Banking Reinvented

Episode 82 of Banking Reinvented dives into the evolving world of embedded finance and how it’s reshaping the banking landscape for both financial institutions and end-customers.In this episode, host Tim Rutten sits down with Michał Kurowski, Director of Strategy& Poland (Part of PwC Poland). Together, Tim and Michał unravel what embedded finance really means and how banks can integrate products like payments, loans, and insurance seamlessly into the digital experiences consumers use every day. They also discuss the roles that banks, tech companies, and other players occupy in these emerging ecosystems, as well as the opportunities and challenges they present.Listen now to learn more about embedded finance, including promising use cases, transformational priorities, and how traditional banks can position themselves for success.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Jouk Pleiter-> Tim Rutten-> Michał Kurowski-> Strategy&-> PwC PolskaStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast(00:24) – Introduction to Michał(01:40) – Recent developments in embedded finance(03:33) – The evolution of embedded finance(06:31) – AI’s role in embedded finance(09:12) – Leveraging embedded finance partnerships(16:46) – Promising use cases(21:51) – Foundational capabilities for embedded finance(29:09) – Key takeaways(30:37) – Episode wrap-up

Episode 81 of Banking Reinvented dives into the forces reshaping how banks operate, compete, and deliver value in a digital-first world.Host Tim Rutten sits down with Panagiotis Kriaris, Director and Head of Business & Corporate Development at Unzer, to explore the fundamental shifts in banking business models. Together, they discuss the growing gap between customer expectations and what banks can actually deliver, the role of core modernization in closing that gap, and where AI is making the biggest impact right now.Tune in to hear how technology is driving real business transformation and what banks need to get right to compete in the next era of financial services.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Tim Rutten-> Panagiotis Kriaris-> UnzerStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the "Banking Reinvented" podcast(00:30) – Introduction to Panagiotis Kriaris(02:15) – The fundamental shifts in banking business models(09:45) – The gap between customer expectations and bank capabilities(17:20) – Where core modernization fits in the transformation journey(24:50) – What banks need to get right during the transition(32:10) – AI's biggest impact areas in banking today(41:30) – Key takeaways and final words(43:45) – Episode wrap-up

Episode 80 of Banking Reinvented explores the evolution of AI in banking and capital markets, from the early days of deterministic models to the dawn of agentic AI and beyond.Host Tim Rutten is joined by Sam Ahmed, Managing Director, APAC, at Swarm Dynamics and Founding Partner of Deriv Asia X. Together, they unpack how AI has transformed from simple analytics to complex, autonomous systems that revolutionize how banks detect risk, optimize operations, and understand human behavior. From governance to guardrails, this episode challenges leaders to consider not just how AI can accelerate banking transformation, but how it can do so responsibly.Tune for a candid, thought-provoking exploration of what equitable AI could mean for the future of finance.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Jouk Pleiter-> Tim Rutten-> Sam Ahmed-> Swarm DynamicsStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast(00:24) – Introduction to Sam(02:17) – The evolution of AI in banking(10:22) – Upskilling for AI(18:17) – Error rates of humans vs. AI(19:23) – The risks of AI monopolization and job replacement(27:48) – The role of AI regulators(30:23) – Applying AI to executive decision-making and beyond(44:34) – Key takeaways(46:43) – Final thoughts from Sam on AI risk(50:22) – Episode wrap-up

Nuno Sebastião, Co-founder and CEO of Feedzai, and Jouk Pleiter, Founder and CEO of Backbase, dive deep into the future of banking and fraud prevention. They discuss the alarming rise of deepfakes and synthetic identities enabled by AI. Nuno emphasizes the need for financial institutions to disrupt themselves before being disrupted. The duo explores the convergence of cybersecurity and risk management, highlighting innovative approaches like mass personalization and trusted digital identity tokens. Insightful strategies for mitigating fake onboarding and enhancing customer-centric risk management also take center stage.

David Jimenez Maireles, a fintech expert with nearly 20 years in digital banking, shares his insights on the future of APAC banking. He discusses the transformative power of AI in creating personalized banking experiences that meet real customer needs. David emphasizes the importance of starting small with AI experiments, choosing use cases aligned with strengths, and the rise of embedded finance. He also explores how banks can leverage technology to drive efficiency and create invisible, seamless financial services.

In the sixth episode of our commercial banking takeover, Peter Tapling of PTap Advisory joins guest host Alex Jimenez to explore the intersection of faster payments, fraud risk, and trust in commercial banking. Learn how to balance the adoption of new rails like FedNow with client education, fraud prevention, and smart execution strategies. If you’re leading modernization efforts, this episode is essential listening.Interested in the space where payments, fraud, and tech converge? Discover more insights on our content hub featuring podcasts, whitepapers, and beyond.–Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Alex Jimenez-> Peter TaplingTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” commercial banking takeover(01:12) – Common myths about faster payments(02:16) – Core challenges for modernizing payment systems(05:30) – Who should lead faster commercial payments(08:13) – Balancing speed with risk mitigation(12:04) – Overcoming blockers from payment providers(16:44) – Tech vulnerabilities for commercial institutions(18:28) – Examples of improving commercial workflows with faster payments (23:40) – Thinking about creating rails vs. using older ones(26:53) – Adopting faster payments without a clear roadmap(30:10) – How faster payments intersects with embedded finance/open banking(35:49) – The mindset shift in commercial banking(37:08) – Episode wrap-up

Episode 76 of Banking Reinvented explores how financial institutions across Asia can prioritize modernization for real impact, from AI-native operating models to cross-border growth opportunities.Host Tim Rutten is joined by Cyrus Daruwala, Partner Director-Asia at 3A Ventures International and Executive Director at the ASEAN Economic Forum, who advises some of the world’s largest banks and regulators on practical modernization, data, and AI. Together, they discuss why ASEAN’s trade flows are placing banks at the center of growth, how AI is reshaping both the front and back office, and what leaders must modernize first to balance speed, resilience, and ROI.Tune in to hear pragmatic insights on what modernization really looks like in practice, why AI is now the baseline for banking, and how leadership teams can steer through hype cycles to build future-ready financial institutions.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Jouk Pleiter-> Tim Rutten-> Cyrus DaruwalaStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast(00:24) – Introduction to Cyrus(01:11) – Banking during geopolitical uncertainty(03:06) – The unprecedented nature of AI in banking(07:00) – Dynamics of the ASEAN region(11:47) – The role of incumbents in ASEAN(13:54) – What’s next for tech transformation in the region(20:32) – Where to start with AI transformation(23:37) – Use cases of AI in banking(29:49) – Leadership skills needed to leverage AI(33:14) – Training and upskilling for AI(37:00) – Main takeaways from Cyrus(45:36) – Final thoughts from Cyrus(47:47) – Episode wrap-up

In the fifth episode of our commercial banking takeover, Alan Koenigsberg, founder of Koenigsberg Insights and former Global Head at Visa, sits down with guest host Alex Jimenez to share how banks can modernize working capital, embedded finance, and B2B infrastructure. This episode is packed with insight into scaling safely, transforming legacy systems, and building operational models that last.For more on treasury transformation and infrastructure strategy, explore the expert content now live on our content hub.–Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Alex Jimenez-> Alan Koenigsberg-> Koenigsberg InsightsTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” commercial banking takeover(00:57) – Blind spots in commercial payments(02:34) – Embedded finance and working capital innovation(05:02) – Managing credit profiles with data(07:06) – Best ways to approach digital transformation(12:27) – Over-engineering and under-investing in commercial payments(15:28) – Selling a solution vs. selling a rail/capability(19:11) – Trends on how banks get treasury digitization wrong(22:34) – Leveraging AI in commercial payments(27:20) – Crypto’s impact on the commercial/cross-border space(30:36) – Using quantum computing to build quickly and safely(36:13) – Macro forces shaping the next wave of working capital innovation(40:38) – Top three priorities for treasury and payments(44:57) – The biggest disconnect between fintech partnerships and long-term value creation(47:53) – Key takeaway from Alan(49:47) – Episode wrap-up

In episode 74 of Banking Reinvented, host Tim Rutten is joined by Adrian McPhee, CTO at Backbase, for a candid conversation about how banks can move beyond buzzwords to achieve meaningful change with the power of AI. Together, they discuss the critical building blocks for AI success, from data management and risk frameworks to organizational mindsets and regulatory collaboration. Adrian also shares first-hand stories of building AI-powered platforms, the challenges of scaling innovation, and why understanding customer intent is key to the next wave of digital banking.Tune in for practical strategies for embracing AI safely, aligning technology with business goals, and preparing your team for the future of financial services.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Jouk Pleiter-> Tim Rutten-> Adrian McPheeStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast(00:42) – Introduction to Adrian(08:27) – Separating AI’s hype from its transformative potential(11:48) – The AI zeitgeist in the market(15:48) – AI’s amplifier effect(17:32) – Foundational capabilities for harnessing AI(22:30) – Innovating at the pace of the regulator(26:49) – AI’s evolution in banking(28:45) – Deploying and monitoring AI vs. traditional systems(30:27) – The importance of being AI native/fluent(34:31) – The next big wave in AI transformation(36:41) – Episode wrap-up

Episode 72 of Banking Reinvented explores how AI, open banking, and new operating models are fundamentally reshaping the financial services industry.Host Tim Rutten welcomes back Jarno van Hurne, VP Product and Head of Digital Banking, to unpack the hottest topics in retail, business, and commercial banking today. Together, they dive into everything from the rise of neobanks to the escalating challenge of digital fraud, as well as how banks can partner with fintechs to deploy AI-powered defenses.Tune in for a candid look at how banks can move beyond incremental change, embrace AI-native thinking, and position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly shifting landscape.–Curious to find out more about customer-centric banking? Follow us on LinkedIn:-> Backbase-> Jouk Pleiter-> Tim Rutten-> Jarno van HurneStep into the future of finance -> Check out our content hubTimestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast(00:23) – An introduction to Jarno(03:50) – Open banking news from JPMorgan Chase(07:30) – The death of open banking in the U.S.(12:55) – The fraud zeitgeist in banking(18:11) – The continued rise or Revolut and Nubank(22:54) – The importance of being AI-native(27:50) – The appetite for AI in traditional banking(30:52) – How to think AI-first(34:13) – Top use cases for AI in banking(40:35) – Episode wrap-up