Rethinking Core Banking — From the Inside Out

In this special GFTN Japan edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Mayoran Rajendra, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Innovation Center at SMBC — one of Japan’s largest financial institutions.
We discuss how his team is re-engineering the core of corporate banking using generative AI, automation, and agentic infrastructure — not just adding on shiny tools, but rebuilding from within.

🔍 In this episode:
- How data-driven dashboards are transforming CFO decision-making
- Why real innovation starts with fixing foundations, not chasing trends
- The hype vs. reality of GenAI in financial services
- The rise of Agentic BaaS — and what it means for the future of banking

🎧 Watch the full episode now — available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Meet Mayoran from SMBC

01:05 Mayoran's Background and Transition to Banking

04:20 Role and Mission of the Asia Innovation Center

06:49 Challenges and Successes in Innovation

10:38 Asia Rising Fund: Supporting Startups

13:40 Generative AI: Hype vs. Reality

17:08 Limitations and Innovations in AI Models

18:14 CFO Agent: Revolutionizing Financial Reviews

20:12 The Rise of AgTech AI and Open Finance

21:30 Agentic Workflows in Banking

25:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Traditional Banks

27:00 Staying Relevant with Emerging Technologies

30:18 Fostering Innovation in Financial Institutions

33:22 Conclusion

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Inside SMBC’s Asia Innovation Center: The Future of Corporate Banking