Fintech Finance Podcasts: The FF Salon

Innovating Trust: Reimagining Digital Asset Custody for Customers | G+D and Money20/20 | FF Virtual Arena #325

Reimagining digital asset custody for financial institutions’ customers.
Secure custody could be the key to mainstream institutional adoption.
That’s the topic of our latest FF Virtual Arena. This time around, Money20/20 Head of Content for Europe and the author of ‘Why DeFi Matters’, Ian Horne speaks to Alex Gatiragas, Director of Solution Experience at Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) to find out how the big players can balance open minded innovation, with building trust around digital assets.
In this fascinating conversation, Horne asks what it will take to see mainstream adoption and Gatiragas provides an insight into the current landscape. G+D themselves are entering this sector with a new product – ConvegoⓇ TruSafe – specifically designed to “enable financial institutions to ensure retail investors navigate the digital asset landscape with confidence”. As for the future of this technology, we hear about the role digital wallets could play and some game changing use cases too.
Be sure to check out our previous Virtual Arena, titled ‘Digital Asset Use Cases Are Ready To Explode’, in which we interviewed Gatiragas along with Sabih Behzad from Deutsche Bank and Teana Baker-Taylor from Crypto UK to find out more about this topic. This episode is the perfect follow on to that and shows how G+D continue to innovate in this area.

Banking Transformation in the Wake of Challenger Disruption | Hexaware, bunq and Wise | The Fintech Show #144

Banking has been well and truly disrupted by the challengers.
In this episode of The Fintech Show, we find out what’s changed and how institutions of all sizes can now differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
Our stellar line up of industry experts includes Bianca Zwart from bunq, Peter-Jan Van De Venn from Hexaware and Arunan Tharmarajah from Wise.
Together they discuss growing pressures from tech-savvy consumers, differentiation through innovation and the impact of regulatory changes. We get some real business cases and hear about the partnerships that are making transformation possible.
Read on to find out more.
Differentiating features
In this episode of The Fintech Show, three industry experts delve into the primary drivers and implications of digital transformation in the banking sector. We were pleased to speak to Peter-Jan Van De Venn, VP Global Digital Banking at Hexaware (FKA Mobiquity), who emphasizes the critical role of customer demand in pushing banks to innovate. Hexaware are the experts when it comes to helping banks find ways of differentiating in a competitive market.
Typically consumers’ expectations are shaped by their experiences with tech giants like Google and Facebook, and increasingly challenger bank offerings. Of course, many banking apps share common functionalities—referred to as “must-haves”— so as a result, he says banks should focus their budgets on the remaining 20% of features that can differentiate them in the market. This strategic allocation enables banks to innovate effectively and economically, ensuring they stand out while maintaining a solid business case.
We were also delighted to speak to Bianca Zwart, Chief of Staff at bunq, the second largest neobank in Europe and a real trailblazer for customer centricity in the banking space. She discusses their mission to build a user-centric banking experience, something they’ve been focusing on since 2015.
She interestingly points out that the traditional banking sector’s slow adaptation to user needs has opened the door for more agile, user-focused competitors. There’s no question that neobanking’s growth has been colossal and they’re gradually taking a greater market share. The rising demand for better, more adaptable banking solutions is forcing all players in the industry to innovate rapidly, fostering increased competition and diversity.
Getting payments right is key
We also spoke to Arunan Tharmarajah, Head of European Banking and Payments at Wise, one of the key players in making payments more accessible. They have both provided an innovative solution to a problem and are now helping more traditional institutions to innovate themselves. Tharmarajah gives us insights into how banks can address the challenges posed by the evolving financial landscape, particularly in cross-border payments.
He goes on to explain that some banks prefer to partner with specialized firms like Wise for cross-border transactions, allowing them to focus on domestic services. Wise offers a solution that integrates with traditional banking infrastructure, ensuring seamless, low-cost international transactions. He also discusses the broader implications of regulatory changes, which are increasingly accommodating non-bank entities in the payment systems. This shift is expected to enhance competition, lower fees, and improve customer experiences globally.
Tharmarajah emphasizes the need for banks to adopt a customer-centric approach, moving away from siloed, product-focused models to more holistic, technology-driven solutions that meet the diverse needs of modern consumers.
All our speakers are very much in agreement that focusing on user-centric innovation, strategic partnerships, and efficient use of technology, will be key to banks survival in this competitive landscape. Finally the user comes first in banking.
We hope you enjoy this episode and stay tuned for more coming soon.

The True Power of BaaS and Embedded Finance | Vodeno and Aion Bank | The Paytech Show #81

The Paytech Show is back and this time we’re looking at a partnership that perfectly captures what is possible with BaaS.
In this episode we speak to Noah Sharp, CEO of Vodeno, and Neil Chandler, CEO of Aion Bank, to find out how Vodeno’s unique platform works alongside Aion Bank’s ECB license to enable non-financial companies to offer banking services without regulatory burdens.
Below you’ll read more about their thoughts on where BaaS is heading and the potential for embedded banking to meet modern digital needs.
The ultimate bank and technology combination
In this episode we delve into the intricacies of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and the specific approach that our interviewees have taken. Sharp explains Vodeno’s unique positioning as a robust BaaS and embedded finance platform built entirely on the cloud and a private blockchain, where the ledger is managed by smart contracts.
Not only that but their platform is complemented by Aion, a regulated bank based in Belgium, a tier-one regulatory jurisdiction, facilitating the distribution of regulated services and ensuring compliance. This combination allows Vodeno to serve both non-financial companies looking to offer financial services without becoming regulated entities and regulated firms needing specific solutions without the full regulatory burden.
To explain more, Chandler emphasizes how important regulatory compliance is and points out that many BaaS providers face challenges because they underestimate the importance of regulation. Our guests avoid this pitfall by being intrinsically connected, with Aion Bank’s full banking license ensuring that regulatory obligations are taken seriously.
Embedded banking is the future
The show also addresses current issues in the payments industry, such as challenges around cross-border payments in continental Europe. Unlike the UK, where open banking and instant payment schemes like Faster Payments facilitate efficient domestic transactions, Europe struggles with varied API robustness and cross-border payment complexities.
Companies must often adopt localized approaches to handle payments effectively, which complicates centralization efforts. Here, BaaS providers play a crucial role, offering more comprehensive financial services than simple payment service providers (PSPs), especially when deeper financial functionalities such as credit lending or deposit protection are required.
Embedded banking, or embedded financing, is highlighted as a customer-centric approach, operating on a B2B2C model. This means the bank’s products are designed to meet the end customer’s needs, often delivered through retailers or marketplaces.
For example, customers don’t want a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service for its own sake; they want the product it helps them acquire. Aion Bank and Vodeno understand this dynamic, focusing on providing digital experiences that align with customer desires. It’s an informative episode that also includes thoughts from Chandler on what the future holds for BaaS, so be sure to tune in above.

Securing a Financial Future, With Next Gen Banking Technology | BPC and TymeBank | The Paytech Show #80

In this episode of the Paytech Show, Grant Truter from BPC, Bruce Paveley from TymeBank, and Dieter Botha from Tyme Group, uncover a partnership that is revolutionising banking in areas like South Africa.
We hear about the successful integration of digital and physical banking solutions and the implementation of BPC’s seamless card issuance.
The story of TymeBank itself is also inspiring and shows incredible growth delivering services to an underserved population. In this great episode we hear about the factors that have made that happen from cloud scalability and collaboration.
Driving financial inclusion with technology
BPC Chief Commercial Officer, Grant Truter, talks about how their partnership with TymeBank allowed them to realise their vision of merging digital and in person banking experiences. Their omni-channel solution would include self-service channels for customers and allow them to build a digital bank from the ground up, with BPC providing the necessary technological backbone. It’s a classic case of a technology partner making a vision happen.
Bruce Paveley, CTO of TymeBank, elaborates on their history and mission. From beginning as a money remittance service they evolved into a full-fledged banking platform about seven years ago. High banking fees have excluded many South Africans from financial services which is what they wanted to address. In a cash heavy society wanted to build trust in other forms of banking and payment, through reliable and always-available systems. This is where BPC’s SmartVista platform came in, along with the technical support they can offer.
That’s not it however. We also get insight from Dieter Botha, Group CTO for Tyme, who provides a broader perspective on TymeBank’s operational strategy and future plans. TymeBank was their first bank and they’ve since developed another in the Philippines.
Botha notes that TymeBank’s approach involves building and operating banks profitably, and after their current successes they’re now eyeing Vietnam for further expansion. Botha introduces the concept of “phygital,” combining physical and digital elements to enhance customer engagement. In South Africa, that means employing self-service kiosks in retail stores, allowing customers to open bank accounts and receive personalised Visa debit cards within minutes, facilitated by biometric verification.
This model has been successful, with TymeBank issuing approximately 500,000 cards per month across its operations in South Africa and the Philippines.
The interview is a perfect example of a partnership that has successfully blended advanced digital technologies with practical physical solutions to drive financial inclusion. In the areas they operate this is ground breaking. Tune in to find out more and see how this could be replicated elsewhere.
If you would like to learn more about the BPC x TymeBank case study – read the full story here.

The Worlds of Retail Investing and Lending Collide | Bux and Sharegain | The Fintech Show #143

Find out how fintech is changing the retail investment space.
In this episode of the Fintech Show we’re joined by Boaz Yaari from Sharegain and Yorick Naeff from BUX for a fireside chat on the evolution of retail investing and the new revenue streams that banks can unlock.
Together, they explore the changing landscape of retail investment, predict future trends like non-purpose lending, and we find out how their companies got started. 
There’s no denying the boom that retail investing has experienced in recent years, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Now, many consumers are looking for ways to grow their wealth and take control of their savings and investment journey, rather than relying on banks to do that for them. US stock trading volumes saw an enormous spike in 2020 and 2021 due to the immense rise in retail investing. Even neobanks are adding investment products to their offering, with great interest. Monzo got 200,000 sign ups to their investment account waiting list in just two days.
It’s in this context that both Yaari and Naeff started their companies. Both CEO/co-founders here reveal the stories that led them to where they are now. Boaz traces his path from FX derivatives trading to securities lending, recognising an untapped opportunity akin to Airbnb but for securities lending. Despite skepticism from others, Yaari’s pattern recognition and determination spurred him on to pursue Sharegain.
On the other hand, Naeff’s background in financial services and tech converged when he observed the barriers hindering retail investors from entering the market. Collaborating with a colleague, they conceptualized BUX to democratize retail investing, leveraging the rise of mobile applications. Their shared vision aligned perfectly with the evolving market, particularly the increasing demand for accessible and intuitive investment platforms. 
The retail investment boom
The conversation, which took place in our studio, delves into the dynamic shifts within the retail investing landscape. Our speakers emphasize the growing influence of private investors, particularly younger generations with a savings and investment-driven mindset. They predict a trend toward non-purpose lending, foreseeing a revolution in the lending space that could empower investors to leverage their portfolios for various financial needs. 
Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between Fintech and traditional financial firms, Yaari and Naeff stress the advantages of agility and expertise exchange. Yaari underscores Sharegain’s unique position in securities lending, while Naeff emphasizes BUX’s collaboration with industry giants like BlackRock to tailor investment packages for retail investors.
Stick around until the end also, because they have great advice to offer aspiring founders also. That includes the importance of assembling the right team, focusing on long-term growth, and staying resilient amidst challenges. 
Yaari reflects on Sharegain’s pivot towards sustainability and profitability, a testament to the team’s adaptability and perseverance. Similarly, Naeff celebrates the creation of a new market for independent agency lending, underscoring the transformative power of innovation in overcoming market barriers. It’s a really exciting area that could present new revenue streams for banks. 
Tune in to find out more. 

Digital asset use cases are ready to explode | Deutsche Bank, G+D, Crypto UK | FF Virtual Arena #324

The potential of digital assets for financial institutions is huge.
No matter where you stand on crypto, CBDCs and DLT, there's no denying the space is moving fast.
For our latest Virtual Arena, we gathered a panel of speakers including Sabih Behzad from Deutsche Bank, Alex Gatiragas from G+D, and Teana Baker-Taylor from Crypto UK to find out how financial institutions are getting on board and what this might mean for consumers.
In this revealing discussion our expert speakers identify key areas of opportunity, the need for regulatory clarity and the importance of helping consumers with custody of their assets.
️ "We will be able to offer new products we can't even envisage today."
️ "The real innovation is happening in the open source space."
️ "We're starting to see more regulation for stable coins."
Tune in for these great insights and more.

This Automation Tool is a Must for Combatting Fraud | Lenvi | The Fintech Show #142

In this episode of the Fintech Show we’re talking risk management and fraud prevention in the receivables finance sector. We speak to Ahmed Amin and Andrea Tanner from Lenvi, to find out about their work and how their software Riskfactor could hold the key to better processes in this area of finance.
Risk management in banking is as big of a concern as ever, with liquidity under pressure from high interest rates and challenging economic conditions. In this video we hear about the market dynamics affecting lenders right now and what is needed to effectively manage a growing portfolio.
There are also understandable concerns about fraud, something which poses a threat to any financial institution. The cost of fraud is huge, and according to this McKinsey report, “In 2022, the FTC reported that scams were up 49 percent from 2021, with consumers losing nearly $8.8 billion.” Nascent technology is also potentially exacerbating the issue, with AI driven fraud increasingly coming to the forefront.
Our speakers are perfectly placed to discuss the issue, as Lenvi recently released their own report oAn being prepared for Fraud. Their 2023 European Fraud Readiness Report uncovered attitudes towards and concerns around Fraud in European Receivables Finance in particular.
Some of the findings include almost 90% of respondents feeling that fraudulent activity has increased in the last year. 70% said fraud is a significant risk to their receivables finance business in particular. Most concerning is that almost one in three respondents believed their company detected no more than half of the attempts made to defraud their business.
Alongside this research, Sales Director Amin and Head of Customer Success Tanner, bring decades of experience in financial services, banking and receivables finance to this insightful conversation.
The discussion delves into Riskfactor’s functionality, highlighting its ability to leverage data from core operating platforms to detect changes in behaviour, indicative of fraud. By streamlining this whole process it means employees are better placed to take action and be more efficient.
There’s also talk about how partnerships with third-party software vendors play a crucial role in expanding the reach of their software to global markets. We hear about their European expansion and the recent release of Version five, which boasts improved user interfaces and enhanced data functionality.
Despite economic uncertainties and an uptick in fraud, there’s a lot of optimism here as a growing emphasis on automation and improving internal processes in receivables finance could change the game. Risk factor’s risk-based approach and ability to cater to diverse client segments, especially SMEs, position it as a valuable tool in navigating evolving market dynamics and managing portfolio growth efficiently.
Riskfactor could play a pivotal role in your business and this video explains why. Watch to find out more.

The Paytech Show #79: What’s next for US banks in the FedNow era?

Introduced in July 2023, the FedNow service was launched for US banks to provide a new instant payments infrastructure across the country. Participating financial institutions can now give their customers the ability to send and receive money in seconds.
In this latest installment of the Paytech Show, we have the privilege of hearing from industry experts who give us an insight into the impact it’s had. 
Anu Somani, Senior Vice President at U.S. Bank, Nick Botha representing AutoRek, and Minal Gupta from Star One Credit Union all explore the landscape of FedNow’s impact in the United States, shedding light on the critical factors banks must consider to unlock its full potential.
According to some sources, FedNow has not been a resounding success, but its user base has undoubtedly grown significantly and the pioneering financial institutions we spoke to attest to it being a game changer. Our show above includes ‘real-time’ perspectives on this ever-evolving area of payments.
Nick Botha draws attention to one key strength of FedNow: it has the backing of the Federal Reserve. With FedNow already operational in over 464 financial institutions across the US, Botha underscores the importance of this endorsement in instilling confidence and catalyzing adoption among banks and financial institutions nationwide.
Minal Gupta and Anu Somani enrich the conversation with their firsthand experiences and observations of the new FedNow system. Star One Credit Union, where Gupta is SVP, have been vocal about their support of FedNow. Both these banking experts emphasize the critical role of streamlining reconciliation processes, highlighting its significance in ensuring operational efficiency and seamless integration of FedNow into existing banking infrastructures. Somani in particular stresses that payments transformation needs to be thought about holistically. 
Their insights offer valuable guidance for banks seeking to maximize the benefits of FedNow implementation.
To add to this, Botha delves into the transformative potential of automation in optimizing banking processes and unlocking new revenue streams. It’s clear that liquidity is a major concern for anyone going on the journey of instant payments, and it’s here that automation plays a key role. 
It’s one of the reasons why AutoRek has been selected as part of the FedNow service provider showcase which has been put together to give these providers an opportunity to connect with institutions and banks looking to implement instant payment products into their offering.  
Join us as we delve deeper into the implications of FedNow for US banks, exploring strategies for success and navigating the complexities of this groundbreaking era in payment technology.

The Future of Building Societies is Multi-Channel | Sandstone Technology, The Cambridge and Yorkshire Building Society | The Fintech Show #141

In this episode of the Fintech Show we speak to Trevor Tannenbaum from the Cambridge Building Society, Michelle Yu and Jennifer Harris from Sandstone Technology and Tina Hughes from Yorkshire Building Society to find out how the future of building societies rely on embracing digital channels.
Building societies have a promising future ahead where good customer service entails the use of effective digital channels. As shown by Nationwide’s recent moves to acquire Virgin Money, there’s plenty of potential for this breed of mutually owned financial institutions in the UK. The question is what technology do they need to move forward. 
In this episode of the Fintech Show we spoke to Trevor Tannenbaum from the Cambridge Building Society, Tina Hughes from Yorkshire Building Society and Michelle Yu and Jennifer Harris from Sandstone Technology to find out how building societies are embracing digital channels.
Of course, digital transformation doesn’t always come easily and can be very costly. In the event that something goes wrong, and customers are affected, fines could be handed out, as TSB found out. So it’s understandable that some financial institutions are hesitant about going down this road. But it doesn’t have to be this way and there are numerous strategies for updating your services, without disrupting good customer service. 
Sandstone Technology are perfectly placed to explain how technology can be implemented into the banking and customer experience of those using building societies. In the video above, Sandstone CPO Yu, who we also spoke to in a recent virtual arena, emphasises the importance of digital channels for building societies to stay relevant, whilst Chief Customer Officer Harris explores the challenges they face in adopting new technology.
Harris recognises that moving away from or adapting legacy technology is time consuming. However, as you’ll see, the benefits outweigh the concerns and technology providers like Sandstone ensure that whatever new products or channels you want to add, they integrate seamlessly with the existing stack. 
Multi-channel banking is the way forward
No conversation on this topic would be complete without talking to building societies themselves. We were fortunate to speak to representatives from two of the UK’s premier institutions, Yorkshire Building Society and The Cambridge Building Society. 
In the episode, both Hughes from YBS and Tannenbaum from CBS reveal their respective organisation’s approaches to digital transformation and we hear some success stories that have come about through changes they’ve made. That includes Tannenbaum explaining how their mobile app has become their most popular channel for customers interacting with the bank.
YBS, who now see 70% of new accounts opened online, are an organisation always striving to provide a good digital service, however there are also considerations to be made about striking a balance between in-person and online experiences. Hughes echoes some comments that Yu makes about making sure older demographics are not left behind and are given a good in-store experience that can serve their needs too. 
Ultimately, all our speakers agree that a multi-channel approach that integrates and offers the same level of experience across the board is needed. 

The Fintech Show #140: Partnering Towards US Success with Kani, FIS, Mastercard and ATPC

In this episode of the Fintech Show, we speak to Mike Kresse from FIS, Marc McCarthy from Kani Payments, Sabrina Tharani from Mastercard and West Richards from ATPC, to uncover the increasingly pivotal role partnerships play in navigating the evolving American payments industry. Kani Payments CCO McCarthy highlights their recent entry into the US, at a time where streamlining reconciliation couldn’t be more important and Kresse, an SVP at FIS, provides some insight into the impact of FedNow.
We also hear from Mastercard SVP Tharani who heads up their Start Path programme, on how they’re committing to fostering partnerships with innovative companies like Kani to address key industry challenges. In Atlanta, West Richards, Executive Director of the American Transaction Processers Coalition (ATPC) sheds light on their mission to assist European companies navigating the complexities of the US market.