The global economy has entered a new era defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA).  Tim Mahedy, Founder and Chief Economist at Access Macro and Chief Economist at Alloy Labs, explains why the 40-year period of moderate inflation and steady growth, known as the Great Moderation, has ended. Structural forces like climate change, migration,…

In today’s era of VUCA, (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), financial leaders are facing a paradox: the more data they collect, the harder it becomes to see clearly.  Despite abundant information, cognitive overload and fragmented insights often cloud judgment. Citizens Bank is taking a different approach, proving that clarity isn’t found in “more.” it’s created…

Saudi Arabia digital banking transformation is reshaping the Kingdom’s financial landscape. Moreover, as part of Vision 2030, the nation is embracing fintech innovation, AI-driven solutions, and regulatory reforms. As a result, it is creating an inclusive, efficient, and digitally advanced banking ecosystem. In addition, these initiatives are helping both consumers and businesses adapt to the…

Across Europe, the banking landscape is undergoing profound transformation. Branch closures and ATM reductions have accelerated over the past decade, cutting the continent’s physical banking footprint in half. While this evolution reflects the efficiencies of digital-first models, it has also sparked public resistance, as seen in Greece where the sharp reduction of ATM networks triggered…

The global banking industry has entered an irreversible phase of transformation: the decline of physical branches and the rapid rise of digital-first financial institutions.  Evidence shows that the world reached peak branch in 2015, with G20 economies and the Eurozone marking the turning point. Since then, fintechs have reshaped customer acquisition economics, acquiring customers for…

The financial services sector stands at a pivotal moment where regulation, technology, and customer trust intersect.  At the recent Emerge Conference, new financial health standards were introduced to guide banks, fintechs, and policymakers. Importantly, these standards shift the focus from checking compliance boxes to supporting consumer well-being. In addition, they create a clear way to…

In today’s financial landscape, trust has become the most valuable, and vulnerable, asset for banks.  With a $124 trillion generational wealth transfer underway, community banks face a critical inflection point. They must either redefine their role as trusted advisors or risk being replaced by more agile competitors.  The forces reshaping trust in financial services today…

Fifteen years after the Dodd-Frank Act reshaped the U.S. financial system, a panel of fintech and regulatory experts—Dara Tarkowski, Alex Johnson, and Kia Haslett—sat down with Jason Henrichs and Brett King to dissect its legacy. What emerged was a layered analysis of the Dodd-Frank fintech impact—how legislation born from crisis laid the groundwork for both…

Summary In June, the world of fintech disruption in banking lost one of its brightest lights: Barb MacLean. She wasn’t just a strategist or operator. Rather, she was a connector of people, ideas, and industries. A vital force behind Alloy Labs and a co-host of Breaking Banks, she made complex ideas accessible.Moreover, she brought clarity…

Summary Fraud in embedded finance is evolving faster than most institutions can react, and the consequences are increasingly systemic. Traditional approaches manual investigations, delayed Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), and internal case management are proving too slow and siloed to combat the rise of first-party fraud and synthetic identities. As fintech enters a new maturity phase,…

In a world where digital transactions dominate, the financial sector faces a critical challenge: balancing innovation with robust financial fraud protection. From traditional banks to agile fintech startups, institutions are racing to outsmart fraudsters, combat money laundering, and uphold trust in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. The good news? When applied thoughtfully, technology can be…