The heart of the matter: a customer-centric look at fintech
In this series, The heart of the matter, financial services veteran Dave Wallace talks about people, brands and insight. He looks to tell the customers’ story and bring their perspective, and how fintechs and financial institutions interact with their customers.
Dave is a true digital native and industry legend! Throughout his career in the fintech industry spanning over 25 years, he has been obsessed with helping brands connect effectively with their customers through digital channels. He’s a master at understanding customer behaviours and motivations, and his expertise has helped brands like HSBC, RBS, Manulife, and ANZ develop and implement digital strategies that put the customer first.
He started his career in the mid-1990s, helping Yellow Pages get online and paving the way for the digital revolution.
Dave’s passion for the customer experience led him to found HeathWallace, a specialist agency that helped banks and other blue-chip clients deliver customer-friendly digital services. He grew HeathWallace into an international powerhouse, with offices in the US, Asia, and Australia.
In 2008, he sold HeathWallace to WPP and after ten successful years as part of the group set his sights on his next venture.
Enter NMD+, Dave’s latest business venture that’s focused on developing customer-centric mobile propositions that add true value to the end customer, which clients like Unifimoney, Aviva, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and St. James’s Wealth Management.
Follow him on X at @davejvwallace, connect with him on LinkedIn, and listen to the Demystify Podcast, which Dave co-hosts.
The sun shines on the brave
A stable future for us all will rely on harnessing the technology we are building with big ideas and innovations.
The shifting sands of influence in fintech
Dubai has become a global fintech hub and has ambitions to be a leader in technologies such as AI as well.
Sibos 2024: Why the future of finance is atomised, embedded, and real time
The convergence of atomisation, embedded finance, and real time is creating a new paradigm in financial services.
Autonomous AI agents: outsourcing decision-making as the new CX paradigm in finance
AI agents are poised to become integral to how we manage and interact with our finances.
Let’s switch again
Current account switching is on the rise. But what factors are driving consumers to switch?
A journey through the magic of technology: from PCs to Apple Vision Pro
Very occasionally, a new technology arrives that works like magic.
Unveiling Q-Day: How quantum computing could revolutionise (and disrupt) our digital world
The potential risks of Q-Day are immense, and there's much work still to be done.
The shifting credit landscape in the digital age
Will the concept of a credit score as we know it become obsolete?
Is it time for banks to turn and face the change?
As society evolves, traditional banks must adapt, or else they face an inevitable demise.
Real time changes everything
The banking world will soon become real time, and both banks and regulators will have to keep up.
Combatting fraud – insights from industry experts
How to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving landscape of fraud prevention.
A banking kiosk for a new era of banking
Despite the overall downward trend, a lot of cash is still being withdrawn and used in circulation.
Cyprus, the tech island: reflections on the Reflect Festival
Cyprus has emerged as a thriving tech hub over the past decade.
Designing financial services for children with Sunshine+Kittens
UK start-up Sunshine+Kittens is launching a new offering for children designed to help boost financial literacy.
New demands demand new technology
The financial services sector is changing rapidly, driven by new technologies and new approaches.
Plastic and dollars: confronting the environmental impact of consumerism and banking technology
We must ensure that banking technology follows a more planet-friendly path than plastic.
How to create award-winning marketing – a tale of two campaigns
Marketing should be viewed as strategic and critical. Take care in crafting it.
Is a phone charging cable the new bank card?
Have smartphones completely replaced the need for physical bank cards?
Is talking to our money the next user experience paradigm?
We need a way of literally talking to our money to help us build a proper relationship with it.
The history of banking technology vs the history of banking experience
Over time, the transactional aspects of banking have been solved, but not the emotional ones.
It’s boring to say, but boredom is important
Studies suggest that boredom can serve as a catalyst for creativity under the right conditions.
How Lithuania became a fintech hub in Europe
Lithuania’s fintech scene is thriving thanks to an environment that encourages innovation and collaboration.
Rising waters, rising risks: floods and the global financial tide of climate change
If the models are correct, then the financial impacts of climate change globally could be devastating.
A visit to a data centre, quantum computing and how lentils determined COP28
Data centres aren't going away, and we'll likely need more as we head into our collective digital future.
The perspective on AI from Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023
I truly believe that 2024 is the year that GenAI goes from talk to action.
The intersection of finance and sustainability
Companies such as HeavyFinance in Lithuania are combining fintech with sustainable agricultural practices.
Improving safety in AI
Having regulators test AI before release will ensure a much better understanding of its capabilities.
Dodging a dark data disaster
The amount of dark data being collected by firms is increasing, and its overall environmental impact is massive.
Breaking Moloch: the game theory monster in AI, economics and beyond
Can banks stop their self-destructive tendencies and escape the race to the bottom?
Transforming the user experience: the dawn of dynamic knowledge rendering in financial services
With GenAI in financial services, we're not just on the cusp of significant change – we're in the midst of it.
Sibos 2023: How Economy-as-a-Service is shaping the way we work
The Economy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model is progressively reshaping multiple sectors, most notably financial services.
A church, a sauna and climate change
Finding ways to educate people on climate change, highlight the risks and change behaviours is essential.
Feedback from the front line of generative AI
It's been intriguing to see the differences in thinking from companies when it comes to generative AI.
Innovation at the intersection of money, AI, identity and blockchain
AI is proving to be an existential threat to identity. So how is the world responding?
The transformative impact of AI and its implications on the future workforce
The AI revolution is well and truly underway. But what does it mean for the future of workers?
Go green software – your bonus may depend on it!
Embracing green software principles can unlock numerous benefits for financial services firms.
Let’s get physical!
The irony of the next wave of tech advancement is that it may force us back into focusing on the real world.
How SaaS and generative AI are positively impacting ‘experience thinking’
SaaS and generative AI are compelling the industry to concentrate on what users see and do.
Does Apple hold the key to meeting your future self in VR?
What all VR headsets have failed to do so far is come up with a groundbreaking use case.
Why is Apple taking a bite out of banking?
For Apple, maybe banking is just another brick in the wall, not the wall itself.
How digital payments are changing the world
In both sociological and economic terms, the rapid switch to digital payments is fascinating.
Curate and compile: the future of AI-driven fintech experiences
A new generation of generative fintechs is coming, and finally, the banking sector will be truly transformed.
Doconomy and Dreams
Two Swedish firms recently joined forces to help shape the future of climate action.
Loyalty matters… enter embedded banking
Many big brands are now looking at embedded banking as a way to boost customer loyalty.
Transforming transformation
According to McKinsey, 70% of digital transformation projects fail. So what is going wrong?
Demystifying digital transformation
There are a lot of parallels among the big banks in terms of why digital transformation is so complicated.
Lessons from reality TV
For me, the big lesson was we might not be correct or justified in our thinking as much as we think.
A warm welcome to 2023!
The start of 2023 has been interesting for the climate change agenda.
Reflections on 2022
As we hurtle towards the end of the year, let's take a look at how my forecasts for 2022 have turned out.
Changpeng Zhao, FTX and ‘cryptogeddon’
The FTX debacle will see the Wild West of crypto's emergent years replaced by control and discipline.
Are the machines coming for your job? Probably!
Generative AI may soon be able to build platforms or design new products in the financial services industry.
In conversation with Antony Jenkins, founder and CEO of 10x Banking
FinTech Futures columnist Dave Wallace shares three key take-aways from his recent chat with Antony Jenkins.
Sibos 2022: Achieving net-zero across an FI’s value chain
A number of associations are being spun up to support FIs to address the complexity around decarbonisation.
Embedded banking with Metro AG and Vodeno
Brands with large customer bases can use BaaS platform providers to create deeper relationships with customers.
The anti-ESG brigade, the finance industry and the green potential of Africa
We are entering interesting times in the ESG and climate change debate.
Lessons from a car that won’t unlock
Based on recent experiences, here are some thoughts on what finance can learn from the auto industry.
Blockchain, tokenisation and financial inclusion
The potential for Web3 to enable financial inclusion in populations is tremendous.
XR, banks and rewiring the system
Rewiring the economic system will be a challenge, but I think it's supercritical.
Best, the enemy of better in mobile banking
The challenge for the industry is how to go beyond what they have and deliver platforms beyond the transactional.
Decarbonising data centres
Many FIs are looking to utilise external data centres to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What the Actual Crypto is going on?
Out of this crash will come stable businesses that genuinely add value to people.
Building a donation platform in the most carbon-neutral way possible
NatWest, the Scottish Tech Army and GoCodeGreen recently collaborated on a new project.
Money talks
Expectations about what is acceptable from a CO2 emissions perspective have to mature.
Emotional connection in customer experience
Many digital financial services lack a "human heart". And that should be something that worries the industry.
The metaverse: sorting fact from fiction
Nobody seems quite sure what the metaverse actually is, but to dismiss it as just hype is to miss the point.
Waste! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing
Climate change is a complex problem, and its solutions are manifold and multifaceted.
A panel, a chat, and confirmation that ESG is a tough nut to crack
I recently attended a hackathon at Finovate Europe focusing on ESG in the financial services industry.
Making the world an ‘appier place
The outlook for apps is a happy one, and brands are finally starting to lean into their potential.
Can carbon coins help reduce your carbon footprint?
Connecting government accreditation and crypto can provide a viable alternative to carbon offsetting.
The carbon cost of technology and what to do about it
Banks and fintechs should understand how much energy they consume to make better informed decisions.
Teaching AI to have a heart
Unpicking bias in AI is a whole new fintech opportunity and one that appears to be very needed.
Digital twins in the metaverse
As we rush headlong into virtual worlds in the metaverse, the concept of digital twins will become more conspicuous.
The heart of the matter: three predictions for 2022
It's that time of year when crystal ball gazing is de rigueur.
Carbon as a currency
Linking currency to carbon could open the door to a better and more sustainable economy.
The rise of carbon-centric super apps
Looking to the future, increasing climate change could see the emergence of carbon-centric super apps.
Thinking net-zero
Every bank, fintech, and financial institution should now be looking to prioritise ESG and net-zero initiatives.
Aligning the finance industry with the Greta good
Let's dive deeper into what the finance industry can do to help tackle climate change.
BNPL: The now and the later
How can the BNPL industry do more to protect consumers and help the world we live in?
Sibos 2021: Financial services and the fight against climate change
How could climate change impact the finance industry and what more can companies do to tackle the issue?
Finding out about finfluencers
People are turning to influencers on social media for guidance on everything, including finance.
The path to personalisation
The path to personalisation in banking is apparent. But like every journey, it needs those first steps to be taken.
Globalisation, crypto and the new cold war
The emergence of blockchain and digital currencies is sparking a new tech battle across the world.
What Gen Z can tell us about the future of banking
All too often, the voices of young people seem to be ignored. Now is a critical time to talk and listen.
The social dilemma
With half the world on social media, why are so many FIs still shying away from it in fear?
Mobile first, second and third!
Most companies talk about the importance of mobile technology, but I'm not convinced there is a proper understanding.
What the hell happened to help?
Banks could do more to provide financial education, guidance and advice to customers.
Let’s talk about sex (as in gender), baby!
Women and men seem to differ in their attitudes to banks and banking products and services.
Customers don’t do what they should
There's a disparity between how banks think and what customers do.
The heart of the matter: customer-centric look at fintech
So much of what we conceive, discuss and celebrate is about tech. How often do we talk about actual customers?
What the FinTech? | S.5 Episode 21 | Taking open banking payments mainstream
In this podcast episode, GoCardless’ Paul Foster discusses the growing adoption of open banking payments.
Market Harborough Building Society launches financial education app with Doshi
The building society has used Doshi’s white-label app to launch the new offering.
Robinhood snaps up custodial and portfolio management platform TradePMR in $300m deal
The purchase, involving a blend of cash and stock, is set to close in H1 2025.
Navro secures FMSB registration to provide money transfer services to businesses in Canada
Navro (formerly known as Paytrix) has also secured licences in the UK and Ireland (EU) this year.
Modulr buys AP automation platform Nook, plans to launch Modulr AP solution in early 2025
Modulr AP, powered by Nook, is described as an “end-to-end solution for invoice management and AP automation”.
Mexico’s Albo partners Paymentology to expand digital payment services
Albo plans to launch a new initiative with Mastercard to boost digital payments in Mexico.
CommonWealth Central Credit Union taps Jack Henry for tech upgrade
The $632 million-asset credit union is set to launch new products with Jack Henry’s core platform.
Revolut granted UK trading licence from FCA
Revolut now plans to launch new trading products covering UK and EU stocks and ETFs.
Goldman Sachs to spin out technology platform GS DAP into independent business
GS DAP has operated as part of Goldman Sachs’ Digital Assets business since launching in 2022.
PayTech Awards 2025 now open for entries
Nominations for the PayTech Awards 2025 are now open, with the deadline for entries set for 14 March.