Breaking Banks Money 2020: Take-aways & News from Starling Bank and Google
Oct 30, 2025
Harriet Rees, the Chief Information Officer at Starling Bank, discusses the bank's groundbreaking collaboration with Google on AI-powered fraud detection. She reveals how the Scam Intelligence tool allows customers to upload images to identify potential scams within seconds, saving billions. They delve into trends from Money 20/20, like stablecoins and agentic AI, while exploring how such innovations can reshape user experiences in banking. Harriet also sheds light on the importance of regulatory engagement and Starling's commitment to evolving AI practices.
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Incremental Gains, Not Yet A Revolution
- Money20/20 was dominated by stablecoins and agentic AI, but many pitches offered only incremental value.
- Jason thinks the first meaningful wedges are appearing, though fundamental shifts haven't yet arrived.
In-App Scam Detection With Gemini
- Starling launched Scam Intelligence using Google Gemini to analyze images for scam indicators inside the banking app.
- The tool gives customers near-instant guidance to assess marketplace listings and messages before they pay.
Embed Protections In Payment Flows
- Put fraud-prevention tools directly in the payment flow so customers engage when it matters most.
- Use the bank app's trusted