Valentina Kristensen

Valentina Kristensen, Corporate Affairs Director at OakNorth, discusses the UK's evolving fintech landscape, emphasizing its strengths and challenges in retaining its leading role. Freelance journalist Oliver Smith sheds light on the competitive pressures from global players and the industry's shift towards AI. Together, they explore how cultural attitudes and regulatory frameworks impact innovation. They also share insights on the changing narrative around fintech startups and the urgent need for new strategies to sustain growth and attract talent in the sector.

This week, Conrad Ford, Merva Ferrero, and Valentina Christensen spotlight Zopa's new current account 'Biscuit,' which offers competitive interest rates and cashback. They dive into Coinbase's stablecoin service and its potential to revolutionize SME payments. The conversation highlights the increasing importance of financial inclusion initiatives, especially in emerging markets. Plus, there's a lighthearted debate on the best biscuits to enjoy while navigating the fintech landscape!

Valentina Kristensen, Director of Corporate Affairs at OakNorth, brings her expertise to discuss Klarna's exciting move to file for an IPO in NYC, emphasizing their impressive turnaround with over £200 million in profit. Alexandra Rivas-Gale, VP of Product at Clearbank, shares insights on Revolut's evolution into a full-fledged bank and the challenges they face in acquiring a banking license. Nicolas Benady, CEO of Swan, highlights the FCA's push for improved AI adoption in UK banks, revealing the regulatory hurdles that are stifling innovation.

Miguel Armaza, co-founder at Gilgamesh Ventures and host of the Fintech Leaders Podcast, joins Valentina Kristensen, Corporate Affairs Director at OakNorth. They explore the thriving LATAM fintech scene, with Nubank hitting 100 million customers and Ualá securing new funding. Klarna's decision to IPO in the U.S. is dissected, alongside Metrobank's hefty fine for compliance failures. The importance of financial education for children, championed by GoHenry, rounds out the discussion, emphasizing the need for early money management skills.

Matt Cooper of Crowdcube, Valentina Kristensen of Oaknorth, and Olivia Minnock of mmob discuss the acquisition of Semper by Crowdcube, OakNorth's entry into business banking, Adyen and Plaid's partnership in the US, N26 pulling out of Brazil, Klarna's setup of a UK holding company, and John Lewis' new BNPL products.