Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS

About this episode: On this week’s episode, host David Barton-Grimley is joined by Matt Weaver, Head of Solutions Engineering for EMEA at OpenAI, to explore the impact OpenAI is having on the financial services industry - and the meaningful collaborations taking place between the sector and the AI innovation giant. We discuss how AI is becoming the operating system for financial services as institutions move beyond chatbots and experimentation; how OpenAI is helping Europe’s financial sector adopt AI safely and responsibly; and how AI can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in financial services. This week's guest: Matt Weaver - Head of Solutions Engineering - EMEA at OpenAI Support our sponsors: Use code FINTECHINSIDER at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/fintechinsider -- Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/fintechinsider to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Host Laura Watkins, Director of Media & Marketing at 11:FS, is joined by some great guests to discuss the biggest stories from the world of financial services over the past week. This week's guests: Matthew Goldman - Founder of Totavi Shah Ramezani - Founder and CEO of Noah Veronica Glab - Strategic Partnerships Lead at Juice Plus soundbites from: Amina Taher - Chief Marketing Officer at Wio Bank Joe Colchester - Head of Product at 11:FS Pulse Stories covered on the podcast this week include: Trump says he wants a one-year cap of 10% on US credit card interest starting 20 January 2026; Noah and NALA have partnered to use stablecoins for cross-border settlement, initially targeting Africa and Asia; Wio Bank has launched the UAE’s first bank account designed specifically for content creators; new research from Innovate Finance shows that global fintech investment began growing again in 2025, rising 21%; and Nationwide Building Society has launched a scam-checking tool that tells customers whether they’re speaking to a genuine Nationwide employee or a scammer impersonating one. Timestamps/stories: Intro - (00:01) Trump plan to cap credit card costs hits bank shares - (04:32) Noah and NALA Launch Instant Stablecoin Settlement Network to Modernise $850bn Emerging-Markets Payments - (17:44) Wio Bank launches first account for content creators in UAE - (32:50) Global fintech funding surges 21% in 2025, according to new Innovate Finance report - (45:44) Nationwide fights back against scammers with a checker tool to highlight dodgy phone calls - (57:04) Monzo are giving away Coventry City FC football shirts for 1p to encourage responsible saving - (59:16) Support our sponsors: Use code FINTECHINSIDER at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/fintechinsider -- Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/fintechinsider to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Links to check out: Download our new embedded investing report 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: On this week's episode, David M. Brear is joined by some great guests to tack a question on every bank and fintech leader’s mind: is AI redefining consumer-focused banking in 2026? Using our Digital R.I.C.H.E.S framework, we explore how AI is changing the way financial services meet customers at their point of need, from real-time insights and smarter personalisation to context-aware experiences. This is what truly digital banking looks like now, what’s hype versus reality, and what consumers should actually feel and benefit from as AI becomes embedded in everyday money management. This week's guests: Ross Gallagher - Head of Consulting at 11:FS  Fernanda Dobal - Product Director at Cleo Megan Caywood - CEO and founder of Caywood.io Support our sponsors: Use code FINTECHINSIDER at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/fintechinsider -- Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/fintechinsider to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: It's our first news pod of 2026! Host Ross Gallagher, Head of Consulting at 11:FS, is joined by some great guests to discuss the biggest stories from the world of financial services over the past week. This week's guests: Sarah Kocianski, Fintech Consultant & Advisor Benjamin Dada - Fintech operator & Founder, Condia Miguel Armaza - General Partner at Gilgamesh Ventures  Stories covered on the podcast this week include: In a fresh wave of fintech consolidation and strategic moves, Flutterwave has acquired Mono. JPMorgan has launched its Special Advisory Services initiative to give key clients access to consulting services drawn from the bank’s own practices. PicPay has filed for a U.S. IPO, and Mercury has applied to the OCC for a national bank charter. Timestamps/stories: Intro - (00:01) Flutterwave buys Nigeria’s Mono in rare African fintech exit - (05:10) JP Morgan forms “special advisory group” to share its “secret sauce” with clients - (18:45) Brazilian fintech PicPay files for US IPO as profits surge - (31:10) Mercury Applies for OCC National Bank Charter to Become the Bank for Builders - (41:43) UK cash withdrawals rise for a 4th year in a row - (51:48) Support our sponsors: Use code FINTECHINSIDER at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/fintechinsider -- Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/fintechinsider to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Ever wondered what goes into making a blockbuster payments system? In this episode, David M. Brear, Group CEO at 11:FS, sits down with two heavyweights in the payments world: Tracy Birdsall, Managing Director and Head of EMEA & APAC, Merchant Services Sales, at J.P. Morgan Payments, and Kristen Morrow-Greven, Vice President and Head of Global Payments at Netflix. They dive into the systems that most people don’t notice until they break: reliability, scalability, resiliency, infrastructure, and jaw-dropping transactions-per-second numbers that keep payments seamless at scale. Drawing on J.P. Morgan’s Payments Unbound, Volume 3, the conversation reveals how Netflix processes millions of payments globally without missing a beat keeping subscribers happy and systems running flawlessly. Grab your popcorn and tune in, this behind-the-scenes look at payments is nothing short of epic. Learn more at⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments/payments-global⁠ This week's guests:  Tracy Birdsall, Head of EMEA and APAC, Merchant Services Sales at J.P. Morgan Payments Kristen Morrow-Greven,Vice President, Head of Global Payments at Netflix -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of Fintech Insider of 2026! In this episode, the team are kicking things off with bold predictions for the year ahead, some you might have seen coming and some that might surprise you. They stake their reputations, embrace a bit of friendly ribbing, and share their most daring forecasts for the future of fintech. To uncover these insights, Laura Watkins, Director of Media and Marketing at 11:FS, brings together a SWAT team of fellow Elevens and Fintech Insiders, experts who have spent the past year closely analysing the signals shaping the fintech landscape. Join them as they explore what is ahead for 2026 and the trends that could define the industry. This week's guests:  David M. Brear - Group CEO at 11:FS Kate Moody - Customer Strategy Director at 11:FS Ross Gallagher - Head of Consulting at 11:FS -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: On this week’s final news show of the year, we hear from GoCardless about their exciting acquisition by Mollie. It’s been a big week for Monzo, which has secured an Irish banking licence and acquired UK mortgage brand Habito. We also take a look at Orange Payments and Visa’s new partnership, aimed at accelerating online payments across the African market. Finally, as a festive finisher, we examine the latest Gen Z Christmas spending habits which sparks a wider conversation about our panel’s worst Christmas gifts. This week's guests: Hiroki Takeuchi, CEO at GoCardless Jas Shah,Fintech Product Expert & Author @Fintech: Under the Hood Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GoCardless acquired by Mollie-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(05:36) ⁠Monzo secures EU licence; opens Irish waitlist-⁠(16:38) Orange Money Group and Visa Announce a Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Online Payments in Africa-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(28:27) BBVA doubles down on ChatGPT with OpenAI alliance - (35:59) Savvy Gifting This Christmas to Kickstart Brits; 2026 Financial Goals: HSBC UK Survey- ⁠⁠ (45:39) -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Join host Laura Watkins in this episode of Fintech Insider as we reflect on another wild year in fintech. She’s joined by 11:FS experts Joe Colchester and David Barton-Grimley to break down the year’s most memorable moments. From the fintech feel-good story of the year and the buzziest new term, to the partnership that caught everyone off guard and the glow-up that wowed the industry - we cover it all. Plus, we revisit that one jaw-dropping moment that made everyone say, “WTF?” This week's panel: Laura Watkins - Director of Media and Marketing at 11:FS Joe Colchester - Head of Product at 11:FS Pulse David Barton-Grimley - Director of Strategy and Head of Product at 11:FS -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: On this week’s podcast, we dive into Airwallex’s massive funding raise and explore what it could mean for the company’s future. We also discuss Abu Dhabi’s launch of a new fintech centre with a focus on digital assets, featuring insights from our panel. New data shows that US fintech funding is projected to drop by 6% in 2025, as big-ticket deals over $100 million slow down - but what do our panellists make of this trend? We also cover PensionBee’s call for the government to end pension transfer gridlock. What could this mean for everyone’s pensions? Kate shares her thoughts on Fifth Third’s new Commercial Card and Brex’s Financial Technology Powered solutions. Finally, inspired by all the Spotify Wrapped buzz, we get playful and discover what our panellists’ “fintech age” would be! This week's guests: Ruth Foxe Blader - Managing Partner at Foxe Capital Lisa Picardo - Chief Business Officer UK at PensionBee Thierry Coopman - Partnerships and Payments Lead at Formance Also featuring a voice note from: Shannon Scott - CPO at Airwallex Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Airwallex raises $330 million at a valuation of $8 billion-⁠⁠⁠⁠(05:36) Abu Dhabi launches fintech centre with focus on digital assets -(16:38) ⁠⁠⁠⁠US FinTech funding on track to drop 6% in 2025 as deals over $100m dry up-⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(28:27) Broken Beyond Excuse: PensionBee Calls on Government to End Pension Transfer Gridlock - (35:59) Fifth Third to Offer Commercial Card and Financial Technology Powered by Brex- ⁠⁠⁠(45:39) -- Links to check out: ⁠Support PensionBee's petition⁠ 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Banks aren’t just building apps anymore - they’re building digital CFOs. Join Kate Moody in this episode of Fintech Insider as she explores how SMB banking is evolving from simple dashboards to intelligent financial guidance. Small businesses don’t just want to see their balance - they want insight, advice, and a GPS for their finances. Tune into this episode, in partnership with Pleo, to discover how to navigate smarter, save time, and unlock the path your SMB really needs. This is the GPS your SMB has been waiting for. This week's guests:  Kunal Galav, VP of  Pleo Embedded Simon Gilson-Fox, SVP Small & Medium Enterprises , Mastercard Europe Learn more at⁠: https://embedded.pleo.io/ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Host David Barton-Grimley, Fintech Strategy Director 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: Wise has received its first regulatory licence in Africa. This licence allows Wise to offer cross-border money transfers to personal customers in South Africa, giving users access to faster, lower-cost international transfers with more transparent exchange rates than many legacy remittance services. HSBC and Mistral AI have joined forces to accelerate AI adoption across the global bank. We take a closer look at what this partnership could mean for the wider industry. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched proposals to regulate ESG‑ratings providers, aiming to rebuild trust by introducing new rules for transparency, governance, and oversight. But can it deliver on these promises? We also explore Revolut’s new “Street Mode” feature, designed to help combat transfer mugging. Meanwhile, David shares his thoughts on Visa’s push for digital wallets across Europe. And to finish, there’s a cricket-themed challenge: can our panellists tell their cricket abbreviations from their fintech ones? Do they stand up to the test? This week's guests: Aditi Subbarao, Account Executive at Snowflake James O’Sullivan, CEO and Founder of Nuke from Orbit Virginie O'Shea, Founder and CEO of Firebrand Research Also featuring a voice note from: Nadia Costanzo - Director of Banking and Expansion in Latin America and the Middle East at Wise Watch the 11:FS R.I.C.H.E.S Explores video here Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Wise enters Africa-⁠(05:31) HSBC and Mistral AI Join Forces to Accelerate AI Adoption Across Global Bank- (19:56) ⁠⁠⁠FCA aims to rebuild trust in ESG ratings- ⁠⁠⁠(36:59) ⁠Revolut launches 'street mode' to combat transfer mugging-⁠⁠⁠(50:29) Visa in digital wallet push across Europe⁠-(1:01:37)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Benjamin Ensor takes you deep into one of digital finance’s most complex - and fastest-evolving - frontiers: stablecoin regulation. With the US GENIUS Act reshaping digital-asset oversight, the EU’s MiCA rules setting a unified standard, and the UK opening the door for stablecoins as an official form of payment, one thing is clear: stablecoins are going mainstream, fast. In this special episode, brought to you in partnership with Formance, we break down what fintechs, platforms, payment players, merchants, and corporates need to know right now. If you want the shortcut to becoming stablecoin-ready, you’re in the right place. This week's guests:  Thierry Coopman - Partnerships and Payments Lead at Formance Inna Kostiuk - Business Development Manager, Crypto vertical at Worldline Dea Markova - Director of Policy at Fireblocks Learn more at https://www.formance.com/ 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About this episode: Host Ross Gallagher, Head of Consulting 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: On this week’s episode, Tide has expanded its SMB offering with the launch of its latest connected insurance product. Klarna has entered the stablecoin market, and we dig into what this bold move means for the BNPL giant. Over in the UAE, Wio Bank has introduced Wio Family, a first-of-its-kind banking experience in the region. We also break down why Chase’s new partnership with TfL has everyone buzzing about its cashback promises. In other news, Wise has become the first non-bank to go live on Japan’s Zengin system — we explore why that’s such a big deal. And finally, we look at what David Beckham is doing with Bank of America, which naturally leads us to the very important question: Who would be your dream fintech ambassador? This week's guests: Nick Philpott- Co-founder and Head of Partnerships at Zodia Markets  Megan Caywood, CEO of Caywood Veronica Glab, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Juice Also featuring voice notes from: Dan McNally, CEO of Tide Insurance Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank Mika Sei, Country Manager, Japan at Wise Read the 11:FS Benchmarking Report⁠ here⁠ Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tide to launch connected insurance for SMBs-(06:17) Klarna to launch dollar-backed stablecoin as race in digital payments heats up- (18:35) ⁠⁠Wio Bank Launches 'Wio Family' - The UAE's First Shared Banking Experience For Families - ⁠⁠(32:49) Chased Out: Google Replaced as Tube Contactless Partner-⁠⁠(44:48) Wise Becomes First Non-Bank to Go Live on Japan's Zengin System via API and Settle Directly With Bank of Japan-(54:48)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Beckham signs sports partnership deal with Bank of America-(57:29) -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Nauman Ali - Founder and CEO of Orbii Rawan Baddour - Co-founder of Zest -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00) ⁠⁠Nationwide pledges to keep all branches open until 2030 -(07:48) ⁠⁠Visa runs pilot trials of stablecoin payouts- (23:01) Revolut partners with Booking.com to expand travel payments offering- (36:25) This edition of After Dark was sponsored by ⁠Enfuce, HSBC Innovation Banking and Formance. -- Support our sponsors This episode is sponsored by Naked Wines, head to nakedwines.co.uk/fintech to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines for just £39.99 including delivery.  -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Merchant Services EMEA/APAC and Global for large accounts at J.P. Morgan  Laurene Lecomte - Director of Global Payments, Risk & Fraud at Backmarket Lydie Convert - Head of Cash Management at BlaBlaCar Learn more about ⁠⁠JP. Morgan Payments -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 want to miss. This week's guests: Nicolas Benady - CEO of Swan Joshuah Lebacq - Director, Venture Capital & Innovation at National Bank of Canada Mike Saraswat - CEO and Co-Founder of Stoa Also featuring voice notes from: Louise Hll, founder of Go Henry Catherine Chan, CEO and co-founder of Juice Dylan, courtesy of Kate Moody, Strategy Director at 11:FS Read the 11:FS Benchmarking Report here Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Financial education to be taught to schoolchildren in England- ⁠(06:57) ⁠PayPal launches no-fee Pay in 4 BNPL in Canada- (15:55) ⁠Coinbase launches interest-bearing savings accounts in the UK- ⁠ (35:32) ⁠New UK start-up Stoa launches to offer an alternative to traditional interest-based savings -⁠ (45:00) 59% of UK SME founders abandon loan applications midway- (56:09)⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠ After Dark tickets: ⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/afterdark⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 that lives everywhere and nowhere at once? Whether you’re building compliance processes, leading a fintech, or just curious about the forces shaping business onboarding today, this episode is packed with insights on how the industry can finally solve one of its most persistent pain points. Enjoy the listen! This week's guests:  Ivan Zhiznevsky - Founder and CEO at 3S Money Rudolf Yagor - Senior Product Lead at Openpayd Emma Lindley- Founder of Women in Identity Learn more at: https://3s.money/ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 services employees are now the least motivated in the workplace… This week's guests: Iain Armstrong - Executive Director at Comply Advantage Germain Bahri - Co founder & CGO of Zazu Rosie Lee - Senior UX Researcher and Customer Strategist at 11:FS Also featuring a voice note from: Marcin Glogowski - SVP Managing Director for Europe and UK CEO of Marqeta Timestamps/stories Intro - (00:00)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HSBC offers 6.5 times salary mortgages as lending rules loosen - (06:57) ComplyAdvantage Launches AI-Native Platform to Combat Surging Financial Crime - (15:55) AI fintech Optasia lists in South Africa - (35:32) Brits Bank on Tech: Over 28m Adults Now Using AI Tools to Help Manage Their Money - (45:00) Judge temporarily blocks CFPB Open banking rule - (54:09) Marqeta Powers Expansion of Klarna Debit Card Across Europe - (56:09) Financial services employees are the least motivated at work-new study finds - (58:02)⁠⁠ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠ After Dark tickets: ⁠⁠11fs.com/afterdark⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 - Group Director of Innovation and Partnerships at NatWest Kamaljit Ahir - Senior Innovation Partner at Santander Bank Sarah Farrington - Head of Digital Strategy and Innovation at Lloyds Banking Group Ready to get to work? As the five-time Consultancy of the Year, we help FIs embrace innovation to build truly digital services and products. ⁠11fs.com/innovation⁠ -- 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.whatsapp.com/KpA4gFbbWDlLFm7kx39raf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support our charity partner School-Home Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --  About 11:FS At 11:FS, we don’t just talk digital - we make it happen. We're building truly digital financial services by partnering with bold teams to take them from market insights to real-world products. Whether you're an incumbent innovating or a startup breaking new ground, we bring the strategy, research, design, and delivery to make it real. Less talk, more impact.Proud winners of the British Bank Award for Consultancy of the Year - five times and counting. 👉 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠11fs.com/ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- About Fintech Insider: Fintech Insider by 11:FS is a bi-weekly podcast that covers everything from finance and banking to technology and the latest trends in financial services. Our expert hosts, with hands-on industry experience, are joined by key decision-makers, VCs, and top reporters from across the financial landscape, including guests from companies like Stripe, Revolut, Plaid, PayPal, and Monzo. Together, they break down the biggest news and innovations shaping the space. Our weekly news show drops every Monday, covering major stories like mergers, new product launches, regulatory shifts, and emerging tech trends. On Thursdays, our Insights show goes deeper into the hottest topics driving the future of finance, including AI in banking, decentralised finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance. Whether you're already in the fintech game or just starting to explore, this is the #1 podcast for you. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Got a question for us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@11fs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices