I think I speak for a lot of people when I say - homework is crap. Evenings after school are for watching Takeshi’s Castle, not studying Pythagoras’ theorem.
As part of the editorial process for Fintech Insider we review a lot of stories and see how media outlets report on challenger banks. Some recent pieces had the distinct feel of unhappy incumbent bankers lobbying hard to change the narrative.
You may have heard of Marcus, it’s been kind of a big deal. But why and how? We recently sat down with Boe Hartman, CTO at Marcus by Goldman Sachs, to get the inside story.
Fintechs regularly provide updates on how many customers they have. Motivations for doing so are varied — garnering headlines, proving naysayers wrong, or right, keeping investors happy and so on. More interestingly, they also have a variety of definitions of “customer” that are not always clear.
I think we can all accept that clear customer insight, the right business drivers, market opportunities, etc. should inform great proposition design.
If there’s one region that’s been bookmarked by every 2024 predictions list in terms of innovation and investment, it’s the Middle East. And as the region emerges as a fintech hotspot, its unique commitment to Islamic finance is drawing attention.
As financial services continues to ride the digital transformation wave, there is a big problem emerging: recruiting the tech talent required to achieve the scale of change needed.
This article was originally published in February 2021. In light of a looming cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and spiralling interest rates, we feel it’s more relevant now than ever. So, after a bit of tinkering, we’ve republished it. Enjoy.
While I was COO at Revolut, Vlad Yatsenko - the company’s Co-Founder & CTO - commented a number of times about how opportunity cost of time is typically the biggest cost in a scaling company, and I’ve come to realise this is more and more true.
If I’d told you six months ago that you could guarantee an affordable electricity supply for your home, you wouldn’t have cared.
One of the dirty secrets of the fintech and banking community is that everyone thinks that everyone else understands how it all works and that they’re the only one who doesn’t really get it.
The digital banking scene in Southeast Asia is hot right now. Over the past two years, it’s experienced some rapid changes. Changing regulations have triggered a mass of new players entering the market.
There’s a lot of positivity, creativity and excitement within game developer communities. People are flocking to games for entertainment and there have never been more tools to create them.
Working with agencies can sometimes feel like you spend weeks or even months covering ground that you already know before you start seeing value.

As AI becomes another interface between customers and their money, could banks lose their place at the centre of the financial relationship?

About this episode: US banking customers have more choice than ever. But does more choice mean better banking? Host Benjamin Ensor is joined by Joe Colchester, Head of Product at 11:FS Pulse, and Oliwia Wasik, Product Manager and Benchmar

About this episode: Moving countries has never been easier. But what happens when your financial identity doesn’t move with you? Host Benjamin Ensor is joined by Merusha Naidu, Global Head of Partnerships at Paymentology, Ibrahim Oladele

Subscription banking is growing – but what makes customers willing to pay for something they’ve traditionally expected for free?

Gen Z is often told it needs to get better with money. But with younger people facing a very different economic reality, does Gen Z really have a financial literacy problem — or does financial services have a Gen Z problem?

About this episode: For many founders, selling a company is seen as the finish line. But some of the biggest financial decisions around an exit happen long before the deal is done - so why does wealth management so often arrive too late?

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. Yet despite years of digital innovation, the experience remains fragmented, stressful and surprisingly analogue.

For years, neobanks competed by offering better banking experiences. Now, the biggest players are expanding into investing, AI-powered financial guidance, wealth management and premium services—areas once dominated by private banks.
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In this episode, we're exploring what it takes to build modern banking technology from the ground up. Host Ross Gallagher - Head of Consulting at 11:FS - joined by Sam Everington, CEO of Engine by Starling, and Jody Bhagat, President of North America at Engine by Starling.

Advice is regulated and personalised. Guidance is broader and safer - but that line is starting to blur.
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What does customer loyalty really mean in financial services - and has it ever been real? In this episode of Fintech Insider Insights, Kate Moody is joined by Rosie Lee, Jas Shah, and Alex Johnson to unpack the shifting nature of loyalty in a world where switching is easier than ever.
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On this week’s episode, in partnership with Pleo, host Benjamin Ensor is joined by Jeppe Rindom, Co-Founder and CEO of Pleo; Søren Westh Lonning, CFO at Pleo; and Megan Cooper, CEO of Caywood, to explore how the role of finance has evolved over the past decade - and what it will take for finance teams to win the next 10 years.
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In this special episode David M. Brear digs into what it really takes to succeed as a fintech startup in the Middle East alongside some special guests.
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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.
It's not just a buzzword.
11:FS CEO David M. Brear takes to the lightboard to give us the full run-down, with examples of companies that are leading the way.

There’s no one-size-fits-all design proposition for the Middle-East. While emergent markets such as Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are all seeking to diversify their economies...
Just what is going on with Buy Now, Pay Later right now?

There are one billion people globally who can't prove their identity. That's a big problem for accessing financial services.

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...

