IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Interviews

This interview explains how artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure are transforming India’s MSME lending sector. Financial institutions are moving away from traditional collateral-based lending and using alternative data, such as UPI transactions and digital activity, to assess creditworthiness more efficiently. PSL Association of India is helping drive this change by promoting ethical...

This interview with Sreepriya N.S. discusses the changing landscape of wealth management in India. She explains that Entrust Family Office focuses on balancing capital preservation with long-term wealth creation through India-centric investments, including unlisted opportunities and debt alternatives. The interview highlights the importance of tax efficiency, liquidity management, and disciplined...

This interview with Sanjay Singh explains that the future of financial services and insurance depends on more than just artificial intelligence. He highlights the importance of composable architectures and embedded compliance, which help companies stay flexible, secure, and prepared for changing regulations. The interview also discusses the rise of “invisible banking,” where financial services are...

This interview features MobiKwik CEO Bipin Preet Singh discussing how India’s FinTech landscape is shifting from payments to sustainable, compliant credit ecosystems. He emphasises that innovation must align with the “spirit of regulation,” advocating proactive engagement with regulators and industry‑led SROs. With UPI now commoditised, Singh sees differentiation emerging through credit‑first prod...

This interview explores how emerging FinTech infrastructure is reshaping financial inclusion in rural India, with Hitesh Kanariya of Kuberjee highlighting the rise of hyperlocal, women‑led delivery models. He explains that platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, eKYC, and Account Aggregators have made onboarding seamless, while alternative data and sachet‑sized financial products now serve farmers, SHGs, and...

PayU Finance CEO Deepak Mendiratta explains how the company is reimagining SMB credit through embedded, data‑driven lending models that overcome long‑standing barriers like irregular cash flows, limited documentation, and the high cost of small‑ticket loans. PayU uses alternative credit evaluation based on UPI transactions, GST records, and behavioural insights, enabling more accurate underwriting...

QualityKiosk CEO Maneesh Jhawar explains how AI is transforming digital assurance by shifting it from static, reactive checks to dynamic, intelligence‑driven validation. AI models analyse usage patterns and incidents to optimise what needs to be tested, while the biggest leap is in data assurance, where AI now shapes strategy and operating models for trusted data. In multi‑cloud environments, Qual...

Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, product expert, Intellect Design Arena Limited As Islamic banking gains global momentum amid rising demand for ethical, Shariah-compliant financial services, Puja Sharma speaks with Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, Product Expert at Intellect Design Arena Limited, on the evolving role of digital transformation, AI-drive...

This interview details the award-winning implementation of the Finastra Kondor treasury solution at LPBank, a prominent financial institution in Vietnam. Deputy CEO Nguyễn Ánh Vân explains how the bank successfully integrated this front-to-back office platform on an accelerated timeline alongside a major core banking transformation. By moving from manual tasks to automated end-to-end processing, t...

This interview with Yethi Consulting CEO Srirang Srikantha explores the critical role of quality assurance in the modern banking sector. Srikantha highlights how digital transformation has heightened customer expectations, making application speed and reliability more vital than traditional financial metrics for maintaining loyalty. He cautions financial institutions against over-relying on softwa...

This interview with George Toumbev of NatWest Boxed details the rise of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), highlighting partnerships with Saga and The AA. Toumbev predicts most retail banking revenue will shift away from traditional channels by 2030, necessitating "embedded banking" that utilizes a bank's license and balance sheet on brand platforms. Successful implementation requires str...

This interview features Udeet Bhagat from PureSoftware discussing the success of their flagship banking platform, Arttha. The source highlights how this cloud-native and modular technology enables financial institutions to automate digital onboarding and loan origination processes. A major focus is placed on the platform's ability to remain scalable while adapting to local regulatory requirem...

In this podcast we revisit an interview with Chris Walters of Finastra, featured in the September issue edition of IBSi, in which he outlines a strategic pivot toward customer-led innovation following a year of extensive global engagement with clients. He explains that the company is doubling down on its core strengths—lending, payments, and core banking—while divesting its Treasury and Capital Ma...

Deepa Santhanam , Partner & SVP - Business Consulting, Intellect Design Arena In an era where growth is defined by ecosystem depth rather than customer count, Puja Sharma speaks with Deepa Santhanam, Partner & SVP - Business Consulting at Intellect Design Arena, on how banks can outperform by embedding themselves into industry value chains—leveraging APIs, AI, and platform models to drive...

In this interview, Tommaso Jacopo Ulissi of Nexi Group explores the ongoing convergence of digital payments with specialized business management software. He explains that modern merchants no longer seek isolated transaction tools, but rather integrated ecosystems that handle industry-specific tasks like table management or online booking. To remain relevant, payment service providers must shift f...

This podcast revisits an interview with Siobhan Byron from Finastra, featured in the October edition of IBSi, explaining how Finastra’s Essence core banking platform enables financial institutions to succeed in a digital-first economy. It highlights successful partnerships with Tonik and Oro Bank, demonstrating how cloud-native architecture and modular design allow for rapid product launches and r...

In an interview with IBS Intelligence, William Moroney of Temenos discusses the urgent need for financial institutions to replace outdated legacy systems with flexible, modern technology. He explains that banks are increasingly adopting cloud-native platforms and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, combat financial crime, and provide tailored customer experiences. Temenos is...

Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering, Azentio   In an era of geopolitical volatility, cyber risk, and regulatory pressure, Puja Sharma speaks with Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering at Azentio, on redefining tech resilience through strategic partnerships, domain expertise, and modernisation that balances compliance, continuity, and customer trust.

Qualco, founded 25 years ago in collections technology, has evolved into a full-spectrum FinTech partner covering the entire credit value chain. Deputy CEO Spyros Retzekas credits this growth to client intimacy, local market understanding, and disciplined international expansion. The company differentiates itself by working closely alongside clients rather than operating as a distant vendor. AI ha...

Joaquin de Valenzuela, nCino's MD EMEA, reflects on his first year highlighting the platform's impact, bankers save 8–10 hours weekly through AI tools. nCino serves over 2,700 customers globally, with banks originating more than $3 trillion in loans on the platform. Cloud-native architecture enables continuous innovation and automatic compliance updates. Across EMEA, priorities differ: E...

Fernando Zandona, Chief Executive Officer, Mambu Securing the future of your bank means securing the next generation of customers. It is a fact that once people pick a bank, they very rarely switch. But how should incumbents square up to the challenges posed by the rush of neobanks coming to the market? How best to pivot without losing sight of core compliance, trust and scale? Fernando Zandona, C...

Karthik Sethuraman, Chief Delivery & Risk Officer, audax Financial Technology Banks now view failure to modernise core systems as an existential risk. In APAC, 93% of banking leaders admitting the right platform is critical to future success – presumably the remaining 7% are contemplating career change! Robin Amlôt of IBS Intelligence talks banking transformation with Karthik Sethuraman, Chief...

Edul Patel, CEO & Co-founder, Mudrex As central banks globally explore digital currencies, India’s Digital Rupee pilot marks a significant step toward rethinking monetary infrastructure. Beyond faster payments, CBDCs have the potential to reshape settlement systems, enable programmability, and unlock new fintech innovation. In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Edul Patel, CEO & Co-foun...

Masahisa Kawashima, IOWN Technology Director at NTT, discusses how IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) technology will transform financial services. IOWN's photonic infrastructure enables high-speed, low-latency, and highly reliable data transfer, essential for financial institutions requiring seamless AI and data-driven operations. It allows for efficient, scalable, and sustainabl...

Mac Thompson, Founder & President, White Clay Consolidation in the banking and finance sector is set to continue. Around 180 bank deals were announced in 2025 and there are going to be more to come in 2026. The pressing need to take advantage of developing technologies is one notable cost factor that may drive smaller institutions into the arms of their larger counterparts. White Clay Founder...