One of the phrases you often encounter when reading things about mental health is "It's OK to not be OK." Whilst I get the sentiment, as someone who has been there, it really isn't OK. It sucks.
We all employ a user-centred design (UCD) approach to inform what products we build and how they should work, but all that customer insight gives us one oft-overlooked learning: the actual language customers use to speak about their problems.
Did you know that when they’re not dishing up masterly analysis, everyone’s favourite web3 wizards - 11:FS Global Strategy Director, Crypto Mauricio Magaldi and Visa Head of Crypto Cuy Sheffield - like to dabble in a spot of divination? I know, right?!
As I sit here trying to write something strictly about fintech, there’s only one thing on my mind: how important it is to have an employer that truly values pregnant employees.
Tottenham Hotspur are completely cashless (and trophyless) at their new stadium. Lionel Messi has launched the ‘Messiverse’ in partnership with blockchain platform Ethernity. Manchester City and Laybuy have teamed up to offer a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service to fans. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite the global economic climate, a lot of banks and fintechs have dipped their toes into the crypto waters in recent months.
You don’t have to spend much time in retail banking before you come across legacy systems - a catch-all term often used to explain why banks are so slow and unresponsive.
I recently heard someone suggest that ‘insurance is just like gambling.’ Bit of a stretch, but I could see their point. Both are fundamentally risk-based, and it raised an interesting question - do you ever really ‘win’ in insurance?
Tucked away in a small corner of the WeWork offices in Aldgate Tower, I sat down with Ross Gallagher. Financial inclusion is the touchstone on financial products for Ross. Regular host of the Fintech Insider podcast with a history in financial services consulting and research. Ross is known around the office as a tupperware fiend and always up for a laugh but as with many people who work for 11:FS he has a real passion for finance and financial inclusion in particular.
When launching a new product or improving an existing one, it's tempting for product teams to look at competitors as a starting point. But if the goal is to launch a proposition that truly solves your customers' problems, do you even need to look at your competitors in the first place?
This is the second article in a three-part series on how fintech for good (FFG) is helping people and the planet. The first touched on consumer behaviour. If you missed it, check it out here.
As the saying goes, “success breeds success”. And one of the things that’s interesting in our industry is the alumni of fintechs going on to do great things. It’s no coincidence - there’s a bit of a pattern emerging: The founders of some of the most successful startups of today cut their teeth at the biggest fintechs of yesterday.
It’s happening. After months of ‘will they, won’t they’, Monzo is heading Stateside.
At this point we can all agree that the financial market as a whole has gone through a period of lows. Paired with increased inflation (even in developed countries), and the US confirming a recession, things seem to have really taken a turn for the worse - the so-called bear market.
They say time is money, right? Well, what about time to money – how long it takes for money to be available for you to use.

EL. EF. GEE. Today we bring you: a deep dive into the world of data and AI, and our second case study! On this show, we're taking a closer look at the the history of Dune, and their new LLM announcement, and how AI and blockchain intersect and can help shape the future of the crypto space. All this and much more on today's Blockchain Insider!

Skipton launches deposit-free mortgage aimed at renters, Apple attracts $1 billion in deposits in a week, and WhatsApp allows Singapore businesses to pay within app – Kate Moody and Ross Gallagher are joined by some great guests, from Thunes and Redpoint Ventures, to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days.

Benjamin Ensor is joined by some great guests, from 11:FS, CAF, and Hummingbird, to talk about the latest developments in Know Your Customer and Know Your Business.

JP Morgan snaps up First Republic Bank, Revolut launches in Brazil, and ChatGPT investment fund "smashes" competition – Kate Moody and Benjamin Ensor are joined by a great guest from Reuters to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days.

EL. EF. GEE. Today we bring you: US Congress to introduce new draft bill for stablecoins, Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade is complete, starting new era of staking withdrawals, and EU Parliament approves crypto licensing, funds transfer rules. All this and much more on today's Blockchain Insider!

Kate Moody joined by some great guests to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days, including: Super.com’s $85M raise for a super app for savings; Could First Republic be the next SVB as the US scrambles to save it; and Klarna roll out a suite of AI-enabled personalisation tools for shoppers and merchants.

Benjamin Ensor is joined by some great guests, from Branch, Iwoca, and Treyd, to look at the opportunities and challenges of opportunities of specialised offerings for small and medium-sized businesses.

Our expert host, David Barton-Grimley, is joined by a fantastic guest from Airwallex to continue exploring the connected nature of travel and financial services in APAC.

Apple launches savings account, JROC lays out Open Banking roadmap, and Game of Thrones stars challenge big banks over fossil fuel links – Ross Gallagher and Benjamin Ensor are joined by some great guests, from Yonder and Open Finance Association, to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days.

Benjamin Ensor and Kate Moody are joined by some great guests, Bridge built by Citi and Seattle Bank, to look at the challenges and opportunities for community banks in America.

Love Island's Sharon Gaffka teams up with FCA in clampdown on influencers, Visa partners PayPal for interoperable P2P payments, and Verto picks up a quarter of Silicon Valley Bank customers in Africa – Ross Gallagher and Benjamin Ensor are joined by some great guests, from Verto and CCG Catalyst, to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days.

David M. Brear is joined by some great guests, from Visa, YouTrip, and Revolut, to focus the connected nature of travel and financial services in APAC.

Crowdcube and Octopus Investments opening up retail investments, Apple Pay Later is finally launching, and Twitter changes logo to Dogecoin cryptocurrency image – Ross Gallagher is joined by some great guests, from Crowdcube, Fintech Business Weekly, and The Fintech Times, to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services over the last 7 days.

Silicon Valley Bank bought by rival, Klarna plugs ChatGPT into its platform, and Latitude Financial records stolen in cyber attack – David M. Brear and Kate Moody are joined by some great guests, from CFIT and first direct, live on stage in London to talk about the most interesting stories in financial services.

David M. Brear is joined by some great guests, from Stonehaven LLC, National Bank of Canada, and Anthemis, to discuss the various funding options for fintechs and startups.
Regulation is essential. It stops banks from going bust or behaving badly.
Lending has been around for thousands of years and is one of the cornerstones of banking.
Mastercard and Visa are the two biggest credit card networks in the world.
We kick off our Decoding: Banks series with a look at the banking landscape today and how we got here.

David M. Brear, our 11:FS CEO, takes us through legacy technology within banks - but of course, with a really cool Lightboard.

There are one billion people globally who can't prove their identity. That's a big problem for accessing financial services.
Inclusive design is a mindset and a process that suggests that you should bring as many people as possible - and the most diverse of voices that you can - into your product design product process, so that you're being truly inclusive. It's designing with people rather that just at them. Charlotte Fereday, Product Director, Ventures, explains what inclusive design is, why it's important, how you can design more inclusively, and answers - how possible is truly inclusive design?
On this episode of Spotlight, 11:FS Crypto Global Strategy Director, Mauricio Magaldi is joined by Ramp Network Co-Founder and CEO, Szymon Sypniewicz. In today's chat, the pair discuss Szymon's career, the current regulatory landscape in crypto, and what the future might hold when it comes to widespread crypto adoption.

The UK banking battlefield has never been more competitive. Customers expectfinancial apps that are personalised, seamless, and that genuinely make a differenc...


The UK banking battlefield has never been more competitive. Customers expectfinancial apps that are personalised, seamless, and that genuinely make a differenc...

