In this interview, Chris Walters of Finastra 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 Markets business to reinvest capital into these high-impact leadership areas. To address the increasing pressure on financial institutions to modernize, Finastra is embedding AI to automate routine tasks and simplifying its own operating model to be easier to work with, prioritizing faster implementation and intuitive support. Walters also identifies significant growth opportunities in underserved mid-sized institutions and emerging segments like private credit. Ultimately, he envisions Finastra as a leaner, customer-obsessed strategic ally that delivers reliable, enterprise-grade technology designed to help institutions of all sizes succeed in a rapidly evolving market