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FinovateFall 2024 Best of Show winners Delfi on the dangers of balance sheet risk and its macroeconomic impact.

In this episode, host Elizabeth Kleinveld speaks with John Lombela, founder and CEO of Axalio, about how fintech innovations are transforming the mining industry in Africa. John explains how Axalio empowers small-scale miners by providing access to modern equipment, financial education, and direct global markets, helping them increase safety, improve income stability, and reduce environmental harm. Through blockchain and geospatial technology, Axalio ensures transparency and legal compliance, while reinvesting in local communities to build schools and hospitals. The conversation also touches on expanding these solutions to Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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John Lombela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlombela/

Axalio.com

Serial entrepreneur and technology leader with over 17 years of experience in managing complex projects across diverse industries. As the Founder and CEO of Axalio.com Technologies, he focuses on innovative financial solutions in emerging markets, emphasizing transparency and ethical sourcing in mining operations. John holds a bachelor’s degree from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and has founded multiple successful startups.

Monika Bielskyte is a futures researcher and designer currently based in South Africa by way of Lithuania. She conveys to Brett and Rob her vision for a radically inclusive and more hopeful future. As Monika’s frames it, her Protopian concept of the future presents a distinct alternative to the utopian -vs- dystopian binary that prevails in science fiction and popular culture. Monika draws on the Bantu-origin concept of Ubuntu to characterize her approach to future scenario planning, and she relates it to a wide range of current issues through the lens of equality, fairness and empathy.

This week cohosts Brett King and Jason Henrichs have a far reaching conversation, tapping into guest expertise on all things open banking and digital finance. John Pitts, Global Head of Policy at Plaid, Christy Sunquist, Head of Open Finance at Plaid, and Cameron Taylor, Chief Product Officer at Ninth Wave join Jason and Brett as they dive into topics from international open banking and the standards that we can expect out of open banking in the U.S., to how Plaid and Ninth Wave are partnering to assist financial institutions ahead of the rulemaking here in the States.

Plaid recently announced their Gateway Partner Program, which gives financial institutions a way to streamline their integrations ahead of open banking requirements, to make it easier for financial institutions to choose an approach that works for their unique needs as they enable open banking. Ninth Wave is Plaid’s inaugural partner for the Gateway Program, and will support financial institutions who want to simplify their API integrations while ensuring their customers have access to the thousands of apps and services in the Plaid network. Together, Plaid and Ninth Wave are solving open banking requirements for financial institutions who may be at varying stages of preparedness.

Hear about this and much more on this episode of Breaking Banks.

Title: Welcome to Gateway for Open Banking
Brett King and Jason Henricks introduce the episode, highlighting the topic of open banking and featuring experts from Plaid and Ninth Wave.

Title: What Six Years of Open Banking in Europe Taught Us
A discussion of Europe’s open banking progress, challenges, and the implications for U.S. implementation, including lessons from the UK and EU.

Title: How the U.S. Open Banking Model Differs from Europe
Exploration of how the U.S. approach, driven by industry collaboration, contrasts with the more prescriptive regulatory frameworks in Europe.

Title: The Road to Open Banking Compliance
Insights into how financial institutions in the U.S. are preparing for compliance, with a focus on challenges faced by smaller banks and credit unions.

Title: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
Discussion on how open banking can enhance customer experiences, reduce fraud, and position banks as digital leaders, rather than just meeting regulatory mandates.

Title: Building Bridges: Banks and Fintech Collaborations
How partnerships like those between Plaid, Ninth Wave, and financial institutions are driving innovation and supporting open banking transitions.

Title: Consumer Data Rights and the Future of Open Finance
Exploration of consumer data control, privacy, and the shift toward trust-driven ecosystems, emphasizing transparency and security.

Title: What Open Banking Will Look Like in 10 Years
Predictions on the evolution of open banking into a seamless, integrated part of financial services, fostering trust and innovation across sectors.

Title: Get Ready for Open Banking
Final reflections from the hosts and guests, including advice for financial institutions on preparing for compliance and leveraging open banking for strategic growth.

Read the entire transcript here.

FinovateFall Best of Show winner Bancography on the importance of physical branches and making sure they’re in the right places

In this special 250th episode of Breaking Banks Europe, titled “Fintech in a Word,” Matteo Rizzi celebrates 500 unique guests and 5 years of the show, by leading an insightful conversation with the six hosts, each reflecting on the one word that represents the last 15 years in fintech.

Matthias Kroener emphasizes the importance of culture in shaping fintech’s future, while Paolo Sironi focuses on strategy as the key to success. Roberto Capodieci looks ahead, discussing the future of the industry and how it’s evolving. Elizabeth Kleinveld sees possibilities in every challenge fintech has faced, and Don Ginsel describes the industry’s exciting journey as a true rollercoaster. Francesca Aliverti highlights inclusion, with a special focus on emerging markets in EMEA. Finally, Matteo Rizzi shares his thoughts on the crucial role of talent, particularly upskilling through initiatives like Timepledge.org.

Join us as we celebrate 250 episodes and reflect on our favorite show moments from the past five years!

This week The Futurists examine the much-ballyhooed claims that extreme weather events are growing more intense and more frequent. Surprise! It’s not what you think. Brett and Rob unpack the economic impact of extreme weather, the growing perception of risk, and the political gridlock that thwarts practical proactive measures. Topics include: FEMA, Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Helene, how the insurance companies cope with the increase in damages and losses, and the broader societal and political impact of extreme weather events.

The Fed just cut rates. The 50-basis point cut was welcome news for many financial institutions, but the pressures the industry faces are not going away. In fact, rate cuts may mask the underlying changes going on. In our first segment, Jason Henrichs connects with Lake Michigan Credit Union’s EVP, Chief Lending and Experience Officer, Eric Burgoon and James White, General Manager, Banking at Total Expert talk about the future of banking. Customers are always in search of highest yield and the best terms. It’s easier than ever to move money and customers have options. Institutions need to be reliable, relatable and credible. To do that institutions need an overarching organizational strategy and data to drive personalized products.

Where can you find everyone from the collective world of money? Vegas of course, October 27-30! To provide insight into Money 20/20 2024 and this year’s money and fintech story, Chief Strategy Officer Scarlett Sieber and Zach Anderson Pettet, VP of Global Fintech Strategy, connect with Brett King to talk about the conference and the dynamics as they see it shaping financial services. Keynotes from industry experts and rising stars lead the agenda with sessions on open banking, AI, borderless payments, embedded finance, fraud, policy & regulation and of course, they’ve built in lots of fun…no spoiler alerts here! If you are headed to Vegas, join us for the Fintech Luminaires reception. You can apply for an invitation with this link: https://lu.ma/p0zcx7ki See you in Vegas!!

Brett King introduces the episode, discussing the recent Federal Reserve rate cuts and their implications on the financial industry. The conversation highlights challenges like deposit pressures and the need for financial institutions to adapt to consumer behavior changes.

Eric Burgoon and James White explore how banks and credit unions face growing competition for deposits. They discuss the shift toward high-yield savings products, consumer behavior, and how institutions can leverage technology to remain competitive.

The focus shifts to the importance of relationship banking. The discussion emphasizes balancing personal relationships with technological advancements to provide value to customers at scale.

James White and Eric Burgoon discuss the integration of AI and data strategies in financial services. They highlight the necessity of reliable, relatable, and credible interactions and how AI can help scale personalized services.

The panel underscores the importance of strong organizational culture and disciplined technological adoption. They explore how credit unions like Lake Michigan Credit Union differentiate themselves by focusing on member-first principles.

Scarlett Sieber and Zach Anderson-Pettett join to preview the Money 2020 conference in Las Vegas. They discuss the event’s focus on AI, embedded finance, and cross-border collaboration, as well as efforts to promote health and wellness during the event.

The conversation expands on how Money 2020 fosters global collaboration and community. Scarlett and Zach share insights into agenda planning, content curation, and the broader impact of the conference on the fintech ecosystem.

Brett wraps up the episode with final thoughts on the importance of forward-looking strategies in financial services and a preview of breaking news expected from Money 2020.

Read the entire transcript here.

FinovateFall Best of Show winner Illuma on call-center security and AI-based fraud

In this installment of The Bankers’ Bookshelf – guest and host roles mix in a discussion exploring the transformation of banking in the platform economy, focusing on embedded finance and conscious banking. Banks are shifting from traditional product-centric models to value-added services, leveraging data to offer personalized, outcome-driven solutions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The conversation with Panagiotis Kriaris also highlights the importance of advisory platforms, where banks help clients make informed decisions, shifting value from products to relationships. Examples like Amazon show how transparency and data enablement can drive trust and engagement, shaping the future of banking through technology and customer-centric strategies. “Banks and Fintech on Platform Economies: Contextual and Conscious Banking” is the chosen work of the month, written by #BBE’s resident host, Paolo Sironi.

Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/-/pt/dp/1119756979/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J9gh56H_DWuXjGWWUkdSYHU1M7BnvSKemankVx-6P4Fn7blQ6B19gyxjKT1gydTuzxr-en7ZdiYzkRvghKHhgN5H5IIlVfjGcPxtlc7O5QtqaMQNMrGJx2it0K3oodj9GsRbev3iKd4p32y16gwyWd5zwBdk4wJEEZq1oTYO6KNuabGfYpuNfO7clbUbSXLp.IzbK2jMEGiYQ3myvD_U9UdkOrkbV4Ej6oJs_gof4wRw&dib_tag=se&qid=1728041542&refinements=p_27%3APaolo+Sironi&s=books&sr=1-1

About our guest: Panagiotis Kriaris

Panagiotis has spent his career on the borderline between business and technology with a leadership background at an international level. 
Panagiotis brings senior expertise across Financial Services, Banking, Payments, FinTech, Retail and E-Commerce. Innovation, strategy, business development, strategic partnerships and building businesses and products from scratch have been at the center of his work and attention throughout his career. Being a recognized voice in the financial services industry, Panagiotis has contributed to various publications and podcasts and is often invited as a public speaker at events around the globe.

Paolo Sironi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepsironi/

IBM FinTech Strategy and Author