Cedar on Banking Technology

Europe has led global regulatory innovation in the data-driven economy through GDPR and open banking (PSD2), offering key lessons for the world. GDPR has become a global benchmark for data protection, granting individuals strong rights over their personal data and forcing organizations to rethink data collection, consent and retention practices. While compliance costs have been significant—especia...

Regulatory reform has become a continuous change-management imperative for financial institutions, accelerated by post-pandemic digitalization and tighter regulatory scrutiny on technology, data and operational risks. Banks must adapt using a structured approach built around the three Es: Envision, Evaluate and Execute. Envision focuses on understanding regulations end-to-end by identifying stakeh...

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) introduced Consumer Protection Standards (CPS) in February 2021 to ensure fair treatment, transparency and responsible financial practices across all Licensed Financial Institutions (LFIs). As the UAE financial sector grows rapidly, these regulations aim to promote integrity, competitiveness and a level playing field, while strengthening trust between institutio...

The arrival of 5G represents a major inflection point for the financial services industry, enabling a step change in speed, capacity and connectivity. Compared to 4G, 5G delivers far higher device density, ultra-low latency and significantly greater bandwidth, allowing real-time, data-intensive experiences at scale. With the global 5G services market projected to reach $250 billion by 2026, its im...

Artificial intelligence is becoming a naturalized part of modern banking as institutions adopt AI to enhance customer experience, strengthen compliance and improve cost efficiency. While AI has existed for decades, high costs and limited data previously restricted its use to complex, high-value transactions. The rise of cloud computing and big data has removed these barriers, enabling AI to scale...

The global payments industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by post-pandemic shifts toward contactless, cashless transactions and accelerated FinTech innovation. Electronic, wallet and mobile payments have surged as consumers prioritize convenience, safety and speed, while platforms such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and BNPL providers benefit from heightened liquidity needs. Payments rema...

Islamic FinTech is a branch of financial technology that operates in line with Sharia principles, emphasizing ethics, transparency and social responsibility. While rooted in Islamic finance, it is increasingly attracting non-Muslims due to its strong alignment with environmental, social and governance (ESG) values. Like ESG-compliant FinTech, Islamic FinTech promotes sustainability, financial incl...

Indirect procurement covers non-resale goods and services such as IT, facilities, and professional services and remains a largely under-exploited source of value. Its share of spending varies by sector, but typically represents a 2–4% revenue opportunity that can be redirected to growth. Value leakage persists due to four challenges: lack of leadership focus, limited strategic procurement skills,...