The Conversation Money 20/20 Needed: Understanding the Geopolitical Impact of Stablecoins

How Banks can Derive Value from Agentic AI in 2026

Agentic AI is currently one of the most discussed topics in banking, but the conversation is moving beyond the excitement of new technology. For banks, the real question is no longer whether agentic AI has potential, it is how to deploy it safely, measure it properly, govern it effectively and turn experimentation into enterprise value.This was the central theme of a recent conversation we had with Alok Chaurasia, Associate Vice President and Anshuman Choudhary, Consulting Leader, GRC Northern Europe at Cognizant, reflecting on a Think Tank session we convened in Brussels in collaboration with Cognizant and Microsoft. You can find a summary of the insights from the discussion on our website here [https://thebankingscene.com/opinions/how-banks-can-derive-value-from-agentic-ai/].

How ING is Using Agentic AI to Streamline Banking Operations

Most banks are currently talking about Agentic AI, ING is actually deploying it at scale and seeing real results. In this episode, Thomas Geerinck, ING’s Groupwide Retail Chief Data Officer, shares how the bank is turning AI into tangible business value through agentic AI, beyond just experiments. Discover why scale, infrastructure, and strategic deployment are the key differentiators for banks aiming to lead in AI-powered financial services. Thomas breaks down how ING has evolved from basic machine learning to fully orchestrated, agentic workflows that automate complex processes like mortgage handling and client onboarding. You'll learn about the architecture of agentic AI: how it handles decisions, interacts with clients, and executes tasks, while staying within strict guardrails and human oversight. He shares real use cases that demonstrate how agentic AI is revolutionising operational efficiency and customer experience.If you prefer to read, you can find the full interview transcript in the blog on our website here [https://thebankingscene.com/opinions/how-ing-is-using-agentic-ai-to-streamline-banking-operations/].

Open Banking and Embedded Finance: Are we There Yet? With special guest Nicola Breyer

"Are we there yet?". When it comes to Open Banking and Embedded Finance, are we still debating if we should, instead of implementing what we can? How do we (the Benelux Banks) stack up against the rest of the world and what can we learn from them? Is regulation a help or a hindrance? We have so many questions and we are sure you do too, which is why we invited Nicola Breyer, an internationally recognised expert on open data and embedded finance, who frequently speaks and publishes on the topic, to help us set the scene before we begin our Q3 research. In this session, we unpacked what went right and wrong after PSD2, why PSD3 / PSR and FIDA (Financial Data Access Regulation) may already be outdated, and how the rapid rise of AI assistants, agentic AI, and data platforms like Plaid is reshaping the future of financial services. You’ll hear candid views on: * Why consumer adoption of open banking is still low * How poor UX, lack of data standards, and no remuneration for banks held back innovation * Whether we really need FIDA to make open finance work * The race between European regulation and US tech / AI platforms * What “financial home” and “My CFO for SMEs” use cases could look like * How banks risk losing the customer relationship to AI platforms—and what they can do about it If you prefer to read rather than listen, you can find a summary of the session on our website here [https://thebankingscene.com/opinions/open-banking-and-embedded-finance-who-defines-the-strategic-agenda/].

The Conversation Money 20/20 Needed: Understanding the Geopolitical Impact of Stablecoins

Stablecoins are often discussed through the lens of crypto, payments innovation and customer experience. But at Money20/20, one conversation stood out: the geopolitical impact of stablecoins and what their rapid growth could mean for Europe’s financial sovereignty. In this episode, Andrew and Rik reflect on the last 2 weeks and discuss Money20/20, the rise of US-denominated stablecoins, the implications for European banks, payment rails, regulation, CBDCs and the future of payments. They also discuss why stablecoins may need to move higher up the strategic agenda for banks, policymakers and regulators. Topics covered include stablecoins, European financial sovereignty, US dollar dominance, CBDCs, payment infrastructure, Qivalis, banking innovation, regulation versus innovation, and the future of payments in Europe. You can find the summary article on our website here [https://thebankingscene.com/opinions/the-conversation-money-20-20-needed-understanding-the-geopolitical-impact-of-stablecoins/].

Agentic AI in Banking: Why Control Reversibility and Decision Design Matter

What does agentic AI actually mean for banks, and where can it deliver real value today? In this episode of The Banking Scene Director’s Cut, Andrew Vorster speaks with Rachael Hadaway, Vice President of Product Management at FICO, about the practical reality of agentic AI in banking. Their conversation explores where AI agents can genuinely improve workflows, why human oversight remains essential in high-stakes decisions, and how banks should think about governance, reversibility, unified decisioning and fraud prevention. Rachael shares a clear view on which banking processes are most likely to become more autonomous over the next 12 to 36 months, and which areas are still being oversold. She also explains why reversibility matters in AI-driven decisions, how banks can avoid turning human reviewers into rubber stampers, and what it will take to build trust in agentic systems over time. The discussion also looks at the rise of the agentic customer and what happens when digital agents start acting on behalf of consumers across banking journeys. For banks in the Benelux region and beyond, this is a practical conversation about how to prepare for agentic AI without getting distracted by the hype. You can find a summary article based on this interview on our website here [https://thebankingscene.com/opinions/agentic-ai-in-banking-why-control-reversibility-and-decision-design-matter/].