Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS 1022. Insights: How small and medium-sized businesses win with embedded finance
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Dec 11, 2025 Kunal Galav, VP at Pleo Embedded, and Simon Gilson-Fox, SVP at Mastercard Europe, share insights on how embedded finance is transforming SMB banking. They discuss the shift in expectations, emphasizing speed and visibility in payment processes. The duo highlights the need for seamless integration of financial tools to reduce reliance on spreadsheets and reinforce trust. They also explore AI's role in supporting CFO functions and predict a future where banks serve as trusted advisors, delivering actionable insights for SMBs.
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Apps Alone Don’t Cut It
- Slick banking apps are now table stakes and no longer differentiate for SMBs.
- SMBs want proactive guidance—like a GPS—that tells them which financial route will save time and money.
Embed Workflows, Not Just Payments
- Embed payments and approvals into business workflows rather than treating banking as a separate step.
- Connect invoice review, approval and payment so the finance flow completes inside the same system.
Million-Pound Business Still On Excel
- Simon described a near-million-pound turnover business still doing cash flow in spreadsheets.
- That example shows product maturity doesn't guarantee adoption without smooth integration.