Fintech Files: Insights on TECH by BCG Platinion
BCG Platinion
Recent Episodes
How can we create credit histories for unbanked people? In this episode, we sit down with Rajat Dayal, CEO and Founder of YabX, to explore how his company is revolutionizing credit access in emerging markets. About 1.5 billion individuals and businesses have no access to credit or any other financial product. Rajat shares insights on leveraging alternative data, like mobile wallet activity, to create credit histories for those overlooked by traditional banking systems. We delve into the challenges of non-traditional credit scoring, the impact on local economies, and how purpose-driven loans can foster financial inclusion.
Discussion Highlights:
- Financial Inclusion and the Credit Gap: Rajat discusses the massive challenge of providing financial services to the 1.5 billion individuals and businesses without access to credit. Traditional banks often overlook this segment due to the lack of credit histories, creating a chicken-and-egg problem where people can't get credit because they have no credit history, and vice versa.
- Leveraging Mobile Wallets and Alternative Data: In regions like Africa, mobile wallets such as M-Pesa have transformed how people transact. Rajat explains how YabX utilizes mobile wallet data and other alternative data sources—like utility payments and telecom data—to assess creditworthiness. This approach helps create credit scores for individuals who previously had no formal financial footprints.
- Challenges with Non-Traditional Credit Scoring: Traditional banks often hesitate to trust alternative credit scoring methods. Rajat shares how YabX builds trust with banking partners by demonstrating the efficacy of their models through back-testing and pilot programs. He emphasizes the importance of proving that these non-traditional methods can predict repayment behavior accurately.
- Purpose-Driven Loans: YabX focuses on offering loans for specific purposes, such as purchasing handsets or paying school fees. Rajat explains how purpose-driven loans increase the likelihood of repayment because the funds are used for essential needs, aligning the interests of both the lender and the borrower.
- Impact on Local Economies: By providing access to credit, YabX empowers small businesses and individuals in rural and underserved areas. This not only helps these businesses grow but also contributes to job creation and economic development in local communities. Rajat highlights how digital lending platforms can reach areas traditional banks can't, fostering broader economic digitization.
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.
Meet the Hosts:
Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. With a wealth of experience working with leading Fintechs, they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape. Joining them is Bianca Lopes, an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil, now based in Denmark, with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.
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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
How can financial institutions drive sustainability and responsible AI practices? In this episode, we sit down with Anne Kleppe, a leading expert in sustainability and responsible AI at BCG. Anne shares her insights on how banks and financial institutions can leverage their influence to promote sustainable practices, reduce their carbon footprints, and use AI responsibly. We explore the challenges of measuring financed emissions, how AI can contribute to a more sustainable world, and explore real world examples of banking more sustainably in action.
Discussion Highlights:
- Finance as a Force for Good: Anne discusses the unique position of financial institutions to drive positive change. By directing capital flows into sustainable activities, banks can significantly impact the economy and promote environmentally and socially responsible practices.
- Measuring Financed Emissions: Banks have a complex task—measuring the emissions of the businesses they finance. Anne explains how financial institutions can navigate the challenge of measuring financed emissions using advanced modeling tools and data sources, offering transparency and enabling banks to make more informed lending decisions. For example, tools like CO2 FI help streamline this process.
- AI and Sustainability: AI has the potential to help banks and industries reduce their environmental impact by analyzing vast amounts of data, predicting outcomes, and providing actionable insights that contribute to greener business practices. However, Anne also highlights the need to balance this with the fact that AI is energy-intensive and can significantly increase carbon emissions. To truly drive sustainability, institutions must ensure that the environmental benefits of AI outweigh its energy demands, finding ways to optimize both technology and resource use.
- The Role of Responsible AI: Anne discusses the importance of responsible AI in financial services, emphasizing the need for it to be secure, equitable, and fit for purpose. While AI can offer valuable support in decision-making and drive efficiency, Anne also underscores the need to carefully manage the associated risks, such as bias and data security. Balancing the benefits of AI with ethical considerations is key to its responsible deployment in the industry.
- Real-World Examples of Navigating Sustainability: Anne provides examples of how financial institutions are grappling with sustainability in their lending practices. In one instance, a bank identified that a significant portion of its financed emissions came from a coal power plant, prompting them to reconsider their involvement. Another example highlights efforts in the agricultural sector, where banks are supporting farmers in adopting greener practices, like improving soil health, which can enhance productivity.
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.
Meet the Hosts:
Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. With a wealth of experience working with leading Fintechs, they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape. Joining them is Bianca Lopes, an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil, now based in Denmark, with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.
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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
What trends do we see in wealth management as the GenAI Era Unfolds? Akin Soysal is 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.
Meet the Hosts:
Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. With a wealth of experience working with leading Fintechs, they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape. Joining them is Bianca Lopes, an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil, now based in Denmark, with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.
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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
How can Fintech contribute to building a better world? In Season 4 of Fintech Files, we’re turning our focus to where financial technology meets social impact. This season, we explore financial inclusion, sustainable investing, and decarbonization with some of the brightest minds in the industry. As financial services touch every aspect of our lives, the opportunity to drive positive change is enormous.
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.
Meet the Hosts:
Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, and Annika Melchert, a principal currently based in the Middle East, our hosts bring expertise in tech transformations, platform architecture, and digital innovation. With a wealth of experience working with leading Fintechs, they offer unique insights into the evolving financial landscape. Joining them is Bianca Lopes, an entrepreneur and economist from Brazil, now based in Denmark, with a background in digital identity and biometrics. Having supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, Bianca’s work reshapes technology, reimagines identity, and drives innovation.
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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
We know that you’ve just been dying for more episodes of Fintech Files since we wrapped up season three, so we’ve decided to throw one final one in for you. This week we’re bringing you one of BCG’s other shows that covers Fintech as it relates to compliance and risk. BCG on Compliance is hosted by Hanjo Seibert, a leading expert in compliance, anti-financial crime and fraud. Each episode dives into today’s most pressing criminal trends, and how compliance experts are innovating to stay ahead of the curve, and shape the future of the industry. If you like what you hear, follow BCG on Compliance on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Enjoy!
About this Episode:
This episode covers the fascinating story behind HSBC’s massive transformation process following the bank’s 2012 anti-money-laundering controls violations. Hanjo speaks to Andy Maguire, who held the role of Group Chief Operating Officer and had a key role in engineering an extensive remediation process for the bank, which took years and millions of dollars. It is one of the most prominent banking compliance stories in recent history, and Andy shares his critical insights and valuable learnings that have had ripple effects across the industry.
About Fintech Files:
Are you ready to unravel the most innovative trends disrupting the world of Fintech today? Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, where we delve deep into the dynamic landscape of Fintech, NeoBanks, and the Digital Banking world, sparking insightful conversations with industry disruptors from around the globe. So, what are the most groundbreaking trends shaping the future of Fintech, and how will they impact your financial world? Fintech Files takes an accessible approach to technology. We break down complex topics and have our guests explain them in a relatable "explain it to your grandma" style. In every episode, we focus on real-world stories of how financial technology operates, demystifying complex concepts and making them relatable for both Fintech enthusiasts and professionals.
The Hosts of Fintech Files:
Hosted by Nora Hocke, a manager at BCG Platinion in Munich, 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 AI use cases. With their unique blend of tech expertise and passion, they bring you stories that capture the essence of the evolving Fintech landscape. This season, we're thrilled to introduce Bianca Lopes. Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, 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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy