Fintech Insider By 11:fs

About this episode: In this special episode David M. Brear digs into what it really takes to succeed as a fintech startup in the Middle East. At the first-ever Money 20/20 Middle East in Riyadh, the fintech startup scene was buzzing with energy - from the celebrations and free swag to the steady flow of Arabic coffee. One real highlight was the Money Surge competition: 15 founders, 3 minutes each, and a shot to win serious funding. The winners - Orbii, Eddekhar, and Zest - impressed with their innovation, resilience, and readiness to thrive in a crowded, competitive market. This episode explores: The real challenges of launching a fintech in the Middle East How founders are navigating a complex, fast-evolving ecosystem The strategies, mindset, and grit required to succeed in 2025 Listeners will gain insight into why the region is a hotbed for fintech innovation - and what it takes to stand out and thrive. This week's guests:  Abdulkareem Alkhiary - Co-Founder & CTO, Eddekhar

About this episode: Our expert host, David M. Brear, and co-host, Kate Moody, present Fintech Insider News live from Village Underground in London, joined by some fantastic guests to discuss the biggest fintech and financial services stories of the week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: With help from our live audience, we dive into Nationwide’s pledge to keep all their high street branches open until 2030. Visa is trialling stablecoin payouts and we ask whether this new crypto solution is really the answer to getting paid faster? We also explore Revolut and Booking.com’s new partnership, looking at who benefits most and whether Revolut is still the best bank for travellers. There is even time for some festive fun as our audience decides what should be on the Fintech Insider Christmas wishlist... This week's guests: Thomas Easterby, - Head of Fintech at HSBC Innovation Banking  Denise Johansson - Co-founder and co- CEO of Enfuce Richard Davies - CEO of Allica Bank T

About this episode: Live from Paris, David M. Brear steps into the heart of payments transformation - a shift that’s unfolding far beyond the checkout screen and deep within the financial stack. Commerce has become something that operates in the background, quietly and intelligently. This is the emergence of agentic commerce, where automation and intent drive every interaction.The conversation explores how e-commerce is moving from traditional cart-based journeys to code-driven experiences, and why treasury teams are demanding real-time infrastructure that can keep pace with their decision-making. It examines the regulatory wave reshaping how European builders and banks innovate, and highlights the pioneers making cross-border movement feel as effortless as expressing intent.Joined by leading voices across the ecosystem, the episode reveals a future of payments defined not by speed or cost alone, but by context, control, and connection This week's guests:  Ludovic Houri - Managing Director, Head of Mer

About this episode: Host Laura Watkins, Director of Media and Marketing, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: Financial education is set to hit classrooms across the UK - we take a look at how this initiative is being received by schools nationwide. PayPal has entered the Canadian “buy now, pay later” market with a new fee-free service - but what could this mean for the sector as a whole? We’re also joined by startup Stoa to discuss their fresh alternative to traditional interest-based savings. Plus, Coinbase is shaking up the savings space with a new product launch, and we hear from Juice, one of the UK’s fastest-growing fintech lenders, about their latest research on SME lending. And finally, we’ve got a special segment to wrap up the show - fans of The Celebrity Traitors will love this one… it’s got a fintech twist you won’t

About this episode: In this episode, in partnership with 3S Money, host Benjamin Ensor is joined by a panel of experts to unpack a challenge that affects every business in financial services: the broken state of business onboarding. Whether you’re a fintech startup, a digital bank, or a licensed financial institution, onboarding a business is where the innovation stops and the compliance chaos begins. The team explores why onboarding for mid-market businesses-too complex for SME flows, too small for enterprise-grade service- is still largely overlooked. From multi-entity, multi-director companies to globally distributed teams and borderless founders, they break down why KYC for businesses is still miles behind the streamlined experience we’ve come to expect in retail. They also explore what it takes to verify complex business structures, and why the “missing middle” continues to be ignored. Looking further ahead, the discussion zooms out to the rise of Offshore Banking 2.0: how do you onboard a business t

About this episode: Host Benjamin Ensor, Director of Research and Strategy at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: There’s turbulence in the mortgage market this week, as HSBC begins offering mortgages worth up to 6.5 times a borrower’s salary, following the loosening of lending rules. We’re joined on the show by ComplyAdvantage to discuss their new AI platform, designed to combat the surge in financial crime. In South Africa, Optasia has set a record with its IPO listing — could it spark major shifts in the market? New data reveals that over 28 million Brits are now using AI tools to manage their money, and we dive deeper into the numbers. There’s also time for Benjamin to break down what’s happening with the CFPB’s open banking rule in the US. And finally, we debate one of the week’s biggest findings: financial service

About this episode: In this episode of Fintech Insider, we dig into how UK banks can reclaim their fintech edge in a fast-moving global market. Host Ross Gallagher and co-host Tim Heard from 11:FS are joined by innovation leaders from NatWest, Santander, and Lloyds Banking Group to unpack what it really takes to modernise at scale. From cultural shifts and agile delivery to smarter governance for rapid, safe experimentation - the panel goes deep on the realities of driving change inside major banks. You’ll hear how legacy players are rethinking tech stacks, partnering with fintechs, and empowering cross-functional teams to build standout digital experiences. The conversation also covers how to balance innovation with risk, harness data for smarter decisions, and rally leadership around a bold strategic vision. Tune in for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at UK banking innovation - and what needs to change for the sector to lead the next wave of fintech growth. This week's guests:  David Grunwald - Gro

About this episode: Host Ross Gallagher, Head of Consulting at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests from Checkout.com, Galileo, SoFi’s tech platform, and Anthemis as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: This week, we explore how Starling is tackling scams with AI, in what it claims to be the UK’s first tool designed to spot purchase fraud. We hear from Checkout about their partnership with Uber to power global payments, and dive into the Coinbase-Citi collaboration, aimed at enhancing digital asset payments for institutional clients and bridging traditional finance with blockchain technology. Elsewhere, Dutch bank bunq has secured a US broker-dealer license, and we share an exclusive update from them. Southwest Airlines, powered by Galileo (SoFi’s tech platform), has launched the Rapid Rewards Debit Card, letting debit-first customers earn points on

About this episode: In this episode, host Kate Moody is joined by an expert panel in partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions to unpack a trend that’s quietly reshaping global finance: the slowdown in sanctions activity. With the latest Sanctions Pulse Report showing a 40% drop in new designations - the steepest decline in three years - the team explores what’s really behind the numbers, and what it means for fintechs navigating compliance in 2025. From delistings and enforcement trends to the growing role of automation, AI, and real-time data, they break down how fintechs can stay ahead in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Whether you’re leading a compliance team or just curious about the forces shaping financial regulation, this episode is packed with insights on turning a quieter sanctions cycle into a smarter strategy. Enjoy the listen! This week's guests:  Katarina Pranjić - Head of Regulation and Policy, Economic Crime at LexisNexis Risk Solutions Emil Dall, Principal Con

About this episode: Host David Barton-Grimley, Director of Strategy and Head of Product at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: As AWS outages shook the world this week, we explore how the disruption sent ripples through the fintech industry. We also speak with Tink about their expansion into the Pay by Bank market across France, Germany, and Austria, in partnership with Splitwise. Joining us as well is Paymentology, who share insights into their exciting Paycredit launch - a cloud-first credit ledger platform designed to help financial institutions build flexible, feature-rich credit products. Elsewhere, Revolut has secured a banking licence - but why in Mexico and not the UK? We find out. Plus, we unpack what Zilch and Plaid’s latest partnership means for open banking repayments, and wrap up the show with a spooky, fintech

About this episode: This week we’ve got something a little different for you. David Barton-Grimley recently returned from the very first Money20/20 Middle East in Saudi Arabia - and beyond enjoying endless cups of Arabic coffee (and collecting a serious stash of swag), he was genuinely inspired by the region’s buzzing startup ecosystem. The energy, innovation, and ambition across the market were impossible to miss. This week, we’re revisiting a conversation that’s just as relevant as it was a year ago, all about what it really takes to be a startup in this region. In this episode, host Benjamin Ensor is joined by Gaia Lamperti, Ziad Mabsout, and Remo Abbondandolo to unpack the challenges and opportunities for fintechs launching in the Middle East. From navigating regulation to tapping into fast-evolving consumer demand, they share insights that remain spot-on for anyone eyeing expansion into the region. Whether you’re exploring new markets or just curious about the Middle East’s fintech story, this one’s

About this episode: Host Benjamin Ensor, Director of Research and Strategy at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: This week on the podcast, Wise is making big moves in India with the launch of their travel card - and they’ve also announced a new UAE payment licence. We hear more from them about these exciting developments. HSBC Banking Innovation joins us to break down the latest venture funding figures, which have reached a multi-year high in Q3. In the UK, there are major steps forward in open banking as the FCA announces their new accelerator programme. We also take a closer look at Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of Industry Ventures, but what does it mean for the venture market? Benjamin shares his thoughts on the further delays in Revolut’s banking licence, and, most importantly, we dive into a heated debate about the le

About this episode: AI is everywhere-your newsfeed, your boardroom, your LinkedIn inbox. But when it comes to real, customer-facing use cases in finance… there’s not much to see. Why isn’t AI transforming the customer experience yet? What’s working behind the scenes, and what’s just hype? On this episode we’re cutting through the hype. From smart chatbots and virtual agents to automated KYC, compliance, and document checks, AI is making an impact but mostly behind the curtain. It’s saving time, reducing errors, and sometimes even beating humans at speed. The real challenge? Turning that quiet efficiency into a transformative customer experience. David Barton Grimley is joined by three experts who live and breathe AI in financial services to unpack what’s real, what’s next, and how we move from quiet automation to game-changing customer impact. This week's guests:  Oscar Barlow - Head of AI Advocacy at Starling Vivek Madlani - Co-founder and CEO of Multiply Ai Rosie Lee, Senior UX Researcher & Cu

About this episode: Host Kate Moody, Customer Strategy Director at 11:FS, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: Checkout takes a bold step into U.S. banking with its new charter license - but what does that really mean in practice? We dig into the implications. Yapily joins us to discuss their new account verification service for business customers across Europe, and we unpack why this matters now more than ever. We also take a closer look at Yup’s sizeable funding round - and explore why this is such an exciting moment for the Southeast Asian fintech market. Meanwhile, Monzo is making serious moves in the U.S., and our panellists weigh in with their predictions. Back in the UK, social enterprise The Big Issue has teamed up with fumopay to enable sellers to accept open banking payments - a big step forward in financial and digital

About this episode: Stablecoins Yep, we’re talking about those again - but this time, the story’s changed. The market has jumped to $270B, transaction volumes are rivalling SWIFT, and - finally - stablecoins are making real money. In this episode of Fintech Insider Insights, in partnership with Fireblocks, David Barton-Grimley is joined by an expert panel to get practical on how to actually operationalise stablecoin payments: from architecture and compliance to KPIs and common pitfalls. No more whitepapers - this is stablecoins, in the real world. This week's guests:  Ran Goldi - SVP Payments and Network at Fireblocks ⁠Lux Thiagarajah⁠ - Chief Commercial Officer at OpenPayd Anoosh Arevshatian - Chief Product Officer at Zodia Custody Find out more about ⁠⁠Fireblocks⁠ -- Links to check out:  Join our WhatsApp community, where you can get the inside track on all all things 11:FS, as well as having your say on the things we should be paying attention to. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chat.what

About this episode: Host Benjamin Ensor, Director of Research and Strategy, is joined by a fantastic panel of guests as we dive into some of the biggest stories from the worlds of fintech, banking, and wider financial services this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: This week: SWIFT joins forces with global banks in a major blockchain overhaul - we break down what it means. The UK mandates digital ID checks for the right to work, but what’s the impact on fintech innovation? We hear from Paygentic about their next-gen payment infrastructure -an AI-first approach that could shake up the space. And speaking of AI, OpenAI and Stripe are teaming up on ChatGPT-powered payments. Plus, we say goodbye to Nutmeg as JPMorgan unveils its digital wealth revamp. And finally, the big question: are concert tickets officially out of control? This week's guests: Sam Alarco - Co-founder of Paygentic Stephen Richardson - Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Banking at Fireblocks Samanth

About this episode:In this episode, in partnership with Enfuce, host Benjamin Ensor dives into the real state of banking transformation in today’s digital-first world. It’s no longer just legacy banks versus neobanks; it’s about who can truly meet rising customer expectations, master regulatory complexity, and scale quickly without breaking what already works. Are the big banks finally pulling ahead, or are nimble neobanks still leading the charge? We unpack what modernisation really means—from infrastructure and innovation to trust and real-time delivery. Tune in as we explore the strategies shaping the future of banking. This week's guests:  Denise Johansson - Co-founder and CEO of Enfuce Andy Sturrock - CTO of Atom Bank Richard Davies - CEO of Allica Bank Find out more about ⁠⁠Enfuce -- Links to check out:  Join our WhatsApp community, where you can get the inside track on all all things 11:FS, as well as having your say on the things we should be paying attention to. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About this episode: On this episode of Fintech Insider, host David M. Brear sits down with Derek White, a leader who’s helped shape the future of finance from the inside across global banks, cutting-edge tech giants, and now, as CEO of Galileo. We dive into: Derek’s unique career journey: from traditional banking to transformational innovation How his experience is shaping the next phase of financial infrastructure at Galileo The trends, technologies, and opportunities defining the future of embedded finance What it really takes to drive change inside the biggest players in the industry If you’re interested in the intersection of legacy institutions and new-school fintech, this one’s a must-listen. This week's guest: Derek White - CEO at Galileo -- Links to check out: Join our ⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp community,⁠⁠⁠ where you can get the inside track on all all things 11:FS, as well as having your say on the things we should be paying attention to. ⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner S

About this episode: Our expert hosts Ross Gallagher and Kate Moody present Fintech Insider News live from Village Underground in London, along with some great guests to discuss the biggest fintech and financial services news this week. Stories covered on the podcast this week include: Starling unveils a bold new rebrand and a scheme aimed at helping the UK get 'better with money'. We dive into fresh data suggesting Gen Z are saving more than any other generation, and our panellists share their take on Meta’s new SME payment feature. Plus, we wrap up with a very special birthday celebration to mark 1,000 episodes of Fintech Insider. This week's guests: Charlotte Crosswell - Chair of Raidiam and Fintech NED Marcin Glogowski - Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe and UK CEO of Marqeta Sarah Kocianski - Fintech Consultant Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00) ⁠Starling unveils new logo, app and cards to promote ‘good with money’ mission- (07:25) ⁠Banks face loyalty cr

About this episode: It's here! We did it! Our 1,000th show is now yours.