Fintech Files: Insights on TECH by BCG Platinion

In just a few years, artificial intelligence has gone from novelty to necessity. Boardrooms are racing to adopt it. Teams are learning to work alongside it. And across financial services, the rules are being rewritten. In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, Kirsten Rulf, Partner and Associate Director at BCG and former Senior Digital Policy Advisor involved in shaping the European AI Act, and Dr. Akram Awad, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, take us inside that shift. From the moment AI hit the mainstream to the reality of deploying it at scale, they explore how expectations are evolving and where the gaps still remain. Discussion Highlights: AI’s Inflection Point: How the launch of generative AI triggered a rapid shift in priorities across the industry.What the Data Says: BCG’s AI Radar Report highlights the gap between ambition and value. Shifting Team Dynamics: How AI is changing decision-making, collaboration, and leadership. World, Identity, and Meaning: Why the impact of AI goes beyond productivity.What Comes Next: From democratized financial advice to AI-native institutions, what the next phase could mean for the future of fintech.About Fintech Files:Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today. From NeoBanks to cryptocurrency, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology through insightful conversations with global disruptors. We’ll uncover the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech and examine their impact on the financial world. We focus on real-world examples, making financial technology relatable and accessible to both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals alike.Hosted by Annika Melchert, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in the Middle East, and Nora Hocke, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in Sydney, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. Annika and Nora work with Fintechs and incumbent banks, and together they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape, drawing on their wealth of experience with leading organizations. Bianca Lopes is an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and eight governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.

How does a bank that has been around for over two centuries build with the speed of a startup?In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, we’re joined by Annerie Vreugdenhil, Chief Commercial Officer for Personal and Business Banking at ABN AMRO, to explore how one of the Netherlands’ largest incumbents is rethinking what a bank can be – and who it’s for. From acquiring a neobroker to launching a neobank built from the perspective of Gen Z in just twelve months, Annerie shares the strategy, the trade-offs, and the lessons other banks can take from it.Discussion Highlights: The Multi-Brand Bet: How ABN AMRO is running challenger brands like BUX and BUUT alongside the main bank.Designing for the Next Generation: Building financial products for customers who grew up on TikTok and Instagram, and how BUUT is tackling financial literacy for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.Innovating from Within: What it really takes to launch a new product inside a large institution.Build, Buy or Partner: How ABN AMRO decides what to build itself and what to source externally.The Agentic Future: Why Annerie believes the next frontier for AI in banking is agent-to-agent banking, and what financial institutions need to put in place now to be ready.About Fintech Files:Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today.From NeoBanks to cryptocurrency, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology through insightful conversations with global disruptors. We’ll uncover the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech and examine their impact on the financial world. We focus on real-world examples, making financial technology relatable and accessible to both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals alike.Hosted by Annika Melchert, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in the Middle East, and Nora Hocke, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in Sydney, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. Annika and Nora work with Fintechs and incumbent banks, and together they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape, drawing on their wealth of experience with leading organizations. Bianca Lopes is an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and eight governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.

What do we gain when we invest in others?In this special International Women’s Day episode, we explore this year’s theme of “give to gain” with four women shaping the future of financial services: Amanda Estiverne-Colas, board member at NAFLI, Jacqueline O’Flanagan, Financial Services Industry Lead for Canada at Microsoft; Reem Ikram, CEO and Co-Founder of ThriftPlan; and Vera Futorjanski, founder of Veritas Ventures and Beyond Global.They share how investing in people and opportunity can create compounding impact—from expanding financial literacy and building inclusive products to supporting female founders and creating communities that open doors for the next generation.Discussion Highlights: Giving as Investment: How investing in people, access, and opportunity can generate long-term returns for individuals, organizations, and the broader financial ecosystem.Financial Inclusion in Practice: Amanda Estiverne-Colas shares why access must be paired with financial literacy and education.The Business Case for Diversity: Jacqueline O’Flanagan explains how diverse leadership and perspectives strengthen innovation, decision-making, and long-term performance.Building Communities and Networks: Vera Futorjanski reflects on the power of community in creating opportunities and supporting women in leadership and entrepreneurship.Closing the Funding Gap: How increasing female participation in investing could shift the balance of opportunity and reshape how capital flows to female founders.Designing the Future of Finance: Reem Ikram shares how fintech innovation, supportive regulation, and financial literacy can work together to expand access and build stronger financial futures.About Fintech Files:Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today.From NeoBanks to cryptocurrency, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology through insightful conversations with global disruptors. We’ll uncover the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech and examine their impact on the financial world. We focus on real-world examples, making financial technology relatable and accessible to both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals alike.Hosted by Annika Melchert, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in the Middle East, and Nora Hocke, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in Sydney, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. Annika and Nora work with Fintechs and incumbent banks, and together they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape, drawing on their wealth of experience with leading organizations. Bianca Lopes is an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and eight governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.

We're taking a short break this week, but we'll be back soon with regularly scheduled episodes, including a special International Women's Day episode that you won't want to miss.About Fintech Files:Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today. From NeoBanks to cryptocurrency, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology through insightful conversations with global disruptors. We’ll uncover the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech and examine their impact on the financial world. We focus on real-world examples, making financial technology relatable and accessible to both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals alike.Hosted by Annika Melchert, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in the Middle East, and Nora Hocke, a Principal currently based at BCG Platinion in Sydney, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. Annika and Nora work with Fintechs and incumbent banks, and together they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape, drawing on their wealth of experience with leading organizations. Bianca Lopes is an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and eight governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.

This week we’re throwing it back to a conversation from Season 4 with Akin Soysal, a global expert on digital investing and part of our BCG X leadership team in Europe, the Middle East and South America. Akin dives into the biggest topics disrupting financial management across the globe. How does Gen Z leverage retail investing for saving for retirement? Can AI be an effective financial advisor? How are millionaires migrating around the globe? We’ll explore these topics and more in our conversation with Akin. Discussion Highlights: The GenAI Era Unfolds: Global Wealth Report 2024: The BCG annual wealth management report calculates how much wealth there is in the world. It gets broken down into regions and essentially allows you to draw conclusions about who got richer and who got poorer. This year's report touches on the impact of AI, how wealth is distributed, and trends disrupting the financial services industry. Income Generation vs. Wealth Management: Akin discusses how income is tangible and immediate, whereas wealth management and investing are not. This often causes people to overlook the importance and impact of investing on their overall wealth. Financial literacy can play a big role in shifting this mindset, helping people to better understand and plan for their future. Retail Investing with Gen Z: We explore the growing popularity of retail investing, especially with Gen Z. Retail investing is where people take advantage of investing on their own rather than relying on financial institutions to manage their portfolios. AI is helping to support this trend, with easy to access financial advice being so readily available. Cross-Border Wealth Flows: Akin delves into the dynamics of what he calls cross-border wealth flows. High net worth individuals are increasingly mobile, moving their assets to financially favorable regions like Dubai and Singapore. As wealth is moving globally certain regions are looking to attract millionaires. Regulatory Pressures and Financial Literacy: Akin shares how regulatory frameworks shape the accessibility of financial knowledge and tools. This can sometimes make it challenging for people to gain financial literacy. He discusses the balance between protecting investors and maintaining open access to financial advice.The Say-Do Gap in Finance: Akin discusses the emotional aspect of finance, highlighting how people often behave differently than the way they say they will. Financial management is so emotional, and balancing that side of it is key to overall financial health. Impact of AI on Financial Advice: Generative AI is disrupting the wealth management industry by providing sophisticated, scalable investment advice to the masses. This is transforming how people engage with financial markets and has the potential to democratize financial advice for people who otherwise would not have access to it. About Fintech Files:Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today. From NeoBanks to Digital Banking, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology through insightful conversations with global disruptors. We’ll uncover the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech and examine their impact on the financial world. Our episodes break down complex topics, with guests explaining everything in a way even their grandmas could understand. We focus on real-world examples, making financial technology relatable and accessible to both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals alike.The Hosts of Fintech Files:Hosted by Nora Hocke, a Principal at BCG Platinion in Sydney, and Annika Melchert, a Principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts specialize in IT strategy, modern tech architecture, and state-of-the-art banking. In their work, they've collaborated with some of today's most innovative Fintechs to transform their organizations; including supporting generative Al use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape. We also have Bianca Lopes back for another season. Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics. Throughout her career, she has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.We Want to Hear from You!Reach out to us at [email protected] with your questions, guest suggestions, or topics you'd like us to explore. Or just drop in to say hi! Visit our website at https://bcgplatinion.com/insights/podcast-fi/ and follow us on social media for updates and additional content.The digital future is now.