Richard Davies

Denise Johansson, co-founder and co-CEO of Enfuce, shares insights into payments innovation and compliance, while Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, discusses the evolving role of high street branches for SMEs. They tackle Nationwide's commitment to keeping branches open, debate the necessity of physical locations in the digital age, and explore Visa's trials of stablecoin payouts as a fast payment solution. Additionally, they examine the partnership between Revolut and Booking.com, weighing its implications for travelers and loyalty rewards.

Denise Johansson, Co-founder and CEO of Enfuce, advocates for a cultural approach to modernization, emphasizing that transformation is about more than just technology. Andy Sturrock, CTO of Atom Bank, highlights the agility of cloud-native systems, enabling quicker experimentation. Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, discusses strategies for serving established SMEs and argues that legacy banks often react too slowly to competition. The trio passionately debates whether incumbents can catch up to neobanks, stressing that courage and customer focus are essential for success.

Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, brings extensive experience from giants like HSBC and Barclays to the fintech scene. He discusses Allica's unique approach to SME banking, focusing on relationship-led service and rapid growth strategies. Richard shares insights on competing with neobanks, the role of AI in finance, and the quirky branding strategy behind the iconic orange bowler hat. He addresses the pressing issue of credit access for SMEs in the UK and outlines the bank's ambitious goals for future expansion.