Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

Thailand's banking sector is experiencing a remarkable evolution, driven by regulatory innovation, mobile-first consumer behavior, and some of the world's most stringent operational requirements. Leading this transformation at one of the region's most influential financial institutions is our guest today. Ian Gillard serves as Senior Executive Vice President at Bangkok Bank, where he oversees digitalization, mobile banking, blockchain initiatives, cloud strategy, and analytics. Today, we'll explore how Bangkok Bank is navigating Thailand's unique regulatory landscape, the bank's strategy for dominating both domestic and international markets, and Ian's vision for the future of digital engagement in a region where 97% of banking transactions happen on mobile devices. From virtual banking initiatives to AI-driven customer experiences, we'll uncover the innovations that are positioning Bangkok Bank at the forefront of ASEAN's financial transformation. Welcome to Shaping Banking’s Next – podcast episodes hosted by Jim Marous and brought to you by Infosys Finacle and Qorus Global. These compelling episodes are inspired by the ‘Innovation in Retail Banking’ research, a report that has been tracking innovation trends, investment priorities, emerging business models, and real-world case studies for over 15 years. In these episodes, visionaries, changemakers, and digital pioneers from the world’s leading banks will share how they’re driving innovation, transforming the banking value chain, and reimagining the future of banking. Join them as they explore bold strategies, innovative business models and next-gen technologies shaping the industry today and defining what’s next.

For tech firms serving banks, survival isn’t guaranteed. It takes more than a great product or engineering talent to stay ahead. It requires relentless innovation, the ability to scale without losing agility, a deep understanding of financial institutions' pain points, and above all, visionary leadership that adapts to change rather than fears it. On this episode of Banking Transformed, we welcome Ana Inés Echavarren, the dynamic CEO of Infocorp, a company that has not only survived but thrived in this volatile environment. But her story isn’t just about corporate growth — it’s a story of personal reinvention. From her roots in engineering to becoming one of the few female tech CEOs in Latin America, Ana’s journey is marked by lessons in courage, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and the transformative power of mentorship. A vocal advocate for women in tech and leadership, Ana challenges old paradigms and champions diversity as a competitive advantage. This conversation serves as a roadmap for what it truly takes to build a resilient, purpose-driven, and future-ready organization.

Every week, we hear another story: A major bank's mobile app crashes during peak hours with no vendor support in sight. A credit union's core system update goes sideways, leaving customers locked out for days. A regional bank discovers that their "24/7 support" actually means "leave a voicemail and we'll get back to you Tuesday." Here's the brutal truth most banking executives learn too late: You're not just buying a solution – you're buying a relationship that could either supercharge your institution or slowly strangle it. While your procurement team obsesses over features and price tags, the real question that will determine your success or failure is this: When everything goes wrong at 2 AM on a Friday, who's actually going to answer the phone? I'm joined on the Banking Transformed podcast by Jennifer Gibson, VP of Sales for Primax, who has a front-row seat to both sides of this equation. Jennifer is here to reveal the hidden warning signs that separate true partners from mere sales pitches, the questions banks should be asking but rarely do, and why the most expensive mistake you can make is choosing the cheapest vendor. This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by Primax Primax provides community banks with an expansive array of value-added services and customizable solutions to help profitably grow their portfolios and deliver an unparalleled experience to cardholders. With a longstanding commitment to service excellence, Primax has been designing and providing support services for payment card programs for financial institutions throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean for over 40 years. Visit www.primax.us/ for more information

The convergence of artificial intelligence, real-time payment rails, open banking, and embedded finance is creating both unprecedented opportunities for innovation and significant competitive pressures. Banks must navigate the delicate balance between embracing cutting-edge technologies, such as generative AI, and maintaining the trust and security that customers demand. In this episode of the Banking Transformed podcast, we delve into the rapidly evolving payments ecosystem with Rich Clow, Head of Innovation and Strategy at Global Payment Solutions, Bank of America. With over 25 years of experience spanning from the early days of branchless banking to today's AI-powered financial services, Rich provides unique insights into the transformative trends reshaping how we think about money, payments, and banking relationships. Join us as we explore these critical trends with one of the industry's most experienced innovators, who has been at the forefront of digital payments evolution for over two decades.

Carson Kotnyek, VP and Head of Loyalty and Ecosystems at Zafin, discusses the vital evolution of banking loyalty in the digital age. He emphasizes how customers now demand personalized experiences rather than just traditional rewards. Kotnyek highlights the challenges traditional banks face with outdated systems while showcasing the need for integration of technology and real-time engagement. He also touches on the importance of understanding customer lifestyles and using personalized strategies to transform banking customers into passionate advocates.

Despite massive investments in digital transformation, most banks and credit unions are still struggling to deliver seamless and intuitive account-opening experiences. In fact, financial institutions could more than double their digital account opening success by following just a few simple strategies. In today’s episode of Banking Transformed, I’m joined by Frida Leibowitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Debbie — a fintech platform that not only helps institutions attract younger members, but also rewards positive financial behavior to boost engagement and loyalty. We discuss Debbie’s rapid growth, the findings from their recently released 2025 Digital Account Opening Guide, and what is holding most financial institutions back from achieving digital onboarding success. If your organization is still relying on outdated forms, clunky ID verification, or legacy vendor excuses — this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

How do you transform banks that have been built over centuries for a world where artificial intelligence operates 10 times faster than the digital revolution? We're not just talking about implementing new technology; we're reimagining banking for customers who interact daily with AI assistants and may soon entrust their money management entirely to intelligent systems. However, banks that rush into action without understanding their organizational and cultural legacies will find their investments yielding disappointing results. The issue isn't the technology; it's that we equate activity with progress, making top-down decisions that overlook what's happening on the ground. Our guest on the Banking Transformed podcast, Sophie Heller, is the newly appointed Chief Transformation Officer at BNP Paribas CPBS, bringing a unique perspective that combines strategic technology leadership with deep insights from behavioral sciences and organizational sociology. Today, we explore why the pause before progress might be more important than the speed of implementation, how behavioral sciences are becoming essential tools for transformation leaders, and what it takes to redesign banking for an AI-powered world. Welcome to Shaping Banking’s Next – podcast episodes hosted by Jim Marous and brought to you by Infosys Finacle and Qorus Global. These compelling episodes are inspired by the ‘Innovation in Retail Banking’ research, a report that has been tracking innovation trends, investment priorities, emerging business models, and real-world case studies for over 15 years. In these episodes, visionaries, changemakers, and digital pioneers from the world’s leading banks will share how they’re driving innovation, transforming the banking value chain, and reimagining the future of banking. Join them as they explore bold strategies, innovative business models and next-gen technologies shaping the industry today and defining what’s next.

Join Erin Allen, VP of Insurance Strategy and Distribution at Franklin Madison, and Norm Brown, Senior Director of Client and Customer Experience, as they dive into the evolving role of insurance in financial institutions. They explore how offering tailored insurance products can deepen customer loyalty, especially in uncertain times. The duo discusses simplifying insurance for younger demographics, leveraging data to enhance customer engagement, and turning financial anxiety into opportunities for deeper relationships. It's a must-listen for those looking to foster loyalty in their customer base!

The most critical challenge facing most retail financial institutions is how to accelerate organic growth and customer acquisition in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven landscape. I’m joined on the Banking Transformed podcast by Sumeet Grover, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Growth & Digital Officer at Austin-based University Federal Credit Union. Sumeet is a renowned thought leader in financial services, with nearly two decades of experience at Citibank, where he held leadership positions spanning marketing, digital transformation, client experience, and operations. Most recently, he served as EVP and Chief Digital & Marketing Officer at Alliant Credit Union, the largest digital credit union in the United States. In today's conversation, we explore the most significant obstacles hindering sustainable growth, identify the most promising opportunities on the horizon, and discuss how AI is fundamentally transforming the growth model for retail financial institutions.

Community financial institutions are at a crossroads—they must deliver cutting-edge card payment experiences that rival fintech disruptors and mega-banks, all while preserving their community-focused mission and working within tighter resource constraints. Guest: Joe Schmithorst, VP of Product and Client Solutions at Primax Joe brings decades of experience helping community banks transform their payment capabilities. In this episode, he reveals how smaller institutions can leverage modern architectures, embedded payment solutions, and customer-centric design not only to compete but also to outmaneuver larger competitors. Key Topics: - Building scalable card payment platforms on realistic budgets - Emerging technologies: real-time payments and digital wallet integration - Turning community banks' personalized service advantage into a competitive weapon - Practical implementation strategies that deliver results Discover how community banks can transform their biggest challenge into their greatest opportunity.