FinTech Futures

What the FinTech? | S.7 Episode 10 | Agentic AI in finance - innovation, security, and trust

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures Managing Editor Paul Hindle is joined by Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President of Financial Services at Microsoft, to explore how agentic AI is being developed and deployed in financial services, and the impact it’s having on innovation, security, and governance in the sector. The conversation delves into the trends shaping the development of agentic AI and the challenges of deploying it responsibly in such a highly regulated sector. Paul and Bill also discuss Microsoft’s recent Cyber Pulse report, which highlights risks like "shadow AI" and the importance of governance, observability, and Zero Trust principles. Bill shares how financial institutions are leading the way in implementing these safeguards, the lessons other industries can learn, and how collaboration with regulators and technology providers is driving progress. The discussion also covers real-world applications of AI agents in areas such as fraud detection, customer service, and operations, before finishing with a look at what’s next for AI agents in financial services and how organisations can prepare for the future. And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword Bill wants to throw into our Fintech Jail!

What the FinTech? | S.7 Episode 9 | What’s next for Europe’s payments ecosystem? – Tech trends, evolving regulations, and the sovereignty debate

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures Managing Editor Paul Hindle is joined by Simone Löfgen, Global Head of Payment Platforms at Commerzbank, to explore the key trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the payments industry in 2026. The conversation covers the current state of play with payments in Europe, the impact of evolving regulations, and the opportunities and challenges in cross-border transactions, including the role of stablecoins and the future of CBDCs like the digital euro. Paul and Simone also discuss how AI is transforming payments, from enhancing systems to combating fraud, and how Commerzbank is leveraging this technology, as well as how banks can balance customer expectations for fast, secure, and transparent payments with the growing complexity of payment infrastructures. We also hear Simone’s thoughts on what’s next for the industry and what the growing conversation around payments sovereignty might mean for the future of the European payments ecosystem. And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword Simone wants to throw into our Fintech Jail! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem. Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/ Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

What the FinTech? | S.7 Episode 8 | Beyond the hype – what’s next for stablecoins?

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures managing editor Paul Hindle is joined by René Michau, Global Head of Digital Assets at Standard Chartered Bank, to explore the growing impact of stablecoins in financial services and their potential to reshape key areas of banking and payments. The conversation covers the current state of play with stablecoin adoption in banking, their rising popularity among corporates and institutions, and the benefits they can offer—particularly in cross-border payments. Beyond payments, René also gives his views on the other key use cases gaining traction and how Standard Chartered is integrating stablecoins into its digital asset strategy. Paul and René also discuss the current regulatory landscape around stablecoins, the key considerations banks should focus on when developing an effective stablecoin strategy, and of course what’s next for stablecoin innovation, including how they’re likely to evolve in the coming years, their impact on traditional banking models, and the innovations and partnerships that will shape their trajectory. And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword René wants to throw into our Fintech Jail! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem. Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/ Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

What the FinTech? | S.7 Episode 7 | Exploring the Greek neobank landscape with Snappi

In the latest episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, Gabriella Kindert, CEO of Snappi, joins to explore the Greek digital banking landscape and share how the challenger developed its tech stack. Gabriella sits down with FinTech Futures reporter Cameron Emanuel-Burns to compare the Greek neobanking ecosystem with its European counterparts and discuss the key challenges Snappi and other digital banks face in achieving widespread adoption. The episode also delves into Gabriella's professional journey, the origins of Snappi, and the company's immediate priorities as well as its long-term growth strategy. And finally, we discover which fintech buzzword Gabriella wants to throw into or rescue from our Fintech Jail! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem. Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: https://www.fintechfutures.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/ Sign up to our newsletter: https://www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

What the FinTech? | S.7 Episode 6 | Quantum computing and its impact on financial services

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures editor Paul Hindle is joined by Dr Subodh Kulkarni, CEO of Rigetti Computing, and Dr Simon Plant, Deputy Director for Innovation at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), to explore the fascinating world of quantum computing and its transformative potential for financial services. The trio discuss the current state of play for quantum solutions in finance and how financial services firms are embracing the technology, with a specific look at some of the work Rigetti is doing with its partners in the sector, as well as advice for banks and fintechs looking to innovate with the technology and prepare for the quantum revolution, including best practices for integrating quantum computing into your existing systems. The conversation also covers the UK’s innovation strategy for quantum technologies, the technology’s intersection with generative AI, and the potential future impact of quantum computing on finance - including the looming challenge of Q-Day. And finally, we find out what fintech buzzwords Subodh and Simon want to throw into our Fintech Jail! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES FinTech Futures is a leading global platform for fintech news, analysis, and insights. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem. Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/ Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures