.
This interview discusses how organizations can manage the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by focusing on ethical governance and trust. The discussion explains that while AI can improve efficiency and customer experience, businesses must also address challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and integration with legacy systems. The interview proposes a three-pronged framework based on strong ethics, high-quality data, and robust cybersecurity to support responsible AI adoption. It also highlights the importance of upskilling employees and using modular architectures to ensure long-term adaptability and innovation. Overall, the interview presents responsible AI implementation as an essential strategy for maintaining competitiveness and sustainable growth in the financial and technology sectors.
Ross Sinclair, Founder & CEO, EIP
Global InsurTech funding remained strong in 2025, but what will it take to make sure the hype does not outpace deliverables? Ross Sinclair, Founder and CEO of EIP believes the pressure is now on for many firms to deliver on their ‘pitch deck’ promises, including AI use cases, and justify them to investors with strong revenue streams.
Nick Fernando, Co-founder & Director, Aqua Global Solutions
The Swift ISO 20022 deadline of 22 November 2025 is now past history. Isn’t it? Well, it appears not, with many banks continuing to rely on translation tools to bridge legacy systems. Yet stopgap measures come at a cost. Nick Fernando, Co-founder and Director at Aqua Global Solutions, warns that translation tools won’t cut it in the long run. Banks that are ISO 20022 native stand to gain far more than compliance – from faster straight-through processing to fewer manual errors and richer data insights.
Chris Newman, Head of Corporates, Clear.Bank
UK businesses across a variety of sectors are increasingly looking to offer financial services to their customers, including payments, lending, and savings accounts. Embedded finance is widely perceived as a growth driver and a new opportunity for revenue growth. Chris Newman, Head of Corporates at ClearBank, which offers embedded banking solutions to corporate clients, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the prospects for explosive growth over the coming years in ‘white label’ banking.
Dan Scholey, Chief Product Officer, Moneyhub
Financial services platforms have been guilty of differentiating more on technical specifications, or look and feel, than their ability to impact the real lives of consumers. Dan Scholey, Chief Product Officer at UK FinTech Moneyhub believes many consumers suffer with high levels of financial anxiety, low confidence in managing money, and a lack of basic financial literacy. As Open Banking evolves into Open Finance, real-time client data is becoming readily accessible, and it is incumbent on banks and advisers to take advantage of these developments to help customers make more from their money and bring greater long-term value for the customers they serve.
Carrie Osman, Founder & CEO, Cruxy
London-based Cruxy has delivered growth strategy to 40+ capital markets FinTechs and advised 20+ private equity firms (ranging from $1bn up to $100 billion AUM) on value creation through product, packaging and pricing. More than 80% of Cruxy's clients are based in the USA. The firm’s Founder and CEO, Carrie Osman talks FinTech value creation with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ben Turner, Founder & CEO, Verituity
Instant settlement has a downside – the potential for fraud and compliance exposure. Continuous verification is likely essential for stablecoin-based disbursements to function safely. Banks must look to design stablecoin systems that combine speed with enterprise grade integrity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ben Turner, Founder and CEO of Verituity.
Alfred Quertier, Field chief technology officer, Azentio
As banks and insurers accelerate their AI ambitions, the challenge has shifted from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption. Puja Sharma speaks with Alfred Quertier, Field Chief Technology Officer at Azentio, on the barriers to scaling AI, emerging production-grade use cases across banking operations and insurance claims processing, and how financial institutions can balance innovation, governance, resilience, and explainability as they prepare for a more autonomous future.
This interview with Ritesh Pai discusses the rapidly changing world of global digital payments. He explains how technologies such as artificial intelligence, biometric security, and blockchain are improving the personalization and security of financial services. The interview places strong emphasis on financial inclusion, highlighting the importance of mobile-first infrastructure and simplified identity verification to help unbanked populations access digital finance. PhonePe also sees major potential in expanding India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) globally to improve international remittances and cross-border transactions. Additionally, Pai explains how companies can manage complex regulations by using flexible compliance systems and working closely with local regulators.
This interview highlights how Perfios operates as a “TechFin” leader by providing AI-driven digital infrastructure for the banking and insurance sectors. The company offers tools that automate the customer lifecycle, including onboarding, identity verification, credit underwriting, and fraud detection. By using alternative data and machine learning, Perfios helps financial institutions improve financial inclusion while maintaining strong risk management and regulatory compliance. The interview also explains how the acquisition of Clari5 strengthened the company’s ability to detect financial crimes such as money laundering and deepfake fraud in real time. Overall, it presents Perfios’ strategy of global expansion and continuous innovation to build a secure and future-ready financial ecosystem.
This interview with leaders from X-Biz Techventures discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern cybersecurity. The interview explains how AI is helping organizations move from reactive to proactive security by continuously monitoring attack surfaces and detecting hidden risks such as shadow IT and undocumented APIs. The leaders emphasize that traditional security audits are no longer enough to handle advanced AI-driven cyber threats, making automated risk assessments and behavioural analytics increasingly important. The discussion also highlights the challenges of supply chain security and the need for machine learning to manage third-party vendor risks. Overall, the interview presents SecureNexus as a solution that combines human expertise with advanced technology to strengthen long-term digital resilience.
This interview with Ashish Rai discusses Aurionpro Solutions Ltd and its strategy to become a global leader in transaction banking and enterprise AI. Rai explains that the company stands out through AI-native applications and its explainability lab, which provides advanced, domain-specific intelligence for financial institutions. The interview also highlights Aurionpro’s international expansion, especially in the Middle East, through major partnerships and contract wins. In addition, the company is pursuing an aggressive acquisition strategy, including the integration of Arya.AI, to strengthen its technological capabilities. Overall, the source emphasizes Aurionpro’s strong focus on research and development to replace outdated legacy systems with modern banking solutions.
This interview explains how artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure are transforming India’s MSME lending sector. Financial institutions are moving away from traditional collateral-based lending and using alternative data, such as UPI transactions and digital activity, to assess creditworthiness more efficiently. PSL Association of India is helping drive this change by promoting ethical AI practices and supporting the adoption of the Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN). The interview also highlights challenges like data fragmentation and limited digital literacy among small businesses. However, initiatives such as the India Stack are improving financial visibility and access to credit. Overall, it emphasizes collaboration between fintech companies, policymakers, and financial institutions to create a more inclusive and transparent lending ecosystem.
This interview with Sreepriya N.S. discusses the changing landscape of wealth management in India. She explains that Entrust Family Office focuses on balancing capital preservation with long-term wealth creation through India-centric investments, including unlisted opportunities and debt alternatives. The interview highlights the importance of tax efficiency, liquidity management, and disciplined investment strategies. It also explores how artificial intelligence is being used to improve data analysis, while emphasizing that human judgment remains essential in decision-making. Additionally, Sreepriya stresses the growing importance of governance and sustainability to meet the expectations of younger, globally-minded investors and ensure long-term financial stewardship and stability.
This interview with Sanjay Singh explains that the future of financial services and insurance depends on more than just artificial intelligence. He highlights the importance of composable architectures and embedded compliance, which help companies stay flexible, secure, and prepared for changing regulations. The interview also discusses the rise of “invisible banking,” where financial services are integrated into everyday digital platforms rather than existing as separate systems. Singh emphasizes the need for businesses to move away from outdated legacy systems and adopt agile, cloud-based technologies focused on user experience. He also warns that strategic complacency can slow innovation and encourages organizations to focus on smaller, high-impact projects that support continuous digital transformation.
This interview features MobiKwik CEO Bipin Preet Singh discussing how India’s FinTech landscape is shifting from payments to sustainable, compliant credit ecosystems. He emphasises that innovation must align with the “spirit of regulation,” advocating proactive engagement with regulators and industry‑led SROs. With UPI now commoditised, Singh sees differentiation emerging through credit‑first products, embedded financial services, CBDC integration, and innovations like Pocket UPI and the F1rst RuPay credit card. MobiKwik’s pivot from BNPL to longer‑tenure EMI and secured lending reflects a risk‑balanced, regulation‑aligned strategy supported by co‑lending partnerships under FLDG norms. As the company scales toward its post‑IPO vision, its full‑stack platform—spanning payments, credit, savings, and merchant services—aims to drive responsible, profitable growth
This interview explores how emerging FinTech infrastructure is reshaping financial inclusion in rural India, with Hitesh Kanariya of Kuberjee highlighting the rise of hyperlocal, women‑led delivery models. He explains that platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, eKYC, and Account Aggregators have made onboarding seamless, while alternative data and sachet‑sized financial products now serve farmers, SHGs, and daily‑wage earners. Structural barriers—poor connectivity, low digital literacy, limited smartphone access, and mistrust—still slow adoption, making hyperlocalisation essential. Women agents such as BC Sakhis build trust, deliver doorstep services, and bridge language and literacy gaps. Vernacular-first, mobile-native platforms further boost understanding through voice and intuitive interfaces. Kuberjee’s “One Village, One Sakhi” model demonstrates a scalable, gender-inclusive blueprint for sustainable rural FinTech innovation.
PayU Finance CEO Deepak Mendiratta explains how the company is reimagining SMB credit through embedded, data‑driven lending models that overcome long‑standing barriers like irregular cash flows, limited documentation, and the high cost of small‑ticket loans. PayU uses alternative credit evaluation based on UPI transactions, GST records, and behavioural insights, enabling more accurate underwriting. Its EDI—equated daily instalment—model aligns repayments with daily cash flows, reducing interest burden and stress for small businesses. Through deep integrations with platforms like PhonePe, Swiggy, and Meesho, PayU delivers frictionless, real‑time credit access. Robust risk management combines machine learning, daily repayment visibility, and short‑tenure loans, while ethical lending, transparency, and data protection remain core principles driving sustainable, inclusive credit growth.
QualityKiosk CEO Maneesh Jhawar explains how AI is transforming digital assurance by shifting it from static, reactive checks to dynamic, intelligence‑driven validation. AI models analyse usage patterns and incidents to optimise what needs to be tested, while the biggest leap is in data assurance, where AI now shapes strategy and operating models for trusted data. In multi‑cloud environments, QualityKiosk uses AI‑led observability to eliminate blind spots, reduce MTTR, and enhance user experience. For digital banking—where “zero‑defect is the baseline”—the company embeds regulatory expertise into a RAG-powered knowledge store to ensure compliance. Partnerships with DevRev and Katalon enable autonomous agents, predictive failure analysis, and automated test creation, helping organisations deliver faster, more reliable digital experiences.
Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, product expert, Intellect Design Arena Limited
As Islamic banking gains global momentum amid rising demand for ethical, Shariah-compliant financial services, Puja Sharma speaks with Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, Product Expert at Intellect Design Arena Limited, on the evolving role of digital transformation, AI-driven pool management, and how eMACH.ai is helping Islamic banks modernise products, operations, and customer experiences.
This interview details the award-winning implementation of the Finastra Kondor treasury solution at LPBank, a prominent financial institution in Vietnam. Deputy CEO Nguyễn Ánh Vân explains how the bank successfully integrated this front-to-back office platform on an accelerated timeline alongside a major core banking transformation. By moving from manual tasks to automated end-to-end processing, the bank has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency and risk management capabilities. The discussion highlights the vital role of collaborative partnerships and expert resource allocation in overcoming technical and regulatory challenges. Furthermore, the text explores future prospects, including the potential for AI integration to further refine market analysis and business forecasting. Ultimately, the upgrade serves as a strategic benchmark for the bank’s continued expansion into regional and global financial markets.
This interview with Yethi Consulting CEO Srirang Srikantha explores the critical role of quality assurance in the modern banking sector. Srikantha highlights how digital transformation has heightened customer expectations, making application speed and reliability more vital than traditional financial metrics for maintaining loyalty. He cautions financial institutions against over-relying on software vendors for system integrity, suggesting that independent testing is necessary to ensure flawless performance. The discussion further examines how full-stack observability and artificial intelligence can help manage the growing complexity of banking technology. Ultimately, the text presents a case for proactive performance validation to prevent costly technical failures and protect a bank’s reputation.
This interview with George Toumbev of NatWest Boxed details the rise of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), highlighting partnerships with Saga and The AA. Toumbev predicts most retail banking revenue will shift away from traditional channels by 2030, necessitating "embedded banking" that utilizes a bank's license and balance sheet on brand platforms. Successful implementation requires strategic coherence between the brand and financial product, balancing technical excellence with strong banking credentials for safety. To ensure scalability, Boxed uses standardized "Lego block" modules rather than bespoke designs. Ultimately, this model allows brands to increase revenue and sales while outsourcing complex risk management and regulatory compliance to the bank
This interview features Udeet Bhagat from PureSoftware discussing the success of their flagship banking platform, Arttha. The source highlights how this cloud-native and modular technology enables financial institutions to automate digital onboarding and loan origination processes. A major focus is placed on the platform's ability to remain scalable while adapting to local regulatory requirements in diverse markets like Africa and Southeast Asia. The text also outlines future plans to integrate AI-driven credit scoring and alternative data, such as mobile money trails, to improve financial inclusion for underserved populations. Ultimately, the company emphasizes its commitment to innovation and agile design to keep pace with the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.
In this podcast we revisit an interview with Chris Walters of Finastra, featured in the September issue edition of IBSi, in which he outlines a strategic pivot toward customer-led innovation following a year of extensive global engagement with clients. He explains that the company is doubling down on its core strengths—lending, payments, and core banking—while divesting its Treasury and Capital Markets business to reinvest capital into these high-impact leadership areas. To address the increasing pressure on financial institutions to modernize, Finastra is embedding AI to automate routine tasks and simplifying its own operating model to be easier to work with, prioritizing faster implementation and intuitive support. Walters also identifies significant growth opportunities in underserved mid-sized institutions and emerging segments like private credit. Ultimately, he envisions Finastra as a leaner, customer-obsessed strategic ally that delivers reliable, enterprise-grade technology designed to help institutions of all sizes succeed in a rapidly evolving market.
Deepa Santhanam, Partner & SVP - Business Consulting, Intellect Design Arena
In an era where growth is defined by ecosystem depth rather than customer count, Puja Sharma speaks with Deepa Santhanam, Partner & SVP - Business Consulting at Intellect Design Arena, on how banks can outperform by embedding themselves into industry value chains—leveraging APIs, AI, and platform models to drive stronger liquidity, resilience, and competitive advantage in wholesale banking.
In this interview, Tommaso Jacopo Ulissi of Nexi Group explores the ongoing convergence of digital payments with specialized business management software. He explains that modern merchants no longer seek isolated transaction tools, but rather integrated ecosystems that handle industry-specific tasks like table management or online booking. To remain relevant, payment service providers must shift from being simple utility companies to becoming embedded partners within the software platforms that merchants use to run their daily operations. This transformation requires a focus on seamless API integration and user experience to meet the rising demand for all-in-one digital solutions. Ultimately, the industry is moving toward a cooperative model where payment capabilities are hidden, yet essential, components of a broader merchant interface.
This podcast revisits an interview with Siobhan Byron from Finastra, featured in the October edition of IBSi, explaining how Finastra’s Essence core banking platform enables financial institutions to succeed in a digital-first economy. It highlights successful partnerships with Tonik and Oro Bank, demonstrating how cloud-native architecture and modular design allow for rapid product launches and reduced operational costs. Byron’s interview emphasizes that modern banking is shifting toward open finance and embedded services, requiring systems that are both agile and highly interoperable. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence, including generative AI assistants and predictive analytics, to enhance employee productivity and customer personalization. To manage the risks of modernization, Finastra introduces the "Symbiosis" approach, which allows banks to upgrade specific components incrementally rather than replacing entire legacy systems at once. Ultimately, technological flexibility helps banks navigate regulatory complexities and meet evolving consumer expectations.
In an interview with IBS Intelligence, William Moroney of Temenos discusses the urgent need for financial institutions to replace outdated legacy systems with flexible, modern technology. He explains that banks are increasingly adopting cloud-native platforms and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, combat financial crime, and provide tailored customer experiences. Temenos is supporting this transition by offering modular software solutions and AI-driven tools that allow for faster product launches and more secure data management. The discussion highlights a global shift toward strategic IT investment, where technology providers act as essential partners in navigating regulatory changes and digital transformation. Ultimately, the source emphasizes that successful modernization depends on ecosystem collaboration and the ability to scale innovation through a single, adaptable platform.
Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering, Azentio
In an era of geopolitical volatility, cyber risk, and regulatory pressure, Puja Sharma speaks with Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering at Azentio, on redefining tech resilience through strategic partnerships, domain expertise, and modernisation that balances compliance, continuity, and customer trust.
Qualco, founded 25 years ago in collections technology, has evolved into a full-spectrum FinTech partner covering the entire credit value chain. Deputy CEO Spyros Retzekas credits this growth to client intimacy, local market understanding, and disciplined international expansion. The company differentiates itself by working closely alongside clients rather than operating as a distant vendor. AI has long been central to Qualco's platforms through machine learning and analytics, with generative AI now being embedded to further enhance workflows and decisioning. Looking ahead, Qualco plans to scale AI-native, cloud-based SaaS solutions globally. A recent milestone is their partnership with France Contentieux, consolidating fragmented systems into a unified, automated collections platform reinforcing Qualco's growing footprint across Europe.
Joaquin de Valenzuela, nCino's MD EMEA, reflects on his first year highlighting the platform's impact, bankers save 8–10 hours weekly through AI tools. nCino serves over 2,700 customers globally, with banks originating more than $3 trillion in loans on the platform. Cloud-native architecture enables continuous innovation and automatic compliance updates. Across EMEA, priorities differ: European banks focus on efficiency and compliance, Middle Eastern banks on growth, and African institutions on financial inclusion. nCino's competitive edge lies in its vast banking dataset, unified data model, and a three-phase AI roadmap from staff productivity tools to agentic AI and ultimately autonomous banking systems. The biggest industry challenge remains balancing rapid innovation with the security and stability that banking demands.
Fernando Zandona, Chief Executive Officer, Mambu
Securing the future of your bank means securing the next generation of customers. It is a fact that once people pick a bank, they very rarely switch. But how should incumbents square up to the challenges posed by the rush of neobanks coming to the market? How best to pivot without losing sight of core compliance, trust and scale? Fernando Zandona, CEO of cloud-native, software-as-a-service (SaaS) core banking platform Mambu speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Karthik Sethuraman, Chief Delivery & Risk Officer, audax Financial Technology
Banks now view failure to modernise core systems as an existential risk. In APAC, 93% of banking leaders admitting the right platform is critical to future success – presumably the remaining 7% are contemplating career change! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks banking transformation with Karthik Sethuraman, Chief Delivery & Risk Officer of Singapore-based digital banking solutions provider audax. Banks must address their core infrastructure to compete effectively while meeting customers’ increasing digital expectations.
Edul Patel, CEO & Co-founder, Mudrex
As central banks globally explore digital currencies, India’s Digital Rupee pilot marks a significant step toward rethinking monetary infrastructure. Beyond faster payments, CBDCs have the potential to reshape settlement systems, enable programmability, and unlock new fintech innovation.
In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Edul Patel, CEO & Co-founder of Mudrex, to explore the role of CBDCs in addressing inefficiencies in the financial system, their impact on banks and payment ecosystems, and the emerging opportunities for fintechs. They also discuss the balance between privacy and control, the coexistence of CBDCs and cryptocurrencies, and what it will take for India’s Digital Rupee to scale meaningfully in the years ahead.
Masahisa Kawashima, IOWN Technology Director at NTT, discusses how IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) technology will transform financial services. IOWN's photonic infrastructure enables high-speed, low-latency, and highly reliable data transfer, essential for financial institutions requiring seamless AI and data-driven operations. It allows for efficient, scalable, and sustainable data center operations by reducing power consumption through decentralized setups in suburban areas. IOWN’s infrastructure will also enhance security, operational resilience, and disaster recovery. The technology aims to provide banks with high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for AI computing, improving business continuity and data management. While large-scale deployment may take a few years, IOWN is positioning itself as a key enabler for the next generation of digital financial services
Mac Thompson, Founder & President, White Clay
Consolidation in the banking and finance sector is set to continue. Around 180 bank deals were announced in 2025 and there are going to be more to come in 2026. The pressing need to take advantage of developing technologies is one notable cost factor that may drive smaller institutions into the arms of their larger counterparts. White Clay Founder and President Mac Thompson speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Rajiv Bhat, CEO, martini.ai
Describing itself as the world's broadest and fastest risk engine, martini.ai aims to redefine how financial professionals access and interpret credit risk data through a free, platform. CEO Rajiv Bhat is leading a movement toward open, transparent credit data as investors and lenders around the world seek real-time visibility into risk. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses how transparency and better data are reshaping credit, lending, and portfolio management with Rajiv Bhat of martini.ai.
As artificial intelligence continues to make waves in the banking sector, this episode dives into how it’s reshaping working capital management. We discuss how AI, APIs, and automation are unlocking new efficiencies in liquidity, supply chain resilience, and sustainable finance. The conversation covers AI’s transformative role in improving credit scoring, fraud detection, and operational agility. With insights on AI-driven decision-making models, the episode also highlights the balance between speed and responsible risk management. As financial institutions scale globally, the need for innovation and regulatory adaptability becomes even more critical.
Discover how AI is not just enhancing but revolutionizing banking and financial services for the future.
In this episode of The Big Interview, Raja Debnath, MD, and Chairperson of Veefin Group, discusses the evolving future of working capital management, where AI and automation are becoming central to financial stability. He highlights how Veefin is leading AI-driven risk control and multi-lender orchestration to transform liquidity management for MSMEs. He also shares key lessons from scaling Veefin across $30bn disbursements and 15+ diverse financial ecosystems, offering insights into legacy modernization, modular architecture, cloud adoption, and effective data strategies.
With an eye on global expansion, Veefin is focused on deepening product innovation and forming strategic partnerships in emerging markets like Africa and Asia. Tune in to discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of working capital finance and driving growth across global financial ecosystems.
Navigating Bank Partnerships - A West Asia FinTech Guide: The latest from IBSi Perspectives, offers a strategic view of how FinTechs must navigate geopolitical uncertainty while strengthening their relationships with Banks in the region. It provides practical insights on how FinTech firms can work with banks, focusing on partnerships, regulatory considerations, and evolving priorities shaping the next phase of banking across the Middle East.
Bhavana Mallesh, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Gieom Business Solutions Private Ltd.
As regulatory expectations shift from periodic compliance to continuous supervision, financial institutions are rethinking how they manage operational resilience, risk governance and regulatory accountability. Against this backdrop, Puja Sharma speaks with Bhavana Mallesh, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Gieom Business Solutions, about embedding AI-driven intelligence into compliance and resilience frameworks, navigating complex global regulations and emerging RBI guidelines, and how financial institutions can move from reactive, deadline-driven compliance to building transparent, future-ready resilience operating models.
Vaibhav Tambe, Co-founder & CEO, TransBnk
What happens when money becomes programmable? In this edition of The Big Interview, we spotlight how TransBnk is re-engineering transaction banking from the ground up.
Speaking with Co-founder and CEO Vaibhav Tambe, we explore how programmable finance allows businesses to embed logic directly into payments - releasing funds on milestone verification, automating sweeps, and reconciling in real time. The company’s recon-first architecture replaces end-of-day processes with continuous, rule-driven matching.
We also examine how Escrow-as-a-Service is opening secure, conditional fund flows to MSMEs, startups, and real estate players - capabilities once limited to large corporates. With 220+ clients and 40+ bank integrations, TransBnk is positioning itself as a treasury operating layer, built compliance-first and API-driven.
The larger ambition is clear: democratise sophisticated banking infrastructure and make intelligent money movement accessible at scale.
Hari Padmanabhan, Founder – Chairman, Uncia
The discussion moves beyond buzzwords like AI and cloud-native, arguing that most institutions are still in early transformation stages. True AI-driven lending, he suggests, will emerge only when every transaction continuously trains the system. Uncia’s Zero Implementation and Self-Serve model challenges traditional, time-heavy deployments - shifting control to institutions through configurable, low-code tools like Uncia Studio.
We also explore how the Pay-As-You-Grow model is reshaping cost economics for SME lenders and NBFCs, turning technology from upfront capex into scalable opex.
The broader shift? Lending platforms are evolving from static systems into adaptive ecosystems - where cloud, AI, and embedded learning quietly redefine how credit is designed, deployed, and scaled.
Brajesh Khandelwal, EVP and Head – Lending Intellect Consumer Banking, Intellect Design Arena Limited
As artificial intelligence reshapes the future of lending, financial institutions are rethinking how credit is assessed and delivered across underserved sectors. Against this backdrop, Puja Sharma speaks with Brajesh Khandelwal, EVP and Head – Lending at Intellect Design Arena, about embedding AI at the core of SME and agri lending, unlocking deeper financial inclusion, driving measurable impact through large-scale implementations, and how banks can build intelligent, future-ready lending ecosystems by 2030.
Sundararajan S., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-exceed technology solutions
i-exceed explores the future of digital banking through three key pillars: AI-powered personal financial management, real-time risk mitigation, and unified customer profiles. By leveraging predictive AI and low-code platforms like Appzillon, banks can modernize quickly while maintaining transparency, enhancing customer trust, and improving financial wellness. As banks shift from reactive to anticipatory engagement, i-exceed is driving innovation with solutions that balance legacy integration challenges and accelerate digital transformation. With a roadmap focused on next-generation explainable AI and expanded Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), i-exceed is poised to lead the future of intelligent, customer-first financial services.
Raj MKK, CEO of CreditNirvana.ai, discusses how agentic AI is reshaping the credit and collections cycle by replacing manual, fragmented workflows with autonomous, hyper-personalised recovery processes. Focusing on India and Southeast Asia, he highlights the role of multilingual voice intelligence in overcoming regional language barriers, improving compliance, and enhancing borrower experience. Raj also emphasizes the importance of bounded autonomy and human-in-the-loop governance to ensure trust and oversight in AI systems. As agentic AI evolves, it is transforming lending and collections, enabling real-time data-driven decision-making and integration of ESG factors into credit decisioning.
Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO, SaveSage
Loyalty programmes and credit card rewards promise value, but for many consumers, the reality is complexity, fragmentation, and missed opportunities. As digital finance evolves, technology is beginning to change how users track rewards, optimise spending, and make more informed credit decisions.
In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO of Save Sage, about the biggest challenges consumers face in managing loyalty points and credit benefits, and how AI, automation, and Open Banking are enabling smarter rewards management and credit optimisation. They discuss the role of intelligent tools in improving financial wellbeing, the shift toward unified and interoperable rewards ecosystems, and how companies can balance engagement with ethical design and responsible borrowing.
Debiprasad Sarangi, Founder and CEO, iServeU
From soundboxes in small-town kirana stores to APIs running national banks, India’s FinTech stack is quietly rewriting how participation scales. Puja Sharma speaks with Debiprasad Sarangi of iServeU, on the infrastructure powering this shift.
Piyush Bagaria, Co-founder, SalarySe
Salary-linked finance is reshaping how Indian employers think about retention, responsibility, and financial wellbeing. Puja Sharma speaks with Piyush Bagaria, Co-founder, SalarySe, on how salary-linked finance is pushing financial wellness from the HR desk to the boardroom.
Kevin Flood, Director of Payments Ecosystem Strategy, FIS
For years, banks have been pouring money into app development, yet the next revolution in customer interaction may not happen in an app at all. A global shift is underway towards conversational finance – where relationships begin and end in a message thread. Consumers don’t want to download another app, they want to chat, ask and act. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence has been in conversation with Kevin Flood, Director of Payments Ecosystem Strategy at FIS.
Siddharth Ugrankar, CEO & Co-Founder, Qila.io
Blockchain has long been associated with hype and experimentation, but its real value is now emerging in highly regulated environments like banking, insurance, and financial services. As institutions prioritise security, compliance, and transparency, enterprise-grade blockchain is becoming a practical foundation for next-generation financial infrastructure.
In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Siddharth Ugrankar, CEO and Co-Founder of Qila.io, to unpack how blockchain can strengthen trust in banking systems, the role of private blockchains in CBDCs and cross-border settlements, and how tokenisation and smart contracts are reshaping financial markets. They also discuss India’s evolving regulatory stance on data localisation and explore real-world use cases where blockchain is already delivering measurable impact across BFSI.
Anar Qasem, Vice President of MENA, Cleareye.ai
Trade-based money laundering is how criminals move dirty money across borders disguised as legitimate trade. Banks are spending millions but are still missing most suspicious activities, in part because 80% of global trade operates on open account terms with minimal documentation. So, what can be done? Anar Qasem, Vice President of MENA for Cleareye.ai, discusses solutions with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Jeeja Gopinath, Managing Director, Zentis AI & Techvantage.ai
Artificial Intelligence is moving beyond experimentation to become a core driver of transformation across banking, financial services, and FinTech. But as institutions grapple with legacy systems, regulatory scrutiny, and the need for responsible innovation, translating AI vision into real-world impact remains a challenge.
In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Jeeja Gopinath, Managing Director at Zentis AI and Techvantage.ai, about where AI is delivering tangible value today, how financial institutions can move from strategy to execution, and the role of governance in scaling AI responsibly. They explore real-world enterprise use cases, the balance between speed and compliance, and the emerging AI trends shaping the next wave of FinTech innovation.
Pedro Arnt, Chief Executive Officer, dLocal
dLocal simplifies cross-border transactions in emerging markets, connecting global enterprise merchants with billions of emerging market consumers across APAC, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Through the "One dLocal" concept (one direct API, one platform, and one contract), global companies can accept payments, send payouts, and settle funds globally—without the need to manage separate processors or set up local entities of their own. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pedro Arnt, CEO of dLocal.
Veena Nair, Head of Content, Humanity Protocol
Humanity Protocol aims to verify people, not passwords through palm biometrics converted into zero-knowledge proofs so platforms can block bots and fraud while keeping biometric data private and off-chain. It works on a smartphone and is already rolling out to users and enterprise pilots in finance. The firm is backed by Animoca and was most recently valued at over $1 billion. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Veena Nair, Head of Content at Humanity Protocol.
Prabhakar Reddy, Founder & CEO, OpenFX
OpenFX is building a real-time, open and transparent FX network, aiming to solve the last-mile problem in international money movement by using stablecoins as an intermediary – bringing FX transactions kicking and screaming into the 21st century! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the future of FX, and how spreads and fees are already being compressed, with Prabhakar Reddy, Founder and CEO of OpenFX
Chandrasekhar Somasekhar, Chief Technology Officer, cleareye.ai
The business of trade finance is traditionally exhaustively documented but mix in a large language model (LLM) and that business can suddenly become much less of a challenge for those who must review the documentation. Chandrasekhar Somasekhar is CTO of cleareye.ai and also leads the firm’s Product Engineering team. He discusses the adoption and use cases of LLMs in trade finance with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Mahesh Shukla, Founder & CEO, PayMe
India’s digital lending space is shifting toward trust, compliance, and responsible growth. Puja Sharma speaks with Mahesh Shukla, Founder and CEO of PayMe, on building a sustainable, AI-enabled lending model for Bharat. The conversation unpacks instant credit access, data-driven underwriting beyond CIBIL, and what responsible FinTech scale looks like in 2025.
Casparus Kromhout, Managing Director & CEO, Shriram Life Insurance
Life insurance in India is undergoing a pivotal shift from traditional, agent-driven models to digitally enabled, inclusion-led experiences. Rural and emerging India, once underserved, has now become the next frontier for financial protection and long-term security.
In this episode, Vriti Gothi sits down with Casparus Kromhout, MD & CEO at Shriram Life Insurance, to explore how the industry is evolving with technology, simplified onboarding, and trust-driven distribution. They discuss the unique needs of rural India, the rise of digital channels, the role of AI in risk evaluation and customer engagement, and Shriram Life’s approach to building accessible financial protection for every Indian household.
Buddhadeb Das Gupta, EVP & Global Head of Payments & Digital Solutions, Yethi Consulting
Increasing architectural complexity and ever-changing regulatory demands have left the global payments ecosystem at a critical inflection point. Transformation and compliance are now a matter of business survival. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to Buddhadeb ‘Deb’ Das Gupta of Yethi Consulting about the economics of competitive positioning and how to build sustainable competitive advantage.
Mike Walters, Chief Executive Officer, Form3
Form3 offers a cloud-native, real-time account-to-account payment platform. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the recent introduction of verification of payee with Mike Walters, CEO of Form3. What do the new requirements mean for payment services providers (PSPs) and banks, and what does the future hold for FinTechs in payments processing? We also discuss Nationwide’s recent ‘strategic’ investment in Form3 and what it will enable the company to do.
Kunal Bhasin, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, 1West
Small businesses in the US now have more choice in financing but closing the lending gap comes at a price. Small loans don’t make economic sense to the banks, At the same time bank loans are still taking too long to arrange. Addressing both those issues allows alternative lenders to carve out a profitable niche and provides SMBs with solutions to their funding needs. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to Kunal Bhasin, Founder and CEO of platform provider 1West.
Mathangi Sri Ramachandran, Co-Founder & CEO, YuVerse (A Yubi Company)
India’s AI landscape is entering a golden phase, with enterprises rapidly moving from basic workflow automation to intelligence-driven decisioning across core operations. Against this backdrop, Puja Sharma speaks with Mathangi Sri Ramachandran, Co-Founder & CEO of YuVerse, about building an “Intelligent Core” for enterprises, spanning voice automation, document intelligence, video personalisation, and decisioning at scale for leading banks and regulators, and what responsible, compliant, multilingual AI deployment will mean for the next wave of AI-led enterprise transformation.
Matt Whetton, CTO, Acquired.com
What lessons can the US learn from open banking in the UK and Europe? Three areas spring to mind – data privacy, user empowerment and government-industry coordination. The question is how likely is progress in these areas? In the last case, probably none at all (!) with open banking in the US being market driven. Matt Whetton, Chief Technology Officer at Acquired.com discusses open banking with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Annemarie Bona & Melissa Stevenson, Product Managers, ION Group
If your bank is not ready for the transition to support the new messaging format, the risk is that transactions may get derailed with payments being refused. With the deadline just weeks away, what steps should treasurers put in place, including how to lead on communication with banks and corporates? There is also an opportunity to leverage the ISO project for greater Treasury transformation, including enhanced data analysis and real-time treasury. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Melissa Stevenson and Annemarie Bona, both Product Managers at ION Group.
Robert Mallernee, Chief Executive Officer, Eton Solutions
Eton Solutions offers a platform that helps family offices across 15+ countries manage $1 trillion in ultra-high-net-worth family wealth, pulling together investment, accounting, tax, and additional data from countless sources. UHNW families can see their net worth in real time from a mobile app. Robert Mallernee, CEO of Eton Solutions discusses the challenge of building FinTech for the most complex and private clients in the world with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Peter O’Brien, Head of Global Growth+Partnerships, Addepar
Some 87% of UK wealth managers believe that AI is crucial to the future of the wealth management industry yet over half believe their current technology systems still need to be upgraded. Alternative investments, from art and wine to vintage cars, are booming, but UK firms are struggling to access and track them. Peter O’Brien, Head of Global Growth+Partnerships, at Addepar speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how wealth managers can attract both new clients and young talent, by investing in smarter technology tools.
Max Schertel, Co-Founder & CEO, finmid
What’s next for embedded financing? Business platforms are already emerging as critical providers of capital for their SME clientele – customers who have been traditionally underserved when it comes to funding options. Now, the fastest growing platforms may well be making more money from embedded financial services than from their core business! Max Schertel of embedded finance provider finmid speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the business opportunity being created.
Andrew Bud, Founder & CEO, iProov
iProov's threat intelligence research shows an unprecedented escalation in attacks designed to bypass KYC checks across not only neobanks but also banking in generaal, crypto exchanges, e-wallets, and digital payment platforms. Andrew Bud, Founder & CEO of iProov discusses what can be done to block such attacks with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, explaining how facial biometric verification with certified liveness detection, tied to a government-issued ID, should be a non-negotiable security measure for secure identity verification in financial services.
Justin Kuruvilla, Chief Cyber Security Strategist, Risk Ledger
Justin Kuruvilla is a former UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advisor and ex-US Department of Defense technical director. He speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how cyber operations are evolving in times of geopolitical instability, and the growing risks to both national infrastructure and enterprise supply chains. Most organisations only monitor their first-tier suppliers, but real resilience demands visibility all the way down the chain.
Mishal Ruparel, Chief Commercial Officer, Banking Circle
Ultra high-speed access to global, multi-currency instant payments appears to be the new backbone of payments infrastructure. The aim is to overhaul legacy payments using interoperable APIs. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mishal Ruparel of Banking Circle about next generation banking and the increasing role likely to be played by stablecoins.
Puja Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Manipal Fintech
In this episode, Vriti Gothi sits down with Puja Abhishek Singh, CEO of Manipal Fintech, to discuss how the company is bridging India’s credit divide. They explore the role of gold loans in providing quick, reliable access to funds, how AI and technology are transforming onboarding, underwriting, and collections, and the importance of designing customer-centric solutions that reach rural and semi-urban populations. Puja also shares insights from her career across Paytm, Mastercard, SBI Cards, and GE, discussing inclusive leadership, fintech-bank partnerships, and the future of lending in India.
Sameer Mathur, MD and Founder of Roinet Solutions
India’s financial inclusion landscape is rapidly expanding beyond cities, with technology-driven models bridging access gaps in rural and semi-urban areas. Puja Sharma speaks with Sameer Mathur about how the company is empowering women entrepreneurs, using AI to drive inclusion, and shaping the next phase of digital financial growth across underserved communities.
Simon Ellis, Head of Operations EMEA, Airwallex
Global business payments platform Airwallex reported triple digit growth in its UK division, driven by an uplift in the volume and value of deals. Revenue in H1 2025 grew by 109% versus the same period last year. Against that background, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Simon Ellis of Airwallex about the prospects for the business, managing regulatory compliance across 60 licences and registrations worldwide, and the challenges of expanding his team with the right talent.
Lionel Grosclaude, CEO, Fime
Fime provides consulting services and testing services in the areas of payments, smart mobility, and digital identity. According to Fime CEO Lionel Grosclaude, digital identity will help in creating the economic resilience that is needed for the future. He tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how digital identity should sit at the heart of payment evolution, offering a faster and more secure way of verifying customers.
Ed Barrow, Chief Executive Officer, Cloud Capital
The cost of being on the cloud is rising. It has been suggested that cloud costs are already, on average, the second-largest line item after headcount for FinTechs. Add in the bump up in costs caused by AI adoption and it’s easy to see that while CTOs may be happy with their ‘new toys’, CFOs could be looking worried. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the cloud and financial accountability with Ed Barrow, CEO of Cloud Capital.
Dan Holt, CEO, BillGO
Despite innovation in real-time rails, US small businesses are still stuck waiting days, or weeks for payments to clear. That delay is more than an inconvenience. It’s a cash flow threat that puts jobs and businesses at risk. BillGO CEO Dan Holt explains why simplifying receivables is the next frontier in US B2B payments, how better identity and data infrastructure can accelerate digital adoption, and what banks and FinTechs can do to serve small businesses.
Nicky Senyard, CEO, Fintel Connect
Gen Z trusts creators and niche financial influencers (finfluencers) more than brand ads. Today financial advice is just as likely to come from TikTok or Instagram as it is from a bank. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – banks and FinTechs may use affiliate partnerships to reach the Gen Z audience efficiently and compliantly with full-funnel visibility and real trackable performance. Nicky Senyard of partnership solutions provider Fintel Connect speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Simon Jelley, VP&GM Data Protection, Arctera
Banking and financial services are prime targets for cyberattacks – it is going to happen! So, the question you have to answer is what are you going to do to mitigate the risks and ensure a speedy recovery? How should financial organisations best manage data to close any compliance gaps?Simon Jelley of data guardian Arctera discusses the issues with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ziad Mabsout, Co-Founder & CEO, Vennre
WealthTech has evolved from offering simple portfolio dashboards to full-service, AI-powered advisory platforms that are democratising private market access as a mainstream investment category. This increasing inclusivity is benefitting the world’s HENRYs (high income not rich yet). A mass_affluent audience is being offered solutions that give personalised investment recommendations and onboarding through data-driven platforms. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to digital wealth management platform Vennre’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ziad Mabsout.
Melissa Watras, Director of Product, Trillium Surveyor
Trillium Surveyor, a provider of trade surveillance software, signed a deal in May with Blue Ocean Technologies to provide 24/5 trade surveillance to cover overnight trading sessions. Melissa Watras of Trillium Surveyor speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the tech and regulatory challenges as financial markets move toward 24/7. What are the implications for back-office operations, compliance teams and more.
Rainer Vorwerk, Business Development Manager DACH & Head of Profinit Germany; Philipp Söchtig, Head of Corporate Development & Operations, Deputy Head of IT, Berenberg; Marcel Pochert, Head of Digital Transformation, Berenberg
Berenberg is one of Europe’s oldest privately owned banks. The bank chose Profinit to automate contract reviews, reduce costs and support the register of information in line with DORA – the Digital Operational Resilience Act. AI-driven Compliance as a Service (CaaS) has boosted processing speed, reduced manual effort and increased accuracy. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Marcel Pochert and Philipp Söchtig of Berenberg, but we hear first from Rainer Vorwerk of tech supplier Profinit.
Nitin Pulyani, Head of Products, Cashfree Payments
Cross-border payments have long been plagued by high fees, unpredictable exchange rates, and slow settlement times. But with FinTech innovation, real-time rails, and compliance-led product design, the landscape is changing rapidly. In this episode, Vriti Gothi sits down with Nitin Pulyani, Head of Products at Cashfree Payments, to discuss how Indian FinTechs are reimagining global money movement. They explore India’s opportunity to lead in cross-border innovation, why compliance can be a catalyst rather than a constraint, and what it takes to design truly borderless financial infrastructure from India for the world.
Rivi Varghese, CEO, Clari5 – a Perfios Company
The menace of fraud in the financial ecosystem is no longer a static problem that can be tackled with static solutions. Periodic updates are artifacts of the past. What is needed now is a living defence that is capable of evolving as fast, if not faster, than the cyberthreat it faces. Rivi Varghese, CEO of Clari5 explains the company’s Living Anti-Fraud Operating System to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Andrew Dalton, VP Sales Europe, Cleareye.ai
Banks’ trade operations are evolving and are under greater pressure than ever before. Documentation is more complex and regulatory scrutiny more intense. Andrew Dalton, VP Sales Europe for Cleareye.ai joins Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence to discuss the role being played by AI and automation in helping financial institutions not only to cope with these pressures but actually to improve the speed and efficiency of their trade ops.
Varun Dudeja, Head of Business Development APAC, Pismo
India’s credit ecosystem is undergoing a digital-first transformation, with issuers navigating modernisation, compliance, and scalability as embedded finance and platforms like Pismo redefine the future of credit. Puja Sharma speaks with Varun Dudeja, Head of Business Development APAC, Pismo, on how India’s credit card market is evolving and what the future holds in the digital-first economy.
Will Ashford-Brown, Director Strategic Insights, Heligan Group
It has been suggested that more than a third of businesses globally are affected every year by insider threats – it is the cybersecurity issue that not enough companies are focusing on! Organisations are implementing increasingly sophisticated defences against external cyberattacks but that just makes the dangers of malicious and even unintentional insider threats more acute. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Will Ashford-Brown, Director Strategic Insights at Heligan Group.
Scott Barronton, Chief Information Security Officer, Diebold Nixdorf
AI in financial_services is beginning to move from promise to practical implementation. But, as Scott Barronton, CISO of Diebold Nixdorf, warns, organisations should roll out internal AI solutions before leveraging the technology in their products. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Scott Barronton about what you need to build to ensure safe and responsible adoption of AI.
Manish Shara, Co-founder & CEO, Zet
From being “credit invisible” to becoming financially empowered, millions of Indians are on a journey to build their credit story. But how do technology, AI, and trust come together to bridge this massive gap? In this episode, Vriti Gothi sits down with Manish Shara, Co-Founder & CEO of ZET, to explore how FinTech is unlocking credit access for the 400 million underserved Indians with little or no credit history. They discuss the challenges borrowers face, the role of technology in making credit more transparent, and what it takes to create a credit-ready India.
Preetha Pulusani, Chief Executive Officer, Deep Target
Financial institutions could be sitting on a proverbial gold mine of data – yet most banks and credit unions fail to leverage these assets effectively. That failure leaves a strategic resource that offers tremendous growth potential underutilised! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Preetha Pulusani, CEO of Deep Target, about the strategies that can help unlock the value of your data.
Carl Slabicki, Executive Platform Owner, Treasury Services, BNY
What does the cybersecurity landscape look like now? What should banks around the world be doing to tackle fraud? Everyone agrees the key could be data sharing but how can we make this happen? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the role of AI as an accelerator and a tool for good with Carl Slabicki of BNY.
Phil Cotter, CEO, SmartSearch
Regulated entities in the financial sphere face increasing complex compliance requirements. This year alone, new regulations such as DORA, AMLA and ECCTA reflect the fact that fincrime is at the forefront of business challenges. However, combine pressure from malign actors with increased regulation and it is easy to see why three quarters of financial services businesses feel overburdened. Indeed 81% of UK financial sector firms worry about their ability to comply with current regulations. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to Phil Cotter, CEO of UK-based provider of digital compliance and AML solutions, SmartSearch.
Andrew Jurgielan, Chief Revenue Officer ONE.io
Under the spotlight, the challenges and opportunities of cross-border banking, regulatory strategy and payment innovation. One.io is a full-suite financial services solution, providing access to business accounts, global payments, spot FX, crypto trading and payment processing for a global customer base. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to the firm’s Chief Revenue Officer, Andrew Jurgielan.
Richard Harmon, VP & Global Head of Financial Services, Red Hat
Red Hat operates as an independent subsidiary of IBM. It is an open hybrid cloud technology provider and is the world's leading provider of open-source solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Richard Harmon, VP & Global Head of Financial Services at Red Hat. In a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence, topics covered include the need for common infrastructure, the use of synthetic data, agentic AI and the risks involved in the adoption and use of AI.
Mouloukou Sanoh, Co-Founder & CEO, MANSA
MANSA is building on-chain infrastructure to make real-time cross border payments a reality in the belief that seamless money movement shouldn't be limited by legacy systems and outdated infrastructure. In many emerging markets, mobile first apps have already displaced traditional banks with stablecoins likely to be the next disruptor of how value moves around the world. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mouloukou Sanoh of MANSA.
Arpan Bansal, VP-Marketing (Government & GSI Initiatives) Newgen Software
AI and automation are transforming how records are classified and managed. With growing concerns around issues pertaining to trust and compliance, innovation needs to be balanced alongside accountability. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Arpan Bansal, VP-Marketing (Government & GSI Initiatives) for Newgen Software, getting his perspective on what a modern records management system should be and what information governance is required.
Tom Bentley, Chief Revenue Officer, 10x Banking
10x Banking, the cloud-native core banking platform, has announced the appointment of Tom Bentley to its Executive Board as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Tom will lead the company’s global commercial and growth strategy expansion across key markets including Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa. Bentley brings over 15 years of global experience in core banking and FinTech, having held senior roles at Temenos, Thought Machine, and Vodeno (recently acquired by UniCredit Group). Most recently he was part of the founding team at NatWest Boxed, the embedded finance venture from NatWest Group. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tom Bentley about his new challenge.
Sameet Gupte, Co-founder & CEO, EvoluteIQ
From tedious tasks to complex workflows, automation has come a long way, but what happens when AI, ML, and low-code/no-code converge? Intelligent Automation is reshaping how organizations operate, innovate, and scale across sectors like healthcare, finance, and tech. Vriti Gothi sits down with Sameet Gupte, Co-founder and CEO of EvoluteIQ, to discuss digital transformation, the oppourtunites and challenges, and what it takes to build resilience and agility in a rapidly changing world.
Amalesh Mishra, Chief Growth Officer, QualityKiosk
Digital quality is no longer just about bug-free apps; it’s about building resilience, speed, and reliability at scale. From AI-driven risk prediction to Digital Testing as a Service (DTaaS), tech leaders are rethinking software quality in a cloud-native, always-on world. In regulated sectors such as BFSI and telecom, the challenge is striking a balance between compliance and customer experience. Puja Sharma speaks with Amalesh Mishra, Chief Growth Officer at QualityKiosk, on reshaping digital assurance, tackling complexity, and staying ahead of disruption.
Michael Breen, CCO, audax Financial Technology
audax Financial Technology is a comprehensive digital banking solutions provider empowering banks and financial institutions to scale and modernise at speed. audax has enabled new business models and revenue streams for Standard Chartered under the SC nexus proposition. The result, Standard Chartered became the first global bank to provide Banking-as-a-Service in Asia. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Michael Breen, CCO of audax.
Edwin Chan, Regional Managing Director Europe, Carta
The private markets have lagged on infrastructure but that gap in capabilities is now closing with the development of ERP solutions for the management of private capital. The alternative investment ecosystem is tentatively beginning to embrace AI, offering the prospects of clarity automation and real-time data to a world still running on spreadsheets! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Edwin Chan, Regional Managing Director Europe for investment platform Carta.
Michael Marcotte, Founder, Chairman & CEO, artius.ID
Banks currently store customers’ biometric data on centralised systems, making it highly vulnerable and attractive to hackers. A successful breach of this data could result in group litigation from customers large enough to destabilise both the bank itself and the surrounding financial ecosystem. In 2016, Michael Marcotte co-founded the US National Cybersecurity Center, which works with companies and governments to improve national security and computer security. Now he is Founder, Chairman and CEO of artius.ID, which offers secure, self-managed individual identity solutions for S&P 500 majors.
Adam Gable, Senior Product Director, Temenos
Agentic AI helps to simplify complex processes by performing automated tasks without human intervention. Temenos unveiled its FCM AI Agent at the Temenos Community Forum (TCF 2025) in Madrid. It is an AI-enhanced compliance engine, enabling a significant reduction in false positives when screening against global and domestic watchlists in real time. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks at TCF 2025 to Adam Gable, Senior Product Director at Temenos about the evolution of the perennial problem of fincrime and the efforts to counter it.
Mick Fennell, Business Line Director, Payments, Temenos
Payments by volume have soared, both in domestic markets and cross-border markets but, at the same time, banks margins have come under increasing pressure. Banks simply aren’t making the money out of the payments business that they used to make out of it. How do we create a system of payments that is fair, equitable, secure, and that makes sense for banks as well as their customers? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence caught up with Mick Fennell, Business Line Director, Payments at Temenos, at the company’s Temenos Community Forum in Madrid.
Thomas Cuvelier, Partner, RTP Global
Venture capital firm RTP Global says it invests in ‘ambitious founders reshaping the world through technology’. The focus in FinTech funding now is very firmly on AI and likely to remain there for some time. The impact of developments in artificial intelligence are only just beginning to be felt. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Thomas Cuvelier, Partner at RTP Global.
Thomas Longhurst, Head of Strategic Partnerships, YouLend
Embedded finance is boosting business growth for SMEs as industry dynamics are being changed by the power of partnerships. Thomas Longhurst, Head of Strategic Partnerships at global embedded financing platform YouLend speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, beginning with his thoughts on the recent Money 20/20 conference in Amsterdam.
Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer, CGI
Banks are under increasing pressure to understand how nature-related risks like biodiversity loss, flood risk and soil degradation may impact asset values and long-term resilience. However, many lenders lack the tools and context to interpret this data. Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer for CGI in the UK and Australia speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how financial institutions are moving to incorporate nature data in credit and investment decisions.
Mia Drennan, Founder & CEO, GLAS
Mia Drennan pioneered independent loan administration and trustee services – an area traditionally dominated by banks. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mia Drennan, Founder and CEO of GLAS, about how she disrupted financial services and thrived in the male dominated financial services – building a global finance business that turns over around £100 million ($137 million) a year. What lessons can the current crop of female entrepreneurs take to heart?
Ram Ramdas, Founder & Chief Evangelist, Wonderlend Hubs
WonderLend Hubs offers scalable, customisable solutions that adapt to the dynamic needs of modern lenders. It is a no-code, micro-modular solution delivered as a PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) model. Modular architecture or microservices allows the company to offer ‘Micro plans’, i.e. API bundles which are fully business user-configurable. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ram Ramdas, Founder and Chief Evangelist at Wonderlend Hubs.
Ruchi Tripathi, Vice President - Product Management for AMLOCK, Azentio
Financial crime compliance is evolving—and even minor lapses like missed STRs can spark major regulatory fallout. Legacy tech adds to the challenge, creating blind spots in AML frameworks. Ruchi Tripathi, VP – Product Management at Azentio’s AMLOCK, speaks with Puja Sharma on applying the ‘Broken Window Theory’, tackling tech debt, and adapting compliance to regional needs.
Elliott Limb, CEO, Cubed
Over the past decade, we have seen many FinTechs rise and fall – entering the market to great fanfare only to exit extremely quietly. Why do so many FinTechs fail and what needs to happen in order to reduce the chronic failure rates among FinTech startups. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Cubed CEO Elliott Limb who says a mindset change is needed.
Steve Brodie, Chief Revenue Officer, Goldilock
Physical network isolation is becoming essential in today’s cybersecurity threat landscape. Software-only solutions are no longer enough. The case for hardware-based protection has been thrown into sharp relief in recent months with high profile cases of cyber attacks that have revealed victim organisations to be, in the words of Steve Brodie of Goldilock, ‘over-connected and under-protected’. Goldilock already numbers leading banks among customers in both Europe and Asia for its award-winning network connection controllers.
Louise Stewart, CEO, ProjectPay
Payments are a crucial issue in construction where some 98% of firms in the industry are SMEs. The UK construction sector is struggling with outdated financial models and banking structures but to address these challenges needs more than just the introduction of digital payments. A recent report by platform ProjectPay highlights the sector’s cashflow issues. Louise Stewart, CEO of ProjectPay speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Michele Tucci, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Credolab
Credolab is a data analytics platform based on smartphone and web behavioural metadata available to any company with a mobile app and a website. The use of this alternative data acts to bolster risk assessment and credit decisioning in a privacy-safe, predictive way that improves outcomes base on traditional scoring models alone. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Michele Tucci, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Credolab.
Ritesh Varma, VP Business Solutions Consulting, Newgen Software
Investigating the opportunities and challenges involved in the implementation of artificial intelligence in the insurance sector – from ensuring fairness and compliance in underwriting via data-driven decision-making to the role AI plays in combatting fraud. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses risk assessment and claims management with Ritesh Varma, VP Business Solutions Consulting of Newgen Software.
Chandini Jain, Founder & CEO, Auquan
Auquan offers AI agents for institutional finance and provides a glimpse into the future of work in investment banking. Agentic AI is already rewriting the role of humans in financial research and analysis – no long, for example, will junior investment bankers face ‘death by powerpoint’. AI is reshaping workflows, organisations and careers. However, the changes don’t mean humans are being left out of the loop. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Chandini Jain, Founder and CEO of Auquan.
Jorge Lluch, Co-Founder & COO, Abacum
Abacum is a financial planning and analysis platform which recently raised $60 million in a Series B funding round. Businesses are under increasing pressure to forecast accurately, and AI-driven planning tools are themselves seen as a critical component to assist CFOs in forecasting revenue, planning headcount and building in the ability to cope with unforeseen macroeconomic headwinds. Jorge Lluch, Co-Founder and COO of Abacum speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Liat Shetret, Vice President, Global Policy & Regulation, Elliptic
Debanking is not a new issue but despite efforts by jurisdictions like the USA and Australia introducing legislation to remove barriers for crypto firms, debanking remains a significant obstacle globally. The bottom line? Banks are hesitant to engage with crypto due to perceived risk – but could they be mistaken? Liat Shetret, Vice President, Global Policy & Regulation at blockchain data and intelligence platform Elliptic talks through the issues with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Daniel Sanchez Grant, SVP International Corp Sales & UK Country Director, AlphaSense
There is a global AI talent gap. Rising demand for skilled staff in the area of artificial intelligence has seen AI expertise become the most in-demand skill set in technology with firms struggling to fill roles. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the problem together with the uses ofdata-driven decisions with Daniel Sanchez Grant, SVP International Corp Sales & UK Country Director of AlphaSense.
Rachel Levi, Head of AI, Swift
The financial services sector has been using the predictive capabilities of traditional AI for years in use cases such as liquidity management and cash forecasting. However, the introduction of generative AI has created a vast range of opportunities for firms to improve customer support, drive smarter decision-making, and speed up content creation. Rachel Levi, Head of AI at Swift takes Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence through the impact of AI in financial services.
Shalini Sankarshana, MD, Planview
India’s banking sector is sprinting through a marathon of digital disruption—and the smartest players are using regulation not as a roadblock, but as guardrails for innovation. In this episode, Shalini Sankarshana, Managing Director at Planview®—an expert in Strategic Portfolio Management and Digital Product Development—tells Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence why banks like Axis and SBI are racing ahead, how speed and security must go hand in hand, and why the future belongs to those who collaborate, not compete.
Aidana Zhakupbekova, Chief Financial Officer, Rydoo
Topics in the spotlight include the workplace and compliance benefits of AI, and the integration of AI in existing financial systems. You’ll also hear comment on the role of smart audit AI in combatting expense fraud. Aidana Zhakupbekova, Chief Financial Officer of expense management platform Rydoo, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Russell Andrews, Head of Wealth & Asset Management Vertical EMEA, FIS
The focus on AI implementation in asset management has so far been largely on improving efficiency in routine, low value tasks. Building data lakes and warehouses is the foundational work necessary to enable AI-driven decision-making at scale. True value will emerge when AI is fully integrated into portfolio management and risk analysis. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Russell Andrews, Head of Wealth & Asset Management Vertical EMEA at FIS.
Sarika Agarwal, Chief Business Officer, Findi
India’s FinTech journey is at an inflection point—where building digital rails is no longer enough. True financial inclusion demands solutions rooted in a local context, blending the physical with the digital to meet users where they are. Sarika Agarwal, Chief Business Officer at FindiPay, speaks with Puja Sharma on embracing cash as a bridge, not a barrier, to align with public infrastructure while plugging access gaps. The focus must shift from scale alone to trust, usability, and sustainable execution.
Yoann Vandendriessche, Group Chief Product Officer, Intix & NetGuardians
The payments sector is facing its biggest transformation in a decade. Traditional models are no longer sustainable, and firms need to rethink their strategies, harness real-time transaction data and look to more adaptive infrastructures. Indeed, real-time payments will become the norm, likely to reach 27% of all global payments by 2028. At the same time, growing fraud and compliance burdens are forcing a rethink of data strategies. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Yoann Vandendriessche, Group Chief Product Officer of Intix and NetGuardians.
Ben Goldin, Founder & CEO, Plumery
The ‘big bang’ core replacement model is no longer a viable option for many banks. Instead, a step-by-step approach that overlays new modules over an existing core banking system may offer a way for financial institutions to bring their services up to date. Ben Goldin, Founder and CEO of Plumery speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the path to progressive modernisation.
Patrick Lemay, Head of Corporate Development, PayRetailers
Biometric authentication solutions are about more than just security. While multi-modal authentication is reducing fraud, it also holds the potential to create a more seamless and personalised payment experience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the opportunities with Patrick Lemay, Head of Corporate Development at PayRetailers.
Kaushal Verma, Head of Global Banking CoE, Newgen Software
Technology has revolutionised lending and the loan origination process. Increasing speed of approval is a huge advantage. SMEs may now access the funds they need almost instantly. Modern digital lending platforms are more flexible, lending practices are more transparent – as examples of this, Kaushal Verma, Head of Global Banking CoE for Newgen Software cites the changing lending market in the UAE. In conversation with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, he also highlights how the use of AI in lending decision-making may help narrow the SME funding gap.
Udi Ziv, CEO, Personetics
AI-powered customer experience is evolving to meet consumers’ needs for a personal relationship with their bank. With a mission to democratise financial wellness, cognitive banking offers a fundamental shift in how financial institutions engage with their customers, leveraging advanced data analytics and predictive modelling. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Udi Ziv, CEO of Personetics.
Will Marwick, CEO, IFX Payments
Will Marwick describes IFX Payments as a service-led alternative banking partner for its clients. With FX markets excessively volatile in recent days (thanks in no small part to President Trump’s wild ride on tariffs), the need for a digital FX and payments solution that offers businesses a quick, secure and easy to use treasury service has been thrown into sharp relief. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Will Marwick of IFX Payments.
Raj Narayanam, Founder, Zaggle
SaaS innovation, UPI integration, and strong banking partnerships are reshaping spend management and prepaid card solutions, driving smarter, more efficient financial operations. Dr. Raj Narayanam shares insights with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence on how these trends are redefining the FinTech landscape. As technology evolves, agility and collaboration will be key to staying ahead.
Ben Turner, Founder & CEO, Verituity
The US Treasury’s decision to phase out paper cheques for government payments by September may well be one of the biggest digital payments tests the US has faced. It is a FinTech challenge that will require banks, FinTechs and payers to align on identity verification, fraud prevention and equitable access at scale. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Ben Turner, Founder and CEO of PayTech specialist Verituity.
Priyank Shah, Co-founder of The Financialist
AI is fast emerging as a powerful enabler in India’s wealth management landscape. In this episode, Priyank Shah, Co-founder of The Financialist, joins Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence to discuss how technology is reshaping financial advisory, the evolving regulatory framework, and what the future holds for WealthTech in India.
Rory O’Neill, Chief Marketing Officer, Checkout.com
Payments move money; high-performance payments make money. Conversely, failed payments don’t just lose money for merchants, they damage trust in the brand and directly undermine brand value. Trust and confidence are fragile things – needed in online commerce but easily undermined if the payment experience is problematic. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rory O’Neill, Chief Marketing Officer of Checkout.com about ensuring payments work as they should.
Manthan Dave, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Palisade
Forecasts that up to 10% of global GDP could be tokenised by 2030 set the scene for a fundamental change in the economic landscape. Alongside these forecasts, the new US administration is now developing crypto regulations and exploring the potential of a crypto strategic reserve. Manthan Dave, Co-CEO of digital asset custody provider Palisade, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about tokenisation and how it will change the way we do business.
Prashant Jajodia, Financial Services Sector Leader & Managing Partner, IBM Consulting
IBM reports that just 8% of banks were systematically developing generative AI in 2024 but that this percentage is set to soar in 2025 as businesses move from pilot to execution in pursuit of profits. Artificial intelligence is set to become the core driver of innovation, transforming AI from a tool into the foundation of a bank’s business model. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Prashant Jajodia, Financial Services Sector Leader and Managing Partner of IBM Consulting.
Claire Gates, Head of Payments, Crown Agents Bank
Crown Agents Bank (CAB) is a UK-regulated, certified B Corp bank and provider of wholesale foreign exchange and cross-border payment services across developing, emerging and frontier markets. Claire Gates, Head of Payments for CAB speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about collaboration between FinTechs and banks, and why it is critical for scaling secure cross-border payments. The conversation also includes discussion about moves towards cashless remittances.
Andreas Mjelde, Co-Founder & CEO, Two
Two aims to make it as simple for businesses to purchase online as it is for an end-consumer. When Two’s founders were busy scaling their previous ventures, they kept running into the same problem. Businesses were forced to use consumer-based payment solutions that simply didn't meet their needs with convoluted net terms processes often leading to delayed business payments. Now, things are changing with BNPL evolving into the B2B space and AI being used to secure transactions. Andreas Mjelde, Co-Founder and CEO of Two, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ben Gamble, Field CTO, Ververica
Investigating the use cases for stream processing technology, such as fraud and anomaly detection; we quantify the value of real-time data analytics for business intelligence and decision-making. Ben Gamble, Field CTO of Ververica talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the convergence of technologies such as agentic AI and stream processing, and how it can help in the drive towards personalisation.
Lena Hackelöer, Founder & CEO, Brite Payments
Powered by open banking, Brite Payments claims to offer transparent, faster, smarter, and more secure payments. Open banking-powered account-to-account payments enable a user to pay for goods or services directly and instantly with their bank account. Brite Payments CEO Lena Hackelöer is a returning guest to the podcast – having appeared first in April 2023. Two years is a long time in FinTech! She discusses the transformation in European consumer payments with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence… and how Brite Payments itself has evolved.
Kapil Dhiman, Co-Founder & CEO, Quranium
Conventional blockchains rely on encryption that is vulnerable to quantum threats. Quranium is the first natively quantum-uncrackable Layer 1 blockchain. Kapil Dhiman, Co-Founder and CEO of Quranium discusses the future of digital trust and cryptography with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence. Dhiman is a founding member of the Davos Web3 Roundtable and a leading voice on the challenges of quantum resilience in blockchain.
Amit Jain, Partner and Head, IBS Intelligence
Breaking into a new market takes more than ambition—it demands clear insight. What works in one region may fail in another. Start with a bird’s eye view of the industry, map the ecosystem, and test the product through the eyes of the end user. Early validation and expert input are key to building a strategy that sticks.
Travis Schwab, CEO, Eventus
Eventus focuses on leveraging big data and low latency technologies. Its flagship product, Validus, is a FinTech focused software platform that manages and protects trading firms. Eventus CEO Travis Schwab speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the shifting regulatory landscape and the potential for lighter touch regulation as governments around the world look to promote growth and competitiveness.
Alexander Berrai, Deputy CEO, emerchantpay
We review the changing dynamics of Europe’s payments ecosystem, taking in digital wallets, virtual cards, open banking, cross-border transactions, and regional payment preferences. We also discuss the rise of eCommerce in Europe, notably across borders, and in second-hand and social commerce. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Alexander Berrai, Deputy CEO of emerchantpay about some of the findings in the company’s latest Global Payments Outlook.
Dipak Nair - Founder and Managing Director, X-Biz TechVentures
X-Biz TechVentures, with its AI-Diagnostics approach, is reshaping cybersecurity for the BFSI sector by uncovering hidden threats like Shadow APIs and third-party vulnerabilities. Dipak discusses with Puja how AI is transforming the cybersecurity playbook - from tackling blind spots in traditional audits to tightening vendor risk management and exposing hidden threats like Shadow APIs.
Amit Jain, Partner and Head, IBS Intelligence
A successful go-to-market strategy demands deep cultural understanding, rigorous due diligence, and the power of structured research—IBSi’s Delphi-based approach helps FinTechs decode complex markets and build impactful, insight-led expansion blueprints.
George Toumbev, Chief Commercial Officer, NatWest Boxed
BaaS provider NatWest Boxed has gone live with its first customer, the AA, which will use Boxed’s embedded finance platform to offer financial products to millions of personal breakdown members and insurance customers as well as the broader market. The venture marks the first time 2 leading UK brands have agreed a strategic partnership to embed financial services into the customer journey. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the new offering with NatWest Boxed’s CCO George Toumbev.
Pierre Antoine Desoulier, CEO, iBanFirst
Making international payments and handling multiple currencies can introduce significant risk, especially for SMEs. Exchange rates fluctuate all the time, and many banks simply do not cater to the currency risk management needs of smaller companies. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pierre Antoine Desoulier, CEO of cross-border payments platform iBanFirst, which provides custom FX risk strategies to more than 1,000 SME clients.
Amit Jain, Partner and Head, IBS Intelligence
A successful go-to-market strategy in new territories requires a thorough assessment of critical factors, including market demand, competition, regulation, talent availability, partnerships, and key risks. By combining in-depth secondary research with primary insights, organisations can develop a comprehensive approach to navigate these challenges effectively.
Jamie Twiss, CEO, Carrington Labs
From predictive analytics to AI-driven automation, banks and financial institutions are rethinking how to leverage data in order to make better decisions. The current challenge? Separating innovation from hype and ensuring that AI is both explainable and effective. Carrington Labs provides enhanced credit risk scoring and loan management solutions powered by explainable AI. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jamie Twiss, Chief Executive Officer of Australia-based Carrington Labs.
Alexandre Kech, CEO, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)
Established in the wake of the global financial crisis, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) promotes the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). GLEIF is a supra-national not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Originally aimed at the derivatives market, the use cases for the LEI have mushroomed, as Alexandre Kech, Chief Executive Officer of GLEIF explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Pulak Jain, Co-founder, Chief Business Officer & Head of Strategy, TransBnk
TransBnk is a comprehensive transaction banking platform that facilitates all kinds of financial transactions for corporates and NBFCs. The range of services on offer includes digital lending, supply chain solutions, marketplace solutions, capital market services, and custodial services, alongside cash management and payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pulak Jain, Co-founder, Chief Business Officer and Head of Strategy at TransBnk.
Senthil Gunasekaran, Chief Business Officer, KFintech
India’s Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) landscape is at a turning point, with technology redefining fund administration, investor access, and regulatory compliance. In this episode, we explore how emerging tech, evolving regulations, and new market opportunities are transforming the way alternative investments work in India.
Srinivas Nidugondi, Chief Operating Office, Digital Financial Solutions, Comviva Technologies
What makes digital payments better than cash? It’s a simple question with complex answers that change from country to country as digital payment solutions are shaped by the cultures in which they are embedded. It is clear, however, that fast or slow the rising trend in digital transactions is leaving cash behind. Srinivas Nidugondi, Chief Operating Officer FinTech for Comviva Technologies speaks on all things payments to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Emily Steele, President, Savana
Headlines in the UK and Europe still talk of bank branch closures, However, in the US there are signs of a resurgence in traditional banking, with almost 100 net new branches opening in 2023 and almost double that number in 2024. Despite the digital shift, even in Gen Z, when asked their preference, a majority would opt for personalised advice. There is an opportunity here for banks to re-imagine the in-person experience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Emily Steele, President of banking tech provider Savana.
Thomas Müller, Co-founder, Rivero
Rivero is a SaaS FinTech, offering software to banks to assist in dispute management and fraud recovery, as well as payment scheme compliance management. The company’s solutions address inefficiencies in the back office of banking institutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Rivero Co-founder Thomas Müller.
Rajesh Pai Fondekar, Group VP & Head of Product Management, Digital Financial Solutions, Comviva Technologies
Consumers want fast and seamless payments but with frictionless payments comes the potential for increased risk of fraud. Rajesh Pai Fondekar, Group VP & Head of Product Management, Digital Financial Solutions, at Comviva Technologies, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the evolution of payments and the innovations that aim to ensure both security and convenience in payments now and for the future.
Amit Jain, Partner and Head, IBS Intelligence
A one-size-fits-all approach won’t succeed in today’s dynamic FinTech market. Achieving market fit requires strategies aligned with customer needs and industry shifts. Product review and roadmap planning must prioritise flexibility and customisation for sustainable growth and competitive advantage.
Bindesh Pandey, Group VP, Digital Financial Solutions, Comviva Technologies
Banks have historically viewed FinTechs as disruptors – a view that many FinTechs would themselves take. However, times change, and technology evolves. Now the bank/FinTech relationship is more complex and nuanced. Competition is fierce in some areas while mutually beneficial collaboration is the order of the day elsewhere. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Bindesh Pandey, Group Vice President of Digital Financial Solutions at Comviva about the factors dictating the shape of relations between banks and FinTechs.
Steve Britain, CEO, Monument Technology
Monument Technology’s Banking-Platform-as-a-Service model is a tribute to Monument Bank, which has scaled from £1 billion in assets to £5 billion in the last 12 months. The bank created its tech stack through a combination of best-in-class solutions together with its own tech where the latter could act as a differentiator. Steve Britain, now CEO of Monument Technology was previously COO of the bank. He speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the decision to go into the bank-in-a-box business.
Biju Suresh-Babu, Managing Director, Banking & Financial Services, Fiorano Software
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) is developing an open finance regime that encompasses both banks and insurers. Biju Suresh-Babu, Managing Director, Banking & Financial Services with Fiorano Software discusses the framework being put in place by the CBUAE with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, comparing progress with solutions being implemented elsewhere in the world, and with special emphasis on how financial institutions are responding and what open finance will mean for end-customers.
Sandeep Katiyar, Co-Founder and Group Chief Financial Officer, Finhaat
Bringing insurance and wealth management to semi-urban and rural India requires more than just access—it demands trust, simplicity, and security. Finhaat is tackling this challenge with a tech-driven distribution network that connects underserved communities to essential financial products. By leveraging digital tools, the platform makes insurance and investments easier to understand and adopt. Fraud prevention remains a priority, with robust security measures ensuring safe transactions. Sandeep shares insights with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence on how Finhaat is shaping the future of financial services.
Neil Chandler, Chief Executive Officer, Aion Bank
Italy’s Unicredit finalised the takeover of Aion Bank and sister company, tech provider, Vodeno in early March 2025. The deal was first announced in July 2024. Ahead of the confirmation of the Unicredit deal, Aion Bank CEO Neil Chandler spoke with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, discussing the evolution of Banking-as-a-Service and the difference between fully regulated BaaS platforms and BNPL services.
Davis DeRodes, Lead Data Scientist, Fusion Risk Management
Last year’s CrowdStrike failure firmly put the need for robust scenario testing under the global spotlight. Online and app outages at some of the UK’s biggest banks in early 2025 have only served to underline the need to ensure operational resilience. Davis DeRodes, Lead Data Scientist at Fusion Risk Management speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about current trends in scenario testing and says 2025 will be the year of the AI agent.
Pat Bermingham, CEO, Adflex
The end is in sight for direct debits and card on file payments with the coming of VRPs, allowing flexible, automated payments between bank accounts… also in focus, virtual cards, slower payments (!) tokenisation and embedded payments, including the grow of B2B BNPL. Pat Bermingham, CEO of B2B digital payment processor Adflex, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Victor Basta, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Artis Partners
Acquisitions have already become the norm in the payments space, with the wider FinTech sector now set to follow suit. Many startups have transitioned into the growth stage and the marketplace has become crowded, with competition at an all-time high. Victor Basta, Managing Partner at new investment bank Artis Partners, tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that significant consolidation should be expected in the FinTech space, with exit values rising.
Frederik Muelke, Head of Alternative Assets, Robin AI
Robin AI is a secure LegalTech provider for private markets players. Tight private equity markets have seen fewer deals and fiercer competition – pre-emptive bids and faster due diligence are becoming the norm. Adopting AI can enable firms to reduce deal analysis timelines from weeks to hours, allowing faster more informed decisions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Frederik Muelke, Head of Alternative Assets at Robin AI about the firm’s report AI in Private Markets 2025.
Greg Holmes, Field CTO in EMEA, Apptio
Every business hopes to maximise the benefits of investing in technology, but can we be sure that money is being spent wisely, and value actually being derived? Apptio recently released the findings of a global study entitled Guiding Technology Investments: Insights for Business Leaders. It examined how organisations are navigating their tech spend and investments, especially considering the rapid adoption of all things AI. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Greg Holmes, Field CTO in EMEA for Apptio.
Manish Agarwal, CEO & Founder, FINQY
The BFSI sector is evolving rapidly, with AI-driven hyper-personalisation, ‘phygital’ customer experiences, and the rise of super apps reshaping financial services. As digital ecosystems expand, financial product consumption in India is seeing a significant shift. Manish Aggarwal, CEO & Founder of FINQY, speaks to Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence about these emerging trends and what the future holds for the industry.
Ghazi Ben Amor, VP Corporate Development, ZAMA
ZAMA is a newcomer specialising in cryptography, with a focus on fully homomorphic encryption. This technology allows computations to be performed on encrypted data but, crucially, without the need to decrypt it first – thus preserving data privacy and security – useful attributes for banks and others in financial services. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the problem, the potential and the use cases with Ghazi Ben Amor, VP Corporate Development of ZAMA.
Hari Padmanabhan, Founder Chairman, Uncia
Uncia is redefining FinTech with AI-driven solutions that enhance banking, lending, and credit assessments. Inspired by the agility of the snow leopard, Uncia empowers financial institutions with customisable onboarding journeys. Hari shares insights with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence on how Uncia is shaping the future of financial services.
Srirang Srikantha, Chief Executive Officer, Yethi Consulting
By end-2028, it has been suggested that 80% of testing engagements will have quality engineering transformation as a core component. One recent survey has a similar percentage of banks (81%) warning of an imminent ‘automation Armageddon’. Against that background, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Srirang Srikantha, CEO of Yethi Consulting, a leading provider of payment solutions, quality assurance, and testing automation services tailored for the global banking and financial services sector.
Yaacov Martin, CEO, The Jifiti Group
Embedded finance solutions allow banks to extend their reach and potentially offer more personalised services. BNPL is still growing but also still in need of a regulatory framework. The Jifiti Group is a US-based global technology company. One of its main products is a white-labelled embedded lending platform for banks, lenders and merchants. Yaacov Martin, the company’s CEO speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the consumer lending ecosystem.
Satish Grampurohit, CEO and Co-Founder, Cogniquest
Disclosure: Cogniquest is a Cedar-IBSi Capital portfolio company. It is a context-aware AI platform with the ability to capture key data points and generate actionable insights from complex documents and information repositories. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelliigence speaks with Satish Grampurohit, CEO and Co-Founder of Cogniquest about how AI can make the KYB process faster, more efficient and more transparent for both businesses and banks. Quite simply, AI-powered document intelligence can cut the time taken in the KYB process from several weeks to just a few days.
Violet Abtahi, CEO, Platonic
Blockchain’s impact on asset management is growing but key challenges over privacy, decentralisation and usability remain to be addressed. However, together with tokenisation, blockchain holds out the promise of more power to the individual to secure their financial future while having more control over their assets. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the economy of the future with Violet Abtahi, CEO of Platonic.
Mathias Wikström, CEO, Doconomy
Recent research reveals that consumers around the globe are increasingly concerned about climate change and want to take individual action, but many feel constrained by their financial situation. Not feeling in control of their finances makes it hard for people to focus on living sustainably, and there is a lack of meaningful action from traditional leaders. This, according to Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy, speaking to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, offers an unprecedented opportunity for banks to evolve, take a leadership role, and create a fundamental shift in what banking and wealth means in the 21st century.
Niamh Kingsley, Director, Head of AI & Product Innovation, Delta Capita
After more than a decade of digital transformation, being digital is no longer a differentiator for banks, it’s a baseline. Looking ahead, financial institutions must embrace emerging DREAM-C technologies: Distributed Ledger Technology, Robotics, Extended Reality, AI, Mutualisation & Shared Innovation, and advanced Computing (cloud and quantum) to stay competitive. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Niamh Kingsley, Director and Head of AI & Product Innovation at Delta Capita.
Sal Rehmetullah, CEO & Co-Founder, Worth AI
How to tackle risk management and financial credit underwriting, using AI to provide accurate, real-time credit risk assessments for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Through the use of an AI-powered platforms for underwriting and onboarding, it is possible to eliminate manual tasks and offer real-time, predictive risk monitoring. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Sal Rehmetullah, CEO and Co-Founder of Worth.
Cassie Craddock, UK & Europe Managing Director, Ripple
In Q4 2024, the UK government reaffirmed its commitment to moving ahead with a regulatory framework for crypto assets and stablecoins. Welcome news for Cassie Craddock, UK & Europe Managing Director of digital asset infrastructure provider Ripple. She speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about her hopes for regulation, the need for digital asset custody, and how large financial institutions have begun preparing for a future in which digital assets play an increasingly important role.
Juan Pablo Ortega, Co-Founder & CEO, Yuno
We investígate global payment trends and the role of payment orchestrators as Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Juan Pablo Ortega, Co-Founder and CEO of Yuno. The company, based in Colombia, operates in more than 80 countries around the world and allows merchants to connect with over 300 payment methods and providers with a single, no-code integration, making it easier for companies to scale across geographies and build their customer base.
Ankush Julka, CEO of Mufinpay
MufinPay, a PPI license holder, is redefining digital payments with its Super App, PPI Wallet, Gift Cards, GPR Cards, and Bank in a Box. Offering seamless UPI payments, secure prepaid cards, and a robust e-banking experience, it simplifies everyday transactions like bill payments, FASTag top-ups, and P2P transfers. Ankush Julka, CEO of MufinPay, speaks with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence on the future of digital payments and FinTech’s role in financial inclusion.
Raman Korneu, CEO & Co-Founder, myTU
myTU is an e-money institution (EMI) registered in the European Union and headquartered in Lithuania – regarded as one of the FinTech hubs of Europe. The firm also has a consumer credit licence and is working towards obtaining a full banking licence. Raman Korneu of myTU speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about what makes myTU different in the way it is offering banking services.
Matiss Ansviesulis, Entrepreneur & Angel Investor
Matiss Ansviesulis co-founded Creamfinance (rebranded to AvaFin.com) in 2012 in Latvia. The firm was taken over by Capitec in 2024. Ansviesulis has not been idle, co-founding a string of FinTechs including Spanda Capital, NewSchool, Esketit, FU Capital, and Money.jo. Here, he talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the challenges of helping the unbanked in emerging markets, and how Latvia and the other Baltic states have developed a thriving FinTech ecosystem.
Rob Israch, President, Tipalti
In Q4 2024, the UK government unveiled plans for a Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), aiming to reduce the burden for businesses hoping to bring new products and services to market. It will support regulators to update regulation, speeding up approvals, and ensuring different regulatory bodies work together smoothly. But will it be successful in fostering innovation? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rob Israch, President of SaaS accounting software provider and PayTech Tipalti.
Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Co-Founder & MD, Finvasia & Jumpp
How is AI driving hyperpersonalised wealth management experiences for Indian users? Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Co-Founder of Finvasia, joins Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence to discuss this and more, including the vision behind Finvasia’s AI-powered superapp, Jumpp and the challenges of driving financial inclusion in smaller cities. Explore how AI can reshape India’s FinTech landscape over the next decade.
Sarah Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Pulsate
Without proactive strategies to drive debit card usage, financial institutions are leaving money on the table. Many mobile banking apps offered by community Fis have no mechanism for identifying who should be prompted to use their cards more. The answer is tech that can leverage data-driven insights to deliver personalised, real-time notifications. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Sarah Martin of platform provider Pulsate.
Jerry Mulle, UK Managing Director, Ohpen
It is said the most stressful thing any of us is likely to do is buy a property. Why is this so and what can be done to make the UK mortgage experience faster and less painful? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jerry Mulle, UK Managing Director of Ohpen, about the mortgage process and about how bringing core banking into the cloud makes it easier for financial institutions to innovate, modernise and grow.
AJ Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer, Northdoor
Financial services providers are under increasing pressure to tackle risk in critical digital systems. AJ Thompson, CCO at UK IT consultancy Northdoor speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the impact of DORA, the prospect of itchy feet on the part of VC investors, and what established institutions and FinTechs can do better to prepare themselves for the challenges that 2025 is going to present.
Maxim Neshcheret, Regional Director (APAC), CMA Small Systems AB
APAC is a big region! We review general trends in regional payments and developments in domestic payments as well. In crossborder payments we look at the speed of adoption of the ISO20022 standard and at the prospects for stablecoin and tokenisation. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Maxim Neshcheret of CMA Small Systems.
L-R: Biju Suresh-Babu, Head of Banking & Financial Services, Fiorano; Akhil Rao, Managing Director, Nth Exception
Most financial institutions are working on their ISO 20022 migration plans with some in advanced stages and already adopting the new rules for specific use cases. Others are still assessing their needs, but time is pressing. Structured data is not just a technical requirement but also a regulatory one. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the progress on CBPR+ migration with Biju Suresh-Babu of Fiorano and Akhil Rao of Nth Exception.
Pradeep Varma, Co-Founder & Director, Pennant Technologies
Low code and no code solutions aren’t the same, so which makes sense for your bank or financial institution’s lending strategies and products? Why does democratising application development make business sense? These questions and others about the changing lending landscape are answered in this conversation between Pradeep Varma of Pennant Technologies and Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Suresh Sarangapani, Chief Information Officer at Muthoot Finance
The NBFC sector is embracing cutting-edge technologies and strategic innovations to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Sarangapani on how Muthoot is leveraging technology and innovation to drive growth and navigate the evolving NBFC landscape.
Bhavik Vasa, Founder of GetVantage, discusses the future of India’s digital lending and the transformative role of OCEN (Open Credit Enablement Network) in building a Viksit Bharat. Speaking with Gloria Mathias, he highlights how OCEN, like UPI for payments, will empower MSMEs by reshaping debt as a tool for growth and unlocking capital for long-term success
Ola Oyetayo, Co-Founder & CEO, Verto
Stablecoins are increasingly being used as a crossborder payments solution on the African continent, as a more efficient way of making payment when faced with illiquid local currencies and slow and expensive traditional solutions. This is one of the key trends in FinTech in Africa, according to Ola Oyetayo of Verto. He also tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how artificial intelligence is being used to combat fraud in the African markets
Julio Martinez, Co-Founder & CEO, Abacum
Spanish FinTech Abacum’s financial planning and analysis platform addresses the day-to-day challenges faced by CFOs. The company’s biggest market is the USA, but we begin our discussion with Abacum’s Chief Executive Julio Martinez by reviewing trends in FinTech in Spain. He tells Robin Amlôt that the country’s tech ecosystem is booming.
Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO, BCT Digital
As digital banking and embedded finance reshape the financial ecosystem, risk management has become a cornerstone for resilience and innovation. In a conversation with Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence, Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO of BCT Digital, delves into how open APIs, FinTech partnerships, and evolving regulatory frameworks are reshaping banks’ risk mitigation strategies. Jaya also sheds light on pressing concerns, from credit and fraud risks to the growing emphasis on climate resilience.
Rama Krishna Raju, Co-Founder & CEO, Pennant Technologies
Pennant Technologies offers a composable, API-driven lending platform that unlocks innovation by simplifying loan origination, management, and collections for any type of loan or line of credit. CEO Rama Raju explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence the key reasons behind banks’ need to modernise their lending stack and why a loan management system plays a crucial role in such a transformation.
Anurag Rastogi, Co-Founder & Head of Product & Technology, Hylobiz
The relationships between banks and SMEs are inevitably problematic. Banks don’t have the data they need from businesses in order to make informed decisions, and SMEs don’t have the time they need to provide the information to them! But there is a solution that can help, addressing the challenges small businesses face in accessing finance while offering improved intelligence to banks. Anurag Rastogi of Hylobiz and Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence go beyond banking to discuss innovative finance solutions designed to meet the needs of modern SMEs.
Barb Morgan, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Temenos
Barb Morgan was recently appointed Chief Product & Technology Officer by Temenos. Just six weeks into her post she spoke with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about her priorities in her new position, and about the company’s collaboration with AI hardware/software leader Nvidia in powering on-prem GenAI for real-time banking. Morgan also outlines her take on the unique challenges to the adoption of AI in banking.
Vivek Singh, Co-Founder and Director of Tonetag
ToneTag, with its innovative VoiceSe platform, is redefining accessibility in digital payments by enabling voice-based transactions on feature phones and low-connectivity networks. Vivek discusses with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence how AI drives this transformation in voice commerce and financial inclusion.
Rutul Davé, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Maxwell
Launched in 2015 Maxwell offers US mortgage lenders solutions that address the entire mortgage loan process, from intake of application to the secondary market. The firm’s Mortgage Solutions Suite aims to help non-depository mortgage banks, credit unions, brokers, and local banks connect their communities with homeownership. Rutul Davé of Maxwell explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how artificial intelligence can and is being used in the context of the US mortgages business.
Ravi Yadav, Global Head, Cybersecurity Business Unit, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Banks and financial services firms are turning to next-gen security solutions to better protect themselves and their customers. Ravi Yadav of TCS reviews the biggest cyber threats banks are now facing and tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how cyber fusion centres, merging security and fraud staff, processes and technologies, may provide an answer.
Yashraj Vakil, CEO of CaptainBiz
What role do nano enterprises play in India’s economy? In this episode, Gloria Mathias sits down with Yashraj Vakil, CEO of CaptainBiz, to uncover the unique challenges faced by these often-overlooked businesses. Yashraj explains why nano enterprises deserve separate recognition from MSMEs. Want to learn more about these silent yet powerful drivers of India’s economy? Tune into the podcast.
Amit Nigam, COO of BANKIT
Digital financial literacy is key to driving financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities in India. The conversation explores how FinTechs are revolutionising access to banking services in rural areas and the pivotal role of government policies in fostering innovation and digital awareness. Amit Nigam, COO of BANKIT, shares his expert insights with Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence.
Munindra Verma, CEO of M1NXT
M1NXT simplifies global trade financing by helping exporters and importers access quick liquidity through the conversion of trade receivables into cash. Its platform addresses the challenges of working capital constraints and delays in cross-border transactions. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Verma on how M1 NXT is establishing itself as a trusted trade finance solution provider.
Arun Poojari, Co-founder and CEO of Cashinvoice
Since its incorporation in 2018, Cashinvoice has focused on empowering MSMEs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, including women-led businesses, by providing diverse and accessible financial solutions. Arun shares insights with Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence on how supply chain finance can tackle operational challenges and foster stronger supplier relationships in the MSME sector.
Elena Churilova, Chief Executive Officer, Cino
For the Gen Z or millennial in your life a virtual payment card (there is no piece of plastic) sits on the smartphone as an adjunct to your digital wallet, and the group virtual payment card acts as a bill-splitter. It allows for payments to be made together at the same time, connecting one virtual card to multiple bank accounts. This means, for example, that there is no more argument about who owns what to whom after a restaurant bill is split. Virtual group payment solution Cino is already available across Europe and has plans to launch in the UK. Elena Churilova, CEO of Cino explains the concept to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Angela Hull, VP Global Payments Partnerships, PPRO
It is important for merchants operating across borders to create a true local experience that consumers and business can have confidence in. Data from PPRO shows that US citizens now spend $130 billion a year with merchants based outside the US, up from $106 billion in 2020. Elsewhere, Brazilians spend more than $3 billion a year with foreign merchants, and Indians spend over $20 billion a year on goods and services provided by eCommerce merchants based in other countries. Angela Hull, VP Global Payments Partnerships with PPRO offers Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence insights in how consumers in different regions prefer to pay and what that means for merchants.
Denis Brosnan, Portfolio Manager, CORA Group; Beth McCoy, President, RewardOps
Financial institutions may build customer interaction, share of wallet, transaction frequency and spending, in addition to brand loyalty. Consumers increasingly view ‘rewards’ as a form of currency that they ascribe a value to that is integral to the shopping experience. Such loyalty programmes can influence purchasing decisions and spending habits. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Denis Brosnan, Portfolio Manager at CORA Group (pictured) about building a portfolio of loyalty businesses, and to Beth McCoy, President of RewardOps, which sits at its nexus.
Bilal Bajwa, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Stenn
Lack of access to finance for SMEs is not a new trend but it remains an acute issue that traditional lenders still struggle to solve. For many SMEs the need for capital is immediate, without which firms run the risk of failing to capitalise on business opportunities and, potentially, losing their customers to competition. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Bilal Bajwa, Chief Product & Technology Officer of Stenn about how the technology behind alternative finance providers can make the lending decision-making process a more streamlined journey.
Jayatri Dasgupta, CMO of PayNearby
In this episode, Gloria Mathias chats with Jayatri Dasgupta, CMO of PayNearby and Program Director of the Digital Naari Initiative. Jayatri highlights the challenges women face in accessing financial services in India. She discusses how PayNearby's Digital Naari Initiative is addressing these barriers, focusing on making formal finance accessible to women in Rural India.
Ofer Friedman, Chief Business Development Officer, AU10TIX
Banks, FinTechs and their customers face a barrage of advice on how to spot and avoid fraudulent IDs. Unfortunately, many of the tips on offer simply create a false sense of security! Among the myths being perpetuated include:
- Deepfakes may be spotted via inconsistent reflections and jerky movements
- Security features such as holograms and microprints are proof of an ID document’s authenticity
- Sanctions checks prevent money laundering
As Ofer Friedman, Chief Business Development Officer at AU10TIX, tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, these three statements are not true!
Eric Van der Kleij, Partner, Edenbase, & Yanki Onen, CEO & Founder, wamo
Venture capital firm Edenbase recently made its first FinTech investment, into digital business account provider wamo. Eric Van der Kleij of Edenbase (pictured) explains the thinking behind the fund’s investment decision. We also hear from Yanki Onen, CEO and Founder of wamo, some 2 years on from our first conversation with the company. Here’s the link to Onen talking about an SME ecosystem in 2022. This time Onen talks about how his company has grown over the last 2 years and about his plans for the future.
Satish Grampurohit, CEO & Co-Founder, Cogniquest
Cogniquest is a context-aware AI platform that aims to capture key data points and generate actionable insights from complex documents and information repositories. The solution helps unlock the potential of data through cutting-edge AI solutions, empowering business users with smarter decision-making capabilities. Full disclosure, Cogniquest is a portfolio company of Cedar-IBSi Capital. The company’s Co-Founder and CEO, Satish Grampurohit, discusses the challenges and opportunities in the intelligent document processing space.
Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to capital markets expert Armin Peter (pictured) and Georgina Jarratt of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) about the challenges facing the cross-border debt capital market in getting to grips with digitalisation. Among topics covered in the discussion: sustainable finance, the role of FinTechs, the coming of DLT and AI, and more.
Kurt Vogt Gwerder, Strategy Consultant, Curinos
Global data intelligence business Curinos recently carried out its 2024 Great Britain Shopper Survey, which canvassed the views of 2252 people across England, Scotland and Wales who have switched primary banks in the past 3 years. The UK’s big 7 banking providers remain the go-to for ‘new to banking’ customers, and, overall, 59% of primary current account recent purchasers are being captured by the big 7. Notably, a large majority of shoppers prefer to open their primary current account digitally (83%), with smartphones (52%) being the most preferred channel. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kurt Vogt Gwerder, Strategy Consultant at Curinos about the survey’s findings.
Brendan Thorpe, Customer Success Manager, Auriga
On the fringes of the ATMIA Europe and Emerging Markets conference held for stakeholders from the ATM industry, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence caught up with Brendan Thorpe, Customer Success Manager at Auriga to discuss ATM strategies and the intelligent management of data derived from cash machine networks. There is a lot to be learned from the ATMs themselves about how self-service banking channels are performing.
Ankit Bhatnagar, Group Chief Product & Technology Officer, Vayana Group
The right supply chain finance program can materially assist in managing cashflow and optimise capital deployment, weaving together a network of buyers and sellers with banks and financial institutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the opportunities available, and the challenges involved in establishing a supply chain program with Ankit Bhatnagar, Group Chief Product and Technology Officer at Vayana Group, India’s largest network for trade financing.
Justinas Jarusevicius, Partner, Motieka Law Firm
Financial services need to be regulated but over-stringent regulation may stifle innovation. Lithuanian lawyer Justinas Jarusevicius represented ABC Projektai in a case that went all the way to the European Court of Justice, helping the firm to regain its payment institution licence. It’s a case that, he believes, highlights the need to strike a balance between regulatory freedom and oversight. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Justinas Jarusevicius.
Rami Cassis, Chief Executive Officer, Fintilect
Fintilect is the new identity for digital banking platforms ieDigital in the UK and Connect FSS in the USA, together with AI-powered recommendation engine ABAKA. Combining these 3 firms, Fintilect aims to deliver advanced hyper-personalised digital banking solutions to banks, credit unions and building societies in the UK and USA. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Fintilect CEO Rami Cassis, asking him first for his views on the evolution of FinTech.
Kunal Aggarwal, Founder, CEO, Credflow
Effective cash flow management is essential for the success of India’s MSMEs, providing crucial real-time financial insights and growth opportunities. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Kunal on how CredFlow is transforming financial management for MSMEs, helping them transition from cash-strapped to cash-rich.
Dharmesh Ghedia, Technical Director, Qodea (formerly Appsbroker CTS)
Appsbroker CTS has a new name, Qodea. Dharmesh Ghedia, the firm’s Technical Director, explains the reasoning behind the new identity. He also tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that 71% of financial services organisations are struggling to make use of the data that they have. One answer could be to embrace the concept of a ‘data brain’. More details may be found in the firm’s data maturity report.
Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy Officer, Money20/20
Ahead of Money20/20 in Las Vegas at the end of October, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy Officer at Money/2020, discussing the dynamics shaping the global FinTech investment landscape and the development trends in FinTech. Here’s a clue – AI! Now in its 13th year, Money20/20 runs annual shows in Amsterdam, Bangkok and Las Vegas.
Frans Westdorp, Product Owner Trade Finance, ABN AMRO Bank & Richard White, Head of Trade Finance, Commercial Banking Applications (CBA)
ABN AMRO Bank recently went live with Norwegian software vendor Commercial Banking Applications’ Transaction Due Diligence (TDD) functionality within CBA’s IBAS GBF - Global Banking Factory. The bank is now using TDD across its global trade finance operations to monitor transactions and flag suspicious activity, helping to combat financial crime and ensure full compliance with national and international regulation. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke to Frans Westdorp of ABN Amro (pictured) and Richard White of CBA about the implementation and the efficiencies it has created.
Robert Bueninck, Chief Executive Officer, Unzer
Integrated payment and software solutions that cover every aspect of the retail journey can resolve many headaches faced by merchants across Europe. Solutions on offer include online purchases and in-store mobile point-of-sale systems to final settlement and essential business processes. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Robert Bueninck, Chief Executive Officer of Unzer about the continent’s current FinTech landscape and his own company’s journey.
Martynas Bieliauskas, Chief Executive Officer, Klarpay AG
Open banking in Europe has promised much but has it delivered on expectations? Not yet, according to Martynas Bieliauskas, CEO of Klarpay. A veritable explosion of transaction and asset types together with a fragmented global payments landscape that encompasses a variety of infrastructures and regulator environments has left open banking struggling. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Martynas Bieliauskas about what open banking currently offers and what it should be offering.
Matt Storey, Chief Product Officer, SteelEye
Cross-product manipulation happens when an individual or entity places orders or trades in one financial instrument to unlawfully influence the price of another, either on the same platform or on different ones. This kind of manipulation can be tricky for firms to spot because it often leaves only subtle clues. But regulators in the US and UK are paying more attention to it. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Matt Storey, Chief Product Officer of SteelEye, a provider of integrated financial markets surveillance.
Sivaram Kowta, President, Digital Banking at Zeta
What does the future hold for digital banking and credit in India? Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence speaks with Sivaram Kowta of Zeta, who delves into the transformative potential of the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) introduced by the RBI. Explore how Zeta envisions a UPI-driven credit ecosystem that could fundamentally reshape the banking landscape in India.
Marlon Dumas, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder, Apromore
Apromore recently launched updates to its platform, including a dedicated module designed to streamline compliance management. The company’s Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Marlon Dumas speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how process mining makes it easier for companies to use complex data and AI to accelerate process delivery and gain a better understanding of their business processes.
Mantvydas Štareika, Chief Executive Officer, CapitalBox
It is a cliché but that’s because it is true – there is a massive funding gap between what Europe’s SMEs need and what lenders are prepared to offer. It would also appear that the gap is only getting larger – even though there have been several new lenders entering the lending market in recent years focusing on SME needs. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mantvydas Štareika, CEO of Sweden-based FinTech CapitalBox about making financing easier for underserved businesses across Europe.
Saumya Shah, CEO & Co-founder of Tarrakki
In this episode, Saumya Shah, CEO & Co-founder of Tarrakki, joins Gloria Mathias of IBS Intelligence to discuss the future of embedded finance in India. With embedded finance still in its early stages, how is Tarrakki shaping the future of financial services and revolutionizing the way businesses and consumers engage with investment products?
Matt Ryan, Chief Transformation Officer, Reef
The investor relations landscape is changing – key factors include the ongoing great wealth transfer, the largest in history, and evolving investor expectations. The market is oversaturated with information and that means targeted and relevant personalisation is essential. Many financial services organisations have yet to take a step forward in modernising their face-to-face and digital engagement efforts. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Matt Ryan, Chief Transformation Officer of Reef, a platform for a financial firm’s digital touchpoints.
Dan Dica, Chief Executive Officer, Lynx
AI software provider Lynx recently launched a money mule detection tool for banks and financial institutions. The company uses supervised machine learning to identify illicit sources of funds and mule accounts in real-time and provides actionable insights. The company has also entered a partnership with NTT DATA, offering Lynx’s fraud and financial crime prevention solutions to NTT DATA’s network of banks and financial institutions across the UK and Europe. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dan Dica, CEO of Lynx about the current state of financial crime and how AI can help tackle financial fraudsters.
Rajat Deshpande, co-founder and CEO, FinBox
FinBox offers an Embedded Finance Stack and data intelligence suite to streamline financial services integration and enhance credit disbursement processes. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Rajat Deshpande of FinBox about how digital lending platforms are meeting the unique credit needs of SMEs.
Matt Mills, Chief Revenue Officer, 10x Banking
10x Banking recently unveiled its new ‘meta core’ platform, designed to streamline and accelerate digital transformation for banks. The new next-gen core solution follows on from the firm’s successful Series D funding round at the start of the year. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses digital transformation, the role of FinTech and the challenges facing traditional banks with Matt Mills, Chief Revenue Officer of 10x Banking.
Sandeep Bagaria, Chief Executive Officer, Tagit
There is significant hype around AI/ML and Generative AI in banking. While this technology is significantly changing the technology landscape and offering multiple opportunities for banks, bankers must keep their eye on the ball – the customer and their needs. To this end, Tagit recently launched its Mobeix Family Banking to help banks better serve their customers and the people most important to them. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the importance of family financial planning with Sandeep Bagaria, Chief Executive Officer of Tagit.
Jonathan Vaux, Head of Propositions & Partnerships, Thredd
Digital wallet payments are expected to reach $19.6 trillion by 2027. That’s a huge market and a huge opportunity! Among the drivers are increased smartphone penetration, security benefits and government initiatives promoting digital payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses how firms can capitalise on the potential of digital wallets and the integral role of tokenisation with Jonathan Vaux, Head of Propositions & Partnerships at issuer processor Thredd.
Ankit Verma - Business Development Lead- India, Air8
Tailored trade financing solutions are revolutionising access for SME suppliers in emerging markets, achieving significant milestones and ensuring ESG-compliant capital distribution. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Ankit on how Air8 is enhancing trade financing for SME suppliers.
Giles Inkson, Director of Services EMEA, NetSPI
The European Union’s Digital Operational Resilience Act, which comes into force in January 2025, addresses a key issue in EU financial regulation. DORA means financial institutions must follow rules for protection, detection, containment, recovery and repair capabilities against ICT-related incidents. Previously most institutions managed the main categories of operational risk with the allocation of capital, but did not manage all components of operational resilience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Giles Inkson, Director of Services EMEA for NetSPI.
Peter Cherecwich, President, Northern Trust Asset Servicing
Northern Trust Asset Servicing offers a range of services designed to meet the needs of an institution’s entire investment office. To keep that range of services up to date, the firm is investing in the future: in ideas, in people and in technology. Peter Cherecwich, President of Northern Trust Asset Servicing discusses the challenges of digital transformation with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, and what new ways of working mean for the firm’s employees.
Emily Steele, President & COO, Savana
Omnichannel banking has yet to achieve its full potential due to financial institutions’ inability to effectively integrate disparate systems of record. This issue prevents customers from experiencing a seamless digital journey both online and in the bank branch. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Emily Steele, President and Chief Operating Officer of Savana, which aims to unlock next-generation, customer-centric banking operations through its digital delivery platform.
Huw Davies, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ozone API
The third Payment Services Directive (PSD3) could be unveiled soon. The new legislation in Europe is expected to introduce, among other things, governance relating to consumer consent while also including metrics for improving the performance of open banking APIs. This summer already saw the publication in the UK of Open Banking Standard version 4.0, the first major release since 2018 and including important mandatory updates to the security profile and international messaging standards. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the changing regulatory framework with Huw Davies, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ozone API.
Nitin Rao, CEO, InCred Wealth
The wealth management sector has shifted from focusing solely on traditional offerings to prioritizing ‘alpha generation’—where the ability to deliver extra returns through innovative strategies is critical. With technology driving change and international trends influencing HNI investing in India, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of wealth management. Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nitin Rao, CEO of InCred Wealth.
John Wise, Chairman and CEO, Communify Fincentric (a JBI company)
Data integration, personalisation and artificial intelligence need to be combined in order to deliver a better experience to investors. Communify, a Just Build It (JBI) company backed by Stellex Capital Management, has acquired Fincentric from S&P Global and aims to do just that. The newly-merged entity offers a comprehensive digital platform through a SaaS-based product suite. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to John Wise, Chairman and CEO of Communify Fincentric.
Christopher Yu, President & CFO, KPay
Some 78% of SME merchants surveyed in Southeast Asia are seeking a single integrated payment solution but for more than 70% reality is currently cash-only. This disconnect represents a huge potential market. Closing the gap for underbanked and underserved Southeast Asian is key to unlocking the potential of the region’s digital economy. Reliance on cash transactions is not sustainable. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Christopher Yu, President and CFO of Hong Kong-based KPay, which offers solutions from payment to operations management and financing.
Demetry Zilberg, Chief Technology Officer, Alter Domus
Cloud computing, data analytics, automation and AI may be about to transform all aspects of how private markets managers run their businesses. The operative word is ‘may’ because while FinTech firms are changing the way financial services firms go about their business and hold out the promise of great potential, private capital firms risk obsolescence themselves by not embracing technology in their own activities. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Demetry Zilberg of Alter Domus.
Tarun Nazare, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Neokred
Neokred aims to be at the forefront of digital transformation, offering cutting-edge solutions that simplify and streamline KYC procedures. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain Neokred is building a secure, efficient, and user-friendly KYC process. The company’s platform aims to empower brands to connect with their customers, building trust and loyalty. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tarun Nazare, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Neokred.
Aditi Singh, Chief Strategy Officer, Satin Creditcare Network Ltd.
Providing accessible financial services to underserved communities in India is a formidable challenge. Puja Sharma of IBS intelligence speaks with Aditi Singh of Satin creditcare about the evolution of last mile credit access.
Atish Shelar, COO, TechFini
Mumbai-based FinTech startup, TechFini has built a feature-rich infrastructure to shape the payment ecosystem in India. As one of the first platforms to secure UPI 2.0 certification, it is at the forefront of enabling frictionless transactions for enterprises across the country. Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence speaks with TechFini's COO, Atish Shelar, about how the company is empowering banks and financial services with advanced payment solutions and contributing to the growth of a financially inclusive economy.
Brian Pillmore, Founder & CEO, Visbanking
Visualized information on banks and credit unions in the US such as metrics, performance, and regulations can help consumers and stakeholders to make informed analyses and decisions by providing actionable insights. Just how significant this data is provides the topic for this conversation between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Brian Pillmore, Founder and CEO of Visbanking,.
Greg Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Quint Group
Quint Group has scaled its clutch of FinTech businesses without external venture capital for more than a decade. The acquisition of a minority stake in Quint’s Monevo in 2021 by Transunion was and is Quint’s first and only source of external investment. The Group has offices across the UK, USA, Australia, and South Africa, and its businesses provide services to over 200 customers globally, including the likes of Confused.com, Santander, TransUnion, LexisNexis, and Zopa. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Quint Group CEO Greg Cox about the state of FinTech, the need for social diversity in the sector and the equally pressing need for greater financial inclusion.
Roger Alexander, Advisor, Chargebacks911
Roger Alexander serves as a key advisor to Chargebacks911’s Advisory Board and its CEO, Monica Eaton, assisting the company with its expansion initiatives, including the launch of a dispute resolution solution that aims to address the record spike of authorised push payment (APP) fraud claims. With nearly 40 years of payments experience, Alexander previously served in several leadership roles within the payments and financial services sectors, including more than 20 years in directorial roles at Barclays and as the CEO of Switch (the UK’s debit card). Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Roger Alexander about the key challenges now facing FinTech providers.
Nilay Patel, founder and Managing Director, EasyPay
Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Nilay Patel, about the integration of lenders onto the ONDC network, the rising demand for loans among small retailers, and the future of co-lending. Patel offers his perspective on how these trends are transforming financial services for SMBs.
Mark Aldred, Vice President, Sales International, Auriga – the banking evolution
Banks need to invest to innovate and meet users’ needs. Recent service outages have also shown that banks must act to improve the resilience of their infrastructure in terms of both hardware and software. Further, legacy institutions in the UK appear to be rethinking their branch closure programmes, potentially opting instead to make the branch experience one of the building blocks of an omnichannel service offering. Where next for the banks – the topic of this discussion between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Mark Aldred, Vice President, Sales International at Auriga.
Liran Amrany, Partner, Team8
Fraud is projected to exceed $250 billion by 2031. The FinTech sector faces a crucial challenge in advancing its fraud prevention strategies. Evolving market dynamics offer fertile ground for emerging fraud tech unicorns. Liran Amrany, a Partner at Team8’s FinTech foundry, helps portfolio companies launch new products and businesses. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to him about the challenges posed by fraud in financial services.
Eklove Mohan, Senior Director of Technology, CTO Office, Synechron
AI can certainly help with data collection and processing for ESG but we also need to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the likes of chatbots and back office technology. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses AI and sustainability with Eklove Mohan, Senior Director of Technology at the CTO Office of Synechron.
Sheetal Jain, CEO & Co-founder of LeRemitt
Sheetal Jain, CEO & Co-founder of LeRemitt, discusses with Gloria Mathias of IBS Intelligence how the evolving financial landscape is transforming MSMEs, India’s second-largest employer. Learn how the creation of digital platforms is driving significant benefits for MSMEs in international trade.
Joe Myers, EVP Global Banking, Diebold Nixdorf
The integration of automation solutions is indispensable for banks, large and small alike. The right balance must be struck, allowing financial institutions to leverage technology for seamless customer experiences. What strategies are banks following to optimise their software and hardware offerings to enhance functionality without compromising user experience? US company Diebold Nixdorf specialises in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems such as ATMs. Present in 130 countries, the company is the largest provider of ATMs in the USA. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Joe Myers, EVP Global Banking at Diebold Nixdorf.
Thomas Gillan, Chief Executive Officer, Br-dge
Bringing together multiple payment technology solutions in one place, payment orchestrators like Br-dge work as independent, trusted partners for the broader ecosystem. These firms work behind the scenes to offer acquirers, platforms and gateways access to the latest technology, allowing merchants to get on with their actual business in the knowledge that their payment stack is futureproofed. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Thomas Gillan, CEO of payment orchestration firm Br-dge.
Phil Cotter, Chief Executive Officer, Smartsearch
Earlier this year, the UK’s HM Treasury published its consultation on improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations. New rules will inevitably follow – the clock is ticking on that. While we may welcome improved clarity, it will also mean a higher regulatory burden. Staying compliant with constantly changing regulation is a pressing challenge. Smartsearch specialises in providing digital compliance solutions for regulated businesses in the UK. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to the company’s CEO, Phil Cotter.
Donal McGuinness, CEO, Prommt
A luxury purchase demands a luxury experience from start to end and this should extend to the checkout process. Now what can help you achieve this? The answer is open banking and the ease of digital payments. Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence speaks to Donal McGuinness, CEO at Prommt, on the impact of digital payment transformation on the automotive sector - especially around remote and online high-value transactions.
James O’Sullivan, CEO & Founder, Nuke from Orbit
Theft of a smartphone used to be about the value of the device. Now it is about the value of the data on the device. What is needed is a simple 'kill switch' solution to protect your data and accounts, a FinTech security platform designed to mitigate the impact of security breaches. Founded in 2023, Nuke From Orbit is currently operating in beta but aims to enable a user to block access to multiple services and accounts simultaneously, avoiding account compromise issues and monetary loss when their smartphone gets stolen. James O’Sullivan of Nuke from Orbit speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Gabriel Le Roux, Co-Founder & CEO, Primer
Global enterprise merchants are increasingly recognising the role of payments in creating new commerce experiences, streamlining costs, and accelerating growth. However, the payments ecosystem has become too fragmented, opaque, and complex for businesses to manage, creating unnecessary costs and stifling that growth potential. A fragmented marketplace creates complexity, increasing costs when the whole idea should be to reduce them, allowing merchants to focus on growing their business and not on managing their payments infrastructure. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gabriel Le Roux, Co-Founder and CEO of Primer.
Sameer Dubey, Chief Product Officer, Griffin
Griffin is one of the UK’s neobanks. In the last year it has received its full banking licence, raised funds and begun onboarding customers. Sameer Dubey, Chief Product Officer of Griffin speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the bank’s product set and its ambitions for its embedded finance and white labelled banking solutions. He has over 20 years’ experience in product, payments, marketing, cryptocurrency, and banking. He was Chief Operating Officer at Bitstamp, led UK operations for N26, and spent more than a decade at Barclays leading its payments business. The conversation begins with a review of current trends in UK banking.
Avion Gray, Co-Founder & CEO, Belong
Former investment banker Avion Gray together with behavioural economist Samantha Rosenberg have launched wealth-building platform Belong in response to inertia in the wealth management sector and among millennials – the FinTech’s target demographic. The new WealthTech platform secured the largest-ever pre-seed round by a female-led FinTech in Europe. A unique feature of the new offering is a ‘boost loan’ that offers investors the option of a low-cost loan that would double their starting investment. Avion Gray, Co-Founder and CEO of Belong speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer, Fintel Connect
FinTechs in Canada are making waves in a financial services scene that has been traditionally dominated by just 5 big banks. How? As a result of a new approach to partnerships and affiliate marketing. For example, Neo Financial grew customer acquisition by 511% and boosted its credibility through the implementation of performance marketing strategies. Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, an affiliate and influencer marketing solution for financial services, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Shay Merary, Chief Development Officer, Flyfish
A new category of FinTech? Maybe… Flyfish aims to develop a comprehensive marketplace for financial services, hoping to mirror the impact of the likes of Airbnb but doing so in the financial sector. The company wants to be a disruptor and is on a mission to explain to potential clients and partners why that disruption makes sense, integrating diverse financial services into one platform and making it easier for businesses to manage their financial operations. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Shay Merary, Chief Development Officer at Cyprus-based Flyfish.
Ermes Dajko, Senior Cloud Solutions Architect at Temenos
Ermes Dajko, an expert in the field of generative artificial intelligence and its impact on banking. Puja Sharma of IBS intelligence speaks with Ermes about his insights on the potential of generative AI to enhance customer experiences and the future of AI-driven banking.
Akshay Mehrotra, Co-Founder & CEO at Fibe
Fibe's Co-Founder and CEO, Akshay Mehrotra, launched “EarlySalary” in 2015 to address the financial needs of young professionals facing end-of-month fund shortages.Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Akshay about the evolving patterns of borrowing among millennials, highlighting the significant impact of unsecured personal loans.
Ben Goldin Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Plumery
How have established financial institutions and challenger banks adapted to changing customer expectations and composable banking? Digital banking solutions can be built quickly but fast doesn’t necessarily mean attractive to customers. We are now entering the third generation of digital banking, moving from basic banking functionality to more sophisticated digital experiences and on to hyper-personalised, AI-driven, and contextually aware banking services. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to FinTech veteran Ben Goldin, Founder and CEO of digital banking platform Plumery.
Connor Heaton, Director AI, Strategic Resource Management
Artificial intelligence is one of the most compelling tools that banks can implement but it is just that – a tool, addressing questions that begin with ‘how’ – it also comes with inherent risks that could leave financial institutions and their customers vulnerable. However, AI is in your organisation now – whether you are aware of it or not – and this is the time to begin setting policy development strategically to ensure compliance, reduce risk and increase efficiency. A long-term AI strategy will assist in the successful implementation of next-gen automation and tools. Connor Heaton, Director AI at Strategic Resource Management, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Mathias Faure, Chief Technology Officer of audax
Tune in for an enlightening discussion to uncover how audax is revolutionizing traditional banking infrastructure. Gloria Mathias of IBS Intelligence speaks with Chief Technology Officer, Mathias Faure on the adaptation of Open Banking by traditional banks and financial institutions in an era of growing digital maturity.
Ritesh Varma, VP Business Solutions Consulting, Newgen Software
Insurance as a sector has been a latecomer to the tech party. Banks have been embracing FinTech solutions but only recently have insurers come to realise the potential benefits of InsurTech to improve the quality of their products and policies. The reason why should be obvious to all, it is simply a matter of customer-centricity – improve the end customer experience and you improve customer retention and customer acquisition. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks insurance ecosystems with Ritesh Varma, Vice President Business Solutions Consulting for Newgen Software.
John Santhosh, Chief Executive Officer, GIEOM Business Solutions
Founded in 2012, GIEOM is an enterprise productivity company, enabling financial institutions to adopt an operational resilience framework. The company recently revealed that investing platform, Singapore-based Xcelerate had taken a strategic equity stake in GIEOM through a combination of primary and secondary investment. Globally, the digitalisation of BFSI compliance is rising rapidly, driven by increasing regulatory oversight and the need to assure key business stakeholders of operational resilience. Against that background, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to John Santhosh, Chief Executive Officer of GIEOM Business Solutions.
Andrew Martin, Chairman & CEO, SMEB
SMEB Is a new community banking service that aims to revolutionise banking in rural locations in UK, Europe, USA and beyond. The SME FinTech is an authorised payment institution, a principal member with Visa and Mastercard, and is licenced for open banking services. As a first step, SMEB [‘smeeb’] aims to address the void in banking services in the UK’s rural locations, looking to create a payment microenvironment in rural communities, leveraging open finance to offer all payment options, including cash! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Andrew Martin, Chairman and CEO of SMEB.
Scott Metro, Chief Information Security Officer, Hazeltree
If a deepfake scam succeeds, it is clear that a breakdown in the organisation has occurred – as UK multinational design and engineering company Arup discovered to its multi-million-dollar cost in Hong Kong. The advent of generative AI has brought new risks. What needs to be done to protect against increasingly realistic deepfakes? AI and machine learning have their place but not all the solutions are high-tech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Hazeltree CISO, Scott Metro.
Oli Cook, Co-Founder & CEO, ekko
Investment trends say that the UK has been paying more attention to greener businesses. The narrative is evolving from viewing sustainability as a niche to recognizing it as a "fundamental necessity" in financial services. Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence speaks to Oli Cook, CEO & Co-Founder of ekko on the intersection of FinTech and climate action.
Rajesh Mirjankar, Managing Director, CEO & Co-Founder, Kiya.ai
From digital currencies to digital wallets, and financial inclusion to fractional ownership… just some of the glimpses we already have of the shape of the future of finance. Then we must take account of the impact of artificial intelligence on the way we do business, and the way financial institutions interact with their customers. The breakneck pace of innovation shows no sign of letting up, but do we really know where it is leading us? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kiya.ai’s Managing Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Rajesh Mirjankar.
Rajesh Mirjankar, Managing Director, CEO & Co-Founder, Kiya.ai
The biggest challenge facing regulatory technology (RegTech) and the tech firms that provide it to the financial services sector is at once highly complex and yet may framed very simply. In the latter instance, it is simply a matter of keeping up with fast-evolving regulations and doing so across borders. The question is this – is RegTech fit for purpose in the face of the AI revolution? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kiya.ai’s Managing Director and CEO, Rajesh Mirjankar
Ritesh Varma, VP Business Solutions Consulting, Newgen Software
Using a low code platform to develop business applications on the cloud allows for improved responsiveness to customer needs, from onboarding to service requests, lending to underwriting, and use cases across industries. Newgen Software offers a unified digital transformation platform with native process automation, content services, and communication management. The process begins with a ‘design thinking’ approach. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ritesh Varma, Vice President Business Solutions Consulting for Newgen Software.
Sireesh Patnaik, Product Engineering Head, Pennant Technologies
The key factors in evolving the lending ecosystem of the future are the proper management of data and the increasing impact of artificial intelligence-based solutions. Getting data right means solid ground for accurate risk management and credit decisioning. Getting AI right means significant cost savings and faster decisions – good for the institution and good for the customer. Robin Aml IBS Intelligence discusses the current trends in lending with Sireesh Patnaik, Product Engineering Head of Pennant Technologies.
Deepak Chand Thakur, Co-founder, and CEO of NPST
Completing a decade in the Payments ecosystem, NPST aims to be closer to banks and scale-up its value chain to FinTechs and merchants and cater to the end users. Gloria Mathias of IBS Intelligence speaks to Deepak Chand Thakur of NPST as he shares insights on the future trends of UPI in India and globally.
Paul Mountford, Chief Executive Officer, Protegrity
Integration and accessibility, quality and compliance, and strategic governance – all issues around the security and management of your enterprise’s data. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Paul Mountford, CEO of data protection specialist Protegrity about how businesses are harnessing their data and reviews the key trends in data modernisation, optimisation and monetisation.
Ram Iyer, Founder & CEO, Vayana
Affordable financing is not just a necessity but a catalyst for growth for businesses. Ram Iyer, Founder & CEO of Vayana shares with Gloria Methri of IBS Intelligence, how easy access to low-cost finance enables MSMEs to manage their working capital and grow business, thereby positively impacting India's GDP.
Vishal Gupta, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Hylobiz
Profits along won’t keep you in business! What you need to stay on top of, is your cashflow. Vishal Gupta, Founder and CEO of Hylobiz discusses the cashflow challenge with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, and explains how the firm’s solution allows you to accept instant payments and pay to your vendors, automate account receivables, payables, reconciliations, and more…
Peter O’Halloran, Head of Enterprise and Digital Commerce EMEA, Fiserv
Access to financial services remains challenging for billions of people around the world, leaving them unable to access savings, credit, loans and insurance – in other words all the financial products that can help developing economic activity. But as Peter O’Halloran, Head of Enterprise and Digital Commerce EMEA at Fiserv tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, accelerating adoption of digital solutions is enabling increasing financial inclusion.
Danielle Sesko, Director of Product Management, TruStage
A projected $46 billion US digital lending platform value by 2032 reflects the prospects for lending growth but it is growth that harbours risk. One way to reduce the risks of delinquency and default while still growing a loan portfolio is by making digital lending insurance (DLI) part of the lender’s business strategy. How does DLI do this? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses this and other trends in digital lending with Danielle Sesko, Director of Product Management at US insurance group TruStage Financial Group.
Nabeel Moosa, VP, Strategy & Value Creation, Group eCommerce, Nexi Group
The payments space is crowded and competitive, so the question is: can Europe create a viable retail payments solution that operates across national borders? The European Payments Initiative and the wero brand are a step forward in the creation of a standard platform for payments and digital currencies in Europe. Will a new European wallet succeed? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nabeel Moosa of European PayTech Nexi Group.
Cees Vermaas, Chief Executive Officer, TISE Group
TISE provides financial markets and securities services to public and private companies, its shareholder register platform is a way for SMEs to manage their shareholder base while shareholders have liquidity (in the original meaning of the word – the ability to buy or sell private company shares) without it being onerous, cumbersome, and time-consuming. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Cees Vermaas, CEO of Guernsey-based The International Stock Exchange, which operates TISE Private Markets, offering tailored electronic trading, settlement and registry solutions.
Roman Mazeries, Chief Executive Officer, Mangopay
Payments business Mangopay was launched in 2013. Two years later it was acquired by French bank Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and in 2022 was purchased by private equity firm Advent International. The takeover of Nethone followed, adding cybercrime protection to Mangopay's suite of services, and this was itself followed by the purchase of Irish payments startup WhenThen. Mangopay offers modular payments infrastructure for eCommerce platforms and online marketplaces. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Roman Mazeries, Chief Executive Officer of Mangopay about trends in payments for 2024 and 2025.
Nick Kerigan, MD, Head of Innovation, Swift
For the last six months, Swift has been working with 38 global institutions on the second phase of sandbox testing on its central bank digital currency (CBDC) interlinking solution. Results from the sandbox include successfully demonstrating the use of CBDCs and other digital tokens across simulated digital trade, tokenised asset and FX networks, and payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nick Kerigan, MD and Head of Innovation at Swift.
Dianne O’Boyle, Co-Chair, Digital Assets Forum, ISITC
ISITC is a US-based trade group focused on developing standards and best practices in financial services operations, brings together asset servicers, broker/dealers, asset managers/owners, solution providers and other industry professionals. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical solution for securities firms preparing their systems for the imminent T+1 trading deadline. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the coming transformation of the US capital markets with Dianne O’Boyle, Co-Chair of the Digital Assets Forum of ISITC.
Nelson Wootton, CEO & Co-Founder, SaaScada
SaaScada, together with Allica Bank, won 2 Global FinTech Innovation Awards for the bank’s digital wallet deployment. It is great example of the way a project can and, indeed, should evolve in reaction to customer response and in the paths it opened up for Allica. Nelson Wootton, CEO and Co-Founder of SaaScada, explains the story to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, and outlines the trends he sees in BankTech for the rest of the year.
Jim Kwiatkowski, Chief Executive Officer, LTX
LTX, the bond trading platform from Broadridge, recently announced 4 new patents covering innovations in the fixed income trading life cycle. So, what are these patented tech solutions and how do they address issues on both the buyside and the sellside in the US bond market – probably the least digitised of the US financial markets. LTX CEO Jim Kwiatkowski speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Jon Horddal, Group Chief Product Officer, emerchantpay
What role does payments data have in personalisation and merchant protection? What benefits do Payment Service Providers (PSPs) confer on merchants who use them? How can businesses optimise their in-store, in-app and online payments? These issues and others are addressed in this conversation between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Jon Horddal, Group Chief Product Officer at emerchantpay.
Priya Konsam, Head of Partnerships at Kiwi
Kiwi is India-based Credit on the UPI platform. It offers “credit cards with UPI” facility by issuing virtual RuPay Credit Cards in collaboration with banks. Their mobile app, as a TPAP license holder, ensures secure payments via credit cards or bank accounts." Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to Priya Konsam, Head of Partnerships at Kiwi
Therese Stowell, Vice President Product, Onfido
There has been a massive increase in deepfakes and in digital identity fraud attacks. Less sophisticated social engineering is also a concern. So, how do you create trust at onboarding and beyond? Automation allows you to acquire new customers and reduce costs while meeting global KYC and AML compliance requirements. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Therese Stowell, Vice President Product at Onfido.
Ava Kelly, Chief Product Officer, Thredd
Key developments in the FinTech sector have been focusing on payments but within that is the increasing need to combat fraud and ensure speedy, accurate and secure identity verification, allowing firms to combat fraud across both enrolment and transactions while also protecting the bottom line. Digital ID is key in the face of tightening regulatory requirements – these issues and more in this discussion. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ava Kelly, Chief Product Officer at digital payments issuer processor Thredd.
Rich Cooper, Head of Financial Services Go to Market, Fusion Risk Management
The countdown to DORA is ticking away. Unlike existing regulations, the coming Digital Operational Resilience Act establishes technical standards that extend to third party tech service providers to identify, assess and mitigate risks that could affect financial services firms’ core business. Final details of the new DORA regime are expected in H2 but the compliance deadline looms – 17 January 2025 – if it is not already marked in your diary… it should be! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rich Cooper of Fusion Risk Management.
Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director, Diligent Institute
There has been a politicised backlash against ESG but companies are not putting ESG initiatives on the backburner. Instead, they are just not talking about it as much! And that’s not necessarily a bad thing as legislation is being put in place, including the likes of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and an anti-greenwashing rule that applies to all UK FCA-authorised firms who make sustainability-related claims about their products and services. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director of Diligent Institute
Arun Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Intellect Design Arena
Technology has brought five waves of transformation in the banking industry, with each wave highlighting new opportunities. Now a fifth wave is upon us – what is BankTech Wave 5 and what does it mean for banks? Arun Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Intellect Design Arena speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence on why it is imperative that banks embrace the challenge. We also review the importance of first principles and the evolution of Intellect’s eMACH.ai, which has developed into a country-ready solution, based on the specific requirements of specific markets.
Solomon Lax, Chief Executive Officer, Revenued
It’s always been a challenge for small businesses to manage their finances but there’s a way to do it with help from lenders that are leveraging machine learning and underwriting to provide flexible terms and fast response times. Short-term commercial credit eases cash flow and keeps small business in business. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Solomon Lax, CEO of Revenued.
Chris Skinner, Author, Intelligent Money
Digital money will make money personal; individualise currency and its usage; secure it; enable it to automatically grow to meet our personal goals; manage risk automatically; and make life simpler and easier for all – that’s the thesis of Chris Skinner’s latest book, Intelligent Money. Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Payments Association in 2023, he has been an advisor to the United Nations, the White House, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, as well as governments and firms across the world. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Chris Skinner about Intelligent Money.
Pavan Bachwal, Sales Manager Financial Services, Ericsson
Artificial intelligence is having a growing impact on financial services in general, on open banking and in new service opportunities, including AI-driven customer service agents and advanced fraud management systems. At MWC Barcelona earlier this year Ericsson demonstrated its own solutions for frictionless payments and device financing. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pavan Bachwal, Sales Manager Financial Services at Ericsson.
Prashant Muddu, MD and CEO Jocata
Jocata, a subsidiary of BillDesk, is a digital transformation partner for the BFSI industry, specializing in digital lending and offering AI/ML-powered Credit Intelligence Suites for MSME and Retail borrowers. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to Prashant Muddu, MD, and CEO of Jocata.
Phoebe Kitchen, VP of Growth Equity, Inovia
What are the hot opportunities in FinTech in Europe? Changes to the role of the CFO are providing one set of growth prospects while B2B open banking solutions offers another. Canada-based Inovia is a VC firm looking to support founders to build global sustainable tech companies. From the firm’s London office, Phoebe Kitchen, Vice President of Growth Equity at Inovia, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the opportunities she identifies.
Robert Kraal, Co-Founder & CBDO, Silverflow
Silverflow is a Netherlands-based cloud platform for card processing, offering a modern tech solution that addresses the issues of legacy systems within payment processing. Robert Kraal, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer of Silverflow, explains how the company’s platform helps brands remain competitive. But first, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence asked him about the current environment for FinTech and how to succeed as a startup.
Gerald Perez, CEO, Interactive Brokers (UK)
Investment opportunities are now global but no further away than your online platform. As but one example, Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds and more on 150 global markets from a single unified platform. Gerald Perez, CEO of Interactive Brokers (UK) speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the rise of self-directed investing and trading, as well as the trends in online broking.
Yash Patel, General Partner, Testra Ventures
The last 18 months have been a tough time especially for late stage FinTechs looking to raise money. There was a clutch of disappointing downrounds but while money was tighter, startups looking for seed funding or Series A/Series B funds were able to tell their stories. Now as we look already towards Q2 2024, interest rates remain on the high side, but funds do seem easier to come by for the right business plans. Yash Patel, General Partner of San Francisco-based VC firm Telstra Ventures speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Virender Bisht, Co-founder & CTO at Niyo
In the rapidly evolving realm of FinTech, maintaining robust fraud prevention measures is paramount. Puja Sharma from IBS Intelligence engages in a conversation with Virender Bisht, Co-founder & CTO at Niyo, to delve deeper into this critical aspect.
Ola Oyetayo, Co-Founder & CEO, Verto
Underserved, fragmented and expensive – the high cost of doing business in high-risk markets was thrown into sharp relief a year ago as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) saw nearly 250 FinTechs in Africa and the MENA region left in the lurch. Payments’ platform Verto focuses on emerging markets and is aiming for more accurate risk assessment methods than old school arbitrary risk lists. Co-Founder and CEO of Verto, Ola Oyetayo speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Pav Gill, Founder & CEO, Confide
Wirecard went down in 2020 with a $2.1 billion hole in its accounts. One of Europe’s biggest corporate frauds and one that is still rumbling on. Wirecard COO Jan Marsalek remains on the run, allegedly in Russia or Belarus. Would it all have come light without Pav Gill? He is a Singaporean lawyer who was in-house Head of Legal for Asia-Pacific for Wirecard. He it was who blew the whistle on the shenanigans at Wirecard. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to Pav Gill, Founder and CEO of Confide, about his career, what comes next and what companies should be doing to address their governance requirements.
Richard Graham, Director of KYC and Financial Crime, Moody’s Analytics
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), some $2.6 billion was taken in ‘pig butchering’ crypto scams. These financial grooming schemes build trust with targets over months before persuading victims to ‘invest’ savings in fake platforms. How can we spot this and how can we stop it? Richard Graham, Director of KYC and Financial Crime at Moody’s Analytics speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Richard Holden, Author, Money in the 21st Century: Cheap, Mobile and Digital
Richard Holden is Professor of Economics at UNSW Business School (Sydney) and author of Money in the 21st Century – a new book that delves into the micro and macroeconomic impacts of the way money and finances are changing and will continue to evolve in the decades to come. What does it mean for your wallet, the money in your wallet and for blockchain and for economies. How will the race for control of new currencies play out, how it will change how banks and governments operate? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to author Richard Holden.
Virraj Jatania, Co-Founder & CEO, Pockit
FinTech Pockit operates under an e-money licence in the UK. That means there are certain things Pockit can’t do because it doesn’t have a full banking licence. However, with the goal of boosting financial inclusion, the mobile-first service targets those excluded from or underserved by mainstream financial institutions. It highlights the challenges certain demographics face in accessing financial services and payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pockit CEO Virraj Jatania.
David Foss, Board Chair & CEO, Jack Henry & Associates
Competition is fierce, technology is converging, and the user experience is changing. Banks and financial institutions are expected to do more and be more. David Foss, Board Chair and CEO of Jack Henry & Associates speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the key tech trends shaping financial services in the US in 2024, starting with the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed Personal Financial Data Rights Rule.
Joe Lemonnier, Product Marketing Manager, Resistant AI
Document automation is playing a key role in speeding up and reducing costs within financial services. However, in all the excitement institutions may unwittingly be putting themselves and their clients at risk. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses how the financial services sector needs to do better at determining whether documentation is legitimate with Joe Lemonnier, Product Marketing Manager at Resistant AI. Emerging economies cross-border payment platform Verto recently signed a deal with Resistant AI to use the latter’s Document Forensics to enhance its document verification process, reduce application review times and enable further expansion.
Ofer Friedman, Chief Business Development Officer, AU10TIX
Deepfakes are becoming more common. From AI-generated fake ID to facial swap tools that can manipulate selfie/ID comparisons, the software is only going to get more sophisticated. For companies dealing with the threat posed by these fakes, investing in combatting them is going to be the cost of doing business. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ofer Friedman, Chief Business Development Officer of AI-based ID verification specialist AU10TIX.
V. Balasubramanian, CEO, Financial Software and Systems (FSS)
India-based Financial Software and Systems (FSS) is a globally leading provider of payments technology and a transaction processor. The company offers an integrated portfolio of software products, hosted payment services, and software solutions built on over three decades of global experience. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to V. Balasubramanian, Chief executive officer of Financial software systems.
Daniel Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, PayU GPO
From the macroeconomic trends set to hold sway over FinTech to the outlook for funding, IPOs, and mergers and acquisitions, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses them all with Daniel Cohen, CEO of PayTech platform PayU GPO. The firm’s platform allows merchants to accept payments and enables a wide range of payment optimisation and security features via a single API. So, we also cover the outlook for cross border payments.
Brian Kaas, President & Managing Director, TruStage Ventures
TruStage Ventures is the venture capital arm of TruStage, a credit union partner providing financial products and services to 95% of US credit unions. The business is long-established, but the name is relatively new. TruStage Ventures invests in FinTechs with a specific view to funding innovators whose ideas can be leveraged by the credit union sector. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Brian Kaas, President and Managing Director of TruStage Ventures.
Matt Phillips, Head of UK+I Banking, Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf is working to provide banks with self-service banking solutions that put customers at the centre of the bank’s activities, focusing on banking products, software and services that engage consumers across channels, create personalised banking experiences, and accelerate ATM performance. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Matt Phillips, Head of UK+I Banking at Diebold Nixdorf.
Arman Aygen, Director of Technology, EMVco
EMVCo facilitates testing and evaluation for compliance with EMV specifications – the technical requirements that are used to develop payment card products. In 2023 the company launched an EV Open Payments Task Force, aiming to work with industry stakeholders to explore how EMV payment technology could help support a secure and seamless EV charging payment experience around the world. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses this payments use case with Arman Aygen, Director of Technology with EMVco.
Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Intellect Global Consumer Banking (iGCB), Intellect Design Arena
Hungary-based OTP Bank, one of the leading banks in central and eastern Europe, has signed up with Intellect Global Consumer Banking to modernise its core banking system, heading for a cloud-native public cloud installation. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rajesh Saxena, Chief Executive Officer of Intellect Global Consumer Banking, Intellect Design Arena.
Paul Davis, Director of Market Intelligence, Strategic Resource Management
It is going to be a challenging year with legislative and regulatory pressures, a mixed economic outlook and interest rate uncertainties – and all that before US banks and credit unions begin to consider their tech requirements and the need to invest in their tech stacks! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the year ahead with Paul Davis, Director of Market Intelligence at Strategic Resource Management.
Pat Bermingham, CEO, Adflex
The B2B payments market has been widely estimated to reach $2.5 trillion by 2030. But getting there is likely to be a bumpy ride. Smooth user experiences still seem to be taking second place to what can be lengthy, complex processes. Standard terms of payments vary by industry sector with many companies defaulting to legacy invoicing – this can be detrimental and is likely to be unsustainable. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence explores the current state of B2B payments with Pat Bermingham, CEO of B2B payment specialist Adflex.
Philipp Pointner, Chief of Digital Identity, Jumio
Promoting online safety will become increasingly important in 2024 for the financial services sector. Widespread adoption of generative AI in 2023 has served to highlight the need to focus on end-to-end identity verification with improved risk assessment and compliance solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Philipp Pointner, Chief of Digital Identity at ID verification platform provider Jumio.
Atala Nijmeh, Principal Product Manager, Eastnets
What is cyber-enabled fraud and what tools are bad actors using to commit it? Atala Nijmeh, Principal Product Manager at Eastnets speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about current trends in fraud attacks and what both businesses and individuals need to do to protect themselves. More than 270 corporate and financial institutions rely on Eastnets for outsourced SWIFT connectivity and compliance software solutions.
Graham Smith, Managing Director, Volopa
FinTech solutions are not just for the financial services industry. Businesses in all sectors, especially those involved in international activities can benefit from the adoption of new technologies and platforms now available in areas like FX, payments, expense management, and business reporting. Volopa brings together three solutions into one offering: global payments from the UK and EEA to 180 countries worldwide, multicurrency smart prepaid company cards, and simplified employee expense management. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Graham Smith, Managing Director of Volopa.
Andrew Boyajian, Head of Variable Recurring Payments, Tink
The UK payments landscape is changing; you might even say it is getting more complex with a multiplicity of payment options now on the table for consumers. Latest to the table is ‘pay by bank’ and coming soon to a bank near you, VRPs in 2 flavours, sweeping and commercial. All of which is fascinating, not to say, exciting for the industry but do banking customers understand what’s coming? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Andrew Boyajian, Head of VRP at European open banking platform and Visa subsidiary Tink.
Ashok Hariharan, co-founder, and CEO
The DPDP Act of 2023 in India is a law that focuses on handling digital personal data. It aims to balance the right of individuals to keep their personal data safe with the necessity of processing that data for legal reasons. Puja Sharma speaks with Ashok Hariharan of IDfy about the growing importance of DPDP act in the country.
Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO, WSO2
WSO2 provides foundational technologies for application development and identity and access management… and that’s in addition to its original focus on integrating APIs, applications, and web services. Crucially, the company does this with open-source code and does it for more than 200 financial services organisations. Included in the company’s current product range are a full life cycle API management platform and an Identity-as-a-Service solution, among others. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to the CEO of WSO2, Sanjiva Weerawarana.
Mousami Kshirsagar, Vice President & Head Solution Consulting, Global Transaction Banking – EMEA & APAC, iGTB; Nikhil Gokhale, Head of Research, IBS Intelligence
Hanoi-based VietComBank chose Intellect Design Arena’s iGTB – Intellect Global Transaction Banking’s digital solution to create its Cashup range of digital banking products targeting large and small corporates. In discussion, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mousami Kshirsagar (pictured), Vice President & Head Solution Consulting, Global Transaction Banking – EMEA & APAC, iGTB, about the project, together with Nikhil Gokhale, Head of Research, IBS Intelligence.
Giles Rowlinson, Senior Payments Manager, Flywire
Many consumers across Europe just don’t understand the value of open banking, preferring to use local payment methods. Has open banking actually failed to take off in Europe, or is it just slow to take off? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Giles Rowlinson, Senior Payments Manager at payments platform Flywire.
Emma Steeley, Chief Executive Officer, Aro
Aro claims to be the UK’s largest digital lending platform. Previously known as Freedom Finance, it rebranded as Aro in September 2023, with the company saying at the time that the rebrand signifies ‘a departure from the outdated credit scoring systems of pre-approvals and unattainable offers’. While lending in the UK, as with other developed markets, works and works well for most consumers, there is still a significant part of the population not being served to their best advantage. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues and potential solutions with Emma Steeley, Chief Executive Officer of Aro.
Nicky Senyard, Founder & CEO, Fintel Connect
Fintel Connect is a performance marketing company based in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to serving financial services providers and FinTechs. The aim is to help banks and FinTechs leverage affiliate marketing to grow their acquisition of new customers in a scalable, cost-efficient way. But to do that, the message being promoted has to be right and has to be compliant with the appropriate regulations. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks content compliance with Nicky Senyard, Chief Executive Officer of Fintel Connect.
Stuart MacKinnon, Chief Operating Officer, NCR Atleos
As the traditional banking industry continues to evolve, the efficiency needs of financial institutions and the continuing preference among many bank customers for cash access and self-directed banking is driving growth for NCR Atleos. The ‘new’ company sees a bright future for both its hardware and software BankTech solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stuart MacKinnon, Chief Operating Officer of NCR Atleos.
Funmi Dele-Giwa, General Counsel and Head, GRC, Onafriq
MFS Africa has a new identity: Onafriq. The inspiration behind the new name stems from "Ona", the Yoruba word for pathways and the French word for Africa, Afrique - plus a nod to IQ, signalling a commitment to being the smartest game in African FinTech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Funmi Dele-Giwa, General Counsel and Head, GRC, Onafriq.
Raj Bakhru, CEO & Co-Founder, BlueFlame AI
Blueflame AI offers a generative AI platform purpose-built for alternative investment managers. The aim is to allow clients to be able to search structured, unstructured, and external data sources with a single natural language prompt, including CRMs, research and deal management tools, data rooms and more. Raj Bakhru, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueFlame discusses use cases with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Vineet Sukumar, Founder and MD, Vivriti Capital
Viviti Capital, is a FinTech NBFC with a mission of providing debt financing to hundreds of mid-market businesses nationwide. Puja Sharma speaks with Vineet Sukumar about Vivriti’s deep focus on investment in technology, underwriting and distribution.
Jonathan Bell, President and Head of Client Relationships, RedCompass Labs
India achieved its financial inclusion goals in 6 years – 41 years early. The country’s UPI scheme allows instant payments across bank, card, mobile and ATM rails. In Brazil, 50 million people have used the country’s Pix payment system this year. So is this a new golden age of instant payments? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jonathan Bell, President and Head of Client Relationships at RedCompass Labs, specialists in secure end-to-end digital payments.
Matt Smith, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, SteelEye
Global regulators are continuing to fine investment banks and investment managers for failing to monitor employee business communications. Offering a potential solution, Steeleye’s new Compliance CoPilot uses the capabilities of advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) to accelerate the communication Surveillance Alert Review process. The bottom line is compliance is getting more complex and an AI-enabled assistant could offer significant cost-savings while boosting analyst efficiency and the scalability of the compliance function. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Matt Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SteelEye.
Domenico Scaffidi, Vice President, Global Payments Industry Lead, Yethi Consulting
Payments are being disrupted by the globalisation of payment standards, FinTechs, and a rising expectation of superior user experience. Financial institutions are hard at work to curate new business models in this increasingly dynamic operating environment. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Domenico Scaffidi, Vice President and Global Payments Industry Lead, Yethi Consulting about what’s changed and what’s changing in the world of payments.
Charles Damen, Chief Product Officer, Token.io
Token.io reaches 567 million bank accounts in 20 countries through a single API and interface. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Charles Damen, Chief Product Officer of Token.io about variable recurring payments. Notably, a survey by the company suggests that a majority of merchants in the UK would like to migrate customers from card payments to VRPs.
Simon Axon, EMEA Industry Consulting Director, Teradata
The cloud can help transform back-end systems, process transactions and banking operations. At the same time banks can leverage cloud-based architecture for stronger data-mining capabilities and a seamless customer journey, using AI and machine learning. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Simon Axon, EMEA Industry Consulting Director of cloud database and analytics solutions provider Teradata.
Santosh Radhakrishnan, Chief Commercial Officer, XYB
End-to-end 'coreless' banking platform provider XYB by Monese is collaborating with Google Cloud to bring generative AI into its platform. The partnership aims to empower banks, non-banks and FinTechs to build cutting-edge products and propositions faster and more easily. Key use cases include assisted investigation of blocked payments/paused onboarding, and natural language risk rules, allowing users to comprehend existing risk policies and create new ones using natural language. Santosh Radhakrishnan, Chief Commercial Officer of XYB speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Dominic Broom, SVP Working Capital Technology, Arqit TradeSecure
Legislation which came into effect in September in the UK could well mark a giant leap towards a cheaper, faster, and more sustainable global trading system. Electronic trade documents offer security and ease of compliance by making it easier to trace records through blockchain and distributed-ledger technology. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dominic Broom, SVP Working Capital Technology for Arqit TradeSecure.
Raffael Maio, Chief Strategy Officer, NetGuardians
NetGuardians is fraud prevention partner to several banking software providers, including Avaloq, Finacle, Finastra and Mambu. Banks using NetGuardians have achieve significant reductions in both false positives and the time spent investigating fraud. Raffael Maio, Chief Strategy Officer of NetGuardians talks with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about fraud trends and what more needs to be done.
Merusha Naidu, Global Head Partnerships, Paymentology
Ahead of the Singapore FinTech Festival (15-17 November 2023), which lays claim to being the largest FinTech festival in the world, Merusha Naidu, Global Head of Partnerships for Paymentology talks about the APAC FinTech experience and what to look for in local partners as well as what local firms are looking for in international partnerships.
Shachindra Nath, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of U GRO Capital
With an exclusive focus on serving underbanked and underserved small businesses in India, U Gro Capital envisions being the country's premier FinTech platform for small businesses. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks with Shachindra Nath about the firm’s use of cutting-edge technology to simplify and enhance credit access.
Rajesh Mirjankar, Managing Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Kiya.ai
Lending is an expensive business for banks, particularly for institutions that have a large number of smaller loans – Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kiya.ai’s Managing Director and CEO, Rajesh Mirjankar about the opportunity present for banks and for businesses, and the potential impact of broadening financial inclusion. Can the use of tech solutions make lending viable for banks and if it can, what are the wider implications for business and for the economy at large?
Mike Kiser, Director of Strategy & Standards, SailPoint Technologies
Deepfake videos featuring consumer finance expert Martin Lewis and BBC journalist Fiona Bruce have already been used in the UK for investment scams and were quickly spotted and taken down. However, this is likely only the tip of a very large deepfake iceberg heading our way! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks to Mike Kiser, Director of Strategy & Standards at enterprise identity security specialist Sailpoint Technologies.
Marianne Oliver, Operations Director, InvestEngine
It’s been estimated that if women invested at the same rate as men, there would be a further $3.2 trillion in assets under management from private individuals. To put that figure in perspective, it is larger than the GDP of the UK. So, there is indeed a gender investment gap in the UK, and it is being targeted by a new venture between Female Invest, a financial education and community platform that aims to empower women investors, and InvestEngine, an ETF investment management platform.
Philip Straley, President, FNA
Intra-day liquidity and adequate management control appear to be the required mantra for the banking industry in the wake of the banking failures in the US and the ‘rescue’ of Credit Suisse in Switzerland in the first quarter of 2023. What lessons are there for bankers and for regulators? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Philip Straley, President of network analytics firm FNA about the new pressures on banks and bankers.
Raja Debnath, Managing Director, Veefin Solutions
India’s 12 public sector banks established the PSB Alliance in 2022. Now Veefin Solutions has been chosen to establish an all-in-one supply chain finance tech stack across all SCF products in a project that addresses the issues SMEs and MSMEs face in raising such finance. Raja Debnath, Managing Director of Veefin Solutions speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ron Atzmon, Active Chairman, AU10TIX
How do you merge and consolidate siloed data resources while bringing together financial institutions whose systems and culture may be significantly different? A clutch of bank rescues earlier this year in the US and Europe brought this issue to the fore. Ron Atzmon, Active Chairman of identity intelligence firm AU10TIX speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Stephen Marshall, Director of Advisory Services, FinScan
What you need is a secure AML solution… and one that stays current because the landscape is changing and the regulatory regime is only getting more complex with the onus firmly on financial institutions to be responsible for defending against money laundering. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stephen Marshall, Director of Advisory Services at FinScan
Tim Carmody, Chief Technology Officer, IPC Systems
IPC has focused on providing connectivity, security and flexible trading solutions to the world’s financial markets since 1973. The firm has more than 7,000 customers around the globe. IPC Systems is an acknowledged leader in SaaS communications platforms and ultra-low latency electronic trading connectivity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Tim Carmody, Chief Technology Officer at IPC Systems about the last 50 years and the next 50!
Guy Mettrick, Industry Vice President of Financial Services, Appian
Nobody would argue that banks have an incentive, a competitive motivation, to protect their data. However, would a private AI solution do the job? If so, how could it be implemented by banks while ensuring the data involved remains secure and confidential? Guy Mettrick, Industry Vice President of Financial Services for Appian explains the options to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
John Hensel, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Officer, MENA, Securrency
The UAE is ramping up its efforts to become a global blockchain hub. We investigate the experience of financial markets tech solutions provider Securrency, active in Abu Dhabi since 2017. John Hensel of Securrency tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence why the company chose to the jurisdiction and how its business of blockchain-based financial and regulatory technology has evolved.
Vikas Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer, Integral Development Corp.
For many wealth management firms, the customer base is changing and that is forcing a change in business models. With the sector at last embracing technology, the focus is on the cloud and software-as-a-service solutions. Wealth managers and their clients face challenging times thanks to market volatility and inflation, but these aren’t the only risks to the business – it is past time that all wealth managers need to have a technology strategy in place. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Vikas Srivastava of SaaS provider Integral Development.
Vlad Lounegov, Chief Executive Officer, Mbanq
The era of easy money in FinTech investing is long gone. It is now time to be clear about your path to profitability and grasp the reality required to make your FinTech work for its living. Vlad Lounegov, CEO of Banking-as-a-Service provider Mbanq ought to know – his FinTech was in profit just three years after launching. Its solutions now power banks, credit unions and embedded finance around the world. Vlad Lounegov speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Peter Larsson, Director, Practice Lead for Europe & Nordics, Volante Technologies
Volante Technologies’ cloud-native and API-ready payment solution VolPay topped IBSi’s Sales League Table 2023 in the Wholesale Payments Systems category. The solution unifies end-to-end processing of domestic and international payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Peter Larsson, Director, Practice Lead for Europe & Nordics, Volante Technologies about developments in payments and the process and progress of digital transformation.
Daniela Barbosa, Executive Director of Hyperledger Foundation, General Manager of Blockchain & Identity, Linux Foundation
Hyperledger Foundation is the open source, global ecosystem for enterprise-grade blockchain technologies, paving the way for the adoption of secure and scalable blockchain and digital trust solutions. In financial services this includes the development of digital currencies that would allow peer-to-peer transactions and cross-border payments, reducing both costs and transaction times. Members of the Foundation include governments and enterprises around the world such as JP Morgan, IBM, the Bank of England, the Digital Euro Association, and the European Blockchain Association. Daniela Barbosa, Executive Director of Hyperledger Foundation speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Martina King, Chief Executive Officer, Featurespace
Featurespace is a leading provider of Enterprise Financial Crime prevention software, risk scoring events and preventing fraud and financial crime in some 180 countries. The company’s cybersecurity solutions protect more than 30 major global financial institutions, including HSBC, Worldpay, NatWest Group, Danske Bank, BBVA and Barclays. Featurespace CEO Martina King, named by PaymentsSource as one of its Most Influential Women in Payments and previously among the “Top 40 Powerful Women in Tech” by Silicon Republic, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about fincrime and how to protect against fraud.
Rajesh Mirjankar, Managing Director, CEO and Co-Founder, Kiya.ai
Kiya.ai unveiled Bharatmeta at VivaTech in Paris in June. What makes Bharatmeta different to other metaverses is its focus not on gaming and virtual goods but commerce and finance. It is an approach designed to allow real world businesses to extend their reach online. Bharatmeta also caters to users of laptops and mobiles as well as those with headsets and in kiosks. It is designed thus too appeal to both India’s urban and rural populations. In this in-depth interview, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kiya.ai’s Managing Director and CEO, Rajesh Mirjankar.
Rachael Greaves, Co-Founder & CEO, Castlepoint Systems
Issues surrounding so-called black box AI are already well known. While it is accepted that artificial intelligence is now part of the way we do business, long-term implementation and broader acceptance will only come if AI is transparent, explainable and, when necessary, contestable. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rachael Greaves, Co-Founder and CEO of data management consultancy Castlepoint Systems.
Amit Darda, Co-Founder & Director, Modefin
In the IBS Intelligence Sales League Table (SLT) 2023, Modefin led the way in digital banking in Africa. The company focuses on new frontiers in FinTech, bringing new-age banking to urban and rural landscapes alike through AI-driven solutions, customer-oriented applications, and cyber security-embedded products. Amit Darda, Co-Founder and Director of Modefin speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how banks should be making the most of their data resources.
Ralph Dangelmaier, Chief Executive Officer, BlueSnap
Some 31% of companies that sell internationally use 4 or more solutions to meet their global payment needs. They may face issues including low authorization rates, checkout abandonment, compliance challenges, technical debt and so on. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ralph Dangelmaier, CEO of BlueSnap.
Ngetha Waithaka, General Partner, Norrsken22
Norrsken 22 is an independent and for-profit growth fund targeting tech developments on the African continent. Building new financial ecosystems in Africa has thrown the limitations of the financial infrastructure into sharp relief but there are solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Norrsken22’s General Partner Ngetha Waithaka.
Myles Bertrand, Chief Executive Officer, Tuum
The aim of the game is to have banks replace their legacy systems quickly and safely, reduce maintenance spending and create exciting new digital opportunities. Welcome to the world of next generation core banking! Tuum offers a smart migration approach, the ability to operate multiple business lines from a single system, and allows for business transformation. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Myles Bertrand, Chief Executive Officer of Tuum.
Kristian Gjerding, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Strategic Execution, CellPoint Digital
Payment orchestration integrates and manages the end-to-end payment process but the market is evolving in two directions: fully bundled solutions versus payment orchestration solutions. What factors would be at play to make a merchant choose one or the other? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kristian Gjerding, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Strategic Execution of CellPoint Digital.
Gopal Sharma, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Clari5
Increasing adoption of digital payments solutions by banks and financial institutions has, inevitably led to rising levels of attempted fraudulent behaviour. We review the precautions necessary – both on the part of the banks and by customers as the threat surface expands. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gopal Sharma, Chief Product and Technology Officer at financial crime management solutions provider Clari5.
Jason Thompson, CEO, Partior
Harnessing the blockchain and smart contracts technology, Partior has created an open platform that enables banks around the world to provide real-time cross-border multi-currency payments, trade finance, foreign exchange and DVP securities settlements. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Partior’s Chief Executive Officer Jason Thompson.
Nick Drewett, Chief Commercial Officer, Engine by Starling
Starling Bank leads the digital pack among the UK’s challenger banks. Now it is marketing its homegrown tech solution, giving banks, building societies, FinTechs and corporates the ability to build banking products on the SaaS platform. The bank has more than 3.6 million customers and is now taking the Engine technology global, aiming to power the banks of the future. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nick Drewett, Chief Commercial Officer, Engine by Starling.
Gulanor Atobek, Chief Executive Officer, Alif Bank
Alif, an Islamic FinTech and neobank based in Central Asia, recorded over 121% year-on-year growth in 2022. Owned by UK-based investment vehicle Jefferson Capital Holdings, Alif operates a fully licensed bank in Tajikistan. Gulanor Atobek was appointed CEO of the bank in November 2022. She speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and about the bank’s plans for financial inclusion, Islamic banking, and digitalisation.
Bheem Adavikolanu, Chief Transformation Officer & Baiju Panicker, Global CTO & Practice Head – Banking, Insurance & Financial Services, Altimetrik
In today’s ‘tech-celerated’ world keeping pace with changing trends and technologies is essential. Banks and FinTechs need modular solutions that are flexible, scalable and that offer continuity. But the first step in digital transformation is to understand what needs to transform and why. At Money 20/20, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Bheem Adavikolanu, Chief Transformation Officer (pictured) and Baiju Panicker, Global CTO & Practice Head – Banking, Insurance & Financial Services, of Altimetrik.
Brian Hanrahan, CEO, Nuapay
Nuapay is a pioneer of open banking. It’s payments platform offers customers across Europe a comprehensive, integrated solution that covers account-2-account based payment needs and supports credit transfers and direct debit transactions in both euros and sterling including real time mechanisms SEPA Instant and Faster Payments. Brian Hanrahan, CEO, Nuapay speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the future…
Alex Mifsud, CEO & Founder, Weavr
Weavr’s Embedded Finance Cloud offers banks and e-money institutions the means to create financial products that are embeddable by design, with risk and compliance intrinsic components. This allows financial institutions to unlock significant new revenue streams from embedded finance faster and in a safe manner. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Alex Mifsud of Weavr about the new tech stack and his views on FinTech Mergers and acquisitions.
Silvia Mensdorff-Pouilly, SVP Head of EMEA Corporates & International Banking, FIS
FIS has signed a definitive agreement to sell a majority stake in its Worldpay Merchant Solutions business. Their marriage back in 2019 was never a comfortable fit. But what happens now for FIS? Silvia Mensdorff-Pouilly, SVP Head of EMEA Corporates & International Banking at FIS talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at FinTech Week London about the firm’s move to the cloud, establishing itself as a platform business and the key strategy drivers behind its next steps.
Stella Clarke, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Fenergo
Announced at Money 20/20, Fenergo has launched KYC & Transaction Compliance, a new offering for FinTechs that combines its KYC and transaction monitoring solutions and enables continuous monitoring of customer profiles in a single, integrated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution. Stella Clarke, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Fenergo, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the change in the company’s strategy that’s behind the new product.
Nika Naghavi, Group Head of Growth, MFS Africa
Mobile money is popular in Africa – the number of mobile money accounts rose to 1.6 billion in 2022. but the missing piece of the puzzle used to be the lack of interoperability – payments could be made within national borders but not on a crossborder basis. MFS Africa is the continent’s largest digital payments network. The firm is working to make payments borderless for individuals, SMEs and larger enterprises. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke to Nika Naghavi, Group Head of Growth, MFS Africa, at Money 20/20.
Bram Vreugdenhil, Co-Founder and Managing Director of PaymentGenes; Neill Butcher, Founder & Growth Consultant, Chief Commercial Officer at The Conexus Group
PaymentGenes and The Conexus Group are merging their recruitment businesses. PaymentGenes Recruitment and Headcount will combine under the PaymentGenes Recruitment brand. Fintech may be all about technology, but it is still a people business, dependant on the successful recruitment and retention of the right talent. It is time to shift from downsizing to ‘right-sizing’. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke to Bram Vreugdenhil of PaymentGenes (pictured), and Neill Butcher of The Conexus Group at Money 20/20.
Jurgen Vandenbroucke, Managing Director, everyoneINVESTED
Digitisation is not a goal in itself, but a means to reach potential investors. Digitising the sales process won’t magically bring more customers into a bank’s investment solutions – investment is an emotional process, and you need to engage properly with consumers in order to help turn their savings into investments. In other words, acknowledge their fear of losing money, address it properly and boost customer loyalty.
Tasha Chouhan, UK & Ireland Banking Director, Tink
The answer may surprise you! Tink, now owned by Visa, claims to be Europe’s most robust open banking platform but the fact is, the key story in open banking is about the services on offer and the customer experience, not about the brand offering. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tasha Chouhan, UK & Ireland Banking Director of Tink at Money 20/20.
Kirsteen Harrison, Environmental Adviser, Zumo
Zumo believes the digital asset sector has an opportunity to lead in the transition to renewable electricity. FinTechs, banks and payment providers looking to engage with the digital asset space now have an opportunity to do so that still fits in with their net zero commitments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Zumo’s Environmental Adviser Kirsteen Harrison at Money 20/20.
Merve Ferrero, Chief Strategy Officer, Zopa
Zopa has come a long way in the 17 years it has been in business. It has a very clear aspiration to be Britain’s best bank, and it also has a hungry look in its eye, having already digested Buy Now Pay Later firm DivideBuy in February. Merve Ferrero, Zopa’s Chief Strategy Officer oversees some of Zopa’s most important products and services such as deposits and partnerships, as well as overall strategy and operational resilience. She speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at Money 20/20.
Charles McManus, Group CEO and Executive Director, Clear.Bank
ClearBank is one of only 5% of new banks around the world that have reached profitability – in 2020 it nearly tripled income to £58 million. The bank was founded with the aim of making payments faster, safer, more reliable and accessible to all. ClearBank offers its client institutions secure accounts, clear payments in real time and allows them to enhance their banking propositions to their customers. ClearBank Group CEO Charles McManus speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Monika Liikamaa & Denise Johansson, Co-Founders & Co-CEOs, Enfuce
Meeting the rush by non-financial companies and public sector bodies to find FinTechs who can deliver the seamless multichannel payment services their end users are demanding, card issuing and card processing company Enfuce is making a name for itself. The company has already signed multiple high-profile and strategic partnerships in the last year alone. Monika Liikamaa (pictured) and Denise Johansson of Enfuce speak to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at Money 2020.
Yanki Onen, Chief Executive Officer, wamo
wamo, founded in 2021, claims to be committed to putting the human touch back into SME banking. CEO and founder Yanki Onen established the business as a reaction to his own frustration at the hurdles SMEs have to jump over to get banking services and credit. He speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at Money 2020 about giving customers what they want.
Miroslava Betinova, Head of FinTech, Griffin
Griffin is the UK’s first full-stack API-first, BaaS platform, offering Banking as a Service, compliance procedures to allow companies to meet regulatory obligations, and direct banking solutions for FinTechs – including access to operational accounts, overdrafts, and structured lending products. Miroslava Betinova, Head of FinTech at Griffin, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at Money 2020.
Anil Sane, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Terrapay
TerraPay closed a $100m Series B funding round in April and secured a strategic investment from Visa in May. The firm is expanding, notably in LatAm and MENA, and is promoting the adoption of alternate payment methods for mobile wallets. Anil Sane, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Terrapay speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at Money 2020.
Erki Kilu, Chief Executive Officer, LHV Bank
Heard at Money 2020… LHV Bank is now able to take deposits in the UK as a result of receiving its banking licence from the UK regulators. That is allowing the bank to develop its SME lending business alongside existing banking services. Erki Kilu, Chief Executive Officer of LHV Bank in the UK speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence at the Money 2020 conference and exhibition.
Raf de Kimpe, Chief Executive Officer, FinTech Week London
Events season continues in the FinTech world with the annual FinTech Week London… Raf de Kimpe, Chief Executive of FinTech Week London spoke to IBS Intelligence on day 1, turning the spotlight onto what’s hot and in focus in FinTech for the London event…
Pallavi Thakur, Director for CBDC & Interoperability, Swift
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are gaining momentum. But as central banks around the world explore the use of this digital money, what does it mean for payments, especially cross border payments? Enabling interoperability alongside emerging innovations is a key focus for Swift, and a key challenge for banks and financial services providers with many central banks focusing primarily on domestic use. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pallavi Thakur, Director for CBDC and Interoperability at Swift
Norman Wooding, Founder, and CEO, SCRYPT
SCRYPT is a Swiss-licensed provider of crypto trading facilities to institutions. The firm claims to be supporting the transition to a new global financial system. It offers a complete suite of services to institutions, including execution, custody, staking, market making, and investment. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to SCRYPT CEO Norman Wooding about what the ‘new economic order’ could look like.
Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial
The cost-of-living crisis crosses borders; last year more than double the number of Americans said they were short of money before payday – 51% against 24% in 2018. In 2022, 79% of Americans said they would be more interested in applying for a job that offers payments to them the same day they work – 30% more than in 2018. Earned wage access could be the solution to the problem. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tal Clark of Instant Financial about his belief that fee-free access to pay is a right, not a privilege.
Cheryl Chiodi, Industry Strategist for Financial Services, Akamai
Gaining, or perhaps regaining and retaining customer trust should be a key concern for any financial services institution. Ensuring security is another cornerstone with cyberattacks costing 50% more for banks and financial services institutions (BFSIs) than all other industries combined, according to data from industry consortium the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) and Akamai, which offers a suite of cloud computing, security, and content delivery services. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Cheryl Chiodi, Industry Strategist for Financial Services at Akamai
Matt Rowsell, Chief Product Officer, Merchant Solutions, Nexi Group
It is estimated that some 34.5 million merchants globally will deploy SoftPOS by 2027… a jump of 28.5 million in 5 years. SoftPOS may be seen as the natural evolution of the POS terminal with payment data suggesting that contactless payments now account for 80% of in-store payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence debates the advantages and limitations, business cases and barriers to SoftPOS with Matt Rowsell, Chief Product Officer, Merchant Solutions, at Nexi Group.
Paul Mountford, Chief Executive Officer, Protegrity
May 2023 marked the 5th anniversary of GDPR. Now is the time to take the next step forward in managing data with a global data security framework with common standards. Such a framework would allow secure borderless data flow. But is this a realistic aim? According to UNCTAD 71% of countries have data protection regulations in place and a further 9% have legislation in development. One solution to this multiplicity of regulatory environment could come with greater adoption of pseudoanonymised data. Paul Mountford, CEO of Protegrity explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how this could work.
Steve Round, Founder, SaaScada
In addition to his position as founder of cloud native core banking provider SaaScada, Steve Round is, among other roles, the recently-appointed Chairman of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a global network of independent banks with more than $200 billion in combined assets, using finance to deliver green and inclusive banking to all. Steve Round speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about what banks can and should be doing to meet their ESG requirements and help build equitable and sustainable economies for all our futures.
Mike Whitmire, Co-Founder & CEO, Floqast
Tech unicorn Floqast is a provider of accounting workflow automation, freeing the (mostly) men in green eyeshades from their spreadsheets! But seriously, accountancy is the US faces a crossroads with increasing automation and the likely future adoption of AI-backed solutions. Automation should be freeing up talent to tackle the more interesting and value-added tasks but there’s actually a talent shortage that needs addressing. It seems there is no accounting for taste or maybe no taste for accounting. Reflecting on this and on Floqast’s recent 10th anniversary, Mike Whitmire, Co-Founder and CEO of Floqast speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Martin Bradbury, Regional Director, Financial Services UK&I, Dynatrace
In a word, trust – consumer trust in digital financial services has been damaged by high-profile incidents. Could banks and financial services providers have handled matters better? How real is the generational divide in understanding of digital platforms? Will the UK ever go truly cashless and what do financial institutions need to do to get consumers onside? Martin Bradbury, Regional Director, Financial Services UK&I at Dynatrace, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Edoardo ‘Edo’ Volta, Chief Revenue Officer, Divido
Building the right retail finance programme can assist banks in creating new revenue streams while supporting merchant partners and satisfying consumer demand. Helping to provide a checkout finance solution that enhances the customer experience is good for the bank, good for the merchant and good for the consumer. With the cost-of-living crisis on the minds of many in the UK, Edo Volta, Chief Revenue Officer at Divido, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the power and benefits of embedded finance solutions.
Kalliopi Chioti, Chief Marketing & ESG Officer, Temenos
Temenos tops the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indices in the Software and Services industry category – just one proof the company walks the talk on ESG, another is the attitude on display from Kalliopi Chioti, Chief Marketing & ESG Officer for Temenos. Her passion comes across clearly as she speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence on day 2 of TCF2023 in Vienna.
Hani Hagras, Chief Science Officer, Temenos
Identifying the dangers and challenges inherent in the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, Hani Hagras, Chief Science Officer at Temenos believes the answer lies in explainability and the adoption of explainable ai. He speaks with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence on day 2 of the Temenos Community Forum in Vienna.
Maurya Murphy, Senior Product Director, Temenos
Adoption of technology solutions in corporate banking has lagged retail banking. Why? What needs to be done to speed this process and what advantages would ensue for banks taking the plunge. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence caught up with Maurya Murphy, Senior Product Director of Temenos at TCF2023 in Vienna to find out…
Philip Flood, Global Business Development Director - Regulatory & STP Services, Gresham Technologies
In March 2023 the migration to SWIFT’s new ISO20022 (MX) messaging standard for cross-border payments and reporting began, with a coexistence period with predecessor MT messages until November 2025. A number of domestic payments systems have also moved to ISO20022, including real-time gross settlement systems in Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Phil Flood of Gresham Technologies about how banks are coping with this brave new world… and what they still need to be doing.
Ben Snowman, VP Partnerships & Advisory, Mambu; Sahil Thapa, Chief Technology Officer, Recognise Bank
Challenger banks and specialist banks in the UK took a 55% share of the SME lending market in 2022, up from 51% in 2021 and the second year in a row that they exceeded lending from the UK’s 5 biggest banks. In total, the smaller banks lent £35.5 billion ($44.4 billion) to SMEs last year. Among the challengers, Recognise Bank offers bespoke business lending to SMEs, using a solution provided by SaaS platform Mambu. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the challenges of SME lending in the UK with Ben Snowman (pictured), VP Partnerships & Advisory at Mambu and Sahil Thapa, Chief Technology Officer of Recognise Bank.
Vikas Garg, co-founder, and CEO, Paytail
Today's merchants are empowered by the availability of quick and hassle-free loans in the digital world, which not only allows them to develop their businesses but also eliminates the need to rely on tedious bank loan approval processes. By lending to individuals to purchase products, Paytail is helping small merchants sell more. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to Vikas Garg of Paytail.
Aman Bezhad, Founder & Managing Partner, Royal Park Partners
According to FinTech investment advisory firm Royal Park Partners, the total capital deployed in private FinTech fundraising in Q1 2023 increased to $14 billion, with most investments made at the late-stage level. So, who’s still being funded and who’s facing a ticking clock? What are the factors affecting FinTech dealmaking now and what precautions are VC investors taking? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Aman Bezhad, Founder and Managing Partner of Royal Park Partners about the outlook for FinTechs and for venture capital.
Guy Warren, CEO, ITRS
The financial services sector is witnessing a ‘great wealth transfer’ as funds and assets move down the generations to millennials and Gen Z, bringing heightened expectations. The two groups have higher expectations for customer service and are tech-savvy. Banks and financial institutions need to have ‘bullet-proof’ operating systems in place, according to Guy Warren, CEO of performance monitoring solutions provider ITRS. He tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that the role of technology in meeting these generations’ expectations when it comes to wealth management will be key.
Matteo Manzi, Lead Quant Researcher, CrunchDAO
According to one recent survey, 9 out of 10 hedge fund traders are likely to use AI this year in order to improve trading returns. But AI is not a panacea. Without viable data AI-based trading strategies ‘are bound to fail’ claims quantitative finance research team CrunchDAO. Matteo Manzi, Lead Quant Researcher at CrunchDAO speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence. For Manzi, the wisdom of the crowd remains on top.
Nick Root, Chief Executive Officer, Intergiro
Intergiro offers access to multi-currency accounts, card issuing and card acquiring solutions on one tech stack and across Europe. With a cloud-based solution that includes embedded finance, embedded payments, and BaaS, Intergiro has also embraced the digital world further by operating through a combination of hubs and remote-working (even before the pandemic forced that on us for a couple of years!). Nick Root, Intergiro’s CEO speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about his philosophy around business structure and the business opportunity he sees.
Lena Hackelöer, Founder & CEO, Brite Payments
PSD3 is an upcoming framework regulating electronic payments and the banking ecosystem within the European single market area (EEA). A challenge for European FinTechs? Well, they still have to be around to worry about it! The first hurdle is funding in a radically changed financial environment – there are likely to be casualties. Then there is the not-so small matter of the impact of AI and the paramount position of customer experience. Lena Hackelöer, Founder and CEO of Swedish FinTech Brite Payments offers her perspective on the challenges facing FinTechs.
Carol Hamilton, CCO, Provenir AI
Financial fraud and risk vectors are constantly evolving. Accessing real-time data and applying it to the latest defensive measures in a fully automated fashion makes AI fit for the fight. Current solutions can automate this process, but deployment is not without its problems. What’s needed is a new approach to improve the speed and accuracy of fraud decisions without producing large volumes of false positives. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Carol Hamilton, CCO of Provenir AI.
Lisa Novier, Head of Governance, Risk & Compliance, Envestnet
US banks are working on open banking but we’re still waiting to hear from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the government agency responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector. The CFPB has put out proposals to finalise open banking rulemaking in the US but an actual framework has yet to be settled upon. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Lisa Novier, Head of Governance, Risk & Compliance, Envestnet Data & Analytics, about the state of the regulatory environment in the US for open banking.
Jeroen Plag, Head of Group Strategy & Innovation, ING
How should banks position themselves not only to leverage the benefits of digitalisation but also to protect against previous unlooked-for increases in risk and resiliency issues. The challenge is to improve customer experience, revenue generation and efficiency while maintaining confidence in the bank’s cybersecurity profile and 24/7 availability of its services. Robin Amlt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jeroen Plag, Head of Group Strategy & Innovation at ING about the future of banking and the future of money.
Anant Patel, President, International Markets, ConnexPay
Innovations in the C2B payments space are starting to be embraced in B2B payments. With the global B2B payments market estimated to double this decade, reaching well over $2 trillion by 2030, there is a significant market opportunity for those who can remove friction and improve the efficiency of business payments, with companies able to settle in real time. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Anant Patel, President, International Markets at ConnexPay, which offers the ability to accept incoming payments, get immediate access to funds, and pay suppliers in real time on a single platform.
Abhishant Pant, Founder, The Fintech Meetup
The FinTech Yatra is a roadshow traversing the length and breadth of India to catalyse the country's FinTech ecosystem by identifying, incubating, and investing in early-stage FinTech startups. It enables connection between innovation providers (startups) and innovation seekers (the financial institutions). Fintech Yatra 2023 has so far interacted with over 250 FinTech startups across Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and, presently, the Yatra is ongoing in Delhi. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to Abhishant Pant of The FinTech Meetup.
Terrie Smith, Co-Founder and Global Ambassador, Digiseq
Developments in wearable technology have the potential to change the way millions of us interact with businesses and banks around the world. Almost any form factor, such as a ring, key fob, or even an item of clothing, may have a chip inserted and be turned into a contactless payment or digital ID token. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Terrie Smith, Co-Founder and Global Ambassador for Digiseq at PAY360.
Ritesh Varma, Thought Leader, Business Automation, Newgen Software
There is little point in automating processes in just one part of the institution. Yet this is what many banks and financial services groups have done… and it just does not make sense because it won’t improve your efficiency and your bottom line, and it won’t improve the customer experience. What is needed is automation at scale on an enterprise-wide basis, as Ritesh Varma, Thought Leader, Business Automation at Newgen Software tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Jim Rosenthal, Co-Founder & CEO, BlueVoyant
How do you quantify the biggest cybersecurity threats facing your business, and how should you be responding to ensure business resiliency in the face of geopolitical risk and the dangers of a potential recession? Who should be taking the lead in your business to tackle this issue, how involved should senior management and the board be, and how far down your supply chain should your cyber defence go? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jim Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of cybersecurity platform provider BlueVoyant.
Stephen Wright, Head of Regulation & Standards, Bank of APIs, NatWest
Open banking now has 7 million customers in the UK who, for the most part don’t know they are using open banking capabilities. But most of what they are doing does not earn the banks any money! So the question becomes what can bankers do to monetise open banking, and build on what has been developed into a sustainable business for the future? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stephen Wright, Head of Regulation & Standards, Bank of APIs, NatWest.
Tony Craddock, Director General, The Payments Association
With more than 1,800 attendees and an 80% increase in the number of exhibitors, PAY360 2023 was The Payments Association’s largest event yet. The event shapes payment strategy and policy, bringing together policy makers, innovators, and users. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tony Craddock, Director General of The Payments Association about the key themes in evidence at the event.
Omar Jordan, Founder & CEO, Coviance
The US home equity lending process has barely changed in the last 50 years. Aiming to disrupt this, Coviance, established in 2015, operates a cloud-based platform that speeds up and simplifies the lending process with, among other developments, an automated valuation model that delivers results in a matter of seconds rather than relying on a system of appraisals that can take weeks. Coviance now has more than 425 credit unions and community banks using its platform. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Omar Jordan, Founder and CEO of Coviance.
Muraleedhar Pai, Executive Director, Maveric Systems
Banks are undergoing digital transformation as a result of digitisation. It has become the sine qua non of almost every action, from basic corporate procedures to client engagement and trading. Although corporate banking has begun to digitise, it is still in its infancy. Due to the unfettered flow of data among banks, their clients, and third parties, more significant changes will take place as it matures. This ‘ecosystem’ will stimulate new operating paradigms and cause extraordinary disruptions.
Slaven Bilac, CEO, Agent IQ
Banks face a variety of pain points but one that is common to all is hiring. With millennials and GenZs becoming the majority of the workforce, preferences professed by these demographics are becoming a more prominent factor in the challenges posed by the issue of employee satisfaction. Banks seeking to develop digital solutions need to consider the impact technology is having on employee satisfaction just as much as they should watch for customer satisfaction. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Slaven Bilac, Chief Executive Officer of digital engagement platform Agent IQ.
Michael Amar, Co-Founder & Chairman, Paris Blockchain Week
Paris Blockchain Week is dedicated to professionals in the blockchain and Web3 space. The 4th edition takes place as a live event 20-24 March 2023, at the Carrousel du Louvre. This year the event already has 400+ speakers booked and 300+ sponsors. So what may we expect from Paris Blockchain week? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Michael Amar, Chairman of Paris Blockchain Weel about enterprise blockchain, open finance and more.
Mandi McReynolds, Global Head of ESG, Workiva
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in making investment decisions are key to supporting the transition to a greener and more sustainable future. What was once financially immaterial to business and finance is becoming material today and into the future – this process, in a term introduced a couple of years ago at the World Economic Forum, is dynamic materiality. What does this mean for businesses, their shareholders, and stakeholders? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mandi McReynolds, Global Head of ESG at Workiva, provider of a SaaS platform for corporate reporting, ESG, audit, and risk.
Daniel Harman, Co-Founder, Dark Square Capital
As but one example of how alternative assets can outperform, over the 15 years to 2021, UK forestry generated an annualised return of 18.9%, while the FTSE 100 averaged 9.2% over the same period. Portfolio diversification will be a key trend in investment in the future. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the FinTech trends driving a focus on alternative investments and what those markets will look like with Daniel Harman, Co-Founder of Dark Square Capital
Kealan Lennon, Founder & CEO, CleverCards
Through a customisable and configurable Digital Mastercard, used by public and private sector organisations of all sizes, the CleverCards payments platform enables instant payments without the need for a bank account. Businesses may make payments for all their business requirements – from paying out employee benefits to paying consultants, and from paying out customer incentives and refunds to paying for daily business expenses. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kealan Lennon, Founder and CEO of CleverCards. The conversation begins with his thoughts on the discussions about digital transformation at this year’s World Economic Forum.
Mushegh Tovmasyan, Chairman & Founder, Zenus Bank
Zenus Bank is claiming a mission to democratise finance by offering people in developing nations a secure alternative to holding funds in local currencies. Unlike the vast majority of banks in the international banking system, Zenus is a full reserve bank, meaning deposits are retained and not loaned out. The bank claims to have some 50,000 customers and says it will pass the 250,000-mark in customer numbers by mid-2023. So, what is the significance of an international banking licence and how does the bank operate? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mushegh Tovmasyan, Chairman and Founder of Zenus Bank.
Paul Brown, COO, TechPassport
The bank/FinTech landscape is changing but establishing a working relationship can be a slow process of investigation and due diligence, potentially negating the advantages of speed and agility that FinTechs can offer. But with a list of enterprise ready questions (ERQs), TechPassport is aiming to simplify and speed up the engagement process. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Paul Brown, Chief Operating Officer of TechPassport.
Rick Woodham, Head of Product Management & Business Solutions, Tagit
Yet again it appears that banks are in danger of overlooking the opportunities presented in the SME segment. Attention is now focusing on the corporate banking sector after some years of digital development in retail banking, but are SMEs and even micro SMEs being served as they should be? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rick Woodham, Head of Product Management & Business Solutions for digital banking solutions provider Tagit.
Paul Thomalla, Head of Industry & Regulatory Affairs, Finastra; and Craig Wellman, Managing Director Financial Services, Microsoft
The number of banking payments in the UK processed via the current Faster Payments regime grew from 2020 to 2021 by 3.6 billion and this is a figure that is only going to grow. The replacement scheme, the New Payments Architecture should be in place in 2024. What do banks and other institutions need to know and need to be doing now? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Paul Thomalla (pictured), Head of Industry & Regulatory Affairs, Finastra, and Craig Wellman, Managing Director Financial Services, Microsoft.
Kathy Gormley, Principal Solutions Engineer, Resistant.AI
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 2-5% of global GDP is laundered each year. The threat to FinTechs from financial crime is very real, so what can FinTechs of all sizes do to fight this? The answer would appear to be to embrace the opportunities presented by the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to help identify criminal actors and suspicious transactions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kathy Gormley, Principal Solutions Engineer at RegTech Resistant.AI.
Omar Mansur, Managing Director APAC, Codebase Technologies
Half of the population over the age of 15 in countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) do not have a bank account. That’s a serious drag on potential economic development and growth. What needs to be done? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Omar Mansur, Managing Director APAC for Codebase Technologies.
Kalpesh Mistry, SVP & Head of BFSI Europe, ITC Infotech
The bank of the future and its products are likely to be very different to the institutions we are familiar with today. Cloud-native Banking as a Service will change how the bank operates and the kind of services it provides to its customers. But perhaps the future of banking rests mainly on the proper management of data to shape and focus product offerings not just to consumer segments but to individual consumers through hyper-personalisation. At the same time, banks will be on the ESG frontline. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kalpesh Mistry, SVP and Head of BFSI Europe for ITC Infotech.
Rob O’Farrell, CTO, ID-Pal
Despite frequent incidents of data breaches, many of us are still unaware of or ambivalent about what organisations hold our data. A self-sovereign identity profile could allow individuals to take back control of their data. How would this work in practice? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rob O’Farrell, Chief Technology Officer of identity verification provider ID-Pal.
Victor Basta, CEO, DAI Magister
After a slowdown in FinTech investing in the latter part of 2022, we review the outlook for FinTech funding in 2023 and what FinTechs need to do to create a successful exit strategy. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Victor Basta, CEO of investment bank DAI Magister about what private equity and venture capital players are looking for in a FinTech, and the importance of profitability!
Rohit Garg, CEO & Co-Founder, SmartCoin
Smartcoin is stimulating MSMEs’ and individuals’ development and financial inclusion in India through the application of AI/ML in financial services. The firm aims to provide accessible loans to customers, especially those who reside in Tier-II and III markets while keeping default rates low. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence spoke to the firm’s CEO and Co-Founder, Rohit Garg.
Christian Frahm, Founder & CEO, United FinTech
United FinTech is a new type of FinTech entity, not private equity, not venture capital but building an ecosystem of best-in-class FinTech businesses into a single ecosystem and solutions provider to corporate and investment banks active in the capital markets. Christian Frahm, the firm’s Founder and CEO tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that the model represents a new paradigm for FinTech founders that goes beyond traditional capital raising, debt financing and exits.
Henrik Rosvall, Co-Founder & CEO, Dreams Technology
Nobody does banking for the sake of banking – managing money is not an end-goal in itself. What banking customers need is access to tools and feature that help boost their financial health. Traditional personal financial management tools and financial literacy models just don’t provide the motivation that individuals need. So, what does? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Henrik Rosvall, Co-Founder and CEO of engagement banking specialist Dreams Technology.
Will Tumulty, CEO & President, Rapid Finance
Around a fifth of all new SMEs fail within the first 12 months and the number one dilemma facing small businesses is lack of access to working capital. While not every business can be saved and made a success, we suggest that there is more that innovative FinTech lenders can do that banks cannot or will not. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Will Tumulty, CEO and President of Rapid Finance.
Kundan Shekhawat, CEO & Founder, Ascent Business Technology
The implementation of technology solutions by the financial sector has increased the speed of financial decision-making and allowed for the dream of hyper personalisation. But it has also led to increased risk within the sector, making operational resilience (of which old-style business continuity is but a part) even more of a ‘must-have’ for the modern financial services institution. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kundan Shekhawat, CEO and Founder of Ascent Business Technology.
Dharmarajan Sankara Subrahmanian, Founder Director & CEO, Impactsure
Impactsure, which was established in 2019, uses AI/ML and natural language processing technologies to build user-centric tools and scalable and secure solutions that process, classify and extract structured and unstructured data from documents. At the core of the company’s SureSuite of microservices is the patent pending Secure Unified Responsive Engine (SURE). Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the impact of AI on banking and the benefits of tailored microservices with Dharmarajan Sankara Subrahmanian, Founder Director and CEO of Impactsure.
Henk van Hulle, CEO, Open Banking Implementation Entity
The UK has led the world in the development of open banking solutions with more than 6 million consumers now using open banking services. What comes next – consolidation, more cooperation? Have we reached the limits of the top-down approach to open banking? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses these questions and more with Henk van Hulle, CEO of OBIE, the Open Banking Implementation Entity, the body tasked with establishing the framework that connects, banks, fintechs and tech suppliers.
Mukesh Kalra, Founder & CEO, ET Money
Tech-first and personalised, ET Money claims to be on a mission to simplify the financial journey for retail investors in India. The company believes that personalisation is the future of WealthTech and is leveraging technology to shift the power back to consumers, offering access to simple-to-use investing platforms. Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mukesh Kalra, Founder, and CEO of ET Money about helping consumers to make smarter investing choices and the wealth trends in India in 2023.
Nicholas Soo, Regional Head of Payments Products, Asia, HSBC
A majority of the central banks around the world are researching CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) but they are not all looking at the same thing. In this podcast, Nicholas Soo, Regional Head of Payments Products, Asia, for HSBC explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence the differences between the types of CBDCs and what they could mean for the future payments landscape.
Dhaval Patel, AVP Product, EbixCash Financial Technologies
Protecting and growing client wealth and making smart investment decisions on behalf of the client is what wealth management is all about, but the traditional model of the wealth management business is undergoing profound change as a result of digitalisation. Where do new platform solutions leave the old-school relationship managers (RMs) – what are their roles now, how will the back-office change and what is the impact on the business of the new dimensions of analysis available through digital tools? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dhaval Patel, AVP Product at EbixCash Financial Technologies.
Andrew Doukanaris, Business Director FinTech, Europe, Intellias
Finding funding for FinTech is increasingly challenging. What will it take to decongest the FinTech sector and stop the fall in investment? But you do have to be in the game to win the game. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Andrew Doukanaris, Business Director FinTech, Europe, of global technology partner Intellias, a firm focusing on sustainable digitalisation.
Julien Traversini, Head of Financial Services, Valtech
Having shown interest in payments, lending, and insurance, BigTech companies appear to have financial services providers firmly in their sights. In response, banks should act to embrace digital technologies more quickly, shifting their focus from being simply providers of financial services to being customer-driven, client-care-focused hubs. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Julien Traversini, Head of Financial Services at transformation agency Valtech.
Andres Korin, Co-Founder & CFO, Debite
Getting early-stage financing for a FinTech startup can be a challenging and expensive prospect. Funding is a key hurdle for any new business – much of the focus in SME funding schemes has been on the ‘M’ of SMEs. But now there could be a useful option available for helping to turn your bright idea into a business. Tailored to early-stage and high-growth startups in the UK, Debite’s corporate card with built-in installments has up to 20x higher credit limits than those offered by traditional banks. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Andres Korin, Co-Founder and CFO of Debite.
Shelby Austin, CEO & Co-Founder, Arteria AI
Information is important but information in the wrong format, the wrong silo or even gathering dust in a filing cabinet is worse than useless! However, with an AI-driven, data first approach, financial institutions may digitise their legacy documentation processes and contract lifecycle management (CLM). This ‘forgotten transformation’ can provide a powerful tool to financial services players, saving costs, time and resources while also actually creating new business opportunities. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Shelby Austin, CEO and Co-Founder of Arteria AI.
Richard Southey, Chief Digital & Experience Officer, Absa CIB
The adoption of FinTech in Africa has been widespread – in 2021 FinTechs in Africa overshadowed all other startups in funding gained and mobile money transactions across Sub Saharan Africa were greater than the GDP of Nigeria. Increasing mobile phone and internet penetration will see further increases in FinTech activity, facilitating financial inclusion and a move away from cash payments.
Ranjan R Reddy, founder, and CEO Bureau.
Automation, fraud prevention, and powerful seamless user experiences have now become a norm for the customers and online businesses. By providing an accurate and comprehensive picture of individual customers, Bureau helps businesses confidently transact without fear of fraud. Its no-code identity orchestration platform powers seamless customer onboarding and fraud-free customer interactions for any business.
Gustavo Ruiz, SVP & CEO Latin America, Global Head of Open Banking, Paysafe
Recent research by Paysafe highlights how consumer payment preferences are changing in Latin America, specifically in Brazil, Peru, and Chile. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Gustavo Ruiz, SVP & CEO Latin America, and Global Head of Open Banking for Paysafe, discuss financial inclusion, payment security, hypergrowth in eCommerce and how smartphone adoption is affecting payments, together with the development of alternative payment methods (APMs).
Martijn Groot, VP Marketing & Strategy, Alveo
In a series of interviews carried out for Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology and FinTech. The shift to Data as a Service is key for the integration, mastering and cleansing of market and reference data. What’s more it can help address the task of managing data and help create a standard framework for ESG analysis and reporting. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Martijn Groot, VP Marketing & Strategy for cloud-based market data integration, analytics, and Data-as-a-Service solutions provider Alveo.
Mike Walters, Chief Product Officer, Form3
In a series of interviews carried out for Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology, and fintech. In this interview focusing on cloud-native technology Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mike Walters, Chief Product Officer of cloud payments fintech Form3 about multi-cloud solutions and how to prevent fraud in real-time payments
Michael Vrontamitis, Trade Finance and Banking Leader, Finastra & Joshua Kroeker, Chief Product Officer, Contour
In a series of interviews carried out at Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology and fintech. During Sibos, Finastra announced a strategic collaboration to integrate its Fusion Trade Innovation software with digital trade finance network Contour, providing banks and corporates with a streamlined end-to-end back-office workflow. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Michael Vrontamitis, Trade Finance and Banking Leader at Finastra, and Joshua Kroeker (pictured), Chief Product Officer of Contour.
Marijka Koninckx, Product Officer, Bankifi
In a series of interviews carried out at Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology and fintech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Marijka Koninckx, Product Officer at Bankifi.
Amit Dua, President, Suntec Business Solutions
In a series of interviews carried out at Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology and fintech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Amit Dua, President of Suntec Business Solutions.
Ian Manocha, CEO, Gresham Technologies
In a series of interviews carried out at Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology, and fintech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ian Manocha, Chief Executive Officer of Gresham Technologies.
Conor Colleary, Group VP Financial Services, Oracle
In a series of interviews carried out at Sibos 2022, we focus on what’s hot in banking, banking technology, and fintech. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Conor Colleary, Group VP Financial Services for Oracle.
Gudmundur Kristjansson [GK], Founder & CEO, Lucinity
With large-scale adoption of AI tools on the rise and accelerated by Covid-19, financial institutions are turning to automation to enhance their business processes, including financial crime compliance. To produce the best results for fighting financial crime, humans and AI must work together, according to Lucinity, reflecting a concept known as augmented intelligence or human AI – the use of technology to supplement and support human intelligence, with people remaining at the core of the decision-making process. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gudmundur Kristjansson of Lucinity.
Kareem Saleh, CEO & Co-Founder, FairPlay
Fairness as a Service is a new concept being championed by FairPlay, with the aim of reducing algorithmic bias for people of colour, women, and other historically disadvantaged groups. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify bias in lending models, the idea is to identify more good borrowers – typically people who would otherwise be turned down for credit as a result of bias. This summer, the company announced a $10 million Series A funding round. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kareem Saleh, CEO and Co-Founder of FairPlay.
Falk Rieker, Global Vice President and IBU Head for Banking, SAP
SAP and Santander Corporate and Investment Banking (Santander CIB) partnered earlier this year with the aim of improving client-to-bank connectivity and providing their global clients with financial tools to help navigate supply chain disruptions and accelerate the decarbonisation of their industrial activities. In fact, Santander CIB became the first bank in the European Union to be a member of SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity in a deal that the bank said was ‘a step forward in the digitalization of the solutions we provide to our clients, with a strong focus on connectivity, supply chain management and energy transition”. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the future of corporate banking with Falk Rieker, Global Vice President and IBU Head for Banking at SAP.
Rizwan Shaikh, Director Sales, MENA & Asia, Expleo
New financial technology is changing the way we work but making the technology work for the customer is paramount – and that means both working for the bank or financial institution and for the end customer, whether that consumer is an individual or a corporate. Rizwan Shaikh, Director Sales, MENA & Asia for Expleo, discusses the concept of humanisation with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and why software solutions must make sense to end customers. We also delve into the difference between digitisation and digitalisation.
Charles Damen, Chief Product Officer, Token
Account-to-account payments now pose a genuine threat to debit cards – we review the use cases and benefits. At the same time, API maturity is accelerating and pushing the boundaries of open banking with premium APIs and value-added services, a key focus for the future with VRPs but one example. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Charles Damen, Chief Product Officer of the open banking platform Token, which made history by conducting the first end-to-end payment through a public bank API in the UK back in 2018.
Ruchir Lahoty, Managing Director, MegaDelta Capital
The fast-track growth of financial tools, and platforms in the post pandemic world has created a huge market growth opportunity allowing VC funding in the FinTech sector to slowly pick up. Ruchir Lahoty, Managing Director, Megadelta Capital discusses investment, trends, valuation, and the role of the investors in today’s climate.
Manish Maakan, Chief Executive Officer, iGTB
Commercial Banking is on the cusp of fundamental shifts that will dramatically reorder the industry in the coming decade. As banks assess their future strategies, they need to define their purpose and set a course not just for modernisation, but for true transformation. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Manish Maakan, CEO of global transaction banking platform provider iGTB, about the ways in which commercial banking is changing and what that means for the banks and their customers; also, how iGTB itself provides a solution that leverages machine learning and predictive analytics, delivered through APIs and an omnichannel UX.
Tamás Erni, Chairman and Head of Sales, Loxon; Ádám Kocsis, Head of Professional Services, Loxon
With an uncertain macroeconomic outlook, lending institutions are coming under building pressure with loans threatening to turn problematic. The debt collection industry is also undergoing change – among the factors accelerating this transformation are changes in customer behaviour, inflation, unpredictable regulations, unforeseen shocks, pandemics, and wars. Business solutions provider Loxon has produced a white paper investigating the forces that are shaping debt collection. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Tamás Erni, Chairman of Loxon (pictured) and Ádám Kocsis, Head of Professional Services for the company.
Gavin Maclean, Head of Payments, CIB, Lloyds Banking Group
How is corporate banking changing? Trends that have been in place over the last decade were accelerated by the pandemic but what is happening now and next? And how are they changing a bank’s internal processes and the customer experience? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gavin Maclean, Head of Payments, CIB at Lloyds Banking Group where he leads on the development and implementation of new payment and acquiring solutions.
Georges Archibald, Chief Innovation Officer & Regional Head of North America, Apex Group
Traditionally, valuing real estate, private equity, infrastructure, and private credit assets has been an opaque and time-consuming process. Using blockchain and artificial intelligence offers the potential to increase trust in the underlying data and provide an auditable data trail. A trusted data layer could enable private market assets to trade more efficiently in secondary markets, increasing liquidity. That potential is behind the partnership between financial services provider Apex Group and FinTech Inveniam Capital Partners. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses how transactions in private market assets could be boosted with Georges Archibald, Chief Innovation Officer, and Regional Head of North America for Apex Group
Niccolò Gamaleri, Senior Director, Royal Park Partners
As the FinTech sector becomes increasingly regulated, and its funding base evolves, knowledge of regulatory requirements and financing solutions is crucial. Ex-Barclays Niccolò Gamaleri, recently appointed Senior Director at financial advisory firm Royal Park Partners, discusses how FinTech's continued growth is increasingly requiring the same investment banking skills as more traditional financial institutions, in terms of capital raises, M&A transactions and IPOs.
Anuj Kumar Sen, Co-Founder & CTO, Cuelebre AB
Success in the implementation of AI and ML depends on having a foundation system that can scale and serve your data. Cuelebre is an end-to-end technology services provider that caters to data analytics needs. The company focuses on building strategies, architecting platforms, and deploying dashboards in the cloud or on-premises. Anuj Kumar Sen, Co-Founder and CTO, Cuelebre, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the challenges involved and how to achieve maximum value for your business.
Jasmeet Chhabda, Senior Vice President, Lentra
With the clear intent of creating a smoother digital lending process Lentra is offering new-age lending solutions to the Indian financial services sector. Jasmeet Chhabda, Senior Vice President at Lentra discusses how the firm has created a range of offerings across embedded journeys, BNPL, credit card journeys, small ticket loans, co-lending and more. He spoke to Puja Sharma of IBS Intelligence about trends in lending and how new-to-credit millennials are changing their approach to availing loans.
Simone Mazzuca, Founder and CEO, Wallex
How can the evolution of banking lead to more democratised financial services offered to a broader base of individuals that are in need of better banking? In this episode, Simone Mazzuca, CEO and Founder of Wallex, discusses how blockchain technology will transform banking as we know it. In his view, the bank of the future should embrace multi-currency fiat platforms, offer greater access to digital assets and develop fully compliant tools to help the users trade, save and navigate all financial markets.
Omar Mansur, Enterprise Lead Global Projects, Codebase Technologies; Dr Jasmin B Gupta, CEO & Co-Founder, LXME
You can’t have one without the other! Embedded finance may be defined as offering access to a range of financial services and solutions via a merchant website on a customer journey that is not interrupted by the need to leave the site you are on to go to that of a financial institution. Banking as a Service (BaaS) is the technology solution that makes this seamless experience for the consumer possible. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the potential of both embedded finance and BaaS with Omar Mansur of Codebase Technologies (pictured) and Dr Jasmin B Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of LXME, India’s first financial platform for women.
Arjan Verbeek, CEO & Co-Founder, Perenna
The UK’s newest bank, Perenna, has been awarded a UK banking licence ‘with restrictions’ by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. This is the penultimate step before a full banking licence is granted. When that happens, which the bank expects in Q1 2023, it will begin offering long-term fixed rate mortgages (30-year, 95% LTV) in the UK housing market. These are new products in the UK and with housing affordability a constant issue, are likely to prove popular. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Perenna CEO and Co-Founder Arjan Verbeek about the bank’s plans and proposed products.
Mahmood Shamsher Ali, Pakistan Country Representative, Alif Bank
Alif is a Central Asian FinTech operating as a full-fledged bank in Tajikistan and as an e-commerce and FinTech company in Uzbekistan. The company, originally established in 2014, has a full banking licence in Tajikistan and a payments licence in Uzbekistan. It has also applied for a digital banking licence in Pakistan – one of 20 applicants for 5 licences on offer. Alif now has more than 1 million users and, for example, a market share of more than 50% of all Visa payments in Tajikistan. The group’s ambition is to become a global Islamic FinTech unicorn. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses Alif’s ambitions with the bank’s Pakistan Country Representative, Mahmood Shamsher Ali.
Serge Tohme, Managing Director EMEA, Finastra, & Gary McDermott, Treasurer, The Co-operative Bank
The Co-operative Bank selected Finastra Kondor in the cloud, available via Microsoft Azure, to upgrade its treasury infrastructure and automate manual reporting and processes. Finastra’s focus on ESG concerns fits with The Co-operative Bank’s stance on ethical banking. Moving from an on-premises model to a cloud-based managed service is a key part of the bank’s operational strategy for treasury activity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the attractions of a cloud-based solution with Serge Tohme, Managing Director EMEA, Finastra, and Gary McDermott, Treasurer, The Co-operative Bank (pictured).
Ellison Anne Williams, CEO & Founder, Enveil
Privacy-enhancing technologies for secure data search protect data while it's being used or processed. The development of privacy-enhancing technologies is a hot topic for financial services. The UN estimates that up to $2 trillion of cross-border money laundering occurs each year. Greater information sharing and collaborative analytics among financial organisations could transform the detection of this activity in a secure manner without compromising jurisdictional requirements. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ellison Anne Williams, CEO and Founder of Enveil about the potential for secure data usage.
Jacob Rider, Head of Payments, Projective
November 2022 marks the point of migration for some of the top global payment infrastructures to ISO 20022, an international standard for exchanging electronic messages between financial institutions, covering cards, payments, securities, FX and trade. Most banks, corporates and payments companies use SWIFT MT financial messaging for transactions, which will migrate over to the new system and eventually come to an end in 2025. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the coming of ISO 20022 with Jacob Rider, Co-Head of Projective’s Payments Practice.
Samantha Bamert, Founder & CEO of Ask Inclusive Finance
According to The Rose Review, access to and awareness of funding was highlighted as the number one issue for female entrepreneurs. Women launch businesses with 53% less capital on average than men, are less aware of funding options and less likely to take on debt. In honor of Women’s Equality Day celebrated on Aug 26th, Samantha Bamers, the Founder and CEO of micro-lending firm Ask Inclusive Finance (AskIf), discusses how far the financial services industry still needs to go to ensure equality and inclusion in lending.
Chris Blackhurst, Author, Too Big to Jail
‘Too Big to Jail’, subtitled ‘Inside HSBC, the Mexican drug cartels and the greatest banking scandal of the century’ tells the story behind the record fine of $1.9 billion handed out to HSBC in 2012 by US authorities along with a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice (there were no prosecutions). The fine related to money laundering activities between 2003 and 2010 on behalf of the Sinaloa drugs cartel in Mexico. Would modern compliance solutions using AI/ML be able to stop such activities? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the story with author Chris Blackhurst, award-winning business writer and former national newspaper editor.
Liam Chennells, CEO & Founder, Detected
Detected fills the KYB gap in the payments’ technology stack with a ‘Find Company’ algorithm that aims to find any registered company globally. The startup’s Connected Compliance API can search and locate business credit, corporate and director information from around the globe in seconds. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Liam Chennells, Founder and CEO of Detected.
Timo Lehes, Co-founder, Swarm
Digitising financial products opens new opportunities for investment. Regulated multi-asset DeFi platform, Swarm, is helping its customer base diversify their portfolios with tokens representing asset classes from both crypto and traditional financial markets. IBSi’ Reporter Gaia Lamperti interviewed Swarm’s Co-founder Timo Lehes about the company’s approach to tokenisation and upcoming plans.
Eduardo Chazan, CEO, Collegia
Meet your customers where they want to be, and the place they are likely to want to be in the future is in the metaverse. FinTechs and established financial services groups need to be considering their future communications strategy now. Eduardo Chazan, CEO of pensions FinTech Collegia, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence. Collegia is the first pension provider in the UK to be authorised by the FCA to offer a pension that is both a personal and Auto Enrolment pension scheme.
Layla White, Founder, Tech Passport, & Isabel Pitt, Head of Core Services, Zopa Bank
It is perhaps inevitable that the process of bringing a bank and FinTech to work together can be a slow one. But there are ways of making it run more smoothly and speedily. Robin Amlôt speaks to Isabel Pitt, Head of Core Services at Zopa Bank and Layla White (pictured), Founder of Tech Passport, a new suppliers’ marketplace, about how the collaborative process may be made quicker and easier for banks, suppliers and startups.
Stefano Vaccino, Founder & CEO, Yapily
Over the last 12 months, open banking maturity has soared across Europe according to new research published in Yapily’s annual European Open Banking League Table. The UK is leading the way for the second year running, with now 6 million active open banking users as per the latest statistics from the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE). Yapily’s Founder & CEO, Stefano Vaccino expands on the findings’ relevance in conversation with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Pat Bermingham, CEO, Adflex
Straight-through-processing (STP) is buyer-initiated, removing the processing burden from the supplier and allowing prompt reconciliation of transactions and greater control over cash flow, not to mention added security and process efficiency. These advantages are being thrown into stark focus at present, given the current unsettled global economy and offer benefits to all businesses but perhaps especially to SMEs, providing an automated and frictionless process to accept and send payments, thereby engendering better business relationships and faster growth. Pat Bermingham, CEO of Adflex, discussed STP with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ed Adshead-Grant, Board Advisor - Fintech & Payments, Bottomline Technologies
The payments industry is starting to recover from Covid-19, with 48% of businesses looking to continue making international payments in 2022 and beyond. About 18% of businesses are now accepting BNPL as a payment method while 62% of them are starting to show interest in CBDCs. These are just some of the latest findings from Bottomline Technologies’ seventh annual Business Payments Barometer of 800 financial decisions makers in the UK and US. Ed Adshead-Grant, Board Advisor - Fintech & Payment, discusses the report’s key findings and the implications that these have for the industry at large.
Omar Mansur, Enterprise Lead – Global Projects, Codebase Technologies & Adrian Desouza, Senior Consultant, Cedar Management Consulting International
The twin challenges of digital literacy and financial literacy come under the spotlight in this discussion about how technology vendors, financial institutions and regulators need to work together. A concerted effort is needed to drive financial inclusion and ensure that consumers and businesses are able to set and achieve their financial goals. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Omar Mansur, Enterprise Lead – Global Projects of Codebase Technologies (pictured) and Adrian Desouza, Senior Consultant with Cedar Management Consulting International.
James Butland, Vice President of Financial Services, Airwallex
Establishing an ecommerce platform is one step forward for a business. Gaining the ability to accept local payments in a global marketplace opens even greater prospects for growth, allowing companies to do business around the world, in the markets that your customers want to use and giving them familiar ways in which to pay for your goods and services. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the opportunities with James Butland of Airwallex.
Bhairav Trivedi, CEO, Crown Agents Bank
Tracing its roots back to 1749, Crown Agents Bank was originally established by the British Crown and has been providing banking services from its London base since 1833. Mostly operating in developing markets including Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Asia Pacific, the bank is now on a journey pursuing considerable digital transformation to streamline operations. CEO Bhairav Trivedi spoke to IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti about the expansion of its technology offering to deliver traditional banking services more efficiently and meet the needs of those who have struggled to access financial services.
Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, CEO, iBanFirst
Belgium-based payment institution iBanFirst announced the takeover of UK FX provider Cornhill International Payments late in June. The acquisition builds on iBanFirst’s long-term funding partnership with private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners and represented an opportunity for the financial services provider to expand its international footprint and extend its European PSP licence to the UK. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the deal with iBanFirst CEO Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier.
Marc Hauser, Head of Europe, F10
This year, the global metaverse market is expected to rise to $47.48 billion and,according to research from Gartner, a quarter of people will most likely spend at least one hour a day in the metaverse by 2026. Marc Hauser, Head of F10 Europe, discusses how the rise of the metaverse will shape the future of financial services, from the legacy banks to the FinTech start-ups, by shifting organisational structures, changing the nature of customer interactions, and creating innovative business models.
Rajesh Narasimha, CEO, Clayfin Technologies
Digital 2.0 is the next step in digital banking, according to Rajesh Narasimha, CEO of Clayfin Technologies. With Digital 1.0 seeing the establishment of internet, mobile and omnichannel banking, Narasimha believes Digital 2.0 solutions look beyond the bank to offer a comprehensive view of the customer and the creation of partnerships, ecosystems, and alternate channels. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rajesh Narasimha about the opportunities Digital 2.0 represents.
Raf de Kimpe, CEO, FinTech Week London
FinTech Week London has launched an investigation into FinTech valuations and funding. Record levels of investment in 2021 have been followed by sharp declines in 2022 with firms struggling to raise fresh funding. This has led to reports of falling valuations, fire sales, layoffs and recruitment freezes. What’s truly going on and what will it mean for the evolution of FinTech? Robin Amlôt spoke with Raf de Kimpe, CEO of FinTech Week London on day one of the week’s flagship conference event.
Dharmarajan S, Chief Executive Officer, Director and co-Founder, Impactsure Technologies
Impactsure Technologies has been recognised in the IBSi Sales League Table 2022 for ‘Star Performance’ in Transaction Banking (Trade Finance). The company’s focus on leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a trade finance solution has resulted in significant deals in India and the APAC region. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dharmarajan S, Chief Executive, Director and co-Founder of Impactsure Technologies.
Joost van Houten, Chief Executive Officer, Sentinels
Fenergo, which supplies digital KYC and CLM solutions recently acquired transaction monitoring platform Sentinels, which aims to streamline AML and transaction monitoring workflows for financial institutions, with the aim of increasing fraud protection and reducing false positives. Robin Amlôt of IBS intelligence speaks to Joost van Houten, CEO of Sentinels about how smart transaction monitoring can relieve the compliance burden and the need to aggregate historical transaction data across multiple financial institutions.
Blair McPherson, Head, Capital Introductions & Managing Director, Profilir (Apex Group)
Capital introduction is modernising with the emergence of ‘digital capital introduction’, virtual marketing, capital raising, and investor relations capabilities fit for the 21st century. Investors expect to supplement in-person meetings with digital platform solutions. Private equity and the private markets require a combination greater access and connectivity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Blair McPherson, Head, Capital Introductions & Managing Director of Profilir (Apex Group).
Rob Straathof, Chief Executive Officer, Liberis
As an SME lending FinTech, Liberis has provided financing to SMEs across Europe, the US and the UK since it launched in 2007. Liberis has also supported the creation of over 50,000 UK jobs to date by advancing £570 million to more than 18,000 businesses through its embedded finance business model. The platform enables payment processors, acquirers, and software providers to quickly and easily embed business finance that works for their small business customers. Rob Straathof, CEO of Liberis speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the Great Resignation, its impact on the FinTech sector and how Liberis and firms like it can beat the banks in SME lending.
Gadi Mazor, Chief Executive Officer, Biocatch
Advanced behavioural biometrics are the new frontier in financial fraud prevention. Increasing evidence of authorised push payment fraud may be a sign that the banks are winning the battle against fraudsters on other fronts, but the human side of fraud is harder to manage. With behavioural biometrics it is possible to flag up potential APP fraud as it takes place. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gadi Mazor, CEO of Biocatch.
David Brown, Founder & CEO, Hi
Pandemic-induced supply chain shocks, combined with the spike in energy costs caused by the war in Ukraine, have sparked a global cost-of-living crisis that is driving a rethink of the monthly pay cycle. Hi, a UK-based social enterprise FinTech recently teamed up with Norway-based Zalaris to offer a flexible payroll solution to firms across the globe. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to David Brown, Founder and CEO of Hi about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on firms and individuals and how the time has come to rethink the monthly payroll.
Linh C Ho, Chief Marketing Officer, Zelros
According to the US Federal Highway Administration, the average US driver clocks up around 11,500 miles per year. In this nascent age of artificial intelligence, data derived from driving habits – telematics insurance – offers the potential for personalised, usage-based insurance. This can be linked either to how you drive or as and when you drive. And this is just part of a revolution upon us in insurance. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Linh C Ho, CMO of US InsurTech Zelros.
Christoffer Malmer, Head of SEBx, SEB Group
SEBx was founded in 2018 by Nordic corporate bank SEB Group with the purpose of exploring new technologies and developing new customer offerings. It claims to combine the speed, agility, and legacy-free infrastructure of a FinTech startup, with the trust, experience, capital, licence, and knowledge of an incumbent bank. SEB recently entered a strategic partnership with Swedish FinTech Humla to develop embedded services products for the retail industry using SEBx’s cloud-based Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Christoffer Malmer, Head of SEBx.
Vince Graziani, Chief Executive Officer, IDEX Biometrics
Focus groups from the European Central Bank’s investigation into digital currencies show that consumers want a digital euro to be as flexible as the fiat euro. In many ways the technology developed in the creation of cryptocurrencies may well lend itself to the development of fiat digital currencies with an added layer of security and, therefore, acceptability through the incorporation of biometric solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Vince Graziani, CEO of IDEX Biometrics.
Steven Strange, Head of Product (Asset Management), ION Markets
What will sustainable investment look like in a post-pandemic world? Solutions that enable the seamless integration of rules into trading systems are essential to buy-side firms looking to maintain a competitive edge. Transition to the cloud could remove issues associated with investment compliance. With the need for seamless compliance platforms being demonstrated by the renewed focus on ESG, Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Steven Strange, Head of Product (Asset Management) at ION Markets.
Peter Woeste Christensen, Director, Lucht Probst Associates GmbH (LPA)
Peter Woeste Christensen, Director at capital markets technology and consulting firm LPA, believes that the rise of CBDCs has the potential to completely replace the current corresponding banking model. A shift from physical cash to CBDCs could move the current deposit model to a pure custody model, where banks no longer have direct access to retail funding. He expanded on this topic in conversation with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Louisa Murray, COO UK & Europe, Railsr
The first wave of FinTech has digitised conventional financial services, most notably through neobanks that have improved the consumer banking experience and educated large sections of the population to trust banking beyond legacy banks. However, the needle had not moved enough, according to Louisa Murray, COO UK & Europe, Railsr. She believes that FinTech 2.0 will see the continued rise of embedded finance powering brand-led, more meaningful financial experiences that will drive the future of consumer finance.
Carlos León, Director of Financial Markets Infrastructures and Digital Currencies Solutions, FNA
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the EU has imposed a number of financial sanctions and restrictions targeting Russia’s major banks, freezing the assets of oligarchs and banning the country from the international bank messaging system SWIFT. But will be the significance and ramifications of these sanctions against the Russian state? How are they impacting the fintech scene too? Carlos León, Director at FNA delved into the topic with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Brian Kaas, President & Managing Director, CMFG Ventures
CMFG Ventures is the venture capital arm of CUNA Mutual Group, a credit union partner since 1935. More than 95% of US credit unions count on CUNA Mutual Group for a range of financial products and services. The VC unit has some 27 portfolio companies and has invested $240 million. Brian Kaas, President and Managing Director of CMFG Ventures speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the state of the VC marketplace and what financial institutions need to know when partnering with a new FinTech.
Sendi Young, Managing Director Europe, Ripple
The European FinTech space has seen a boom in recent years, with the UK in particular, fuelling huge growth in the sector. In the first half of 2021 alone, FinTech investment in the region reached $39 billion according to KPMG. In conversation with Sendi Young, MD Europe at Ripple, IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti discussed how this momentum translated in the crypto world and how the company is set to continue its upward trajectory with no signs of slowing down soon.
Tamer Al Mauge, Managing Director MENA, Codebase Technologies; Pankul Verma, Principal, Cedar Management Consulting International
Why are there so few standalone neobanks in the MENA region and why have so many traditional banks there launched neobank subsidiaries? Is the region overbanked as many have claimed and what does it take for a neobank in MENA to be regarded as a success? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Tamer Al Mauge (pictured), Managing Director MENA for Codebase Technologies and Pankul Verma, Principal at Cedar Management Consulting International.
Landon Glenn, Founder & CEO, ASA Technologies
FinTechs are very good at leveraging data to serve affinity groups, but they are, by and large, not bankers and nor do most of them want to be bankers. Collaborative banking is a concept being promoted as a solution that removes any compliance and regulatory burden from FinTechs, allowing them to focus on their core competencies while creating a role and opportunity for financial institutions. Landon Glenn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ASA Technologies, talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Omar Shaikh, Founder & CEO, Cocoa Invest
Several regulators around the world operate sandbox environments. What benefits does going through this process bring for the FinTechs involved? Cocoa Invest is an Islamic digital wealth manager and recently completed its time in the Central Bank of Bahrain’s sandbox. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses what the FinTech gained from the experience with Omar Shaikh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cocoa Invest.
Pete Cherecwich, President of Asset Servicing, Northern Trust
Founded over 130 years ago, a global financial institution with $16 trillion in assets under custody and more than 20,000 employees, Northern Trust has quickly incorporated digital innovation in its strategy to speed up internal processes and enhance the client experience. Gaia Lamperti, Reporter at IBSi, sat down with Pete Cherecwich, President of Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, to comment on this and what it will take for the entire ecosystem to pick up the pace.
Brian McKenney, Chief Innovation Officer, HSBC; Angus Ross, Chief Growth & Revenue Officer BaaS, Finastra
Research canvassing the opinions of 1,600 senior industry executives reveals the true extent of the appetite for BaaS (Banking as a Service), with almost 85% of respondents already implementing or planning to implement BaaS over the next 12-18 months. More than 80% of regulated financial services providers expect the overall BaaS market to grow. BaaS is said to represent a $7 trillion opportunity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Brian McKenney, Chief Innovation Officer, HSBC (pictured) and Angus Ross, Chief Growth & Revenue Officer, BaaS, Finastra. And you can read more about Finastra’s analysis of the BaaS opportunity in Banking as a Service Outlook 2022 | Paving the way for Embedded finance.
Josh Rogers, Founder & CEO, Minterest
Since highs in November 2021 Bitcoin, the poster child for digital assets, has more than halved in value, exacerbated by the slump in crypto value in the wake of the crash of Terra. So, has the froth and speculation been driven out of digital assets – were they just a balloon looking for a pin? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Josh Rogers, Founder and Chief Executive of DeFi protocol Minterest.
George Ioannou, Managing Partner, Foolproof – a Zensar company
Survey after survey shows consumers don’t know where to turn for financial advice and in many cases are relying on friends and family rather than take expert opinion. George Ioannou, Managing Partner of Foolproof discusses with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence the importance of IFAs embracing digital and explores why IFAs should pay attention to the needs they may currently be failing to meet.
Carrie Goodman, Director of Financial Institution Management, Compliance Systems
Consumerisation is permeating every aspect of digital banking, including compliance. However, compliance, the last step in the consumer journey, is often overlooked. That means no matter how slick the rest of the customer journey has been, it will all be forgotten by those irritated by a clunky compliance journey just as they reach the end of whatever process, account opening, loan, card application, etc., that they have just undertaken. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks compliance consumerisation with Carrie Goodman, Director of Financial Institution Management at Compliance Systems.
Earl Melivo, Director of Country & Business Development, Philippines, WorldRemit
Digital remittance transactions are expected to exceed 50% of global international money transfers by 2032. Despite, or perhaps even because of the pandemic, the volume and values of digital remittances have grown steadily in recent years with many countries shifting to a digital first approach. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses developments with Earl Melivo, Director of Country & Business Development, Philippines for WorldRemit.
Nelson Wootton (pictured), Co-founder & CEO; Steve Round, Co-founder, SaaScada
Financial institutions should be taking a more customer centric approach, owning the relationship with consumers with products designed to fit around their customers lives. How to do this? The answer may be with a core banking system that creates a technology ecosystem of best-in-class solutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nelson Wootton (pictured), Co-founder and CEO of SaaScada, and Steve Round, fellow Co-founder.
Amon Ghaiumy, Co-Founder and CEO, Ophelos
With the ever-rising cost of living and fuel poverty reaching many for the first time in their lives, debt is going to be an unwelcome reality for struggling households. Opehlos is a debt resolution company that works on bringing a more humane and fair approach to debt collection processes with the use AI technology. The firm’s CEO and Founder, Amon Ghaiumy, explained how to IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Sune Engsig, Chief Evangelist, Leapwork
Using a no-code automation platform makes it easier for financial institutions to automate repetitive processes allowing for faster adoption and scaling. Such a platform holds out the prospect of reduced development costs and the use of fewer specialist resources than traditional test automation. It could also mean speedier product development. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the potential with Sune Engsig, Chief Evangelist at Leapwork.
Nanda Kumar, President & CEO, SunTec Business Solutions
Banks have a wealth of data but often have technology gaps hindering their ability to use that data in the most effective way. Pressure for change is coming from customers and their desire for more personalised solutions and, also, by the need for banks to streamline internal processes and digitise operations. Nanda Kumar, President and CEO of SunTec Business Solutions discusses trends in banking technology with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Priya Raju, Director of Cloud Transformation, KPMG UK
Access to larger sums of money, shorter loan application processes, and still low interest rates boosted the growth of global commercial lending. The market is projected to reach $30 trillion by 2030. However, banks are struggling to get to grips with digital lending solutions, beset with manual lending journeys, complex data issues and legacy systems. Priya Raju, Director of Cloud Transformation at KPMG UK tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that there is an opportunity for banks to leverage FinTechs to resolve these issues.
Mac Thompson, Founder & President, White Clay
The concept of customer primacy is not standardised in the financial services industry, but banks do understand its importance. As Mac Thompson, Founder and President of White Clay explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, ‘primacy’ allows banks to deepen and create stickier customer relationships, improving customer service and customer experience, while driving shareholder value at the same time.
Steve Green, Business Development Manager, Genetec
Genetec embraces the concept of ‘security fusion’ in the fight against fraud bringing together physical, cyber and fraud security functions, to stop attacks, help apprehend offenders and ensure the assets of customers are protected. Banks are now bringing all those siloed pieces of data together and leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and clustering analysis to identify patterns and unusual behaviour (both online and in the real world). IBSi Reporter Gaia Lamperti further discussed that approach with Steve Green, Business Developer Manager at Genetec.
Hans Tesselaar, Executive Director, Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN)
Following the announcement news that Lloyds Bank Group closed 60 branches due to the rise of online banking IBSi’s Gaia Lamperti spoke to Hans Tesselaar, Executive Director at Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN) to explore what this means for the industry and consumer and how FinTechs will increasingly play a key role in the future of digital banking.
Paul Nilsen, Commercial Director, MD Africa, CIS & Global, Codebase Technologies & Nikhil Gokhale, Head of Research, IBS Intelligence
The biggest challenge in the adoption of omnichannel banking solutions in Africa is grasping the nettle and taking that first step into the future. Pressure is building on financial institutions with consumers expecting the same level of service from their banks as they already receive from other service providers online. Robin Amlôt discusses Africa’s omnichannel opportunities with Paul Nilsen (pictured), Commercial Director, MD Africa, CIS & Global of Codebase Technologies and Nikhil Gokhale, Head of Research at IBS Intelligence.
Anna Porra, European Strategy Director, Marqeta
Too many lending decisions are potentially flawed, being based on backward-looking credit scores rather than considering current ability to repay. Furthermore, rigid repayment scheduling could be replaced by a more flexible pay back framework, especially with the option of loans offered against security. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses these and other lending developments with Anna Porra, European Strategy Director of Marqeta.
Rachid Ajaja, CEO & Co-Founder, Alliance Block
The future of finance is an integrated system in which the internet of things will become the economy of things, helping to increase capital flows and technological innovation. IoT devices will become digital assets trading value independently without intermediaries. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the interconnected relationship between the EoT and DeFi technology with Rachid Ajaja, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Alliance Block.
Phil Mataras, Chief Executive Officer, ArDrive
Claiming to be more than just another cloud storage service, it seems the next step for Web 3.0 is a permanent data storage solution which means any files you upload could outlive you! Built on a blockchain that, it’s being claimed, enables any type of digital data to be stored for at least 200 years and potentially much longer, ArDrive does away with subscriptions in favour of a one-time fee. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Phil Mataras, CEO of ArDrive about how this works and what the potential use cases are.
Samuel Guillon, Head of Strategy, Kyriba
A global survey of corporate CFOs carried out for Kyriba, a FinTech providing cloud treasury, payments, and finance solutions for corporates, questioned 800 corporate CFOs about the adoption of tech and APIs as part of their liquidity and cash management function. The survey revealed in many cases an outdated and siloed approach sternly tested by the pandemic and ensuing disruption. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the survey and potential solutions to the problems it highlights with Samuel Guillon, Head of Strategy at Kyriba.
Peter Briffett, Co-Founder and CEO, Wagestream
Following Wagestream’s $175 million funding, from a Series C round led by Smash Capital, BlackRock, and Silicon Valley Bank, IBS Intelligence sat down with CEO and Founder Peter Briffett to talk about the company’s mission to help underserved, financially stressed frontline workers find financial wellbeing.
Brian Fahey, Chief Executive Officer, MyComplianceOffice
Issues such as conflict of interest, code of conduct, employee compliance, third party risk and transaction surveillance all pose a significant risk to financial services firms. So, what needs to be done to ensure that banks and financial institutions can avoid reputational damage, job losses and potentially very public crises? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses compliance pitfalls and problems with Brian Fahey, CEO of RegTech firm MyComplianceOffice.
Stuart Clout, Founder and Global Head of Growth at Ansarada
Ansarada’s cutting-edge technology can predict the outcome of a transaction and forecast the top three most valuable bidders in a deal. On top of that, helps organisations improve their risk management, audit, compliance and broader GRC and ESG practices. IBSi's Gaia Lamperti had a chat with Stuart Clout, Ansarada’s Founder and Global Head of Growth, about the relevance of this tech in current times.
Hussein Al Amine, Head of Business Development & Global Strategic Alliances, Fineon Exchange
In a survey for trade finance marketplace Fineon Exchange, a resounding 100% of those asked said they believe that digital networks could improve trade finance transaction processes. The survey found that funder appetite and quality deals do exist, suggesting that the difficulties SMEs face could be due to a lack of channels where borrowers and funders can connect effectively. The survey’s findings are examined in detail in Trade Finance Optimisation: Connecting the Right People at the Right Time. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the trade finance gap’s pain points and potential solutions with Hussein Al Amine, Head of Business Development and Global Strategic Alliances at Fineon Exchange.
Raju Daryani, EVP, Head of Intellect Digital Core, iGCB , Intellect Design Arena
Increasing customer expectations and competition from FinTechs have focused minds in the banking community – if your bank hasn’t already updated its core systems or doesn’t have plans to do so, then you could be in trouble! Banks need to get on an innovation trajectory that is laser-focused on customer experience. Sounds challenging perhaps but there are ways in which banks can upgrade while minimising both the potential disruption and the time required to modernise their systems. Robin Amlôt discusses how with Raju Daryani, EVP, Head of Intellect Digital Core, iGCB for Intellect Design Arena.
Ali Hussein, Chairman of Association of Fintech in Kenya, Executive Board Member of Africa Fintech Network, Co-Founder and CEO of Kipochi
Tech start-ups in Africa raised just over $2 billion in funding in 2021, more than 200% over 2020's funding, with FinTechs securing the lion’s share of those investments. The ecosystem is set to drive innovation and open new opportunities across the continent thanks to advanced payments technology and fast-growing trends like digital currencies. IBSi reporter Gaia Lamperti and Ali Hussein, Chairman of Association of Fintech in Kenya and CEO of Kipochi, discussed the present and future of the payments vertical in Africa.
Kelly Parkhurst, Head of Product Design, Absa
The adoption of FinTech in Africa has been widespread. Looking back on 2021, FinTechs in Africa overshadowed all other startups in funding, raising close to $5 billion. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kelly Parkhurst, Head of Product Design for African financial services group Absa about how the continent can leverage the growth of FinTech to support financial inclusion and economic growth.
Blake Kannady, Chief Product Officer, Intelliflo
In a recent survey Intelliflo found that nearly 3 in 5 respondents wanted financial advice but did not know how to access it. Within that cohort, over 70% of millennials and Gen Z reported this challenge. This financial advice gap presents an opportunity for banks and others to engage with these younger generations. How institutions should go about doing this is under the spotlight in this conversation between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Blake Kannady, Chief Product Officer of Intelliflo.
Chermaine Hu, Co-Founder and CFO, Episode Six
According to a recent study commissioned by Texas-based payments technology company Episode Six, by 2030, 74% of consumer payments will be handled by non-traditional financial service providers. This means that financial institutions will have to equip themselves with a ‘future-ready’ payments infrastructure that enable payments anywhere and everywhere for any possible present and future asset class. In conversation with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, Chermaine Hu, Episode Six’s Co-Founder and CFO, discussed the study’s findings and the payments landscape of the future.
Tony Craddock, Director General, The Payments Association
The 10th annual Pay360 event, hosted by The Payments Association, took place on 22 March in London. The event brought together some 1,500 representatives from across the payments’ ecosystem. Tony Craddock, Director General of The Payments Association discusses what was on the agenda with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Charles McManus, CEO, ClearBank
After securing a £175 million equity investment, in a round led by funds advised by Apax Digital, and with the participation of CFFI UK Ventures Ltd and PPF Financial Holdings BV, clearing and embedded banking platform ClearBank is set to accelerate international growth and expand its range of product and services. IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti interviewed CEO Charles McManus who reflected on the journey behind the company’s rapid growth.
Isabelle Bouille, Principal Product Manager, BNY Mellon
The migration later this year to the new data-rich financial messaging standard ISO 20022 will transform global payments, revolutionising how banks process transactions with more robust, structured and comprehensive payment messages. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the ISO 20022 migration with Isabelle Bouille, Principal Product Manager with BNY Mellon.
Carol Houle, SVP, Global Head of Financial Services & Insurance, Atos; Olaf Badstuebner, Risk & Compliance Partner, Atos
Some 2%-5% of global GDP is estimated to be laundered annually – ‘a clear and present threat’ to the financial system according to EU Commissioner for Financial Services Mairead McGuinness. What is the role of emerging digital technologies in combatting fraud and financial crime, a traditionally resource-intensive and costly endeavour for banks and financial institutions? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Carol Houle, SVP, Global Head of Financial Services & Insurance (pictured) and Olaf Badstuebner, Risk & Compliance Partner, Atos, about improving both the regulatory and industry approach to tackling financial crime.
Carol Hamilton, SVP Global Solutions at Provenir
Provenir, a provider of AI-powered risk decisioning software, recently released the findings of a survey that showed only 18% of FinTechs and financial services institutions believe their credit risk models are accurate at least 75% of the time. The study also highlighted a growing appetite for AI predictive analytics and machine learning data integration together with the use of alternative data to improve credit risk decisioning. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Carol Hamilton, SVP Global Solutions at Provenir.
Tamer Al Mauge, Managing Director MENA, Codebase Technologies
The banking and financial services sector around the world faces a large and still growing regulatory regime from both domestic and international regulators. Tamer Al Mauge, Managing Director MENA of Codebase Technologies speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the regulatory environment in the MENA region and the challenges for both regulators and banks in RegTech implementation in the Middle East.
Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr and published author
In her +10 years of experience working as a recruiter placing technologists in the financial services industry, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, has witnessed the wins and the losses of the efforts to make FinTech inclusive and accessible to all. In her recently published book ‘Fintech Women Walk the Talk’, Edwards-Dashti celebrates the women that are driving equitable and tangible change in FinTech, with eye-opening case studies and revealing marketplace insights. In conversation with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, the author reflects on the industry’s DE&I progress, between difficulties and realistic solutions.
Ana Quirola, Business Development, Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Channels Manager, COBIS
At the latest Global FinTech Innovation Awards, COBIS, a leading core banking solutions provider in the Latin American market, won the award for Most Innovative Cloud Deployment for Banco Santander Peru’s SURGIR project. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the solution behind the award, COBIS Serverless, with Ana Quirola, Business Development, Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Channels Manager of COBIS.
Sandeep Bagaria, Chief Executive Officer, Tagit
Tagit works with banks in Asia, the Middle East and Africa to bring their digital strategy to life with secure and scalable omnichannel digital solutions. The company picked up the award for Most Effective Bank-FinTech Partnership at the last Global FinTech Innovation Awards for its project with India’s AU Small Finance Bank. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses how banks need to prepare for the future with Sandeep Bagaria, Chief Executive Officer of Tagit.
Altin Kadareja, Founder & CEO, CardoAI
Ask anyone in in the private debt market just how big it is, and you’ll get different answers each time, but it is big, opaque, and not standardised. And Europe accounts for around two-thirds of it. On the buyside, institutional investors, banks and credit servicers need to improve how they manage private debt investments, and on the sellside, corporates and SMEs are looking for keener pricing and access to more funds. Altin Kadareja of Cardo AI suggests to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that what Europe needs is a standardised risk model. His firm has spent the last 4 years developing an AI algorithm that takes and interprets data from more than 80 private debt information sources.
Paul Nilsen, Commercial Director, MD Africa, CIS & Global SaaS, Codebase Technologies
Interest is growing in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions in order to meet the needs and expectations of the next generation of consumers, not least in Africa, which has the youngest population. It is estimated that 70% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 30. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses what that means for the neobanks, banks and telcos looking for a piece of the digital action with Paul Nilsen, Commercial Director, MD Africa, CIS & Global SaaS for Codebase Technologies.
Kosta Du, CEO, Dapio
The coming ‘Tap to Pay’ smartphone payments tech wave, reinforced by Apple’s recent announcement of turning iPhones into payment terminals, offers an instant service at the tap of a mobile device. What will this mean for merchants, especially small/micro businesses, gig economy workers and sole traders? We discussed the potential for this solution to make payments more accessible with Kosta Du, CEO of Dapio, a SoftPOS payment engine for business apps.
Marina Goche, CEO, Sentifi
Sentifi is one of the leaders in the fast-growing alternative data sector and its data and analysis are formed from millions of different online sources, including forums like Reddit as well as blogs and social media. The company’s data are already being used by a range of institutional and retail investors to better understand the underlying price signals and sentiment in over 50,000 stocks, commodities, currencies, and cryptocurrencies. Marina Goche, Sentifi's CEO discussed with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti the key role that alternative data played during and after the pandemic in tracking new trends, identifying risk, and providing real-time ESG scores that informed investors’ decisions.
Jason O’Shaughnessy, Head of International Business, Envestnet/Yodlee
Financial wellness for many is currently at risk. The combination of the aftereffects of the pandemic and of a spike in energy prices because of the war in Ukraine are hitting consumers hard. Financial literacy remains an issue and, there is an onus on financial institutions and FinTechs to help. Banks may use data analytics to identify consumer trends, empower consumers and take personal financial management to the next level, providing actionable advice tailored to customer circumstances. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses financial wellness with Jason O’Shaughnessy, Head of International Business at data aggregation specialist Envestnet/Yodlee.
Anurag Sinha, Co-Founder & CEO, FPL Technologies
FPL Technologies is a FinTech startup based in Pune, India. The firm has two products, the app based credit card OneCard and OneScore, an app that allows consumers to monitor and improve their credit scores. The firm recently completed its Series C funding round, raising $75 million. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with FPL Technologies’ CEO Anurag Sinha about the current limits on credit card penetration in India, how the company plans to grow and the market potential.
Igal Rotem, Chief Executive Officer, Finaro
Payments’ provider Finaro is being acquired by Shift4 in a deal valuing the company at $575 million. The takeover follows just a few short months after a rebranding exercise in which Finaro became the new name for Credorax. Together, Shift4 and Finaro are leading players in both card-present and card-not-present experience across a range of verticals. Not content with these headlines, Finaro committed in January, in concert with GoTo and Mastercard, to the planting of 1 million trees by 2025. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence quizzed Igal Rotem, CEO of Finaro about these developments, beginning with the takeover by Shift4.
Laurent Descout, Founder & CEO, Neo
With the one-year anniversary of the end of the Brexit transition period, we take a look at what’s changed in the world of cross-border payments as a result of Brexit. That’s in the past, looking to the present and the future we also investigate how the war in Ukraine is affecting payments and international corporates with Laurent Descout, Founder and CEO of payments and FX platform Neo.
Michael Vrontamitis, Lead Industry Principal, Lending Business Unit, Finastra
After a 25-year career in trade finance, including as co-Chair of the ICC Banking Commission’s digitalisation in trade finance working group, Michael Vrontamitis joined Finastra as Lead Industry Principal of the tech provider’s Lending Business Unit. He discusses the tech opportunities and challenges in corporate banking with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Liam Jeffs, Sales Director, Icon Solutions
Icon Solutions’ IPF is a cloud-native, collaborative payments platform. The firm recently won the award for ‘most impactful project in the category Best Payment Hub/Wholesale Payments Implementation in the 3rd Global FinTech Innovation Awards. The project was for the implementation of IPF for BNP Paribas. Liam Jeffs, Sales Director at Icon Solutions discusses all things payments with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Gabriele Columbro, Executive Director, FINOS
In January 2022, the White House convened an important cross-section of the Open Source developer and commercial ecosystem with top officials that saw the Linux Foundation, a non-profit technology consortium, reinforcing the importance Open Source Security in financial services. Gabriele Columbro, Executive Director of FINOS, the financial sector arm of the Linux Foundation, discusses the key role of open sourcing in today’s modern economy and governance, as FINOS and the Linux Foundation continue to be at the forefront of this movement.
Tom Bentley, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodeno
Retailers are increasingly stepping into the financial services space by embedding financial products within their customer experience. What does that mean for banks and BaaS? Which services will flourish? Tom Bentley, Chief Commercial Officer of Vodeno believes the ones to watch are decoupled debit, B2B BNPL and merchant financing. He outlined the potential benefits of BaaS and the future of FinTech-driven retail to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Matthew Coquillon, CEO and Co-Founder, Mama Money
The international remittances market in South Africa is estimated at around $1.9 billion per annum, a figure that excludes the country’s vibrant informal money transfer segment, and that is based on an expanding migrant population of about 3.2 million. Mama Money, a Cape Town-headquartered social business and money transfer operator, helps foreign nationals to send money home to support their families across the continent in an easy, safe and low-cost way. Founded in 2013 by social entrepreneurs Matthew Coquillon and Raphael Grojnowski with no external founding, the company is now expanded its service offering, providing a banking platform for its customers. CEO Matthew Coquillon spoke about the journey with Gaia Lamperti, IBS Intelligence’s Reporter.
Jean-Philippe Bersier, Director, Business Development; Benoît Jacquat, Director, ERI
ERI won twice at the IBSi Global Fintech Innovation Awards 2021. Both awards recognised its work with Stern International Bank in the US. ERI’s solutions offered a one stop-shop covering all business functions and enabled Stern International Bank to have a master online account with the New York Federal Reserve to process USD payments and other transactions as a direct clearer in the US financial system. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with ERI’s Jean-Philippe Bersier, Director, Business Development (pictured), and Benoît Jacquat, Director, ERI, beginning with a broad discussion of the digital payments landscape.
Rajesh Mirjankar, Chief Executive Officer, Kiya.ai
Kiya.ai is the new identity for Infrasoft Technologies, together with the tag line ‘Digital future made real’. So, what is behind the new brand and what message is being sent by Kiya.ai, which describes itself as an ai-based omnichannel and open finance solution? Rajesh Mirjankar, CEO of Kiya.ai has embraced artificial intelligence and the opportunities it presents to take digital banking to the next level with enthusiasm and he explained the logic of the company’s new identity to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Al Lukies, CBE, Founder & CEO, Pollinate, and Chair of the FinTech Alliance
Regulation is coming to the BNPL sector. That is inevitable but what will it mean and how will it impact the industry? What is certain is that a lucrative financial product has been established and that banks are late to the party. Some may say ‘again’. This underlines the importance of understanding the true value of customer data if established banks are to compete successfully against FinTechs like the buy now pay later operators. It is more important than ever to be able to have a holistic view of banking customers to help drive profitability. Al Lukies, CBE, Founder and CEO of payments platform Pollinate, and Chair of the FinTech Alliance, discussed the issues with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Michael Chin, Chief Executive Officer, Broadway Technology
Electronification is coming to the fixed income market, but fully automated trading is unlikely to replace human-to-human interaction completely. Quite simply the deals are too complex, too big and, in some cases, too illiquid to be easily encompassed by the kind of trading software solutions that dominate the equities markets. However, that said, the next stage of fixed income electronification will tackle some of the more complex instruments and trading strategies as Michael Chin, CEO of Broadway Technology told Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Jeroen Plag, Head of Corporate Strategy, ING Group
How can banks stay a step ahead of the changes and evolutions in the financial services world and deliver products that customers really need? What does “Innovation” mean in 2022 and how can it be implemented across different verticals? Jeroen Plag, Head of Corporate Strategy at ING Group, explains to Gaia Lamperti, IBS Intelligence’s Reporter, how the bank is creating better customer experiences by embracing innovation with its dedicated business area ING Neo.
Sylvain Forté, Co-Founder & CEO, SESAMm
What if you could analyse, in real-time, billions of articles and messages from the web using natural language processing techniques to identify key trends and investment opportunities in both private and public companies, as well as using AI and machine learning to build investment strategies? Well, you can. Sylvain Forté, Co-Founder and CEO of SESAMm explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how it can be done.
Barry Kirby, SVP Business Development & Sales, Cunexus; Greg Bierl, SVP & Counsel, Compliance Systems
Compliance Systems is a provider of financial transaction technology focusing on financial transaction data analysis and documentation. The firm has come together with Cunexus, which offers a digital storefront for financial institutions’ customers and members, addressing the need for a personalised, on-demand banking experience. The two aim to make the credit application process faster and more transparent for customers. Barry Kirby (pictured) of Cunexus and Greg Bierl of Compliance Systems explain the issues, the challenges, and the solutions to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Federico Baradello, Founder and CEO, Finalis
The labour shortage issue in the financial services industry caused by the pandemic and widespread dissatisfaction with work-life balance has opened a unique opportunity for technology and service providers to step in and create a new era of FinTech banking services. Federico Baradello, Founder and CEO of Finalis, an investment-banking-as-a-service platform for dealmakers, commented on the new sectorial trends sparked by recruitment difficulties with Gaia Lamperti, IBSi’s Reporter.
Ozan Øzerk, Founder, OpenPayd
UK brands will claim lion’s share of £619 billion European embedded financial services market in the next five years, according to new data collected by OpenPayd, a leading global payments and BaaS platform. In conversation with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, the company’s Founder Ozan Øzerk commented on the research’s findings and offered an outlook of upcoming trends in the embedded finance landscape.
Reed Taussig, Chief Executive Officer, Outseer
More than 17 million UK customers have used BNPL products, and many banks are moving into the field to compete with the likes of Klarna and Clearpay. Growth in fraud is inevitable, including the creation of fake accounts to purchase high-value items and the hijacking of existing customer accounts. So, what can be done to protect both merchants and consumers, as well as banks themselves? As Reed Taussig, CEO of Outseer, tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, machine learning tools may be used to determine the likelihood of a transaction being fraudulent. Firms may also opt for biometric facial detection capabilities to enrol new account holders.
Hitesh Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, BestEx Research
The days of algo trading solutions provided by big banks and brokers may be numbered. Competitive trading technology is being created by companies that focus solely on developing trading solutions. These pure-play software providers may well provide more transparent, more effective solutions for institutions rather than those offered by the traditional leaders in the algo trading space. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the future of algorithmic trading with Hitesh Mittal, CEO of BestEx Research.
Stephen Ferry, Managing Director, Pay360 by Capita
An overwhelming majority of consumers around the world expect their reliance on digital services to at least stay the same as during the pandemic, if not increase further over the next 12 months. Digitalisation is no longer about having a competitive edge. It’s about business resilience. It also means merchants have an urgent need to choose secure payment solutions that offer seamless payment experiences across all payment channels. Payment can no longer be viewed as a standalone bolt-on to the customer journey. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the digitalisation of payments with Stephen Ferry, Managing Director of Pay 360 by Capita.
Jay Dubina, CFCI, CCCI, Fraud System Administrator Manager, Jack Henry & Associates
Technology can only go so far in protecting against fraud. We review the current trends in card fraud, including social engineering, card cracking and SIM swapping – in all cases the most powerful preventive tool that banks and financial services companies can employ is consumer education. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jay Dubina, CFCI, CCCI, Fraud System Administrator Manager at Jack Henry & Associates.
Jan Gonnissen, Director Payments and Financial Messaging, Broadridge
Faced with a dynamically evolving payments industry, downward pressure on pricing and heightened client service expectations, European banks are turning to mutualised shared service models such as Payments as a Service and BPO to drive their transformation programmes. However, what are these challenges that Europe’s banks face in the payments market and what can they start to do to mitigate the impact of regulatory change and keep up with market developments? Robin Amlôt, Managing Editor of IBS Intelligence, analyses these key themes with Jan Gonnissen, Director Payments and Financial Messaging at Broadridge. Learn more by reading the white paperThe European payments industry is in a state of flux.
Caleb Sheridan, Core Developer, Eden Network
As ETH 2.0 is still in process, the Ethereum network upgrade will introduce a new set of considerations regarding how transactions are ordered and added to the blockchain. The upgrade will culminate into the transfer from proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to proof-of-stake (PoS), making the network more scalable, secure, and sustainable. Caleb Sheridan, Core Developer at new priority transaction network Eden Network, delves into the topic with Gaia Lamperti, IBS Intelligence’s Reporter.
Yusuf Ozdalga, Partner, QED Investors
What makes a successful FinTech investment? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence asked Yusuf Ozdalga, London-based Partner at QED Investors with a focus on European financial technology and consumer finance companies. Ozdalga joined QED in 2017, and his career has spanned roles as an operator, advisor, entrepreneur and investor. His current portfolio of investments includes Wagestream, GetGround, Wayflyer, Fidel API and Weavr.
Billy Sebell, Head of Ecosystem Development, XDC Network
Trade finance processes have been traditionally offline and myopic, precluding smaller business participants in remote locations who lack access to financial services. Fostering a decentralised, and peer-to-peer approach will expand accessibility to everyone, particularly SMEs who struggle to access the trade finance market. Billy Sebell, Head of Ecosystem Development at XDC Network, explains to IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti how the company executed one of the first NFT-based invoice financing trades, establishing a precedent for all future trade finance transactions.
Asheesh Chanda, Founder & CEO, Kristal.AI
India’s emerging affluent young investors are looking to investment alternatives and international markets, desiring access to high-potential startups and private companies. Many seek opportunities to invest in private equity, pre-IPO deals, VC funds and multiple global stock markets. Their outlook is international in their own businesses, and they want an equally international outlook for their investments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the opportunities for the emerging affluent with Asheesh Chanda, Founder and CEO of wealth platform Kristal.AI.
Pankaj Balani, CEO, Delta Exchange
Interest in crypto derivatives is surging as investors show an appetite to trade on the movement of Bitcoin prices without actually having to hold the cryptocurrency itself. Pankaj Balani, CEO of leading derivatives exchange Delta Exchange, discusses how crypto derivatives has evolved as an industry, the explosive growth of Bitcoin Future volumes, and some of the trends the exchange is expecting for the year to come.
Martin Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Identity Net
Digital identity hit the headlines in the UK towards the end of 2021 with a row over proposals for a Covid passport, raising concerns about data privacy. However, what many people fail to realise is that they have already given their identity data away with each of us having an estimated 200 digital identities online. What is needed is the ability to prove identity while retaining full control over identity data. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the challenge and the opportunity with Martin Wilson, CEO of Digital Identity Net.
Richard Meeus, Director of Security & Technology Strategy, Akamai Technologies
Nearly four in five UK adults (78%) use online banking services at least once per week, and over half (58%) of those who bank online reported receiving scam attempts via email or SMS text message at least once per week, according to Akamai Technologies. So, what needs to be done to improve cybersecurity and how can banks be more cyber resilient? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Richard Meeus, Director of Security & Technology Strategy at Akamai Technologies.
Nicole Meyers, VP Strategic Account Management, Personetics
Personetics is the leading global provider of data-driven personalisation and customer engagement solutions for the financial services industry, with bank customers worldwide. In a conversation with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, Nicole Meyers, VP Strategic Account Management at Personetics, discusses the rise of conscious consumerism and green banking, tapping into her decennial experience working in consumer banking strategy and operations.
Camilla Falkenberg, Co-founder, Female Invest
Founded in 2017, Female Invest is Europe’s largest financial education platform and community for women. The firm is empowering women to increase their understanding of personal finance and investing in a world where almost three quarters of stocks are owned by male investors. Camilla Falkenberg, Female Invest’s Co-Founder, discusses the company’s mission with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Harpreet Singh, Business Head – Digital Lending & Cards, Intellect Design Arena
Security and scaleability are the watchwords but banks also need a fast, efficient credit decisioning process. Consumers are used to dealing with BigTech firms that respond in seconds. They are no longer prepared to wait days for decisions whether in their personal or business lives. Nor are they likely to be satisfied with traditional lending products in the coming era of hyperpersonalisation. Harpreet Singh, Business Head – Digital Lending & Cards at Intellect Design Arena, takes Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence through the key lending trends and technologies in play.
Jonathan Wilson, Chief of Risk & Compliance, AU10TIX
While AI has been touted as the big answer to fraud in banking and financial services, bad actors are also embracing new AI technologies so what steps can be taken to combat this? Data privacy is a big issue. But there are solutions that institutions and individuals can implement to limit their vulnerabilities. Jonathan Wilson, Chief of Risk & Compliance at identity verification provider AU10TIX discusses the threats and potential answers with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Matt Rowsell, Chief Product Officer Merchant Services, nets
So the pandemic introduced everybody to online transactions but what are the next steps in digital payments? Will transactions involving digital currencies and/or cryptocurrency become next evolution in payments. What learnings are there from chip & PIN and the introduction of contactless payments for the banking sector with the prospect of further development in digital payments? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence seeks answers to these and other questions from Matt Rowsell, Chief Product Officer at nets.
Gabriele Sabato, Founder and CEO, Wiserfunding
Brief glimpses of positive economic indicators after the pandemic have quickly been overshadowed by inflation fears, labour shortages and supply chain issues that could set the UK on course for a sustained period of stagnation. In this context, what’s in store for SMEs when the government support that has been artificially keeping them alive during these months will withdraw? Gabriele Sabato, Co-Founder and CEO of Wiserfunding, tries to answer the daunting question.
Angela Koll, Senior Business Expert for Trade & Supply Chain Finance, Commerzbank
The Marco Polo Payment Commitment is a blockchain solution for trade finance, originally established in 2017 by Commerzbank, members of the R3 Blockchain Fintech Consortium and representatives of European and Asian banks. Angela Koll, Senior Business Expert for Trade and Supply Chain Finance at Commerzbank is a co-founder of the Marco Polo Network. She explains the need for and benefits of digitisation in trade finance to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Bob Dowd, Chief Executive Officer, moneycorp Americas
The B2B payments landscape changed in the wake of the pandemic but implementation of technology in B2B payments hasn’t grabbed headlines in the way B2C payments have. That looks set to change with rising demand for modernised payments infrastructure and digitisation at all points of sale. Bob Dowd, Chief Executive Officer of moneycorp Americas shares his thoughts with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Rodrigo Vicuna, Chief Financial Officer, Prime Trust
This year will see increasing adoption of digital assets while innovation in FinTech will see services become commoditised, an increasing focus on retail ‘hobby’ investors and a move away from institutional investors, and further evolution in digital currencies. That’s the gospel according to Prime Trust, a US-based infrastructure platform for FinTech and crypto businesses. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses these trends and more with Rodrigo Vicuna, Chief Financial Officer of Prime Trust.
Daniel Kornitzer, Chief Business Development Officer, Paysafe
The pandemic has seen many businesses accelerate plans to upgrade their online checkouts as consumer payment preferences have evolved. Analysis of ecommerce trends by payments platform Paysafe, published in Lost in Transaction shows SMEs globally ranking reliability, cost and security as their top 3 priorities in payment partners. Alongside fraud prevention, reduction in cart abandonment rates are also key issues. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Daniel Kornitzer, Chief Business Development Officer at Paysafe.
Alessandro Tonchia, Head of Strategy, Private Banking & Wealth, InvestCloud
Wealth management firms are not yet using the knowledge they have to boost client interaction. Too much of what they know resides in the heads of wealth managers, private bankers and relationship managers rather than in a database the firm itself can leverage. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Alessandro Tonchia, Head of Strategy, Private Banking & Wealth at InvestCloud, which specialises in SaaS and BPaaS solutions for the financial industry.
Scott Eaton, CEO, Nivaura
Nivaura is digitising capital markets and simplifying processes to allow transactions to flow unfettered through financial channels, dramatically reducing the time and cost of capital markets transactions. The company’s CEO Scott Eaton spoke to IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti about the improvements that can be made to ensure efficiency in primary markets with the use of distributed ledger technology.
Piers Marais, Product Director, Currencycloud
Just 1 in 4 consumers say they prefer to buy their products and services from a single company, yet about 88% of financial services companies see themselves as a one-stop-shop. The figures were among the findings of B2B Payments firm Currencycloud’s recent report ‘Elastic Bundling in Financial Services.’ In an interview with Gaia Lamperti, IBS Intelligence Reporter, Piers Marais, Product Director at Currencycloud, illustrates industry trends related to bundled products and services in FinTech, from both the consumers and bussinesses’ perspective.
David Messenger, CEO, LianLian Global
With the recent Chinese regulatory crackdowns on a lot of sectors, it has become essential for foreign companies in business with the country to understand the emphasis on new regulations. Cross-border payments company LianLian Global is based in Hangzhou and helps its global customers to break into the Chinese market. CEO David Messenger discusses with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti how small and medium business in financial services can navigate the regulatory system when it comes to cross-border payments with China.
James Booth, VP Head of Partnerships, PPRO
Global provider of local payments infrastructure PPRO recently published its annual Almanac, a study expecting a 70% growth of digital payments in Europe in the next five years, as well as tracking the rise of ecommerce and changes in consumer behaviour. IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti discussed the findings and how the payment landscape might look like in 2022 with James Booth, VP Head of Partnerships at PPRO.
Michele Schueli, Founder and Managing Partner of Armyn Capital
2021 was the year we had to unlearn everything we knew about venture capital. Over the past 12 months, the VC industry changed very quickly, with new challenger players like Tiger Global sparking change and old firms struggling to adapt to the new rhythms. In an interview with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, Michele Schueli, Founder and Managing Partner of FinTech- focused VC fund Armyn Capital, discussed the past, present and future of the industry and how digital investment platforms are opening new opportunities to invest in high growth technology companies.
Marshall Choy, SVP Product, SambaNova Systems
US firm SambaNova Systems is building what is being claimed as Europe’s fastest AI supercomputer for Hungary’s OTP Bank. The partnership between the two will deploy a multi-rack AI system, built on SambaNova Dataflow-as-a-Service GPT, offering the most advanced language model in the world at a commercial bank. The system will also be provided as a national AI resource in cooperation with Hungary’s Ministry for Innovation and Technology. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the impact of AI on banking with Marshall Choy, SVP Product at SambaNova Systems.
Terry Duffy, SVP & GM, Digital First Software & Services, NCR
Personalisation will mature in 2022 with financial wellness initiatives leading the way but while the rush to digital will continue, in the US, physical will also transform with merged channels and more connected user experiences. Look for banks and credit unions to solidify their crypto strategies and embrace the as-a-service model. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses these issues and more with Terry Duffy, SVP & GM, Digital First Software & Services of NCR.
Luke Massie, CEO, VibePay
From open banking to embedded finance, payments are part of the conversation, and the financial technology sector needs to remember why its customers behave the way they do. The pandemic has also seen the rapid rise of a ‘creator’ economy online. These topics, the race to become Europe’s super app and more in this conversation between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Luke Massie, CEO of VibePay.
Monica Eaton-Cardone, Co-founder and COO, Chargebacks911
Shocked by the stark gender disparity within the FinTech industry where women currently make up just 7% of start-up founders, Monica Eaton-Cardone, Co-founder and COO of Chargebacks911, launched a new micro-mentorship programme called , LIFT: Elevating Women in Fintech to empower female leadership across the thriving FinTech and payments arena
Stefan Schwitter, Head of Investment Solutions, SEBA Bank
There is increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies with asset managers now viewing crypto as ‘digital gold’ and finding a corresponding commensurate place for it in their portfolios. These moves are being matched by progress in the regulation of digital assets and developments such as SEBA Bank’s crypto yield platform SEBA Earn. Robin Amlôt IBS Intelligence speaks to Stefan Schwitter, Head of Investment Solutions at SEBA Bank, a FINMA licenced Swiss Bank providing crypto and digital asset banking services.
Phani Tangirala, Senior Director, Delivery, Operations & Solutions, Expleo Solutions
Hyper-automation is a business-driven approach that should allow you to identify and automate many of your manual business processes and IT processes. It is a way of bringing together a multiplicity of technologies, tools and platforms that will improve your efficiency and speed of delivery. It is also likely to be unavoidable if you want to stay in business for the long term! Phani Tangirala, Senior Director, Delivery, Operations & Solutions of Expleo Solutions talks hyper-automation with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ron Benegbi, Founder and CEO, Uplinq
Uplinq is building solutions for small business lenders that support the underserved, unbanked, minority and immigrant small business owner, while providing insights on all other SMBs that no other company globally can offer. Ron Benegbi, Uplinq’s Founder and CEO discuss how the start-up is helping SMBs become financially viable with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Mike Yesudas, CTO, Suntec Business Solutions
2022 may be the year that highlights just how much banks still have to learn about the deployment and use of artificial intelligence. Many financial institutions have a wealth of data but huge technology gaps. They need to be able to leverage this data without jeopardising its security. The bottom line is that too often banks don’t quite have the technology to use their data intelligently. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Mike Yesudas, Chief Technology Officer of Suntec.
Abhijit Prasad, SVP Working Capital Finance, Kyriba
The trade financing gap has hit new heights during Covid-19, and SMEs are the hardest hit globally. Kyriba, an enterprise liquidity management platform, has recently launched its Working Capital Solutions, an attempt to close that gap. IBS’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti asked Abhijit Prasad, SVP Working Capital Finance at Kyriba more insights into this new product and the current state of supply chain finance.
Tim Hamilton, CEO and Co-Founder, Praxent
What makes you stand out from the crowd? If you don’t know the right answer(s) to that basic question, your bank or financial services business is likely to struggle as we head into an increase complex and competitive future. Getting the customer experience right is key – beware of the pitfalls that your past system-centric approach may create. Embedded finance is on the rise – do you have a choice whether to engage or not? These questions and others are covered in this discussion between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Tim Hamilton, CEO and Co-Founder of Praxent.
Jonathan Libby, Founder of Steady State Finance
The technology side of cryptocurrency is getting more sophisticated, with DeFi, in particular, making revolutionary bounds in the financial sector. But price-protection is necessary to guard against asset volatility, giving retail and institutional investors a chance to put their assets to work earning a yield. Steady State, a comprehensive insurance protocol funded by the people, can help negate these risks and Founder Jonathan Libby explained how to IBSi’s reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Prof. Adam Putz, Director of Research, Aumni
The median amount raised at Series A clocked in at around $14 million in the last six months, with the top decile at more than $30 million. Contrast these figures with previous bullish number such as those raised by Uber ($11 million) and Instagram ($7 million). What’s more, the valuations of the current crop of startups are accelerating even faster. What is going on? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Adam Putz, Director of Research at private capital investment analytics platform Aumni.
John Waupsh, Co-Founder, Nerve
Historically, banks offered services tailored to their local geographies. Today’s banking communities aren’t defined by rivers and railroads but by the shared experience and goals of their customers. Nerve is a mobile app that merges data from streaming revenue sources, aiming to meet the unique business needs of music professionals. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to John Waupsh, Co-Founder of Nerve.
Gary Lewis, Managing Director, Jack Henry Lending
Whether it is for asset diversification or the reallocation of credit risk, Jack Henry Lending’s Loan Marketplace centralises communications and transactions related to the purchase, sale, and trade of loans through the full spectrum of geographies, asset sizes and institution types. It creates a broad community of lenders that, together, may diversify commercial assets and better manage loan portfolio risk. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Gary Lewis, Managing Director of Jack Henry Lending.
Neil Chapman, Chief Executive Officer, Exabel
Data and analytics platform Exabel recently signed a deal under which APG, the largest pension provider in the Netherlands with some EUR 610 billion under management, will use Exabel to integrate alternative data into its investment strategy. Alternative data represents a huge opportunity for professional investors and fund managers but modelling this information in house could be an excessive drain on resources for all but the very largest investment firms. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses alternatives with Neil Chapman, CEO of Exabel.
Samir Pandiri, International President, Broadridge
As in the digital age banks and asset managers need to cut costs and streamline activities more radically, Broadridge is providing tech managed services and outsourcing in fundamentally new ways. Samir Pandiri International President of Broadridge spoke with IBSi Reporter Gaia Lamperti about how the tech acceleration is transforming financial services.
Paolo Ardoino, CTO, Bitfinex
Bitcoin was born to create a more transparent and democratic financial system. A strong supporter of this view is Paolo Ardoino, CTO at Bitfinex, one of the top cryptocurrencies and digital assets exchanges in the world. In an interview with IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, Ardoino discussed the evolution of payments systems and how cryptocurrencies’ disrupting quality has slowly but steadily started to interfere with the way the traditional financial system works.
Mark Roberts, Divisional Director, ClearCourse Payments Division
Getting paid efficiently is the life blood of business, especially for SMEs. Digital payments have evolved in recent years, but the key issue of interoperability remains largely unresolved. In the UK alone around 1.3 million payment terminals do not interact with the payment software running the business. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence addresses the issues with Mark Roberts of ClearCourse.
Gary Bond, CEO, TISAtech
TISAtech is a new generation digital marketplace connecting Financial Institutions with FinTechs to facilitate the accelerated partnering and adoption of transformational digital solutions. The platform has been designed to help financial institutions throughout the industry source, implement and manage innovative technology solutions. In an interview with Gaia Lampert, IBSi’s Reporter, CEO of TISAtech Gary Bond explained the company’s value proposition, initiatives and impact.
Keren Levy, President, Payoneer
After over 12 years in commerce tech trailblazer Payoneer, outgoing COO Keren Levy has recently been appointed President of the company. She joins the 44% of women (director level and above) making up the company’s leadership team, quite a unicum in the industry. IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti discussed with Keren Levi the importance of a diverse team as a critical component of innovation, growth and success of any business.
Brian Coburn, Chief Executive Officer, BR-DGE
Putting the power back into the hands of merchants, a payment orchestration platform allows them to integrate a variety of different payment solutions into one seamless checkout experience for the purchaser. Such a platform also frees up time and cost for the merchant, allowing them to focus on their business rather than on managing payment providers. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Brian Coburn, CEO of BR-DGE.
Jason Osborne, Global Head of Consumer & Commercial Banking, Genpact
Customers’ needs are changing, economic conditions are challenging, and technology is profoundly reshaping the future of banking. So, what do institutions need to do to develop new best practice to leverage their technology options to build and deliver digital financial services that best meet the needs of their customers? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jason Osborne, Global Head of Consumer & Commercial Banking, Genpact
Chris Catliff, President & CEO, Blueshore Financial
From opportunity comes optimism for Chris Catliff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian financial advisory firm Blueshore Financial. He discusses some of the key areas of focus for next year with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, including the impact of intergenerational wealth transfer and the need for financial institutions to focus on millennials, and within the financial advisory space, the growing importance of AI.
David Lamers, Chief Product Owner, Datakeeper
The potential market for privacy friendly data sharing and digital identity wallets is huge. Too many people are still not aware of the need to protect their personal identity. Using a digital identity wallet app can help with identification, data sharing and electronic signing but allows the consumer to retain control of their data. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues and advantages with David Lamers, Chief Product Owner at Datakeeper
Gareth Priest, Chief Platform Officer, Bottomline
Real-time payments are set to soar as the world begins to slowly emerge from the Covid-19 lockdown. With that, fraud and financial crime has increased too, significantly affecting the industry. IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti discuss how financial institutions can tackle this challenge, as well as the importance of new payment security standards with Gareth Priest, Chief Platform Officer at Bottomline.
Steffen Vollert, CTO & Co-founder, Volt
The potential for Variable Recurring Payments (VRP) to transform the payments landscape has grown since the UK Competition and Markets Authority issued a mandate of VRP for Sweeping in July. In November, the very first Open Banking VRP Hackathon focused on just how VRP will shape the payments ecosystem, looking to define the role that banks and PISPs will need to play. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Steffen Vollert, CTO and co-founder of Volt about the coming of VRP.
Sanat Rao, Chief Business Officer & Global Head, Infosys Finacle
New business model archetypes are being developed in the banking sector as digital business ecosystems reshape banking. In a report on Business Model Innovation, Infosys Finacle identified a total of 8 new business models including Banking-as-a-Service, Marketplace Banking, Banking Utilities, Digital Financial Advisor, and more. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the new archetypes and examples being implemented by banks around the world, with Sanat Rao, Chief Business Officer and Global Head of Infosys Finacle.
David O’Neill, CEO, APImetrics
Better standards for API measurement, particularly in the area of open banking are necessary. In fact, there are no real standards on what should be measured, how it should be measured and how to read those measurements! Without such standards, we will continue to see disagreement between providers and no way for regulators, especially in financial services, to talk about what is happening and what needs to happen. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to David O’Neill, CEO of APImetrics.
Jouk Pleiter, CEO, Backbase
Backbase’s Engagement Platform will serve as the engagement layer of Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services for banks which adopt Microsoft’s industry cloud solution. What’s the significance of this collaboration and, more broadly, what are the current trends in banking technology? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues and how customer requirements are forcing banks to re-think historically product-centric ways of doing business with Jouk Pleiter, CEO of Backbase
Max Alvisini, SVP Europe CIS & Africa, Western Union
Global cross-border payments are expected to reach $156 trillion in 2022. Banks and financial institutions must leverage technology to remain competitive and compliant as new players enter the market. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Max Alvisini, SVP Europe CIS & Africa at Western Union about the current state of the cross-border payments industry and what the pandemic has meant for payments volumes and values.
Mandar Agashe, Founder, Sarvatra Technologies
Sarvatra Technologies is an India-based end-to-end solutions provider focused on enabling ‘Next-Generation Banking’ technology. The firm enables modern switching and payment services for over 600+ banks across India. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the importance of digital payments technology in the Indian economy with Mandar Agashe, Founder, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Sarvatra Technologies.
Jessie Danyi, Head of People, Pleo
Lack of transparency in company spending can lead to employees’ financial stress and frustration due to paying out of their pockets. Danish FinTech unicorn Pleo aims to ensure transparency, automation and autonomy through the giving of both company cards and spending independence at all levels. IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti discussed Pleo’s mission to combat employee financial stress and create efficient systems to help finance teams gain back time with the company’s Head of People, Jessie Danyi.
Pranav Sood, VP Small Business, GoCardless
New research from GoCardless, a global FinTech in account-to-account payments, has revealed that the stigma attached to talking about money has left British small businesses vastly under- and unpaid. According to the findings, 29% of SME leaders feel uncomfortable asking customers for payment and nearly three-quarters are willing to forgo up to 10% of their annual turnover to avoid an awkward money conversation. Pranav Sood, VP Small Business at GoCardless explained to IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti how automation and payment intelligence tools can provide a solution to the issue, reducing the rate of failed payments to SMEs.
Ran Goldi, CEO, First - Digital Assets Group
First DAG is developing the first global digital payment platform for PSPs and Acquirers, providing developers with the tools they need to make it safe and simple for merchants to accept digital payments, such as Diem. In fact the company is the principal payment rail for the soon-to-be-launched Diem Association-backed stablecoin. Since establishment, First DAG has raised more than $21 million from super-angel investors and leading VCs such as TargetGlobal, Yariv Gilat, and Sir Ronald Cohen. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the future of payments with Ran Goldi, CEO of First – Digital Assets Group.
Corey Gross, CEO, Sensibill
The Barcode Report aims to deliver insights on everyday consumer spending, breaking down spend data into actionable insights and trends thanks to a database of receipts and transactions from 220,000 merchants worldwide, including 96% of the top 100 in the US. Understanding how and on what consumers and businesses are spending their money are key factors in being able to tailor and personalise your products to your customers. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the importance of customer data with Corey Gross, CEO of Sensibill.
Kiran Kumar, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Profinch Solutions
Too much data across banking systems is still being left unused. This leaves institutions reliant on slow manual processes to produce required reports while, at the same time, missing out on potential profitable business and product developments that can improve and expand customer experience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Kiran Kumar, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Profinch Solutions.
Torben Sauer, CEO, Conpend
Consulting firm CGI and AI for trade finance solutions provider Conpend collaborated on a pilot programme of intelligent process automation for trade finance documents with 2 Canadian banks, Bank of Montreal and National Bank of Canada. The aim was to assist the banks with the automation of document flows to improve their trade finance operations, compliance and relationship management. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Torben Sauer, CEO of Conpend about what the pilot project could mean for trade finance around the world.
Aaron Tilton, CEO, SmartFi
US firm SmartFi offers crypto collateralised loans to business, a product that has proved popular in the crypto mining community around the world. The firm claims to be a unique monetary system that combines monetary policy with the freedoms of cryptocurrency to create a self-sustaining open-lending platform. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Aaron Tilton, CEO of Utah-based SmartFi.
Phil Flood, Global Business Development Director, Regulatory & STP Services, Gresham Technologies
In a global landscape characterised by regulatory complexity and scrutiny, poor data management practices, manual processes and a lack of quality control all mean that data integrity is often compromised. Add in regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU and the issue of data quality is a bigger problem now than ever before. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Phil Flood, Global Business Development Director, Regulatory & STP Services at Gresham Technologies.
Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-Founder, Biz2X
A key component of Biz2X's ability to improve process efficiency for loan applications is its use of artificial intelligence to digitise and analyse customer information. Its proprietary AI/ML model powers small business lending at brands like HSBC and Popular Bank, among others. IBSi’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti asked Rohit Arora, Biz2X’s CEO and Co-Founder, about the company’s enhanced loan management system and how to balance automated processes with human intervention.
Han Kao, Founder & CEO, Sanctor Capital
In an interview with Gaia Lamperti of IBSi, Han Kao, CEO and Founder of Sanctor Capital, explored trends and risks related to the NFT space, as well as its potential to drive cryptocurrencies’ mass adoption. With an increased amount of capital and users piling into the space, NFTs are becoming an exciting trend to watch, as it generates more and more interaction with blockchain technologies. But caution is needed as the market is not as liquid as many people think, and investors should be wary of which kind of NFTs they buy.
James Hickman, COO, Ecospend
‘Pay by bank’ is one of the key services being offered by TPPs in open banking. One such company, UK-based Ecospend, recently announced its latest partnership, with London Mutual Credit Union. However, Ecospend ought perhaps to be best known for being selected by the UK tax authority, HMRC, as the exclusive provider of API technology to the UK government for payment initiations across all HMRC’s tax regimes. In 6 months Ecospend processed over £1 billion in open banking payments in what is a first-of-its-kind contract with any government around the world. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to James Hickman, Chief Operating Officer of Ecospend
Shiran Moodley, Co-Head of Sustainable Finance, Absa
How should Africa’s financial system encourage investment into the continent to help drive inclusive growth? Where does the responsibility for enabling a sustainable future lie and how can financial institutions and banks help ensure that no-one gets left behind? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Shiran Moodley, Co-Head of Sustainable Finance at Absa.
Justin Fraser, VP Commercial & Business Development, Paysafe
Insurance had lagged the banking sector in embracing digital transformation. However, the sector has now woken up to the challenges of the pandemic, changing consumer attitudes, and InsurTech challengers. In a white paper entitled Putting the insurance industry back in safe hands: the role of payments in digital transformation, Paysafe delves into how the insurance world is changing and the role of payments in transforming insurance and understanding the value of payments will be a key differentiator in the battle for market share. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Justin Fraser, VP Commercial & Business Development of Paysafe.
Michel Roig, VP, Head of Business Line Payments & Access, Fingerprints
Research by Fingerprints in collaboration with Kantar shows an increasing appetite for biometric payment cards among French consumers thanks to the balance of security and convenience they offer for in-store payments. The analysis shows 59% of consumers would say ‘yes’ to a biometric payment card, up 8% on a year earlier. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Michel Roig, VP, Head of Business Line Payments & Access for Fingerprints about the report’s finding and the attractions of biometric payment cards.
Avinash Godkhindi, MD & CEO, Zaggle
With recently launching ZikZuk and foraying into the Neo Banking space in India, FinTech Zaggle is looking to disrupt the Indian FinTech industry. The company learnt about the challenges faced by Founders to access credit, to meet their business expenses and also manage their working capital. Leandra Monteiro of IBSi discusses the same with Avinash Godkhindi, MD & CEO of Zaggle.
Georg Westin, CEO, Maxify
Maxify is a Swedish venture capital firm specialising in early-stage investments and innovative product development. CEO Georg Westin himself has a clutch of successful past exits. Now, through Maxify he is seeking to champion new kinds of business and fresh economic models. By supporting innovative technologists with a mix of pre-seed or seed funding and mentoring, he is looking to support entrepreneurs who have the ‘wow’ factor but who need guidance as well as capital investment. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Georg Westin, CEO of Maxify.
Bruno Cambounet, Head of Research, Sopra Banking Software
Open finance is the next evolution of open banking. However, consumers and banks are only beginning to get to grips with open banking itself. Does the industry need to educate consumers more or is the label ‘open’ not important to banking customers? Bruno Cambounet, Head of Research at Sopra Banking Software tells Robin Amlôt that he reckons the race to open finance is on and that banks need to be on board.
Jack Momose, CEO, Degica
From an in-house solution to online payments, Degica has developed a global payments platform facilitating merchants’ access to Japan and Korea. Launched in 2014, KOMOJU is a platform that offers access to all major payment methods in Japan, Korea and China and incorporates FX functionalities to enable merchants based outside these countries to receive funds in their desired currency, while processing currencies native to local markets.
Matt Phillips, VP, Head of Financial Services, UK & Ireland, Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf partnered with NielsenIQ to conduct a study of 12,000 consumers in 11 countries. The report Motivations in Modern Banking - Beyond the ‘Who’: Understanding Why Consumers Respond in Certain Ways reveals 5 ‘Tech Types’ (consumer personas) and their motivations, desires and expectations around banking technology. Matt Phillips, VP, Head of Financial Services for UK and Ireland, at Diebold Nixdorf, discusses the findings with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Thanh-Long Huynh, CEO, QuantCube
Data derived from Arabic social media increases the information available on crude oil more than five-fold, claims QuantCube. Accordingly, the firm has launched a Crude Oil Risk Sentiment Indicator using natural language processing algorithms and social media analytics in both Arabic and English. Processing this data into actionable insights, QuantCube says the Indicator can offer commodity traders and hedge funds an edge in the market with derived investment signals generating consistent Alpha. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Thanh-Long Huynh, CEO of QuantCube.
Tom Thimot, CEO, authID.ai
In a survey conducted during Money 2020, authID.ai notes that most respondents expected to revaluate their enterprise security infrastructure in the coming year. The survey also showed 75% are moderately to highly concerned about risks associated with legacy data/identity protection options such as OTP and knowledge-based authentication. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Tom Thimot, CEO of authID.ai.
Marten Nelson, CEO & Co-Founder, M10 Networks
Tokenised regulated liabilities mean regulators can have their cake and eat it. The benefits of digital currencies ought to be able to be provided to individuals and businesses while retaining the 2-tier monetary system. Regulation is coming – unregulated liabilities are incompatible with existing monetary systems and payment regimes. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Marten Nelson, CEO of digital money technology provider M10 Networks.
Arun Nayyar, CEO, NeoGrowth Credit
Digital payments have the potential to become the entry point to the formal financial system for MSMEs in India, with the creation of payments track record that will allow these enterprises to borrow money without requiring the kind of documentation and data that traditional lenders normally require. Payments data thus becomes a key factor in extending financial inclusion. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Arun Nayyar, CEO of non-bank finance company NeoGrowth Credit which offers loans to the MSME sector by leveraging the digital payments ecosystem.
James Fox, Director, Enterprise Cloud, Protiviti
A report by the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (#AFME) and Protiviti outlines potential key regulatory barriers to the greater adoption of #cloudservices in #capitalmarkets and provides recommendations for policymakers, regulators, and #CloudServiceProviders (CSPs) to assist #banks with their adoption. Building Resilience in the Cloud finds that, while banks are increasing migration to the cloud and identifying solutions to address regulatory concerns, two solutions that are becoming increasingly proposed by policymakers - #portability and #multi-cloud strategies – may introduce further barriers to adoption. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with James Fox, Director, Enterprise Cloud, of Protiviti
Tarun Nazare, CEO and CO-Founder of Neokred
Neokred is a Bangalore-based Open Banking Stack which provides curated versions of issuance and acquiring side in the payment ecosystem. The company empowers corporates and FinTech start-ups to pioneer their own banking services with the help of modified tools. In an interview with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti CEO and Co-Founder Tarun Nazare explained Neokred’s vision of democratising the banking infrastructure by lubricating its interior processes through its new-age API banking account offerings.
Nikolai Hack, Head of Strategy & Partnerships, Nucoro
For consumers, the process of managing their finances is simply a means to an end – a fact that banks too easily forget. The average consumer is not interested in the tech behind the process, they simply expect to have the flexibility they want between channels, products, and propositions. Banks must step up to provide multiple channels and options that allow consumers to take control of their finances. The right solution should be about the customer experience not about the bank’s experience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nikolai Hack, Head of Strategy & Partnerships at digital investment platform Nucoro.
Kanika Hope, Chief Strategy Officer, Temenos
Banking-as-a-service (BaaS) is but one of three main platform business models that banks can follow, together with platform banking and open banking. These models are not mutually exclusive. Institutions around the world capable of adopting and adapting each to specific marketplaces and specific geographies where the best approach for the bank may be tailored to its ambitions and position in that market. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kanika Hope, Chief Strategy Officer, Temenos, and author of a recent white paper entitled Open Banking and The Rise of Banking-as-a-Service.
Milan Ganatra, Co-Founder & CEO, 1SilverBullet
1SilverBullet aims to democratise workflows through technology, building out technical infrastructure APIs to connect consumers, traditional financial institutions, and developers, building a secure and trusted layer of data flow using blockchain technologies for participation and scalability. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Milan Ganatra, Co-Founder and CEO of 1SilverBullet.
David-Jan Janse, CEO and Co-founder, SurePay
Founded in 2016, SurePay introduced the IBAN-Name Check, a Confirmation of Payee solution which is used in more than 90% of all online transactions in the Netherlands. In an interview with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lampert, the CEO and Co-founder David-Jan Janse explained in details how Confirmation of Payee technology is devised to safeguard consumers against Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams.
Adam Lieberman, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Finastra
It is essential that financial services providers who are serious about financial inclusion prioritise fairness when it comes to decision-making algorithms. At the same time, they need to follow best practice to eliminate bias. Data science teams need to work closely with business/subject matter experts in what must be an ongoing process. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues with Adam Lieberman, Head of AI/ML for Finastra.
Liam Healy, SVP & Managing Director, Diligent
Diligent, a digital provider of modern governance is helping companies dealing with increasing complex issues and evolving governance practices offering them the right technologies to run more inspired, equitable, sustainable, and successful processes. Gaia Lamperti, Reporter at IBSi, interviews Liam Healy, Diligent’s SVP & Managing Director.
Armen Najarian, CMO & Chief Identity Officer, Outseer
UK Finance’s latest report on financial fraud in the UK describes the level of fraudulent activity, which cost some £753.9 million in H1 2021, as ‘a national security threat’. What does this actually mean for the payments industry, and will the increasing take up of the 3-D Secure 2.0 protocol provide a panacea? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Armen Najarian, CMO and Chief Identity Officer at fraud prevention company Outseer.
Pierre Lahbabi, CEO, Galitt
What will payments look like in future and how do we get there from here? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Pierre Lahbabi, CEO of Galitt, a Sopra Steria group company, that specialises in providing advice and services in payment systems and secure electronic transactions. You can hear more from Pierre Lahbabi at the Sopra Banking Summit, which takes place 18-22 October 2021. The summit is tackling the biggest issues in the financial sector.
Raman Khanduja, Co-Founder & CEO, Mintoak
Banks with legacy infrastructure can still be competitive in a modern financial ecosystem by taking advantage of white label services. The key advantage established banks have over new entrants is existing scale and customer trust. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Raman Khanduja, Co-Founder & CEO, Mintoak about how digital payments can be a ‘door opener’.
Mike Whitmire, CEO and Co-founder, FloQast
FloQast provides accounting automation software for finance teams globally, with customers that include the likes of Zoom, MongoDB and WorldRemit. In an interview with IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti, CEO and Co-founder Mike Whitmire explained how the company can enable a month-end close with ease and dispense with much of the typical bureaucracy associated with accounting processes.
Yaron Hazan, VP Regulatory Affairs, Thetaray
Forced labour is said to generate $150 billion in profits every year. However, artificial intelligence-based monitoring can spot the money laundering schemes that many human traffickers rely on. Implementing such a system would allow banks to proactively stop illicit profits from getting through and alert authorities to suspicious activity. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Yaron Hazan, VP Regulatory Affairs at Thetaray about what banks can and should be doing.
Ron Totaro, CEO, Tassat
Tassat CEO Ron Totaro has experience as an advisor to private capital and venture firms around investment opportunities in emerging technologies so what would he be saying to FinTechs seeking funding? And what of Tassat’s own offering – TassatPay® – a blockchain-based B2B payments platform for banks to offer to their commercial customers? Tassat’s offering was the first digital payments platform approved by US regulators, the NYDFS and the FDIC. Totaro talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about developing a white label solution for mid-tier banks.
Tarusha Mittal, COO and CO-Founder of Oropocket, Open DeFi, and UniFarm
Tarusha is a seasoned blockchain entrepreneur who believes that blockchain technology is the future, due to its decentralized nature. She came into the crypto space and founded multiple ventures with a vision of providing a trustworthy and stable platform for users and enhancing blockchain adoption. In an interview with IBS Intelligence’s Gaia Lamperti, she spoke about her journey so far, the revolutionary potential of DeFi, and how she established herself as a female entrepreneur in the sector.
Paolo Di Grazia, Deputy General Manager & Head of Global Business, Fineco Bank
Listed on the FTSE MIB, Fineco Bank claims to offer a business model that is unique in Europe, combining its platform with a network of financial advisers, offering brokerage, banking and investment services. Fineco is Italy’s largest bank and says its branchless UK offering shows a potentially different way forward for UK banking. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Paolo Di Grazia, Deputy General Manager & Head of Global Business of Fineco Bank.
Tim Vanderham, SVP & Chief Technology Officer, NCR
NCR recently announced the acquisition of cryptocurrency software provider LibertyX. Tim Vanderham, CTO of NCR talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about why banks need a complete cryptocurrency solution now, what role digital currency will play in the banking landscape and what some of the potential use cases are.
Yogi Sadana, CEO, CASHe
The lending landscape in India is changing with banks and FinTechs offering complimentary services. CASHe was the country’s first FinTech lender to debut on Google Pay. The firm uses an alternative credit rating system, the Social Loan Quotient, which combines big data analytics and a proprietary AI algorithm. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Yogi Sadana, CEO of CASHe about the growth of digital lending in India.
Richard Hummel, ASERT Threat Intelligence Lead, NETSCOUT
NETSCOUT recently published its latest Threat Intelligence Report. Among its findings, threat actors launched approximately 5.4 million DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks in the first half of 2021, setting the world on track to see a new record for calendar 2021. The global connectivity supply chain is increasingly under attack from both DDoS and ransomware events. Is there a silver lining to this cloud? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Richard Hummel, ASERT Threat Intelligence Lead at NETSCOUT.
Kathy Stares, Executive Vice President, Americas at Provenir (pictured) and Thomas Matecki, CTO, Zilch
Zilch, the only fully Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated BNPL player in the UK, has recently signed with risk decisioning platform Provenir to future-proof its BNPL offering and provide agility to address the shifting sands of the regulatory landscape. Gaia Lamperti from IBS Intelligence interviewed Kathy Stares, Executive Vice President, Americas at Provenir and Thomas Matecki, CTO at Zilch to get insights on the recent partnership and the BNPL regulatory landscape.
Xavier Dubois, Director, Product Management, Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting, Wolters Kluwer FRR
Banks around the world are looking to adopt and rollout Basel-IV requirements. But it is so far not necessarily clear exactly what those requirements will be from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. So, what is likely to be contained in Basel-IV, who is affected and what do the challenges mean for risk management practices? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speak to Xavier Dubois, Director, Product Management, Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting, Wolters Kluwer FRR
Joe Ehrhardt, Founder & CEO, Teslar
Commercial borrowers are among the highest value customers banks are likely to have, yet in the US, in particular, they may be required to endure highly manual and paper-based experiences. There may be concern among bankers that digitising these relationships may dilute loyalty. What is more important? Convenience or connection. Is there a solution? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Joe Ehrhardt, Founder and CEO of FinTech Teslar about how US banks can facilitate digital, personal experiences at scale.
Heang Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of US no code
No code or low code solutions that help automate digital experiences offer smaller financial institutions the potential to compete against larger banks. A no code solution provides an answer for banks that do not have the resources or the budget to employ teams of software engineers. In other words, it can be a key differentiator for credit unions and smaller banks. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Heang Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of US no code provider Prelim.
Dr Jack Baldwin, Chairman & CEO, BHMI
The US banking sector lags the rest of the world in the take up of real time payments and faster payments. We investigate why and what’s likely to happen next, including the impact of ISO 20022 and what changes are coming in disputes management. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dr Jack Baldwin, Chairman and CEO of US payments software provider BHMI.
Ashish Katkar, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Verinite
Verinite has published a white paper entitled Guide to Card Management System Implementation for Banks in Asia. Robust growth in card payment volumes, strict regulatory guidelines, rising customer expectations, and tech innovations have combined to usher in a challenging era for financial institutions in the card management space. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the key trends in card payments in Asia with Ashish Katkar, Founder and CEO of Verinite.
Colin Neil, Managing Director UK, Adyen
Payments’ platform Adyen announced the appointment of Colin Neil as UK Managing Director in September 2021. Neil has been with the company since 2018 but prior to that spent decades in the retail sector, including 9 years at luxury fashion house Burberry and another 9 years at home improvement retailer Kingfisher. His time in retail has given him a unique perspective on the role of the FinTech payment provider as he explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Ryan Moore, CEO, Mode Global Holdings
Most FinTechs launch payment cards, tying themselves to the interchange fees and limitations imposed by card schemes. Mode built its own payments solution using open banking, bypassing interchange fees and card schemes entirely. The company came to the London Stock Exchange main market in October 2020 and is one of the only FCA-registered and LSE-listed crypto firms in the UK. It operates open banking and QR code payment services via an app that offers Bitcoin rewards to consumers and provides business with an alternative to card payments. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ryan Moore, CEO of Mode Global Holdings.
Georg Ludviksson, CEO & Co-Founder, Meniga
Carbon Insight is a new green banking solution offered by digital banking tools provider Meniga. It allows users to estimate and track the carbon footprint stemming from their spending patterns, allowing customers to alter their consumption habits and take steps to offset their emissions where such schemes are available. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the pivotal role banks could hold in the fight against climate change with Georg Ludviksson, CEO and Co-Founder of Meniga.
Paul Nilsen, Commercial Director/Managing Director Africa, CIS & Global SaaS, Codebase Technologies
Africa’s adoption of feature phone-based mobile money led the world but now the question is whether the continent’s traditional institutions and neobanks can rise to the challenge and opportunity being presented by the pandemic. The answer may, again, be governed by communications with increasing smartphone penetration making eKYC solutions practicable for financial institutions. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the outlook for neobanks and challenger banks in Africa with Paul Nilsen, Commercial Director/Managing Director Africa, CIS & Global SaaS for Codebase Technologies.
Chirag Shah, CEO, Nucleus Commercial Finance
While the most visible impact of open banking has been in the retail banking space, it is also transforming the way small businesses access finance as well. Using the power of open banking and a clutch of APIs, SME lenders can speed up their processes and be more effective and more consistent in the deployment of their funds. Chirag Shah, CEO of UK FinTech SME lender Nucleus Commercial Finance, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Fabien Oliveira, Chief Product Officer, Specialized Finance, Sopra Banking Software
The Sopra Banking Summit, which takes place 18-22 October 2021, will bring together nearly 1,500 financial institutions and more than 100 FinTech companies from 80 countries. Over 45 sessions will be divided into 5 streams: digital banking, payments, automotive lending, digital lending, and a general stream covering other market topics including cloud, financial inclusion, and security. Registration is free and open to all. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence previews the summit with Fabien Oliveira, Chief Product Officer, Specialized Finance, for Sopra Banking Software.
Guy Mettrick, Global Industry Lead – Financial Services, Appian
Appian Europe was a 2-day conference held 14-15 September 2021. It was an opportunity for the firm to unveil the latest update to its Appian low-code automation platform. It was also the venue for revealing the results of survey of IT leaders which found that supporting remote workers (72%), integrating information and workflows across the organisation (69%), and changing systems and processes quickly (69%) were the top 3 areas for improvement. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Guy Mettrick, Global Industry Lead – Financial Services for Appian about the latest developments, including the acquisition of German process mining specialist Lana Labs.
Vivek Bajaj, Co-Founder, Elearnmarkets and StockEdge
Elearnmarkets is a dedicated financial learning portal in India with more than 1 million learners while StockEdge is one of the country’s leading stock analysis apps with over 2 million downloads. Both were established by 17-year veteran of India’s financial markets, Vivek Bajaj, with the aim of helping investors and stock traders make better decisions by providing them with a proper understanding of the financial markets. He talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the impact of tech developments on the markets and business at large.
Tim Keith, Chief Strategist, Account Growth, Strategic Resource Management; Bob Koehler, EVP, Strategic Resource Management
Boosting loan growth in the pandemic and in the face of increasing competition from new entrants into the market requires banks to use a series of data-driven programmes to deepen client relationships. At the same time, lenders need to acquire profitable new business from both new and existing customers. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses what banks and credit unions need to do with Tim Keith, Chief Strategist, Account Growth, and Bob Koehler, EVP, of Strategic Resource Management.
Sameep Singhania, Founder, QuickSwap
QuickSwap is the largest decentralised exchange on Polygon. Since launch in late 2020, QuickSwap has reached 24-hour trading volumes that have surpassed $100 million and the platform claims to have more daily active users than every Dapp (decentralised application) on Eth L1, including UniSwap. QuickSwap founder Sameep Singhania discusses some of the issues DeFi is facing around transaction speed and scaling with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Brandon Spear, CEO, TreviPay
B2C transactions are becoming increasingly seamless and invisible thanks to embedded payments, and now B2B customers want that same experience. To meet the expectations of the digital-first buyer, TreviPay, a FinTech leader in B2B digital commerce, is powering new trade credit solutions. IBS Intelligence Reporter Gaia Lamperti sit with TreviPay’s CEO, Brandon Spear, and talked about transformation in B2B marketplace transactions
Pedro Monteiro de Barros, VP Finance, Remote
Remote working became a way of life in the face of the pandemic. New unicorn Remote offers tools to manage onboarding, payroll, benefits, and other services for global workforces. The company provides remote solutions and, indeed, itself works remotely. Pedro Monteiro de Barros, VP Finance at Remote explains how to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks
Fireblocks’recent integration with Revolut helped the neobank gain over 300,000 new cryptocurrency customers on its platform. In an interview with IBS Intelligence Reporter Gaia Lamperti, Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks, discussed in more details the importance of the platform's integration with Revolut and how it is helping financial institutions to become competitive with crypto-native platforms.
Deepak Gupta, Global Head, Payments-as-a-Service, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, Volante Technologies
Too many banks around the world have payments systems that are barely fit for purpose. The increase in volume in B2B payments online and the introduction of new payment types are just two of the issues that financial institutions face. Deepak Gupta, Global Head of Payments-as-a-Service, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances with Volante Technologies discusses the challenges facing banks in the payments space now and in the future with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Natalia Kaleta Schraa, Director of Growth Solutions, Workiva
ESG is a ‘buzz’ acronym. It is no longer enough for corporates to make a profit – that profit has to be made in ways that satisfy ESG requirements, but those requirements can be wide-ranging, from environmental impacts, HR policies and boardroom antics. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Natalia Kaleta Schraa, Director of Growth Solutions at Workiva about how to make your ESG reporting requirements more manageable.
Duncan Sandys, CEO, Payments 20
Payments 20, representing the global payments industry, alongside the UK National Cyber Security Centre, the New York State Department of Financial Services, and institutions including American Express, Elavon, Hogan Lovells and JP Morgan Chase, has published 20 Best Practice Recommendations for improved Cyber Security Protection. Duncan Sandys, CEO of Payments 20 explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence why the report is aimed at non-cyber professionals and how it emphasises the need to implement better cybersecurity frameworks.
Stephan Hartgers, VP Digital Strategy, Mobiquity Europe
Covid-19 has accelerated digital transformation across banking and financial services. Banks need to offer customers a fully digital and convenient banking experience but, it seems, that many banks are approaching this challenge in the wrong way! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stephan Hartgers, VP Digital Strategy of Mobiquity Europe, who believes that banks need to separate innovation from transformation to drive business impact.
Rick DeLisi, Lead Research Analyst, Glia
What’s the real deal with Millennials and telephone calls? What they don’t want to do is be forced to dial a number that takes them out of their digital experience. We live on our screens but that doesn’t mean customers don’t want to talk to a bank representative in real time – phone and voice are not synonymous. It’s time to replace the phone-based call centre with a digital customer service and onscreen voice. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rick DeLisi, Lead Research Analyst at Glia and co-author of The Effortless Experience and Digital Customer Service.
Sudarshan Lodha, Co-Founder, Strata Property Management
Direct investment in commercial real estate as an asset class has remained largely inaccessible to retail investors with issues such as high ticket prices, illiquidity and complex administration. Strata Property Management in India aims to bring commercial real estate to the mass affluent through an online platform offering fractional investment in pre-leased properties – offices, logistics and retail. Sudarshan Lodha, Co-Founder, Strata Property speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Stuart Neal, GM-Identity, Boku
The issue of onboarding is a significant barrier. One survey suggests up to 42% of millennials and Gen Z’s would abandon an onboarding process that required offline completion. But the tech behind our mobile networks already holds a potential solution to this. It could enable a ‘user-free’ identity verification factor allowing financial institutions to background check new customers via the mobile network operator. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stuart Neal, General Manager-Identity with Boku.
Blake Kannady, Chief Product Officer, Intelliflo
How has the pandemic affected the financial advisory business? Intelliflo offers open software architectures to financial advisers, providing its services to more than a third of all financial advisers in the UK. The company was acquired by Invesco in 2018 but operates independently. Its solutions support around 30,000 financial professionals worldwide, representing more than 3 million end-investors, with over $1 trillion advised across Intelliflo platforms. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Blake Kannady, Chief Product Officer of Intelliflo.
Ola Oyetayo, CEO and Co-Founder, Verto FX
As emerging markets are increasingly joining the global marketplace, companies looking to pay suppliers abroad must transact in less liquid currencies. That can be a logistical challenge for businesses as international payments can be an expensive proposition where liquidity is scarce, and spreads and FX fees are high. VertoFX was founded to enable fairer access to a global financial system allowing small businesses to transact at FX rates 9x cheaper than high street banks, settle 3x faster, charging no transaction fee whilst enabling them manage their currency exposure through multi-currency business accounts. IBS Intelligence Reporter Gaia Lamperti interviewed Ola Oyetayo, Verto FX’s CEO and Co-Founder for IBSI Views Podcast.
L Guru Raghavendran, Senior Vice President, BFS Products, Azentio Software
Azentio Software topped two categories in IBSI’s latest Sales League Table: compliance management with Amlock; and Islamic lending (retail) with Kastle. The company offers core software to financial services providers and ERP solutions to mid-market enterprises across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and India. Azentio has more than 800 customers in over 60 countries. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Guru Raghavendran, SVP, BFS Products for Azentio Software. In a career spanning 20+ years, Guru has also worked for HDFC, Standard Chartered and HSBC, as well as with a number of IT organisations and as an entrepreneur.
Kathy Schneider, Chief Marketing Officer, FD Technologies
Northern Ireland-based FD Technologies has launched as a new brand to a business that’s been around for 25 years. The firm powers data analytics for 38 leading banks and is one of the world’s leading capital markets consultancies. So why the rebrand? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kathy Schneider, Chief Marketing Officer of FD Technologies about the decisions and reasons behind the new brand identity.
Sundip Patel, CEO & Co-Founder, Avana
Avana established LendThrive to offer performance-based loans for small businesses. The aim is to empower diverse SMEs to create new jobs and build economic value in their communities, while rewarding business owners for timely repayments by reducing the interest rate charged over the course of the loan. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Sundip Patel, CEO and Co-Founder of Avana Companies.
Oliver Werneyer, CEO & Co-founder, Imburse Payments
The use of fully integrated SaaS technology could reduce the costs and waiting times associated with global connectivity, enabling cross-border payments and expansion into new markets. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Oliver Werneyer, CEO & Co-founder, Imburse Payments, on the impact of integration-free access to any payment technology, regardless of the service provider.
Kartik Swaminathan, author, 3F: Future FinTech Framework
Kartik Swaminathan is the author of 3F: Future FinTech Framework, a book that builds on his more than 2 decades of experience in innovative products, projects, processes, and solutions. He is Founder Consultant at Fintastech, where he coaches and consults on Product and Go-To-Market in FinTech. The book simplifies understanding across key trends and themes and proposes a framework for growth and innovation in FinTech and the digital space. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the book with author Kartik Swaminathan.
Sahar Salama, CEO and Founder of TPay Mobile
The percentage of women in executive roles across the Financial Technology space is still disproportionally lower than men. Sahar Salama, CEO and Founder of TPay Mobile is one of them. On the occasion of Women Equality’s Day, IBS Intelligence’s Reporter Gaia Lamperti interviewed Sahar to discuss how the industry can begin to move towards a more balanced gender demographic, the rise of female-focused FinTechs and the role of women leaders in championing aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Kristian Gjerding, CEO & Head of Strategic Execution, Cellpoint Digital
Airlines have had a tough pandemic but even at the best of times they are managing a complex payments ecosystem, operating with multiple currencies, countries, financial regulators and consumer payment preferences. This is where a payment orchestration platform comes into its own. It’s a concept spreading to and being used by other sectors too – offering the prospect of better conversion rates and the ability to add new payment services quickly and easily. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kristian Gjerding, CEO of Cellpoint Digital.
Amarnath Chowdary, Founder & CEO, Modefin
In the 2021 IBS Intelligence Sales League Table (SLT) Modefin was ranked “SLT New Entrant – Star Performance” in the category Digital Banking and Channels. The IBSI SLT 2021 includes systems purchases made by over 1000+ banks across 180+ products from 60 suppliers across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, APAC and ASEAN. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Modefin was founded in 2011 and is now the preferred FinTech partner for over 65 banks in 20+ countries, with on-ground presence in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the company’s journey with Amarnath Chowdary, Founder and CEO of Modefin.
Hristo Borisov, CEO and Co-Founder, Payhawk
Fragmentation in FinTech is coming to an end. Following the explosion in demand we have seen in the last few years, the market is at the tipping point of consolidation and now big banks and FinTechs will have to learn how to coexist. Hristo Borisov believes big banks really need to stop seeing FinTechs as competitors and start exploring areas of collaboration to identify ways to collectively serve the customer better. Hristo discussed this matter in relation to the spending software service he co-founded, Payhawk, with IBSI Reporter Gaia Lamperti.
Tamer Al Mauge, Managing Director MENA, Pakistan & Bangladesh, Codebase Technologies
The Middle East has been seen in the past as overbanked despite some sectors of the population still being underbanked. But that hasn’t stopped the development of a clutch of neobanks as institutions invest in digital banking solutions, launching new brands alongside existing banks. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses digitisation and digitalisation in banks in the MENA region with Tamer Al Mauge, Managing Director MENA, Pakistan & Bangladesh, of Codebase Technologies
Ash Narain, Founder, Marquee Equity
FinTech fund raising is breaking all records this year. It is perhaps inevitable that the tech developments in FinTech should be mirrored by tech developments in fund raising for such companies. Proprietary AI systems allow for the automation of much of the traditional investment banking process on a platform capable of handling much greater deal volume than the average investment banker. Finding the right private equity or venture capital investors is a skill that tech can learn. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ash Narain of Marquee Equity about FinTech fund raising, including a recent $4 million seed capital round on behalf of Qolo.
Jamie Burke, Founder & CEO, Outlier Ventures
What are the opportunities for investment in the blockchain space in the wake of the correction in cryptocurrencies earlier this year? And will the breakthrough of NFTs see the creation of true mainstream usage of blockchain solutions? These and other issues under the spotlight as Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to blockchain venture capitalist Jamie Burke of Outlier Ventures.
Dr Kurt Nielsen, President, Partisia Blockchain Foundation
The lack of privacy on blockchain is hampering the technology’s disruptive potential as a WEB 3.0 platform supporting value transfer. Industry players need to take urgent action to safeguard privacy and confidentiality. The Partisia Blockchain Foundation is working on marrying the distributed cryptography of multi-party computation technology with blockchain tech, allowing companies and individuals to interact without compromising confidential data. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Dr Kurt Nielsen of the Partisia Blockchain Foundation.
Bhavin Patel, Co-Founder, LenDenClub
There is huge scope for small-ticket lending in India. However, this is not an area that is economic for established banks to move into. Peer-to-peer lending offers both an investable opportunity and a platform for small-ticket loans. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Bhavin Patel, Co-Founder of Indian P2P lender LenDenClub, whose instant personal loan platform is disbursing an average of 200,000 loans a year.
Simon Beresford, Chief Executive Officer, Teachers Building Society; Anand Subbaraman, General Manager Banking, Finastra
Teachers Building Society has selected Finastra’s Fusion Essence Cloud to deliver a new digital core banking service, including pre-built integration with software specialists BEP Systems, for origination, and Fairmort, for regulatory reporting. The building society, which is the first such lender to invest in Finastra’s SaaS solution, is unusual in that it does not serve a geography but instead serves a profession. It was established to offer mortgages to those in the education sector in the UK. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Simon Beresford, CEO of Teachers Building Society, and Anand Subbaraman of Finastra.
Ashraf Rizvi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gilded
Millennials are by far the most digitally savvy investment cohort overall and they are now entering the investment scene in earnest. Expectations of one-click access to online banking are a given for younger people and this is already extending to their investments as well, with WealthTech beginning to respond. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses the investment habits and plans of millennial investors, those born between 1982 and 1995, with Ashraf Rizvi, Founder and CEO of Gilded.
Sandeep Bagaria, Chief Executive Officer, Tagit
How is the digital banking landscape in Asia changing and how has the impact of Covid-19 changed attitudes among bankers? Are the key tenets of omnichannel banking now understood and what is the importance of using an open technology stack? These questions and others come under the spotlight in a discussion between Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence and Sandeep Bagaria, CEO of Tagit.
Zak Lambert, Product Manager, Plaid
Plaid is an API-based open banking platform bringing together the technology of PIS (Payment Initiation Services) and AIS (Account Information Services) so that developers may create payment journeys. The platform currently supports more than 11,000 financial institutions. Zak Lambert, Product Manager at Plaid discusses all things payments with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Eric Huttman, Chief Executive Officer, MilltechFX
Back in 2019 a European Central Bank paper suggested banks had been overcharging some corporate clients by as much as 25x more than larger clients for foreign exchange hedging. MilltechFX streams live rates from 10+ banks and claims clients may trade on the same execution terms as its parent, currency investment manager Millennium Global, which has some $20 billion in AUM. MilltechFX CEO Eric Huttman told Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence that customers can save between 50-95% on FX costs.
Brad Yasar, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, EQIFI
DeFi – decentralised finance – offers an alternative to traditional financial products. The evolution of cryptocurrencies, whether offering the volatility of Bitcoin or the stablecoin link of Tether to the US dollar, are having a profound impact on innovation and investment in DeFi through the creation of new potential investment vehicles for both institutions and HNWIs. Brad Yasar, CEO and Founder of DeFi platform EQIFI speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Edgardo Savoy, Chief Technology Officer, TransferGo
The FinTech sector contributed £6.5 billion to the UK economy last year. But FinTech faces a battle to onboard and develop talent in line with growth and demand. It is critical that issues such as the digital skills gap, talent retention and diversity are addressed before the UK FinTech sector begins to lose ground in innovation. As Edgardo Savoy, Chief Technology Officer of remittances FinTech TransferGo tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, working in the FinTech sector is not just for those who have a pure technology background.
Dilip Modi, Founder, Spice Money
Spice Money is a rural FinTech firm working towards building India’s largest ATM network. Less than a fifth of the country’s ATMs are in rural areas – with just 1 ATM for every 10 villages. More are needed, to create a more inclusive financial system for India’s rural population, who face twin problems created by a digital divide and a lack of financial understanding. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Dilip Modi, Founder of Spice Money
Samier Khan, Managing Director APAC, Codebase Technologies
Open banking in the APAC region is taking two distinct paths. While some jurisdictions have set out a defined regulatory framework, others have chosen to follow a more market-driven approach. Against that background the pandemic has only served to speed up the adoption of digital banking and open banking solutions with pre-built APIs. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks with Samier Khan, Managing Director APAC for Codebase Technologies.
Tushar Aggarwal, CEO & Founder, Persistence
Singapore-based Persistence is building an ecosystem of financial products to serve both institutional and crypto-native users, aiming for seamless integration across blockchains. The idea is to build the liquidity that new financial instruments and cryptoassets require but will this really lead to mass adoption of decentralised finance services as has been claimed? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Tushar Aggarwal, CEO and founder of Persistence.
Phil Weisberg, EVP Strategic Planning and Partnerships, oneZero
The foreign exchange (FX) business is a patchwork quilt of legacy systems. Perhaps more so than any other segment in financial services, tech lifecycles in FX are getting shorter and faster. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Phil Weisberg, EVP Strategic Planning and Partnerships, oneZero about how the FX market is changing.
Andrey Yashunsky, CEO & Founder, Prytek; Joe Channer, CEO, Delta Capita
Delta Capita, backed by its parent Prytek, offers a BOPaaS (Business Operating Platform-as-a-Service) solution, a combination of tech solutions, managed services, and capital, giving banks the option of lifting out operations to create more efficient businesses. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Andrey Yashunsky, CEO and Founder of Prytek, together with Joe Channer, CEO of Prytek’s financial services arm, Delta Capita.
Yashwant Lodha, Co-Founder, PayNearby
PayNearby is one of the leading players in India in digital payments and branchless banking. The firm’s solution is to build a network of digital financial advisers from among the country’s ‘mom and pop’, mainly rural, retailers who are already trusted in their communities, providing them with access to digital financial solutions for their customers. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to PayNearby co-founder, Yashwant Lodha
Julia McColl, Commercial Director, Chetwood Financial
As the financial services sector moves towards genuine consumer-led innovation it must ensure that legacy financial inclusivity issues do not persist. FinTechs have a role to play in becoming the engine behind financial inclusion. The banking business model needs to adapt to deliver a truly ideal user experience. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Julia McColl of Chetwood Financial.
Sam Ranieri, Chief Executive Officer, Reach
The pandemic has caused a boom in ecommerce but notably in cross-border ecommerce. A merchant of record model allows merchants to navigate the complexities of local payments methods, FX rates, and conversion rates without needing a physical presence in each region. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Sam Ranieri, CEO of global payment localisation provider Reach.
Andrea Barbon, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of St Gallen
The primary purpose in the establishment of cryptocurrencies is to avoid government censorship but the likes of Bitcoin are not behaving like currencies, rather they are at present simply highly speculative assets. Nevertheless, government attempts to control cryptocurrency serve to showcase the power of the blockchain. Work now underway to add metadata to blockchain transactions may allow for compliance with KYC and money laundering regulations in the future. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Professor Andrea Barbon of the University of St Gallen.
Muddu Sudhakar, Chief Executive Officer, Aisera
Addressing the problem of increasing customer wait times, US banking platform Dave’s solution was to employ an AI conversational interface that delivers customer self-service. With Aisera’s AI Customer Service solution, the challenger bank provides on-demand, personalised support options accessible through a 24×7 virtual assistant that has resulted in a 70% auto-resolution rate with self-service and a 60% first call resolution. Muddu Sudhakar, CEO of Aisera, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how the ‘AI revolution’ could rival the industrial revolution in its impact.
Eklove Mohan, Senior Director – Technology, Synechron
Many financial services institutions have publicly announced a post-pandemic return to work policy with a majority offering a hybrid work scheme marrying remote WFH with some office presence. Goldman Sachs is a notable exception to this but for those going hybrid, what steps do they need to take to ensure secure working? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Eklove Mohan, Senior Director – Technology, Synechron.
Eli Rosner, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Finastra
What is the purpose of the organisation? Bankers (86%) are recognising they have a duty to support the communities they serve. A clear majority of the senior executives in financial services around the world (85%) also say Banking as a Service (BaaS) will make an impact over the next year, with 40% believing the impact will be significant. More than 9 in 10 say open banking is important with 97% of those already using it saying it has benefited their business. These are among the findings of Finastra’s Financial Services State of the Nation Survey 2021. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence discusses these and other results from the report with Eli Rosner, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Finastra.
James Hudson-Dale, New Partner Sales, IDnow
Digital disruption in RegTech is all about making the connected world a safer place. Businesses and regulators need to find ways to work together to create an environment that capitalises on opportunities while ensuring safety and security. Regulation is increasing as is the focus on privacy with the introduction of GDPR in the EU and the CCPA in California in the US. Against that backdrop, digital identity verification is set to grow in importance. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to James Hudson-Dale, New Partner Sales at identity verification platform IDnow.
Mac Thompson, Founder & President, White Clay
US FinTech White Clay specialises in helping banks to clean up their act where data is concerned, data that could mean the difference between knowing what their customers want and being in a position to help or, eventually, going out of business! Mac Thompson, Founder and President of White Clay talks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about finding meaning in bank data.
Micky Watkins, Chief Executive Officer, World Mobile
The World Bank estimates 1.7 billion adults are unbanked, unable to access basic financial services, including some 700 million people in Africa. World Mobile is working with Cardano to leverage a decentralised identity solution built on the latter’s blockchain to address this issue. Large scale trials are already operating in Tanzania and the company is looking to extend its offering elsewhere in East Africa. Micky Watkins, CEO of World Mobile, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Corey Gross, CEO & Co-Founder, Sensibill
Amazon is already doing it and banks should be doing it too! Bankers need to be thinking differently about data, especially data from third party sources and what it can tell them about customer behaviour and how they can leverage that information to tailor products. Manage this ‘alternative data’ properly and banks will be able to be more proactive in retaining and developing their customer relationships and market share. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Corey Gross, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Sensibill.
Eric Head, Vice President Experience Leadership, Verint
The US banking industry appears to have weathered the pandemic storm in strong fashion with all of the top 15 US banks showing improved customer satisfaction scores in the Verint Experience Index: Banking (2021). However, that doesn’t mean that they can rest on their CSAT and NPS rankings, customer journeys have become more complex, and expectations are higher than ever. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Eric Head, VP Experience Leadership at Verint.
Alan Vey, Chief Executive Officer, Aventus
NFTs are a part of decentralised finance (DeFi) that is rapidly growing, digitally representing ownership in a highly tradable and secure format, allowing marketplaces and more complex financial products to be built. There’s a lot more here potentially than just video clips and digital art. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks through the potential of NFTs with Alan Vey, CEO of Aventus.
Ajay Vij, SVP and Industry Head, EMEA – Financial Services & Public Sector, Infosys
The acceleration of clients’ digital expectations and the need for technology investment are forcing the pace in increased spending on tech solutions for banks and other financial institutions. But there are significant potential benefits. Infosys reckons financial services institutions could see $151 billion added to profits through effective cloud usage. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Ajay Vij, Senior Vice President and Industry Head, EMEA – Financial Services & Public Sector, Infosys.
Terrie Smith, CEO, & David Birch, Chairman, DIGISEQ
The global wearable devices market is primed to reach $62.82 billion by 2025. UK-based DIGISEQ has announced a breakthrough in payment wearable technology giving consumers the functionality to turn any object of choice into a payment device via a mobile APP. The new solution, Rapid Contactless Personalisation, works with both Android and iOS, delivering Mastercard payment data, via secure tokenisation. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of adoption of IoT technology and contactless applications are forecast to extend to more than 41 billion devices by 2027. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to DIGISEQ Chairman David Birch and the company’s CEO Terrie Smith.
Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition
Ignition developed the first robo-investment direct-to-customer solution in Australia. Now, the firm offers a SaaS solution that offers personal digital advice journeys across investment, insurance and retirement. Ignition has entered the UK market with a white-label, multi-currency bank grade, compliant digital advice platform that is compatible with both legacy and migrating technology environments. Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe for Ignition speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about the platform and its prospects.
Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, Chief Strategy Officer, Blend Network
Many FinTech players evolved out of the Global Financial Crisis with new platforms taking business from banks in areas that they were no longer able or no longer willing to play a part in – SME lending and development finance lending are among notable examples. However, while alternative lending has grown, has it reached a point where the banks want to buy back in? Are we moving from unbundling to rebundling? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, Chief Strategy Officer of P2P lender Blend Network.
Mary Connor, Director, Retail Banking Strategic Engagements & Global Sales, Finastra
New research by Finastra saw people across 5 continents (Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas) talking about their banking situation and whether they felt empowered by their financial institutions. The Journey to Financial Empowerment asked participants about their aspirations and to share a photo containing 7 objects representing their financial goals. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Mary Connor, Director, Retail Banking Strategic Engagements & Global Sales, Finastra, about the report’s findings.
Justin Banon, CEO & Co-Founder, Boson Protocol
Ecommerce platforms claim to value customer-centricity when what they are really doing is hoarding data and separating people from the value they create, according to Boson Protocol. The company aims to disrupt ecommerce platforms by tokenising ‘things’ – real-world products and services and commerce data within a liquid digital market, built on DeFi. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Justin Banon, CEO and Co-Founder of Boson Protocol about how the company automates digital to physical redemptions using NFTs encoded with game theory in what it calls decentralised autonomous commerce.
Lalit Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, Decimal Technologies
Around the world, economies are dependent on their SME sectors for employment and wealth creation, but SMEs face continued problems in access to credit, especially women entrepreneurs. In India, for example, according to an International Finance Corporation report, more than 70% of the total finance requirement of women entrepreneurs is unmet. AI and machine learning may go some way to helping narrow the credit access gap. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Lalit Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Decimal Technologies.
Stefano Cipollone, Business Development Manager, Auriga
Banks are under both political and public pressure to preserve access to cash. ATM pooling could be the solution to them being able to do this in an economical way, overcoming the barrier of operating costs through the sharing of ATM infrastructure by multiple banks. Institutions in Finland, Sweden and Belgium have already adopted ATM pooling. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Stefano Cipollone, Business Development Manager at Auriga about the barriers and success factors in play.
Ben Richmond, Founder & CEO, CUBE
In a new report, Data: Poison or Cure?, global RegTech CUBE explores the potential of data in financial services. While remote working has made compliance more of a challenge, systems are getting smarter. Remember, however, that data outcomes are only as good as the data that you feed into your system! Ben Richmond, Founder and CEO of Cube, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Danny Chazonoff, Chief Operating Officer, Paysafe
Paysafe’s Lost in Transaction report surveyed 8,000 consumers around the world on how the global pandemic has affected their spending habits. Globally, 86% confirmed changes to their behaviours and a majority (59%) also tried using a new payment method for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Danny Chazonoff, COO of Paysafe speaks to Robin Amlôt about the report’s findings and what they mean for the future of commerce.
Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer, Trillium Gold
Bitcoin is a hot topic as the moment – is it the way of the future or does its price volatility rule it out as both a currency and an investment? Can we compare ‘digital gold’ and its mining to that old-fashioned yellow metal that gets dug out the ground? Is there room in the investment space for both? Robin Amlôt discusses these and other challenges facing the world’s financial markets with Russell Starr, CEO of Trillium Gold.
Rick McElroy, Principal Cybersecurity Strategist, VMware
The disruption caused by the pandemic along with an ‘anywhere’ workforce has resulted in a surge of sophisticated cyberattacks and material breaches. According to VMware’s Global Security Insights Report 2021: Intelligence from the Global Cybersecurity Landscape, 76% of global cybersecurity professionals said attacks had increased due to employees working remotely. Rick McElroy, Principal Cybersecurity Strategist at VMware discusses the threat landscape with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
Elin Helander, Chief Scientific Officer, Dreams
Sweden-based Dreams has partnered with Ukrainian commercial bank, UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group, allowing the bank to leverage Dreams’ financial wellbeing technology and behavioural science methodology. The deal means UKRSIBBANK’s 2 million customers will have access to a range of functionalities from which they can set and achieve money-saving goals through automated saving features, in addition to nudges and hacks. Elin Helander, Chief Scientific Officer of Dreams speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about why banks have a responsibility for their customers’ financial well-being and the benefits that would accrue if they took that role seriously.
Vikas Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer, Integral
Integral recently surveyed 94 heads of FX trading and senior FX managers, reviewing the global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the FX business. Among the survey’s findings, 28% of respondents said they will operate their FX technology completely in the cloud within the next 5 years, compared to just 2% at present. In distribution channels, 46% confirmed that multi-dealer platforms (MDPs) will see the biggest rise in trading in the next 12 months. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence speaks to Vikas Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer, Integral, about the tech trends in FX trading.
Fidelma McGuirk, CEO and Founder, Payslip
Covid-related travel restrictions, in-country business continuity requirements and the massive increase in WFH have significantly boosted international hiring and country expansion. However, multinational institutions face a range of payroll pain points, including lack of data standardisation and automation, reporting and analytics, together with potential compliance and employment regulatory issues. Fidelma McGuirk, CEO and Founder of Payslip speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about these challenges in the new normal.
Claire Calmejane, Chief Innovation Officer; Albert Loo, Deputy Head of Sales for Global Markets - Fintech strategy & Global Market Incubator, Société Générale
Digital transformation, it is easy to talk the talk but harder to walk the walk. Among big banks leading the transformation charge in Europe is France’s Société Générale. Claire Calmejane, the bank’s Chief Innovation Officer speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about SG’s 5-year digital transformation and innovation plan. She is joined by Albert Loo, who leads the bank’s Global Markets Incubator, a programme already paying dividends for SG with a number of solutions integrated and scaled up by the bank.
Andrew Kessler, Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, Zenotta
Blockchain and data innovation are now going hand-in-hand to make digital systems governance and execution work together to create a new way of using and valuing data in an interconnected world. Andrew Kessler, Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, Zenotta, speaks to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence about how digital currency has yet to achieve its potential as a means of exchange and details how assets may be digitised, and how enterprise can benefit from networks which secure the transfer of such digital assets.
Joe Higginson, Chief Commercial Officer, Identitii
New customer requirements and pressure from banking regulators around the world are forcing the pace of change in digital banking and open banking but how should banks be performing critical technology upgrades and what are the risks they face in doing so? Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the issues and legacy challenges with Joe Higginson, Chief Commercial Officer, Identitii, former Head of Payments at Investec Bank.
Steve Morgan, Banking Industry Market Lead, Pegasystems
Accelerate digital transformation and improve customer service may well be the key mantra for many banks now but it is not just about digital banking technology, it is about bringing people with you – both customers and staff. It is about delivering personalised actions for people across the board in payments, lending and financial management. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Steve Morgan, Banking Industry Market Lead, Pegasystems.
Vince Graziani, CEO, IDEX Biometrics
The concept of digital currency, powered by blockchain, has been around for a couple of years but the reality could be here by the end of the year in China. However, there is a growing need for additional layers of security to protect consumers and also to offer the unbanked and underbanked a route to financial inclusion. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses authentication solutions with Vince Graziani, CEO of IDEX Biometrics.
Alistair Stuart, Head of Digital Banking, Apex
Many headlines have been devoted to the development of digital banking in the retail and SME sectors but the digital banking landscape in the corporate sector is less developed. Alistair Stuart, Head of Digital Banking, Apex and former COO of Investec Bank, speaks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the challenges and opportunities in the corporate banking sector and the barriers to entry in creating a dedicated corporate challenger bank.
Rivo Uibo, Co-founder & Chief Business Officer, Modularbank
The banking industry is undergoing a profound transformation but will the rise of embedded finance be an existential threat to banks or a massive opportunity? Growing demand for BaaS and the potential for an infrastructure play mean that banks could operate in ‘multiple modes’, not only providing services to their own customers but rolling out a variety of services to third parties. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Rivo Uibo, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Modularbank.
Sylvain Thieullent, CEO, Horizon Software
The longer-term implications of Brexit and Covid-19 for the financial markets are becoming clearer. Financial institutions are being forced to review their existing frameworks to navigate the shake-up of traditional market structures as a result of changing global expectations for financial trading services. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Sylvain Thieullent, CEO of Horizon Software, which recently introduced a ‘Composite Spreader’ that automates the execution of multi-leg spreads.
Jeremy Thomson-Cook, Chief Economist, Equals Money
What you need to know about the impact of day-to-day moves in the international money markets and the implications of fiscal and monetary policies for business. The discussion also takes in the coming of digital currencies, stablecoins and CBDCs. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jeremy Thomson-Cook, Chief Economist at Equals Money.
Frank Uittenbogaard, Regional VP Europe, Backbase
Customer habits have shifted; digital access has become of paramount importance and digital adoption at speed has been the watchword in banking in response to Covid-19. To thrive and survive in the new business environment, the onus is on banks to ensure both that their front-end engagement is phenomenal and that priority is given to getting the digital customer experience right. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Frank Uittenbogaard, Regional VP Europe, Backbase.
Jason Blick, Director & CEO, Eqibank
Based in Cayman and serving corporates and HNWIs in more than 180 countries, Eqibank also offers its digital banking solution to third parties as white label banking through a BaaS solution. This means institutions not regulated as banks may offer banking services. Eqibank is also expanding into DeFi, offering a single uniform platform for DeFi products with access to bank accounts, custody, debit and credit cards. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Jason Blick, Director and CEO of Eqibank. The discussion begins with a review of the crypto and capital markets.
Peter Briffett, CEO and Co-Founder, Wagestream
In three years, Wagestream has scaled from a small charity-backed fintech app to a company hosting 200 employers and half a million employees, operating across the UK, Spain, Australia and United States. So how does Wagestream and so-called Earned Wage Access work? Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Peter Briffett, CEO and Co-Founder, about ethical scaling during Covid-19 and the acquisition of Greansill-owned start-up Earnd.
Sanat Rao, Global Head and Chief Business Officer, Infosys Finacle
The technology may be available now but are people ready? Well, that depends on who and what you believe. Is the tech truly ready for us to go completely cashless – that’s a debate to be had. As for society, well in some countries, Sweden for example, there is already a cashless roadmap in place. In others, despite opportunities and potential benefits for both merchants and consumers, there is still a core of concern. One recent survey said that only 26% of Brits are in favour of going completely cashless. Sanat Rao, Global Head and Chief Business Officer, Infosys Finacle, speaks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the challenges and opportunities facing business and banks.
Nikhita Hyett, Managing Director Europe, BlueSnap
It is a truism that late payments are a threat to corporate survival but managing the payments cycle properly and replacing outdated, legacy and inefficient payments systems would improve both survivability and profitability. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Nikhita Hyett, Managing Director Europe of payments platform BlueSnap about the challenges businesses face and what needs to be done. The conversation also explores the shift away from one-off purchases and the surge in ‘subscription payments’ seen during the pandemic.
Adam Coyle, Chief Executive Officer, Digital River
The pandemic has seen explosive growth in ecommerce, not just in domestic markets but across borders as well. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Adam Coyle, CEO of Digital River. Getting the back-end processing right is key in cross-border payments and that includes getting local fulfilment and local processing right from the outset. Both B2C and B2B businesses need to provide a holistic experience that includes pricing, payment channels and methods for their customers.
Michael Down, Head of Financial Services, Elastic
UK financial institutions are embracing tech to innovate and grow. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Michael Down, Head of Financial Services, Elastic, about what needs to be done to maintain the UK’s leadership in the FinTech space through a standardised view of data, proper use of that data and the algorithms that manage it, allowing developers the freedom to innovate and create compelling products.
Gregory Perdon, Chief Investment Officer, Arbuthnot Latham
Gregory Perdon, Chief Investment Officer of UK private bank Arbuthnot Latham speaks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the key themes and trends in wealth management and investment. The discussion also covers how the wealth management business itself is being changed by the implementation of AI and new financial technologies.
Hani Hagras, Chief Science Officer, Temenos
EU regulators are reportedly planning tough new rules on artificial intelligence. Hani Hagras, Chief Science Officer at Temenos believes financial institutions need to have transparency in their AI decision-making processes to be able to explain to both regulators and customers how such decisions are made. He tells Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence how this would mean banks would be in a position to ensure they detect and fix potential problems of bias, discrimination and fairness in their AI models.
Stephen Bradford, Senior Vice President EMEA, Sailpoint
Financial services institutions are always going to be a target for malicious attacks. But the problem runs deeper. Many organisations don’t know what they don’t know and especially don’t know the true nature of the vulnerabilities of their systems. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Steve Bradford, SVP EMEA for cybersecurity and identity specialist Sailpoint. Technology is bringing users, applications and data together, but these connections also bring more vulnerability. What needs to be done?
Ken Serdons, Chief Commercial Officer, Mollie
Over a year into a global pandemic, technology-driven companies have had a rare opportunity to grow – and payments processor Mollie has spent the period helping merchants of different sizes grow with them through e-commerce solutions. In this episode, Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Ken Serdons about organisational attitudes, expansion into the UK market and a worldwide drive to online.
Philippe Gangneux, Chief Financial Officer, Sidetrade
One of the results of the pandemic – 75% of UK CFOs say cash is now the number one board agenda item, the remaining 25% rank cash as their second highest priority. The first step is financial survival but what next? Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Philippe Gangneux, CFO of Sidetrade, a FinTech that combines next-gen AI and machine learning with B2B customer behaviour data to automate companies’ Order-to-Cash processes.
Silvia Mensdorff Pouilly, Head of Banking Solutions Europe, FIS
‘Friction-right’ not frictionless should be the aim of payment solutions according to Silvia Mensdorff Pouilly, Head of Banking Solutions Europe for FIS. She notes the impact of more spending online from a fraud perspective in light of Covid-19 and also tells Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence that next-gen payments technologies also allow for ESG initiatives such as ‘green accounts’.
Ed Whitehead, Managing Director EMEA, Signifyd
A combination of big data, machine learning and manual review allows Signifyd to offer merchants a 100% financial guarantee against fraud on its end-to-end commerce protection platform. Recently the company raised a $205 million Series E growth equity financing, valuing the business at around $1.34 billion. Robin Amlot of IBS International speaks to Ed Whitehead, Managing Director EMEA of Signifyd, about its promise to merchants and also what the plans are for the latest funding.
Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy, VMWare Security Business Unit
The fourth edition of VMWare’s Modern Bank Heists report, analyses the evolution of cybercrime cartels and the defensive shift of the financial sector. Wire transfer fraud is the new digital bank robbery but in this year’s survey, CISOs revealed generally rising attack trends including island hopping, brokerage account takeover, manipulation of time stamps, and attacks targeting market strategies. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the key findings with Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy at VMWare’s Security Business Unit.
Rob Coole, VP Cloud Technologies, IPC
The focus now is on global connectivity, reducing siloes and improving resilience. After a pause in the face of the first lockdown, we look at how FinTechs have engaged with their customers and, also with each other. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence reviews the rise of cloud-based and SaaS solutions in support of customers wherever they may be in the world, regardless of borders, with Rob Coole, VP Cloud Technologies at IPC.
Jennifer Geary, General Manager EMEA, nCino
Global lockdowns reduce the rate of global warming over the last 12 months. With many workers in financial institutions around the world moving to home offices, institutions looked for new ways of digitally sharing files – effectively the (forced) reduction in paper documentation has been one of the consequences of digital transformation and has positively impacted the environment. But what has it meant for banks and their customers? Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Jennifer Geary, General Manager EMEA at cloud banking software provider nCino.
Iggy Bassi, Founder and CEO at Cervest
Cervest, a UK start-up, is using Earth Science AI to help financial companies mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the climate crisis. Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Iggy Bassi, the Founder and CEO of the company, about how extreme weather events can impact assets, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the benefits of impact investing.
Vicky Sanders, Global Head of Investment Analytics at Liquidnet
How should traders be utilising artificial intelligence? A volatile year has driven institutions and traders towards new technologies, including machine learning and AI, and Liquidnet, one of the world’s largest trading network, launched its Investment Analytics business, in response. In this podcast, Vicky Sanders, Global Head of Investment Analytics at Liquidnet, discusses the challenges of developing tools during a pandemic, trading during Covid-19, and how to utilise AI to generate investment ideas.
This podcast with Liquidnet was recorded prior to the announcement of its acquisition by TP ICAP Group.
Kevin Rubin, Chief Financial Officer, Alteryx
With its analytic process automation platform, Alteryx works with more than 7,000 companies around the world. In financial services, its clients include HSBC, Wells Fargo, Prudential, UBS and Standard Bank. Fraud analysis, portfolio risk evaluation and retail creditworthiness are just some of the areas in which data analysis is playing an ever-larger role, with the added benefit of the prospect of higher productivity and reduced costs! Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Kevin Rubin, CFO of Alteryx.
Astyanax Kanakakis, CEO and co-Founder, norbloc
Norbloc’s blockchain KYC platform enables individuals, organisations and regulators to effectively manage and securely share verified Know Your Customer data. The world’s first such blockchain KYC ecosystem has been in operation for just over a year. A member of the Hyperledger consortium, norbloc was established in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2016. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Astyanax Kanakakis, CEO of norbloc.
Richard Hummel, Threat Research Manager, NETSCOUT’s Arbor Networks
According to NETSCOUT’s bi-annual Threat Intelligence Report, a record-setting 10,089,687 Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks were observed during 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was the clear catalyst for this unprecedented DDoS attack activity. Cybercriminals set multiple records in 2020, taking advantage of the shift towards remote work across the globe. As the pandemic continues, it is imperative for security professionals to remain vigilant to protect critical infrastructure. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Richard Hummel, Threat Research Manager at NETSCOUT.
Jayakumar Venkataraman, Managing Partner Financial Services, Infosys Consulting
The whole banking sector has had to innovate to become more digital. Corporate banking has turned to AI and to Zoom to help cope with the impact of Covid-19. What will be the impact of the ‘digital corporate bank’ for businesses, especially SMEs, in the UK? Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the prospects with Jayakumar Venkataraman of Infosys Consulting.
Adam Desmond, UK Country Lead, Mitek Systems
The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on consumer financial behaviour around the world. Unfortunately, it has also inspired a major shift in how criminals approach fraud. Mitek Systems is one of the sponsors of the 2021 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research. The report suggests total combined fraud losses climbed to $56 billion, of which, identity fraud accounted for $43 billion. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Adam Desmond of Mitek Systems about what’s being done and what banks and financial institutions need to do.
Anjali Joglekar, Specialist Sales Director, Broadridge
Complex and disparate credit systems together with potentially inaccurate reporting make collateral management a minefield for banks, hobbling their competitive position and can have a direct impact on their corporate customers too. COLLATE from financial solutions service provider Broadridge can help generate a clear view of banking book collateral, improving lending practices and compliance reporting accuracy. Anjali Joglekar of Broadridge explains the importance of accurate banking book collateral management to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Ahmed F. Karsli, Founder, Papara
Papara is the market leading Turkish financial SuperApp, offering instant, free, multi-currency transfers to consumers as well as providing a one-stop-shop for paying bills, trading digital currencies, tracking spending habits and facilitating mass payments from businesses to employees. Specifically targeting the underbanked and underserved, Papara has grown since launching in Turkey in 2016 to become the country’s largest FinTech with a current customer base of over eight million registered users. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Ahmed Karsli of Papara.
Peter Hazlehust, Co-Founder, Synctera
Peter Hazlehurst was previously head of Uber Money before leaving Uber in 2020 to set up Synctera. He reviews key trends in FinTech, including the surge in going public, with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence. Hazlehurst also explains how Synctera’s partnership banking solution aims to play matchmaker between community banks and FinTechs
Cecily Mak, Chief Operating Officer, Blockdaemon
Dive into the future of the blockchain industry as institutional adoption of blockchain and digital assets accelerates. We look at how blockchain networks are scaling up with Cecily Mak of Blockdaemon, a leading blockchain node infrastructure provider. She tells Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence that 2021 is the most significant year yet for the industry.
Amit Dua, President, Suntec; Likhit Wagle, General Manager, Global Banking & Financial Markets, IBM
Modernising traditional legacy systems offers a structured way for financial services institutions to switch to a customer-centric approach to their business rather than a product-centric view. This may be done through the establishment of a new ‘middle layer’. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the challenges with Amit Dua of Suntec and Likhit Wagle of IBM.
Susanne Hannestad, Chair of the Advisory Board, FinTech Diversity Radar; Annette Evans, VP of People & Culture, GPS
Earlier this year, Global Processing Services (GPS) announced its sponsorship of findexable’s FinTech Diversity Radar – the first global platform gathering data to understand women’s impact on and contribution to the digital economy. Women remain largely underserved by and underrepresented in the FinTech sector. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence speaks to Susanne Hannestad, Chair of the Advisory Board of the FinTech Diversity Radar and Annette Evans of GPS.
Evgeny Likhoded, CEO, Clausematch
Remote working in financial services has exacerbated governance issues over the past year. At the same time, regulators, notably the US Department of Justice (DoJ), are focusing more on conduct as opposed to fines for AML/KYC lapses. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses compliance issues and solutions with Evgeny Likhoded of Clausematch.
Björn Goß, CEO & co-founder, Stocard
European mobile wallet Stocard has more than 60 million users and aims to reshape the future of shopping and banking. In November 2020 it began rolling out its payment feature Stocard Pay and is now looking to expand its offering to provide a holistic approach to consumer financial services. Stocard aims to add multiple bank cards to its app and the company sees the future of banking as purely mobile. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Stocard CEO Björn Goß.
Teodor Blidarus, Founder and CEO of FintechOS
The SME banking space is an untapped market which is underserved and overlooked, according to FintechOS, a technology provider accelerating digital transformation for financial institutions. Moreover, change and automation is happening at a low speed. Teodor Blidarus, Founder and CEO of FintechOS, speaks to Sunniva Kolostyak about issues around serving a very diverse group of companies, how to tailor and personalise services, and how to understand actual pain points for the segment.
Gourav Datta, Director Intelligent Automation, Ciklum
The pandemic has propelled the growth of the payments industry. How now to capitalise on this? The solution – intelligent automation that targets transactional, mundane and repetitive tasks, taking advantage of a full range of RPA, AI/ML and analytics solutions. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the potential with Gourav Datta of Ciklum.
Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO & Co-Founder, MoonPay
Supporting 45 fiat currencies and more than 60 cryptocurrencies, MoonPay recently marked its second anniversary by processing more than a million transactions. It has also announced in-principal approval for a Class 2 Virtual Financial Assets licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority. The company’s latest move is to provide payment tools for non-fungible tokens. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Ivan Soto-Wright of MoonPay.
Matteo Dante Peruccio, President International, Wave Financial Group
Matteo Peruccio of Wave Financial Group has previously been CEO of Pioneer Investments and also a board member of Jupiter Asset Management, but his journey has now taken him to the digital asset space. He discussed how traditional asset management and custodian firms are coming to grips with digital assets on the new frontier of investment and asset management with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Karen Penney, VP Payments Products UK, Western Union Business Solutions
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential opportunities for women in the growing digital economy. Remote working and flexibility, together with the requirement for a fresh take on leadership that unites employees, clients and partners, have served to demonstrate how a new way of working can help personalise customer service and boost efficiency and productivity in financial services. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the issues with Karen Penney of Western Union Business Solutions.
George McDonaugh, Managing Director and Co-Founder, KR1
KR1 is a London-based digital asset investment company investing in digital and cryptographic assets of decentralised networks and DeFi projects at an early stage. It also seed-funds early-stage blockchain and DeFi companies and holds private equity long-term. Managing Director and co-founder George McDonaugh is a founding member of the Multichain Asset Managers Association. He discussed the company’s strategy with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Jonathan Allan, Chief Marketing Officer, Puzzel
The pandemic has brought with it sweeping changes in customer behaviours and expectations. Willingness to self-serve has increased exponentially and voice-assisted service has also grown. However, expectations have also grown – what customers need, how and when they need it – has changed and banks need to adapt to ensure they are providing the type of support customers value. Otherwise, as Jonathan Allan of Puzzel told Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence, those customers will look elsewhere.
David Foss, President & CEO, Jack Henry; Alex Carriles, Digital Head, Simmons Bank
On the back of its tech strategy and partnership with Jack Henry, Arkansas-based Simmons Bank saw a 30% rise in digital banking users in 2020 with an IOS App store rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. The bank’s performance highlights how community and regional banks in the US can leverage digital technologies to compete regardless of size or location. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Alex Carriles of Simmons Bank and David Foss of Jack Henry.
Tom Stelzer, Cryptocurrency expert, Finder
So the price of Bitcoin is volatile – that’s a given – but almost one-fifth (19%) of potential or existing UK crypto investors told a survey commissioned by personal finance website Finder that their decision to invest was influenced by a view that it ‘seems an easy way to make money’. That’s a worrying number and a worrying attitude. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the survey’s findings with Tom Stelzer of Finder.
Thomas Schumann, Founder, Thomas Schumann Capital; Markus Barth, CEO, Anatase Ltd
The TSC Water Risk Index went live in January 2021 through a partnership between Thomas Schumann Capital and Anatase Ltd, a consultancy specialising in index development. The investment ethos behind it is guided by Thomas Schumann Capital’s support for UN Sustainable Development Goal SDG6 – sustainable management of water. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Thomas Schumann of Thomas Schumann Capital and Markus Barth of Anatase Ltd about their commitment to increasing water security through responsible investing.
(You may also listen to our first podcast with Thomas Schumann)
Sassan Danesh, Managing Partner, Etrading Software; James Haskell, Business Operations Officer, Etrading Software
Etrading Software has been nominated as the exclusive Registration Authority for the new International Organization for Standardization’s standard for Digital Token Identifiers. The crypto asset class includes cryptocurrencies, stable coins, security tokens and utility tokens. Developing a standard way of identifying one digital token from another is a key factor in helping this asset class to move mainstream and attract institutional investment. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Sassan Danesh and James Haskell of Etrading Software.
Elena Sinelnikova, co-Founder, Metis, and CEO, Cryptochicks
Metis recently raised $1 million in seed funding to assist with the release of its new blockchain solution for decentralised autonomous organisations. Company co-Founder Elena Sinelnikova explains the concept to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence. Sinelnikova is also CEO of Cryptochicks, a non-profit blockchain educational hub which aims to support the potential of women in the blockchain industry.
Scott Johnson, Head of Product, Western Union Business Solutions
Western Union Business Solutions, the payments arm of Western Union, is expanding its global B2B payments platform. The expansion includes adding SWIFT gpi and expanding the currency portfolio within its Mass Payments API to cover 130 currencies. The increased functionality will enable partners to send up to 10,000 payments in a single batch. Scott Johnson of Western Union Business Solutions spoke with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the latest move and how he sees the future of payments.
Colette Miller, Director Payment Solutions, moneycorp Americas
Corporate culture is at a crossroads. One recent report suggested that 80% of the workers who left the US labour force in January were women. This abrupt slump needs to be addressed through a more balanced corporate culture. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Colette Miller of moneycorp Americas, asking her how the business environment needs to change so that business can take advantage of a resource too many companies fail to recognise.
Bharat Mistry, Technical Director, UK & Ireland, Trend Micro
While cybercriminals are beginning to use more complex attacks on the cloud, according to the 2020 Cloud App Security Report from Trend Micro, high-risk email threats rose by 32% in 2020 and email remains the largest single threat vector. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the report’s findings with Bharat Mistry of Trend Micro. Although business email compromise declined 18% year-on-year, losses continued to rise, up 48% quarter-on-quarter between Q1 and Q2 2020.
Ian Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, Kyckr
Regulators across the globe took aggressive action against AML violators, handing down major financial penalties and in some cases, lengthy prison sentences to the individuals involved. 28 financial institutions were issued fines totalling more than $3.2 billion for AML-related violations last year, according to Kyckr’s 2020 AML Bank Fines Report. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the report’s findings with Ian Henderson, CEO of Kyckr.
Anthony Culligan, Chief Engineer, SETL
Following on from the first successful live settlement of a fund using Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) tokens what are the next steps in the development of CBDCs. How will they work and what will that mean, not just for banks but for all of us? Anthony Culligan of London-based settlement and payments infrastructure provider SETL spoke with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Matthew Williamson, Vice President Global Financial Services, Mobiquity
It may not quite be a case of ‘go digital or go dinosaur’, but it is close! Digital banking is the way of the future with 13.6% CAGR forecast over the next six years, and the number of online and mobile banking users estimated to reach 3.6 billion by 2024. Matthew Williamson of Mobiquity discusses the outlook and the firm’s digital banking playbook with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Josipa Majic, Founder and CEO of Revuto
Has every consumer-facing service provider adopted a subscription model? Sunniva Kolostyak speaks with Josipa Majic, Founder and CEO of Revuto, about investors’ preference for subscription-based companies – and how to help younger generations protect themselves against both the subscription economy and buy now pay later schemes.
Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director, FIDO Alliance
The FIDO Alliance is an open industry association whose members include the likes of Apple, Google, American Express, Samsung and Microsoft. Its aim is to develop authentication standards to help reduce our over-reliance on passwords. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Andrew Shikiar of the FIDO Alliance about the progress being made towards open standards and an interoperable ecosystem for simpler, stronger user authentication.
Mathieu Gorge, Founder & CEO; Rowan Fogarty, Chief Operating Officer, Vigitrust
Data security and compliance are just a couple of the issues that may get more complicated for UK and European firms in the wake of Brexit. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the potential stumbling blocks and how to address them with Mathieu Gorge and Rowan Fogarty of Vigitrust. Gorge is the author of The Cyber Elephant in the Boardroom: Cyber-Accountability With The Five Pillars Of Security Framework. The book looks at cybersecurity through the lens of a simple, proven and industry-agnostic methodology that enables businesses of all sizes to map cybersecurity risks, implement a cybersecurity strategy, and demonstrate cyber accountability to regulators, government bodies and law enforcement agencies.
Justin Pike, Chairman, MYPINPAD
Software-based consumer authentication solutions enable businesses to define and create tailored, end-to-end customer experiences, shifting payments onto commercially available mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. But how secure is this? PCI DSS has introduced standards for both Software Payments on Consumer off the shelf devices (SPoC) and Contactless payments on Consumer off the shelf Devices (CPoC) but it has yet to do the same for CPoC+ PIN. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed the importance of PCI compliance with Justin Pike of MYPINPAD.
Nick Jackson, President, CIMA, and Finance Transformation Leader, Oracle
A new global survey by Oracle claims that people now trust ‘robots’ more than themselves to manage their finances. The study included more than 9,000 consumers and business leaders in 14 countries. The role of finance teams and financial advisors is going to change and, the survey says, it is time to embrace AI to manage finance. Nick Jackson of Oracle discussed the report’s findings with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Rob Shore, Chief Financial Officer, EML Payments
EML Payments is based in Brisbane, Australia, providing back-end solutions to other FinTechs. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Rob Shore of EML Payments about being a white-labelled B2B service provider. Shore also outlines how the pandemic has accelerated business adoption in a disruptive time for payments.
Christian Reuss, Head, SIX Swiss Exchange
After initial volatility in, particularly, the first quarter of 2020, you could be hard-pressed to find signs of the economic downturn in the performance of the world’s capital markets with the latter part of 2020 seeing rising share prices and an increase in the number of IPOs around the world. Christian Reuss of SIX Swiss Exchange talked to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about what’s attracting investors into stock markets and why FinTechs are, perhaps strangely, among those companies that may be delaying an IPO.
Amber Ghaddar, Founder, AllianceBlock
Late in January 2021, AllianceBlock signed an agreement to join the London Stock Exchange Group’s partner platform, providing institutional members with the ability to have direct market access to AllianceBlock. The firm is building the world’s first globally compliant decentralised capital market. But what does that actually mean? Amber Ghaddar of AllianceBlock explains the concept to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Arik Shtilman, CEO and co-Founder, Rapyd
2021 has begun with a bang in FinTech with 10 deals worth more than $100 million making headlines in a matter of weeks. How and where will newly deep-pocketed companies invest? Arik Shtilman of FinTech-as-a-service platform Rapyd discusses the changing nature of the digital payments space and the growth of eCommerce with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Daniel Carpenter, Head of Regulation at MeritsoftTrading activity and dividend arbitrage schemes are seeing increased scrutiny from authorities following the Cum-ex tax scandal. Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Daniel Carpenter, Head of Regulation at Meritsoft, a Cognizant company, about what institutions can do to ensure compliance and in turn, build trust.
Kasaye Eshetu, Director, Alternate Channels Department, Dashen Bank
Yemiru Chanyalew, CEO, Moneta Technologies
Meabh Maguire, Global Commercial Manager, CR2
At the recent Global FinTech Innovation Awards, the Amole digital wallet from Dashen Bank was named Most Innovative Digital Wallet Deployment. Since the launch of the Amole Digital Wallet in Ethiopia in July 2018, spearheaded by Ethiopian based Fintech Moneta Technologies and Dashen Bank, underpinned by CR2’s Digital Banking Platform, Dashen Bank has transformed its digital customer base by a phenomenal 4,000%, accelerated customer acquisition, enhanced its liquidity position and are now deeply embedded in the daily spending habits of millions of Ethiopians every day.Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses the success of Amole with Meabh Maguire of CR2, Yemiru Chanyalew of Moneta Technologies and Kasaye Eshetu of Dashen Bank.
John Cragg, CEO, MYHSM
MYHSM is the global provider of Payment Hardware Security Modules (HSM) as a Service. In January the business was acquired by Aachen, Germany-based Utimaco. MYHSM’s employees and customers will be integrated into Utimaco’s Information Security business. John Cragg of MYHSM tells Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence what the deal means for MYHSM now and for the future.
Ed Adshead-Grant, General Manager, Payments, Bottomline Technologies
New competitors such as FinTechs and challenger banks are leveraging customer data to provide value-added services. The pressure on banks to shift their focus to such services in transaction banking will only multiply. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed how the integration of ISO 20022 in payment systems can help with Ed Adshead-Grant of Bottomline Technologies.
Christoph Gugelmann, Co-Founder and CEO, Tradeteq
Tradeteq recently secured over $9 million in Series A funding. CEO Christoph Gugelmann tells Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence how making trade finance an investible asset class can make banks work their balance sheets harder and in turn support more SMEs and corporates. Tradeteq provides banks, credit insurers and asset managers with technology and services to streamline asset distribution and reduce friction costs through automation.
Michael Whitt, Head of Partnerships, ApexEdge
ApexEdge offers banks and financial institutions a ‘concierge’ service for their retail customers offering monthly bill and subscription management solutions to support their financial health. With the pandemic still raging and data suggesting that a significant majority of US consumers overpay on monthly bills, Michael Whitt of ApexEdge told Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence that banks and credit unions have a real opportunity to be advocates for their customers.
Daniel Kornitzer, Chief Business Development Officer, Paysafe
UK-regulated Paysafe is an online payments specialist operating around the world. The firm has identified 10 likely trends in payments for 2021:
- The impact of PSD2 on biometric authentication
- Real-time payments goes global
- A renewed focus on 5G
- The subscription model grows in popularity
- Paying with crypto goes mainstream
- AI and machine learning as the cornerstone of fraud prevention
- Digital loyalty apps and payments on the rise
- COVID-19 accelerates the divergence of digital payment methods
- Payments becomes a tool to track spending
- Further growth of digital peer-to-peer payments
Daniel Kornitzer of Paysafe highlighted some of the key issues to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Duncan Barrigan, CPO, GoCardless
The global pandemic has accelerated the need for recurring payments solutions, whether for businesses looking for liquidity or as a tool for the growing subscription economy. Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Duncan Barrigan, Chief Product Officer of recurring payments specialist GoCardless, about the challenges of the past year, Success+, vaccines and Open Banking.
Brad Hyett, CEO, phos
UK-based FinTech phos, which enables merchants to take payments directly on their NFC-enabled smartphone, has seen the popularity of software point-of-sale – softPOS – increase with the acceleration of cashless adoption. Brad Hyett, the CEO of phos, speaks to Sunniva Kolostyak about the technology, Apple’s acquisition of softPOS provider Mobeewave earlier this year, and Covid-19 as a driver.
Stephane Leroy, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Quanthouse
We review the rise of the ‘robot’ trader and the evolution of screen-based trading to API-based trading with Stephane Leroy of Quanthouse. He talked to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about how API tools and connectivity can help capital market participants lay the foundations for automated funds.
David Snitkof, VP Analytics, Ocrolus
US banks have been looking to tighten their underwriting standards. The average FICO score (a credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation) actually rose in July – in the middle of a pandemic that ought to raise the risk of defaults. So, FICO scores aren’t telling the whole story. David Snitkof of FinTech infrastructure firm Ocrolus explains the issues to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Guy Mettrick, Global Industry Lead – Financial Services, Appian
Artificial intelligence or applied intelligence? Either way, take-up is set to increase rapidly in 2021 with, for example, AI-powered fraud detection coming down in cost and becoming more readily available. Guy Mettrick of Appian discussed the outlook for AI, operational resilience and low-code solutions with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Thomas Borrel, Chief Product Officer, Polymath
Security tokens on the blockchain are an increasingly hot topic and could result in the creation of new financial instruments. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discusses how digital assets are evolving alongside regulation with Thomas Borrel of Polymath and what still needs to happen for institutional investors to get on board.
Matthew Williamson, VP Global Financial Services, Mobiquity
Bank ABC, an international bank headquartered in Bahrain, established Ila Bank in November 2019 to function as a digital-only bank offering its services through a mobile app. One year on, on the sidelines of the BankSec 2020 / Self-Service Banking Europe 2020 conference, Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke to Matthew Williamson of Mobiquity – the digital consultancy firm that played a key development role in the initiative, helping Bank ABC from idea inception through to implementation and launch.
Ilia Maksimenka, Chief Executive Officer, PlasmaPay
If digital banking is being described as Banking 2.0, does that make decentralised finance Banking 3.0? Using blockchain technology, it is possible to securely store crypto and fiat currency, buy and exchange digital assets, send and receive payments and create payment networks. So why wouldn’t you? Ilia Maksimenka of PlasmaPay discusses the possibilities with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Seamus Donoghue, VP Sales & Business Development, METACO
METACO provides security-criticalinfrastructure that enables financial institutions to enter the digital asset ecosystem. The firm raised $17 million in its Series A funding round in July 2020. Seamus Donoghue of METACO talks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about what banks need to do to get to grips with digital assets and tokenisation.
Paul Brennan, Head of Product Management, LEVERIS
Data is at the core of the future of banking, according to Irish BaaS provider LEVERIS. Speaking to Sunniva Kolostyak, Paul Brennan, it's Head of Product Management, discusses the benefits of embracing data analysis, and what banking could look like if it makes the customer the heart of the business.
Eyal Moldovan, General Manager, Payoneer
E-commerce activity grew 11% in the US in the first four months of 2020, equivalent to a decade of growth. Eyal Moldovan of online payments specialist Payoneer told Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence, this growth story is here to stay – US-based Wayfair saw ecommerce activity up 153% in Q2 and up 155% in Q3. For Moldovan, innovation is key – both in the way end customers are treated but also in resolving supply chain issues.
Richard Meeus, Director of Security Technology and Strategy, Akamai
Homeworking for many was one of the themes of 2020 but alongside this came a soaring number of cyberattacks. At the same time, investment increased in many projects to support the need for remote connectivity for employees while developing new cloud and multi cloud strategies. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Richard Meeus, Director of Security Technology and Strategy with digital security and performance specialist Akamai.
Pan Yiannakou, Founder and CEO, Swarm
Swarm intelligence is a phenomenon observed in the natural world where the collective behaviour of a colony of simple ‘agents’ generates far more advanced actions than the cumulative performance of the individuals. Pan Yiannakou, CEO of Swarm explained to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence how Swarm, the ‘AI trading’ trading company is leveraging swarm intelligence and trading slowly to outperform the futures markets.
Arun Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Intellect Design Arena
Intellect Design Arena has reimagined and says it offers the world’s first future-ready multiproduct FinTech platform, built on the principles of Design Thinking. Chairman and MD Arun Jain has been telling Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence how the company’s API-led solutions enable the creation of unique, custom-made frameworks for banks.
Terry Duffy, SVP & GM Digital First Software and Services, NCR
This year, banks and financial institutions had to determine how to operate remotely, make branches safe, and shift to a hyper focus on digital. What will 2021 bring – what are the priorities and the planning needed? Terry Duffy of NCR discussed the outlook for next year with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Laurent Descout, Co-founder & CEO, Neo
Pain points in corporate banking continue to impact on SMEs – pain points that Covid-19 has only served to magnify. FinTech solutions may hold the answer and more with new technologies becoming available to leverage data and analytics to improve decision-making and reduce costs. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence spoke with Laurent Descout of Neo, which claims to be a one-stop-shop for FX corporate risk management, international collection and payments.
Josep Alvarez, Partner, Head of UK Banking Practice and EMEA Blockchain/DLT strategy, NTT Data UK
A report by GSMA and NTT Data on the use of QR codes as a method of payment suggests that mobile POS payments will account for $4 trillion, nearly half of all digital payments by 2024. Josep Alvarez of NTT Data explains to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence that the use of QR codes, currently dominated by widespread adoption in China and Asia, is set to grow in Latin America and Africa.
John Cragg, CEO, MYHSM
MYHSM is the global provider of Payment Hardware Security Modules (HSM) as a Service. John Cragg of MYHSM tells Robin Amlot why FinTechs with bright ideas need to make sure their payment solutions meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) security requirements and how Payment HSM-as-a-service can help speed the process.
Jeffrey Berman, General Partner, Camber Creek
Real estate technology, also known as PropTech is a hot topic right now in real estate investing as Jeffrey Berman, New York-based General Partner of venture capital firm Camber Creek, explains to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence. In many ways PropTech and FinTech are seeking to offer solutions to the same kind of problems.
Artem Shaginyan, Founder & CEO, Lunu
Lunu has developed a processing service, mobile terminal, online widget and crypto wallet to offer customers the facility of spending cryptocurrencies immediately as local currency the point of sale in retail transactions without expensive exchange commissions. Artem Shaginyan, CEO of Lunu, told Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the coming evolution of crypto payments.
Adam Toms, CEO, OpenFin Europe
OpenFin aims to provide a unifying foundation for next-gen financial industry applications. Since launch in 2010, the OpenFin OS has deployed more than 1,200 desktop applications across 225,000 desktops in more than 1,500 buy-side and sell-side firms in 60+ countries. Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Adam Toms, CEO of OpenFin Europe.
James Booth, VP Head of Partnerships for EMEA, at PPRO
Consumer purchasing habits have certainly been altered by the coronavirus.James Booth, VP Head of Partnerships for EMEA, at cross-border payments specialist PPRO discusses these changes, alongside their effect on merchants, cross-border trading and the adoption of local payment methods.
Simon Bateman, CIO, Allica Bank
Specialising in supporting UK SMEs, it took Allica Bank just 12 months to build the institution from scratch. Six months later, the pandemic hit. But Allica was lucky to the extent that it does not have a legacy backbook of loans to service. It has also been built with an API-led approach that, as CIO Simon Bateman of Allica Bank told Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, confers certain advantages.
Gary Bond, Chief Executive Officer, TURN
TURN (TISA Universal Reporting Network) is an industry-backed blockchain solution for the collection and dissemination of fund related data. As Gary Bond of TURN explains to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, the overall aim is to increase market compliance, reduce regulatory and operational costs, and provide a better service to investors. TURN claims it will enable asset managers to save up to 90% of their MiFID II reporting costs.
Gudmundur Kristjansson, Founder & CEO, Lucinity
Lucinity is an AML software company, founded in 2018, with offices in New York and Reykjavik. CEO Gudmundur Kristjansson (GK) is a former Director of Compliance Surveillance Technology with Citigroup. Lucinity has developed a new human-AI platform that aims to improve the way the suspicious activity is tracked and, as GK told Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, that can be used effectively and ethically to help stop money laundering.
Richard Byworth, Chief Executive Officer, Diginex
Diginex listed on NASDAQ in October 2020, becoming the first cryptocurrency exchange to be listed in the US. The firm’s cryptocurrency exchange EQUOS currently provides for spot trading but there are plans to introduce digital futures and options. Richard Byworth of Diginex discussed the significance of its NASDAQ listing with Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence
Murray Gardiner, Managing Director, Bluecode Africa
As the continent of Africa faces its first recession in 25 years, Murray Gardiner of Johannesburg-based FinTech Bluecode Africa tells Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence why digital payments are more than just keys to open the doorways of financial inclusion. He highlights the need for banks and FinTechs to engage with the informal business sector. Prior to launching Bluecode Africa with Bluecode International Murray was the business lead for inclusive banking with BankTech firm Temenos.
Nir Levy, VP Product & Omer Aljanati, Senior Product Manager, Credorax
In 2019, the European Banking Authority announced a delay to the enforcement of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). With the new deadline fast approaching, is the European payment ecosystem ready to fully support and comply to 3DS 2.0? Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence spoke with Nir Levy and Omer Aljanati of smart payments provider Credorax.
Carey O’Connor Kolaja, Chief Executive Officer, AU10TIX
AU10TIX specializes in automated identity intelligence and cyber fraud prevention. CEO Carey O’Connor Kolaja was previously Global Chief Product Officer with Citi FinTech and VP, Global Consumer Products at PayPal. She explained to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence how the digital identity landscape is changing and warns about the emerging vulnerabilities for both businesses and individuals.
Rich Cooper, Principal – Financial Services, Fusion Risk Management
There has been a fundamental shift in how the modern bank is approaching operational resilience to ensure the continuity of key services driven in part by regulatory focus, customer centricity, the digitisation of financial services and the growth in reputational risk. Rich Cooper of Fusion Risk Management explains the challenges of operation resilience to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence.
John Garvey, Global Financial Services Leader, PwC US
Five years of evolution in financial services have been compressed into a matter of months and it is not over yet! More digitisation is one the way, zero interest rates will redefine financial products, capital constraints on regulated banks will see a rise in non-bank lenders and ESG will become mainstream. John Garvey of PwC takes Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence through the report ‘Securing your tomorrow, today – The future of financial services’.
Alastair McGill, GM Data Control, Broadridge Financial Solutions; Thorsten Voelkel, CEO, PPI AG
Europe’s banks are facing challenges in payments, driven by changes such as the implementation of PSD2, SEPA ISO migration, TARGET2 and SWIFT ISO20022 migration, while also responding to national payments infrastructure changes and the emergence of new protocols, such as EBICS. There is also increasing market demand for Request to Pay and SEPA IP via TIPS. Broadridge and Germany’s PPI AG unveiled their Payments-as-a-Service partnership during SIBOS. Alastair McGill of Broadridge and Thorsten Voelkel of PPI outlined the new PaaS venture to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Barbara Maheshwari, Chief Executive Officer, Remote Bob
Barbara Maheshwari has the ambition to become the leading platform in Europe for managing remote staff, aiming to enable companies to find and hire the right talents while securing fulfilling career opportunities for candidates. Early stage FinTech startup need to focus on their ideas and their solutions – as Remote Bob’s Barbara Maheshwari explained to Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence, a ‘virtual assistant’ allows that focus to be maintained without distraction.
Jill Homan, President DeepTarget
Social media is the golden standard of engagement and has been since the launch of the first social networking website more than a decade ago. Social media exists to grow connections and relationships. Learn how banks can use social principles to exceed customer expectations, identify engagement challenges and retool communication strategies to meet customer engagement expectations for the next decade. Jill Homan of DeepTarget explains how to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
V. Ramkumar, Senior Partner, Cedar Management Consulting International discusses three or four focus areas that banks need to focus on for their transformation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Michel Golffed is the VP of Growth at dLocal.
dLocal is Uruguay’s first Unicorn and a specialist in cross-border payments. Michel Golffed of dLocal talks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the growth opportunities in emerging markets, even where the majority of the population may be unbanked or, at the least, does not have access to credit cards. He began by discussing how Covid-19 is affecting demand in these markets.
Michael Carter, Executive Vice President, Strategic Resource Management
Vendor invoice auditing is often put on the backburner by financial institutions. However, as Michael Carter of Memphis, Tennessee-based SRM explains to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence, automating the invoice audit process enables banks to improve efficiencies, increase productivity and protect the bottom line from erosion.
Matthew Williamson, Global VP of Financial Services, Mobiquity
Covid-19 has accelerated the creation of a cashless society. Matthew Williamson, now with digital consultancy Mobiquity, was previously Global Head of Payments and Cash at Finastra and EMEA Head of Commercial Prepaid Card Technology at Citibank. Here he discusses the need to retain the ‘human factor’ in digital banking with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Luke Wilson, VP Intelligence, 4iQ
Cyberattacks and data breaches cost consumers, companies, and countries billions of dollars annually. October marks National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the US. Luke Wilson, formerly with the FBI, is VP of Intelligence with cybersecurity firm 4iQ. He explains to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence how financial institutions can stop cyber-enabled crime by incorporating identity intelligence into their digital security
Financial inclusion and wellbeing becomes even more important in a crisis, and the global pandemic is no different. Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Kam Chana, Product Innovation Director at Temenos, in connection to the SIBOS 2020 conference about humanising banking and the clear impact financial wellbeing and inclusion has on health, as well as the role technology has in creating a more ethical and sustainable banking industry.
Yasin Qureshi, Founder & Head of Strategy, Aqua Rising
Aqua Digital Rising has begun its pre-funding round ahead of its official launch in January 2021. The firm is a new alternative-asset and analytics investment platform which links big data analytics with AI to construct indices based on humans – using mathematics, AI, machine learning and big data analytics to create alt-assets allowing investors to identify and put a value on success. Yasin Qureshi of Aqua Rising spoke to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Tony Pepper, Chief Executive Officer, Egress
Results of the latest Egress Outbound Data Breach Survey 2020 suggest that 93% of organisations surveyed had suffered email data breaches with an average frequency of 180 incidents per year – in other words someone in your company could be putting sensitive data at risk every other day! What can be done to address this? Tony Pepper of Egress spoke with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
Ben Agnew, Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Payments Association
Ben Agnew was appointed CEO for the Emerging Payments Association with effect from 1 September 2020. He has more than 15 years of experience in the events, digital and marketing services space. Credited for his work in restructuring commercial operations at Informa, his most recent role was Managing Director at the independent media business, Datacenter Dynamics. Here he talks about plans for the Emerging Payments Association’s business strategy with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence
You can also listen to our recent interview with Tony Craddock, Director General of the EPA.
Robert Hannigan, Chairman, BlueVoyant International
BlueVoyant has published Global Insights: Supply Chain Cyber Risk, a study of more than 1500 CIOs, CISOs and Chief Procurement Officers. The results are not entirely comfortable, a combination of large vendor ecosystems and low visibility are increasing third-party cyber risk exponentially. Robert Hannigan, Chairman of BlueVoyant International and former director of GCHQ, talks to Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence about the evolution of cyberthreats to supply chains and the steps that need to be taken to mitigate them.
Now that the markets have settled into some semblance of ‘normal’, Joshua Walsky, the CTO of Broadway Technology – which powers FICC trading at a number of banks – argues that the events of March-June will provide valuable clues into what could be an unpredictable period for bank trading desks. Speaking to Sunniva Kolostyak, Walsky explores issues around outsourcing, remote trading and connectivity.
Yaron Hazan, VP, Regulatory Affairs, ThetaRay
The media reaction to the recent leak of the so-called FinCen Files predictably painted banks in a negative light. However, the bottom line is that almost no bank in the world has the visibility needed to monitor cross-border correspondent banking transactions through the entire transaction chain. Yaron Hazan of ThetaRay in conversation with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence explains that the current AML system is set up for failure with banks pushed to overreport.
Arun K Arunachalam, Vice President, TCS Financial Solutions, and Head of Product Management, TCS BaNCS & Anand Athani, Head, Technology Strategy and Consulting, TCS Financial Solutions.
Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence talks to Arun K Arunachalam, Vice President, TCS Financial Solutions, and Head of Product Management, TCS BaNCS & Anand Athani, Head, Technology Strategy and Consulting, TCS Financial Solutions. Arun, talks about his focus area including adapting the emerging technologies of AI, data and digital in the banking and capital markets, while Anand is working on leveraging the emerging patterns in technology including data strategy; cloud and its nativity; and microservices for TCS BaNCS. They review the product and technology strategy for TCS BaNCS.
Listen to the complete episode to find out more on it.
Robin Amlot, Managing Editor at IBS Intelligence talks to Jim Heinzman, EVP Financial Services Solutions, ThetaRay about the growing banking fraud in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion revolves around how banks can protect themselves against the fraudulent transactions and money laundering in the era of COVID-19.
Listen to the complete episode to find out more.
Remote working has put increased pressure on financial traders’ desktops. How can chatbots effectively integrate client data? How can IT services ensure all the various applications on traders’ desktops communicate with each other seamlessly… and how does the implementation of the ‘composable enterprise’ help? James Wooster of Glue42 explains.
James Wooster, COO, Glue42
Singapore-based CredoLab secured $7m in a Series A funding round in August 2020. Now the company is expanding into the US and other global markets. Michele Tucci of CredoLab discusses how the company evaluates smartphone and web metadata to create bank-grade digital scorecards. The use of such ‘alternative data’ addresses the problems faced by ‘thin file’ and underbanked customers in access to credit – not a small issue when, for example, 27% of the US population has so little credit history, they’re considered ‘unscorable’.
Michele Tucci, Chief Product Officer, CredoLab
New challenger Ziglu has just become a fully authorised Electronic Money Institution under the aegis of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and has launched peer-to-peer payments for all currencies on its app… but not just fiat currencies, crypto as well and, what’s more, is offering up to £50,000 insurance for crypto holdings. Founder and CEO Mark Hipperson has form – he was previously a co-founder and CTO of challenger Starling Bank. He spoke with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence.
As the global pandemic is pushing people towards new payments solutions and the US catching on to contactless, San Francisco-based Purewrist is responding by launching a wearable payments bracelet. Suresh Palliparambil, the CEO of Purewrist speaks to Sunniva Kolostyak about the Purewrist GO, issuing co-branded cards, and social responsibility.
It was recently announced that next year a ban on discretionary commission models in auto financing will take effect in the UK. No longer will vehicle retailers and finance providers receive commission linked to the interest rate a customer may pay – a clear incentive to act against customer interests. Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence discussed what the change in regulations means for the UK motor financing industry with Daniel Layne, CEO of FinTech Quotevine, which specialises in finance software and cloud solutions for asset, auto and consumer finance.
Global markets have been forced to address the threat from the coronavirus crisis, however, not all have approached it in the same way. Mario Shiliashki, CEO of Payments at PayU, speaks to Sunniva Kolostyak about how FinTechs, alongside governments, are driving economic growth and supporting local communities.
Bob Legters is responsible for investment in data and artificial intelligence at Florida-based FIS, one of the world’s largest financial technology firms. Taking account of the ‘democratisation’ of financial planning thanks to developments in AI, he told Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence that people not using AI-enabled money management tools are seriously missing out.
Justin is one of the most ebullient characters of the investing scene in the UK. His new venture is Regionally, a platform that aims to bring together regional business with regional investors, allowing vetted companies access to private capital in the range of £0.5m to £10m. This members’ only online investment service could help play a key role in helping regional UK SMEs to scale up.
National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has chosen to digitally transform its transaction banking business with the Infosys Finacle Cash Management Suite. Zied Jalali of National Bank of Bahrain and Venkat Gosavi of Infosys Finacle spoke with Robin Amlot about the bank’s transformation journey and the decisions behind the choices made.
A recent report about the financial impact of COVID-19 in the US showed 83% of lower to middle income households say that they want to turn to their banks for financial support. SpringFour’s technology provides real-time access to local financial resources that banks’ customer service agents share with their customers. Since the pandemic began, SpringFour has delivered more than 1.6 million referrals to vetted financial resources for food assistance, foreclosure assistance, healthcare savings, employment services, and childcare support.
Global Ventures is a Dubai-based, growth-stage venture capital firm. Within its investment portfolio, Global Ventures is looking for Middle East-based FinTechs capable of scaling up both inside and, more importantly, outside the region – one recent example being Cairo-based payments FinTech Paymob. Basil Moftah discussed the VC firm’s aims and ambitions with Robin Amlot.
Originally established in Chicago, Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search firm. Clare Buxton is a Partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ London office and a member of the global Financial Services Practice. She leads the Consumer Financial Services team in the UK and is part of the global FinTech Practice. Robin Amlot spoke to Clare Buxton about the leadership issues facing neobanks.
Bankmed completed its core transformation programme end July/beginning of August. Fouad Baalbaki, CIO of Bankmed, and V Ramkumar, Senior Partner of Cedar Management Consulting International take Robin Amlot through the process of a remote installation amid the Covid-19 pandemic…
Investigating the economics of the neobanks and the potential threat to their business models from ‘big tech’; FinTech guru Lex Sokolin discusses where the neobanks go from here with Robin Amlot of IBS Intelligence. Can cross-selling create a sustainable business model?
FeedStock is a platform offering solutions for both buy-side and sell-side players in the financial markets. Co-CEO Lucas Wurfbain spoke with Robin Amlot about how AI-driven data analytics can help protect revenue and support productivity through the proper evaluation of human-to-human relationships both within the organisation and with external stakeholders and clients.
Already 55% of all money services businesses’ (MSBs) transactions are FinTech-based with 73% of new entities relying on an internet-based model rather than an agent-based model. Christian Spaltenstein, Managing Director, Americas, for AFEX discusses with Robin Amlot how MSBs can and should differentiate themselves and how APIs will change the cash management ecosystem.
Technisys offers Cyberbank – an API-centric, microservices-based digital banking platform. This cloud-native offering is performing strongly in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Technisys expanding staff numbers, winning fresh deals and, as co-founder German Pugliese-Bassi explained to Robin Amlot, sticking to its pre-pandemic business targets.
The global payment-as-a-service market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% to 2027. That presents opportunities. Volante Technologies recently raised $35m in a funding round led by Wavecrest with strategic participation from VISA Ventures, Poste Italiani, Citi Ventures, and BNY Mellon. Volante’ CEO spoke about the funding and the company’s future plans with Robin Amlot.
Italian FinTech Supply@ME offers a platform focused on inventory monetisation, which , the company says, enables a range of manufacturing and trading businesses to improve their working capital position via a “true sale” of the inventory to special purpose vehicles incorporated by Supply@ME that also provides a new asset class to investors.
The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA) is a cross-industry financial services body in the UK. Its latest initiative is TISAtech – a new digital marketplace that brings together financial institutions and FinTechs for greater collaboration and innovation. Keith Phillips, CEO of TISAtech outlines the aims and ambitions of TISAtech to Robin Amlot.
In the face of the pandemic, digital customer services are coming into their own with consumers moving their banking activities to digital channels and institutions prioritising digital transformation. Dan Michaeli, CEO of Glia, explains to Robin Amlot why and how traditional contact centres are being replaced by what he calls engagement centres…
A new report entitled ‘Payments in a Post-Covid-19 World’ has been published by P20, the voice of the global payments industry. It explores the challenges faced by the international payments sector during the pandemic and offers suggested actions that payments companies can take to ensure effective, innovative and responsible operation. P20’s CEO Duncan Sandys discussed the report with Robin Amlot…
In the wake of the Wirecard debacle, the UK body, the Emerging Payments Association has published a review paper entitled ‘Avoiding a payments lockdown’, presenting it to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury. The paper seeks to identify vulnerabilities in the current payments business model, how UK institutions were impacted and what regulators need to do next. Tony Craddock discusses the paper’s findings with Robin Amlot…
When it comes to Open Banking, are consumers really seeing any benefits? Brian Hanrahan, Chief Commercial Officer at Sentenial, joins the IBS Views podcast to discuss Nuapay, the Open Banking payments provider and Sentenial subsidiary, its recent partnerships, and how the public has taken advantage of Account-2-Account payments solutions during Covid-19.
The banker is dead! Long live the banker! Chirag Patel believes the ‘traditional’ banker is no longer viable in an era where banking innovation can transform economies. He believes that the new banker must be a product-led technology enthusiast… and he’s walking the walk, having moved from ecommerce behemoth Amazon to Santander, one of the oldest financial institutions in the world.
Thomas Schumann Water Risk Indices are the first-ever index family specifically designed to minimise water risk in equities. This first iteration of the index was initially a collaboration with three FinTechs: Equarius Risk Analytics, Fuzzy Logix, and C8 Technologies. Subsequent to the preliminary index development, institutional index experts Anatase were brought in to re-engineer the index methodology and the final TSC Water Risk Indices were launched on 4 January, 2021. Robin Amlot discussed the first generation of the index with Thomas Schumann, Founder of Thomas Schumann Capital and Jonathan Webb, COO of C8 Technologies.
The key to success in private banking is client engagement. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic that has put pressure on institutions to use digital channels in a more effective manner to maintain the personal customer experience. The onus is on private bankers to adapt accordingly.
Banks will need to be as agile as FinTechs in the future. Retail banking is likely to be virtual post-Covid-19 but, warns Matt Locsin of Publicis Sapient, banks face a particular challenge in the threat of disintermediation by tech companies that could see revenue from fees shrinking and traditional bases of differentiation, other than price, disappearing.
Have we learnt anything from previous crises? With focus on resiliency and business continuity at an all-time high, Brian Collings, CEO of Torstone Technology, discusses what it’s like to provide post-trade solutions in a Covid-19 environment, and which lessons the financial sector has picked up from the global financial crisis in 2008.
One of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been to increase the risk of money laundering through cross-border correspondent banking. Banks are reliant on counterparties to determine account owners and monitor transactions for risk – with variable results! Mark Gazit, CEO of Israeli cybersecurity firm ThetaRay warns that existing AML systems may not be up to the task of identifying new types of money laundering activity.
VMware has released research showing an increase in both cyberattack volume and breaches during the past 12 months in the UK. The research was supplemented with a survey on the impact of Covid-19 on the attack landscape. According to the supplemental survey, 92% of UK cybersecurity professionals said attack volumes have increased as more employees work from home and 93% said their organisations have experienced cyberattacks linked to Covid-19 malware.
In recent months there has been a shift in investors’ attitude towards cryptoassets with major hedge funds and banks moving into Bitcoin. Central bankers are also investigating digital currencies. Copper Technologies CEO Dmitry Tokarev discusses how crypto can and is moving into mainstream financial services.
Paper-based financial workflows have proved to be ‘not fit for purpose’ in a remote working world, especially where complex financial instruments are concerned. Digitisation of workflows can increase efficiency but more tellingly, in light of Covid-19, can also make sense from a health and security perspective, as Jesse Chenard, CEO of Monetago explains.
FinTech start-up Shaparency completed fund-raising in less than three months and, having launched, describes itself as a disruptive RegTech platform, which aims to increase the efficiency of board and shareholder operations. It uses blockchain technology to provide an integrated digital platform so that businesses may run board meetings and shareholder meetings remotely.
Crown Agents Bank is a UK regulated provider of wholesale FX and cross-border payments services. CEO Albert Maasland discusses how digital technology is allowing Africa’s emerging markets to leapfrog traditional financial processes and how the efficiency and effectiveness of digital payments technology is standing up to the impact of Covid-19.
Coronavirus is dragging the world to the digital ‘extreme’ – whether we like it or not. However, with the UK already on its way to becoming a cashless society, will COVID-19 be the catalyst for the UK to fully embrace digital payments? And if so, how does the digital payments industry unite the nation on such a divided topic? Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Luc Gueriane, Chief Commercial Officer at Moorwand.
There has been much talk of a ‘new normal’ with regard to working conditions and remote working but what has that meant in practice for many businesses? And have they got it right? Many companies are not geared in terms of tools, processes, mindset and employee engagement to make the most of the opportunities now being presented. New consultancy Ideologic has been established by Jared Whitaker, former Head of Sales Strategy and Enablement at global FinTech provider Fiserv to help companies define their New Way of Working Strategy, implement against it, and then monitor the impact of the changes.
Finacle is Infosys product subsidiary Edgeverve’s core banking product, used by banks across 100 countries, serving more than 1 billion customers. Arun Krishnan of Finacle discusses how Covid-19 has opened up the gates to faster innovation in banking and payments and how the pace of change is actually increasing despite the pandemic – could this be blockchain’s big moment? The competition is now about who can roll out digital solutions in the most helpful, accessible and secure manner.
The Covid-19 pandemic is fundamentally changing the business model of client management for private bankers and wealth managers. Face to face client meetings are effectively off the table, meaning that having the right digital solutions has become key for wealth managers wanting to serve their clients with relevant and timely information (even more then before). Digital transformation is no longer a “nice to have” but a “must-have”.
Covid-19 has created the prime opportunity for banks to adjust their strategy. But not through continued job cuts as they are not sustainable in the long term as experienced employees are needed to help steer out of the current situation. As European banks, in particular, continue to lose market share to their Wall Street rivals, Vikas Srivastava at Integral explains to Sunniva Kolostyak at IBS Intelligence why he believes that banks should first and foremost evaluate their technology strategy.
The supranational Financial Action Task Force has recognised that geolocation data is a necessary part of digital identity and KYC verification. Separately, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority recently included geolocation data as one of the criteria to be used for the purpose of KYC/territorial compliance for AML. If a taxi driver (Uber), barista (Starbucks) and waiter (Doordash) all know their customers’ location, says Geoguard, it’s time that bank/eWallets/eBrokers do too, for the purposes of preventing fraud and other financial crimes via a stronger digital identity.
FinTech entrepreneur Peter Ramsey is carrying out an investigation into just how well the UK’s leading challenger banks stand up against their traditional counterparts in terms of customer experience. How? Simple, he set up 12 bank accounts and directly compared how the banks performed as he attempted to open an account, make a payment, freeze a card, etc. So, are the challengers just clever marketeers or are they truly outperforming their established competitors? And what is ‘built for Mars’?
How do you turn a crisis into an opportunity? Suntec CEO Nanda Kumar offers his views on how banks can take the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and turn it into an opportunity to reinforce customer trust and value, reducing the risks to their business. While taking a back-to-basics approach to customer-centricity, he also advocates a low-risk approach to digitisation without the need to replace functionally stable legacy core systems.
The iconic IBSI Sales League Table is back, and bigger than ever! In this interview, V Ramkumar, Senior Partner, Cedar Management Consulting International, explains the importance of the IBSI Sales League Table, how it is compiled and curated, the insights it provides on evolution and state of the banking technology industry, and the perspective it offers on activity levels in different global markets.
A Temenos survey has found that over three quarters of bankers believe that AI will be the technology to separate ‘winners’ from ‘losers’ over the next five years. Sunniva Kolostyak, reporter at IBS Intelligence, speaks to Mark Gunning, Global Business Solutions Director at Temenos, about the report ‘Forging new frontiers: advanced technologies will revolutionize banking’.
How do you create a bank for a group of people that constantly work and travel across borders, and how do you service them when mobility halts? Reporter Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Guy Kashtan from Rewire, a digital banking service for migrants and international workers, about growth, serving a target audience, and social responsibility during COVID-19.
Is the neobank market overcrowded? How will the challenger banks cope in the era of Covid-19? What will be the focus of the next wave of neobanks coming to the banking market? Global Processing Services (GPS) is the payments technology provider powering several of the players in the first neobank cohort, including the likes of Revolut, Starling Bank and Curve. GPS CEO Joanne Dewar offers her perspective on challenging times for the challengers.
Cybersecurity specialist VMware Carbon Black has published its latest annual Modern Bank Heists. The report shows that 80% of surveyed financial institutions reported an increase in cyberattacks over the past 12 months, a 13% increase over 2019. How can financial institutions better protect themselves in the current cybersecurity landscape? And was it inevitable that during the Covid-19 pandemic, between February and April 2020, cyberattacks against the financial sector increased by 238%!
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has expressed concern that the current Covid-19 crisis will affect the financial strength of payment service providers (PSPs) and consumers’ ability to access cash and payment services. Given the FCA’s renewed focus on the payments sector, PSPs should proactively review and, where necessary, update their compliance policies and procedures, particularly in relation to financial crime. PSPs should also assess their governance and risk management arrangements and ensure these are appropriate for their business models in the current economic climate.
Capgemini and Efma’s latest World Insurance Report 2020 reveals that consumers of all ages are adopting a “millennial mindset”, and increasingly trusting their own research to source information and purchase insurance products themselves. The report recommends that to remain relevant to customers, insurers need to better connect with their policyholders by providing them with hyper-personalised and experience-led engagement. Simply put, insurers need to offer the right products, at the right time and via the right channels.
US FinTech Securrency successfully raised $17.65 million in its Series A round earlier this year, led by strategic investor WisdomTree investments. Securrency is a pioneer of blockchain-based financial markets infrastructure technology centred on its identity and compliance framework to support global digital securities transactions. Now, the FinTech has partnered with Saudi investment management and banking firm, Musharaka Capital, to develop a compliant platform for issuing digital securities in Saudi Arabia.
Sunniva Kolostyak, reporter at IBS Intelligence, speaks to Signicat’s John Erik Setsaas about how Scandinavian countries are using verified digital identities in most aspects of their digital lives, about entering the Benelux market and its recent acquisition of Connectis, and how collaboration is an important element of fighting cybercrime, particularly in a COVID-19 environment.
In a single home today, it’s not uncommon to find more than a dozen devices connected to the internet. As people connect more, it is only a matter of time before we see a huge increase in unauthorised purchases being made via these technologies. The Internet of Things (IoT) has great potential but there are questions to be resolved over how payment systems interact with IoT, warns Steve Durney of Ethoca. Acquired by Mastercard in March 2019, Ethoca is a provider of collaboration-based technology solutions for merchants and card issuers.
Middle East and Africa (MEA) retail banks are the strongest believers in a cashless society, prioritizing digitalization to drive financial inclusion, according to a study released by Temenos. The report, prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit, reveals that the Middle East is poised to encourage digital financial inclusion, with young populations and smartphone use predicted to hit 74% by 2025. Of the 65 senior bankers in the region who responded, 6 in 10 think cash will dip below 5% of retail transactions in the next five years, compared to 48% globally.
The “new normal” has placed an added importance on digital workers needed to automate mission critical tasks. Robotic process automation (RPA) pioneer, Blue Prism has been helping UK group Leeds Building Society handle the upsurge in customer enquiries over the deferral of mortgage payments. Payment holiday requests exceeded 2,000 a day and this is all now being handled by the RPA solution developed by Blue Prism for the building society. So, how should companies be managing their customer relations in the face of Covid-19?
Finastra has $1.9 billion in revenues, 10,000 employees and over 8,500 customers, including 90 of the top 100 banks globally. The firm’s focus in recent years has been very much centred around platform development and getting the customer experience right. Anand Subbaraman of Finanstra explains how platformification is evolving from its original focus on retail banking.
Pelican offers an open API interoperability hub and is seeing increasing interest from banks in this area as they look to capitalise on the opportunities of open banking. The firm believes a highly functional API development and deployment environment is essential for banks to provide innovative solutions. In this interview Pelican’s Founder and CEO, Parth Desai, and the firm’s Sales Director, Abhinav Desai review the state of play in open banking in the UK and across Europe.
Small businesses represent 43% of the US economy, yet many are struggling to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Many US banks are unable to offer services to new small business customers in a timely manner, due to the complex nature of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) rules and obligations. Fenergo has launched a plug-and-play solution that allows US business and commercial banks to digitally onboard new clients, while digitally satisfying Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and BSA requirements, reducing the time to onboard and rapidly process new PPP loan applications.
The password is a dying breed, and biometrics and digital identities are taking its place. However, consumers are still cautious when it comes to using fingerprints, facial recognition and voice to authenticate payments. In this episode, reporter Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Daniel Kornitzer at Paysafe about embracing the benefits of biometrics and raising awareness.
Most people in the UK still use a traditional bank as their primary account, with digital banks typically used for other secondary activities. However, in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, we’ve seen people turning to FinTech apps, with usage increasing 72%. The disruption of the global pandemic will expose the gaps in traditional banks’ digital infrastructure and could see many providers accelerate modernisation plans to meet the demand for digital service. Since the outbreak began, cash usage has halved, and consumers are increasingly opting for other methods of payment such as Apple Pay. The rise of the contactless payment limit mirrors these behavioural changes, but does this really mean the death of cash in the long term?
Strong Customer Authentication is coming. Or is it? The Covid-19 pandemic may be a factor in a further delay to SCA but it is not the only rock in the path over which the plans may stumble. Paul Rodgers, Chairman of Vendorcom and panel member at the UK Payment Systems Regulator, outlines the issues facing the adoption of SCA. Vendorcom is a multi-stakeholder membership organisation that connects seekers, solvers and shapers in the European Payments Community. Rodgers believes regulators and card issuers must take a more pragmatic stance during this unusual period.
Within the Finance and IT sectors, data analytics solution provider iDelta believes many are very well placed to continue to operate on a business as usual footing in the face of the pandemic. While finance sector PLCs are inherently risk averse, iDelta believes there is a broader risk attached to any cancellation or suspension of programmes of work – many SMEs in the sector would be forced to scale back, resulting in further job losses. There is an opportunity here for finance sector PLCs to help by maintaining or increasing the volume of project work, keeping staff, suppliers and contractors engaged so that the finance sector of the economy is part of the economic solution rather than another part of the problem.
More than half a trillion real-time payments transactions will be processed over the next five years, according to a report from Florida-based payments group ACI Worldwide and Global Data. The report analyses global real-time, account-to-account payment volumes and forecasts across 30 global markets, projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.4% from 2019 to 2024.
India is poised to lead the world in real-time payments volume over the next five years, with transaction volumes set to grow from 15.3 billion in 2019 to 52.8 billion in 2024. Additional key countries and regions to watch for real-time payments growth include the US (42.1% CAGR growth), the Nordic countries of the P27 initiative (20.9% CAGR growth), ASEAN (39.0% CAGR growth) and Europe. Among the countries relatively new to real-time payments, Malaysia, Finland and Belgium are predicted to have the most exponential growth in the next five years, with an expected CAGR of 176.5%, 90% and 67.9%, respectively
A team of UK FinTechs including Trade Ledger, a digital lending platform; Wiserfunding, a digital SME credit scoring platform; Nimbla, a trade credit insurance provider, and NorthRow, a remote client onboarding platform, have established a FinTech taskforce to provide a turn-key loan origination and underwriting platform that allows banks, alternative lenders and private debt lenders to virtually and digitally deploy funds to businesses during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The concern of the taskforce is that grants, loans and guarantees including the British Business Banks’ Coronavirus Business Interruption Lending Scheme (CBILS) funding may not get to those SMEs that most need it – or in the timeframe needed.
Finch Capital is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm focusing on Europe and Southeast Asia. In Europe the firm looks to invest in AI, FinTech and IoT. Managing Partner Radboud Vlaar talks about those FinTechs likely to prosper and those likely to stumble as a result of the economic fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic, and also what it may mean for VC exit strategies from FinTechs over the course of the next 12 months.
ERI is a global, digital solutions provider specialising in the design, development, implementation and support of an integrated, real-time banking software package: the OLYMPIC Banking System.
The company has offices in Geneva, London, Lugano, Luxembourg, Paris, Singapore and Zurich. ERI is the market leader in the provision of banking and asset/wealth management software in many countries, notably in Luxembourg, Monaco and Switzerland.
Overall, the OLYMPIC Banking System has been implemented by more than 300 banks and financial institutions in over 50 countries around the world.
Robin Amlôt sat with Nicholas Hacking, director and Jean Philippe Bersier, business development director of ERI to discuss the challenges facing, in particular, Tier 2 and 3 banks in implementing technological change.
Gresham Technologies came to the London Stock Exchange 35 years ago, listing its shares in 1995. More than 90 organisations around the world use the company’s Clareti platform. Just ahead of the release of Gresham’s latest results (which showed a 30% rise in group revenue and a return to profitability) Robin Amlôt asked CEO Ian Manocha whether and how, unlike many FinTechs, being a quoted company makes a difference to the way Gresham goes about its business.
India is well-poised to become the Global FinTech Hub due to favourable support coming from the government as well as a increased adoption of FinTech products from the consumer side. Navin Surya is also the founder of India’s first digital wallet ItzCash that he sold off to US-based Ebix. He has been very instrumental in creating various forums for FinTechs to be able to put across their thoughts and agenda to the Government. Surya spoke with Priyanka Pani of IBS Intelligence in this Podcast about the growing FinTech ecosystem in India, the segments that are likely to be more attractive to the investors and also the growth in number of Unicorns emerging from this space. Surya feels that India should expect more Unicorns based on revenues and not just valuations in the coming months.
Making her second podcast appearance as part of the International Women’s Day series, Iana Dimitrova, CEO of OpenPayd, talks about leadership and her own career, as well as the importance of access to education in order to create a level playing field.
Over the past few years, Nationwide has managed to reach 50/50 gender balance on its executive committee, but the journey has taken time. In the third instalment of our International Women’s Day series, Alison Robb discusses the use of case studies and role models help promote diverse working models and why women should build a level of resilience.
The Shareholder Rights Directive 2 (SRD2) is a European Union (EU) directive, which, among other things, sets out to strengthen the position of shareholders. It also aims to improve communication by share issuers. Does this matter if you are not in the EU or even the EEA? Yes! The directive explicitly outlines its applicability to non-EU/EEA intermediaries. SRD2 will be implemented as of September 2020 but is the industry ready? Robin Amlôt sat down with Les Turner, vice-president of global proxy, Broadridge, to talk shareholders’ rights.
In the first instalment of IBS Intelligence’s International Women’s Day series, Sunniva Kolostyak sits down with Anne Boden of Starling Bank to discuss women in power, entrepreneurship and the continued development of one of the UK’s most prominent challenger banks.
Over the last few years, the torchbearers of the innovations have been the new age FinTechs and this is somehow forcing bigger payments and financial services companies to play catch-up. Ajay Adisheshann, Founder of Indian B2B payments company PayMate talks to Priyanka Pani of IBS Intelligence on the strategies adopted by global card networks such as Mastercard and Visa to remain relevant in a very agile market and bring out better products and services. He also talks about why it is difficult for large organisations to innovate faster. He also talks about PayMate, which has Visa as a strategic investor and partner, on its global expansion strategy.
eToro is a global multi-asset investment platform with some 12 million users worldwide. It was one of the first platforms to offer 0% commission on stock trades. The eToro platform claims to be the only venue where investors may hold traditional assets such as stocks or commodities alongside ‘new’ assets such as Bitcoin. The firm has also pioneered social trading – allowing investors to follow other successful traders. Robin Amlôt asked Iqbal Gandham how he sees investing evolving in the future.
Cube is a global wealth management services company that helps people, across 50 countries, invest in emerging markets including India and other developed markets. In this Podcast, Cube’s Founder Satyen Kothari talks about how technology can help the millennials and aspirational salaried class to be able to invest smartly to grow their personal wealth instead of depending on bank savings, fixed deposits or recurring deposits. Cube is largely focused on the busy young urban professionals, who do not have time or expertise to make their own investment decisions. Cube has dedicated advisors who recommend plans after checking a persons risk profile of investors. It is also Satyen’s fifth start-up and second in the FinTech space. He founded India’s leading digital payments company Citrus, which was later acquired by Naspers-backed PayU. Satyen is an angel investor and has backed over 14 companies. He is also an active member of the Stanford Alumni Association of India and Stanford Angels.
Yobota is a London based FinTech. It has developed a cloud-based core operating platform for financial services. In 2018, Yobota enabled Chetwood Financial to launch its LiveLend and SmartSave Bank brands. Chetwood was the only bank fully authorised by the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in 2018. Yobota co-founder James King spoke to Robin Amlôt about the company’s platform and the advantages of being cloud-based.
Digital identities benefits both companies and customers across onboarding and KYC processes, but are potential pitfalls, such as data safety, risks that are too substantial for financial services? Hardik Shah, Group Head of Product at Currencies Direct, discusses the concept, as well as what a universal solution could mean for the industry, with Sunniva Kolostyak.
In this episode, Sunniva Kolostyak speaks to Jason Harrell from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) about operational resilience and the risks associated, industry and regulatory responses such as public-private partnerships, and the idea of a third-party resilience framework.
Founded in 2010, Netherlands-based five°degrees offers a next-generation, digital core banking software platform. The company’s Matrix product offers a fully automated banking services solution that supports any segment, product, or channel via a mid-office environment, connected either to legacy back-office, or to the Matrix back office. Robin Amlôt sat down with Thomas Muth of five°degrees to discuss the future of banking.
How do financial technology companies adapt to accommodate for changing consumer behaviour and rising online commerce? In this episode, Peter O’Halloran from Fiserv discusses the rise of digital commerce with Sunniva Kolostyak, and how it forces merchants and regulation to change with it.
iFAST Financial India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based iFAST Corporation Ltd, which is in the race to bag a digital banking licence in Singapore. iFAST is competing with Alipay and 20 other big players for the licence. Hon, speaks with IBS Intelligence, on the rationale behind the company’s plan to go for a digital banking licence and his views on the future of banking. Hon is optimistic of getting the licence in Singapore.iFAST in India is a SEBI Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) and the platform is one of the first to help users invest in mutual funds.
Rehan Yar Khan, Partner and Founder of Indian VC fund Orios Venture Partners. The VC, which started with its investments in consumer-facing Internet start-ups such as ride-sharing Unicorn Ola Cabs, the focus is now to invest in the booming Indian FinTech ecosystem. The VC now plans to invest a third of its fund in FinTech start-ups in 2020. Rehan, however, doesn’t follow the herd. He talks to IBS Intelligence about his strategy and thesis for the “Next India or rural India.” Rehan feels India is a different market and that urban consumers behave differently from those in rural areas. Orios has some impressive line-ups in its portfolio for this year! Besides, Rehan is also a writer and speaks to us about his latest book “Make Your Own Luck”.
Let’s listen to this Podcast for more details.
Time is money! In December 2019 it was revealed by The Times newspaper that access to a back-up communications system had resulted in those paying for a Bank of England audio feed, via a third party, receiving details of the Bank’s news conferences up to eight seconds before those using the video feed. The UK central bank referred the matter to the Financial Conduct Authority and investigations are continuing. The case highlights the importance of time and timing in the financial markets. Simon Kenny of Hoptroff joined Robin Amlôt to discuss the problem and a solution.
Fino Payments Bank is a new kind of bank in India called Payments Bank, a license given out by the Indian banking regulator RBI in 2014 to eleven players. While the model was created to drive financial inclusion with the help of technology, these banks have been facing challenges as they are not allowed to lend. Mumbai-based Fino is one among the four such banks that have not only survived but also are scaling up. Rishi Gupta, tells IBS Intelligence that while digital bank is the future from a global perspective, India is a different market where assisted banking will dominate. He tells us about the “phygital” (physical and digital) approach of Fino to acquire more customers and merchants besides talking about how open-banking and FinTech partnerships will be the road ahead for Fino.
Cashless is coming, so it is said. For some it is already here. Jeremy Nicholds, CEO of mobile payments provider Judopay told Robin Amlôt he is close to celebrating a year ‘cash free’. Nicholds, who has worked for both MasterCard and Visa in his career, has a passion for payment technology. Judopay, using smart native technology, provides payments solutions to clients such as KFC, Young’s, JustPark, iCabbi and Tempcover among others.
Lausanne, Switzerland-based SwissBorg is a FinTech company on the Etherium blockchain. The company’s stated aim is to revolutionise asset management solutions with a community-centric approach. It carried out a successful ICO in 2017/18, raising $50 million from 24,000 individual contributors around the world. Alex Fazel, talked to Robin Amlôt about the outlook for developments in cryptocurrencies over the coming 12 months.
Crowdfunder.co.uk was founded in 2014 and claims to be UK’s number one rewards-based crowdfunding platform. The funding portal has helped raise more than £100 million for charities, businesses, and community projects. Crowdfunder.co.uk also works with several corporates to distribute grants, including Santander and RBS NatWest. Duncan Parker of crowdfunder.co.uk talked to Robin Amlôt about the site works and how corporates use crowdfunder.co.uk to leverage their philanthropy.
Lory Kehoe is also Co-founder of Blockchain Ireland and Adjunct Associate Professor Trinity College Dublin. The ConsenSys Codefi blockchain operating system, built on the Ethereum blockchain aims to optimise business processes and payments through digitising financial instruments and creating decentralised applications. Speaking to Robin Amlôt at London’s FinTech Connect conference, Lory Kehoe offers his thoughts on how blockchain tech has developed over the last five years.
“Banks are dead, long live the banks,” Suresh Vaghjiani of Tribe Payments once said. The card payments platform’s CEO and Co-Founder met up with Sunniva Kolostyak at FinTech Connect in London to discuss how start-ups and challenger banks have different innovation techniques and why legacy institutions are struggling to keep up, as well as how regulation made London the FinTech capital of the world.
To simply implement this new regime, using current toolsets, poses a risk to firms falling short to the requirements of the SM&CR regime, Saeed Patel of KRM22 says. In this podcast, Patel discusses the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR or SMCR) with IBS Intelligence Reporter Sunniva Kolostyak.
The UK regime, which is being extended to almost 50,000 organisations, will come into effect on 9 December, and Patel suggests affected companies should go through the following checklist for compliance:
SM&CR checklist
- Define your firm type: limited scope, core, enhanced
- Brief board-level and other senior executives likely to be subjected to SM&CR
- Create implementation plan including activities, timelines, resourcing requirements, dependencies and available technology solutions
- Identify which senior managers will have prescribed responsibilities and prepare responsibility statements
- Identify individuals performing certified functions who will require certification by the firm
- Ensure employment contracts, management structures and job specifications reflect current responsibilities
- Notify the FCA of any changes to certified individuals with prescribed responsibilities and submit senior manager’s FCA applications for approval
- Update internal appraisal and recruitment processes to include Fit and Proper assessments and appropriate background checks
- Ensure handbook policy and procedures comply with regulations
- Raise company SM&CR awareness through training and company-wide roll out
iBanFirst is a Belgium-based global financial services firm offering cross-border payment solutions. Founder Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier was previously Head of Western Europe at Saxo Bank following eight years as President and CEO of Saxo Banque France. Prior to this he founded cambiste.com, France’s first licensed forex broker, and worked as a forex trader at Calyon UK. Robin Amlôt spoke to Pierre-Antoine about the firm’s services, the business opportunity presented by BREXIT and the future prospects for FinTech in B2B banking.
Cashless payments are sweeping the scene, enabling consumers to shop more easily, quickly, and conveniently – in fact, by 2026 it’s predicted that cash will be used for just 21% of all UK payments. However, business in the ‘unattended market’ poses a challenge. Robin Amlôt talks to Lee Jones of Ingenico about the move to cashless payments and what it means for hardware as well as software.
With the death of the high street, banks are closing their branches and becoming increasingly digital. At the RBR Branch Transformation conference in London, Sunniva Kolostyak spoke to Mark Aldred from Auriga about how the software company supports banks in changing how their branch estates operate. Different technologies, such as AI and machine learning could drive optimisation, but the banks must also protect their bricks and mortar assets and retain loyalty.
IBS Intelligence hosted the awards ceremony for the 1st Global FinTech Innovation Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, on 22 November 2019. The Awards were created to honour and promote excellence and success in the implementation of FinTech solutions. Ahead of the presentations, Robin Amlôt sat with V Ramkumar, Senior Partner, Cedar Management Consulting International, chair of the Awards Panel, to discuss how the winners of the 1st Global FinTech Innovation Awards were actually chosen.
SunTec Business Solutions aims to help banks and digital and communication service providers increase customer engagement and product innovation. Robin Amlôt spoke to Madhur Jain of Suntec about the growth prospects for Banking as a Service (BaaS). With consumers becoming used to being able to buy everything online, financial products will be no different.
Consumers want more access and control over finances. In an interview with FinTech Reporter Sunniva Kolostyak at the Open Banking Exo in London on 13 November 2019, OpenWrk’s Olly Betts discussed how Open Banking works as an enabler to support real people in structuring their finances and its importance for global economies, as well as its accompanying difficulties around compliance, customer retention and scaling.
The cloud is just someone else’s computer! Speaking to IBS Intelligence at the Open Banking Expo in London on 13 November 2019, Eleni Coldrey addressed security concerns and the growing pains of open banking. As the financial services sector increases digitisation and digitalisation, it is increasingly relying on external digital business ecosystems for the growth of interconnection bandwith. FinTech, cybersecurity, data compliance and new competitive ecosystems are converging. Global interconnection and data centre group Equinix is forecasting interconnection bandwith to show 66% CAGR through to 2022.
OpenPayd offers international enterprise payments and banking services through a modular platform. A single API integration into the platform enables businesses to customise their payments and banking modules. Iana Dimitrova has extensive experience in FinTech and payments. Robin Amlôt spoke to her about her views on the current state of access to banking and payments services for businesses globally and the future evolution of banking and payments solutions.
Bradbury’s role at Fujitsu UK includes understanding the deployment and impact potential of new business models and technologies across the financial services marketplace, including insurance and all forms of banking. Early in October 2019, Barclays announced that from January 2020, its UK customers would no longer be able to pay in or withdraw cash over the counter in the nation’s Post Offices. Some 2.2 million people in the UK still rely on cash – particularly those in rural areas with poorer connectivity and fewer ATM options. In a discussion that covers a range of topics including tech adoption policies and open banking, Robin Amlôt began by asking Ian Bradbury for his thoughts on Barclays’ move.
The third P20 Global Payments Conference was held in London on 3 October 2019. This invitation-only meeting, with attendance capped at 200 convenes top business leaders, government officials and regulators to discuss the future of the global payments industry. Dunn & Bradstreet were among the event’s sponsors. Robin Amlôt asked the firm’s Head of Product & Strategy, Chris Laws what he expected from P20.
Duncan Sandys is Executive Director, P20. At this year’s P20 conference, held in London on 3 October 2019, the focus was on fraud and cybersecurity. Sandys said, “The risk of cyber-attacks keeps the leaders of the global payments industry awake at night. Cashless payments are growing globally and a systemic attack on payments infrastructure would have immediate, devastating and far-reaching consequences for governments, businesses and the public. The industry has a responsibility to collaborate and work hand in hand with government and regulators to develop and maintain an industry wide response, protocol and plan.” Sandys explains the purpose behind the establishment of the P20.
Cristina Soviany, Founder of the Belgian FinTech firm, Features Analytics, speaks to Robin Amlôt at SIBOS 2019 in London. The firm has developed two platform-based AI solutions to combat financial crime.
Announced at SIBOS 2019, Equiniti Business Payment Services (formerly EQGlobal), the international payments division of Equiniti Group, has partnered with SWIFT, the global provider of secure financial messaging services, to offer faster payments and real time tracking and notifications. Robin, Amlot, Managing Editor of IBS Journal spoke to Mark Churley, Managing Director of Equiniti Business Payment Services about the deal.
Robin Amlôt, Managing Editor at IBS Intelligence meets up with Dr Ravi Seetharaman, Chief Executive of Doha Bank, at the SIBOS 2019 event. Dr. R. Seetharaman reflects on the impact of technology in banking and on the developments he is particularly looking at for Doha Bank’s future prospects.
In this episode of the IBSI podcast, Bill Boyle & Alex Hamilton talk about Britain’s lucrative & highly aggressive challenger banking landscape, and Monzo’s transition from a payments wallet to a fully operational digital only bank. With the bank having reduced its per user operational costs, Monzo is facing stiff competition from other London based challenger banks.