Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, product expert, Intellect Design Arena Limited

As Islamic banking gains global momentum amid rising demand for ethical, Shariah-compliant financial services, Puja Sharma speaks with Rajesh Saxena, CEO, Consumer Banking, and Rami Roukoss, Product Expert at Intellect Design Arena Limited, on the evolving role of digital transformation, AI-driven pool management, and how eMACH.ai is helping Islamic banks modernise products, operations, and customer experiences. 

This interview details the award-winning implementation of the Finastra Kondor treasury solution at LPBank, a prominent financial institution in Vietnam. Deputy CEO Nguyễn Ánh Vân explains how the bank successfully integrated this front-to-back office platform on an accelerated timeline alongside a major core banking transformation. By moving from manual tasks to automated end-to-end processing, the bank has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency and risk management capabilities. The discussion highlights the vital role of collaborative partnerships and expert resource allocation in overcoming technical and regulatory challenges. Furthermore, the text explores future prospects, including the potential for AI integration to further refine market analysis and business forecasting. Ultimately, the upgrade serves as a strategic benchmark for the bank’s continued expansion into regional and global financial markets.

This interview with Yethi Consulting CEO Srirang Srikantha explores the critical role of quality assurance in the modern banking sector. Srikantha highlights how digital transformation has heightened customer expectations, making application speed and reliability more vital than traditional financial metrics for maintaining loyalty. He cautions financial institutions against over-relying on software vendors for system integrity, suggesting that independent testing is necessary to ensure flawless performance. The discussion further examines how full-stack observability and artificial intelligence can help manage the growing complexity of banking technology. Ultimately, the text presents a case for proactive performance validation to prevent costly technical failures and protect a bank’s reputation.

This interview with George Toumbev of NatWest Boxed details the rise of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), highlighting partnerships with Saga and The AA. Toumbev predicts most retail banking revenue will shift away from traditional channels by 2030, necessitating "embedded banking" that utilizes a bank's license and balance sheet on brand platforms. Successful implementation requires strategic coherence between the brand and financial product, balancing technical excellence with strong banking credentials for safety. To ensure scalability, Boxed uses standardized "Lego block" modules rather than bespoke designs. Ultimately, this model allows brands to increase revenue and sales while outsourcing complex risk management and regulatory compliance to the bank

This interview features Udeet Bhagat from PureSoftware discussing the success of their flagship banking platform, Arttha. The source highlights how this cloud-native and modular technology enables financial institutions to automate digital onboarding and loan origination processes. A major focus is placed on the platform's ability to remain scalable while adapting to local regulatory requirements in diverse markets like Africa and Southeast Asia. The text also outlines future plans to integrate AI-driven credit scoring and alternative data, such as mobile money trails, to improve financial inclusion for underserved populations. Ultimately, the company emphasizes its commitment to innovation and agile design to keep pace with the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.

In this interview, Chris Walters of Finastra outlines a strategic pivot toward customer-led innovation following a year of extensive global engagement with clients. He explains that the company is doubling down on its core strengths—lending, payments, and core banking—while divesting its Treasury and Capital Markets business to reinvest capital into these high-impact leadership areas. To address the increasing pressure on financial institutions to modernize, Finastra is embedding AI to automate routine tasks and simplifying its own operating model to be easier to work with, prioritizing faster implementation and intuitive support. Walters also identifies significant growth opportunities in underserved mid-sized institutions and emerging segments like private credit. Ultimately, he envisions Finastra as a leaner, customer-obsessed strategic ally that delivers reliable, enterprise-grade technology designed to help institutions of all sizes succeed in a rapidly evolving market

Deepa Santhanam, Partner & SVP - Business Consulting, Intellect Design Arena

In an era where growth is defined by ecosystem depth rather than customer count, Puja Sharma speaks with Deepa Santhanam, Partner & SVP - Business Consulting at Intellect Design Arena, on how banks can outperform by embedding themselves into industry value chains—leveraging APIs, AI, and platform models to drive stronger liquidity, resilience, and competitive advantage in wholesale banking.

In this interview, Tommaso Jacopo Ulissi of Nexi Group explores the ongoing convergence of digital payments with specialized business management software. He explains that modern merchants no longer seek isolated transaction tools, but rather integrated ecosystems that handle industry-specific tasks like table management or online booking. To remain relevant, payment service providers must shift from being simple utility companies to becoming embedded partners within the software platforms that merchants use to run their daily operations. This transformation requires a focus on seamless API integration and user experience to meet the rising demand for all-in-one digital solutions. Ultimately, the industry is moving toward a cooperative model where payment capabilities are hidden, yet essential, components of a broader merchant interface.

This interview features Siobhan Byron from Finastra explaining how their Essence core banking platform enables financial institutions to succeed in a digital-first economy. The text highlights successful partnerships with Tonik and Oro Bank, demonstrating how cloud-native architecture and modular design allow for rapid product launches and reduced operational costs. Byron emphasizes that modern banking is shifting toward open finance and embedded services, requiring systems that are both agile and highly interoperable. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence, including generative AI assistants and predictive analytics, to enhance employee productivity and customer personalization. To manage the risks of modernization, the source introduces the "Symbiosis" approach, which allows banks to upgrade specific components incrementally rather than replacing entire legacy systems at once. Ultimately, the source illustrates how technological flexibility helps banks navigate regulatory complexities and meet evolving consumer expectations.

In an interview with IBS Intelligence, William Moroney of Temenos discusses the urgent need for financial institutions to replace outdated legacy systems with flexible, modern technology. He explains that banks are increasingly adopting cloud-native platforms and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, combat financial crime, and provide tailored customer experiences. Temenos is supporting this transition by offering modular software solutions and AI-driven tools that allow for faster product launches and more secure data management. The discussion highlights a global shift toward strategic IT investment, where technology providers act as essential partners in navigating regulatory changes and digital transformation. Ultimately, the source emphasizes that successful modernization depends on ecosystem collaboration and the ability to scale innovation through a single, adaptable platform.

Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering, Azentio 

In an era of geopolitical volatility, cyber risk, and regulatory pressure, Puja Sharma speaks with Raj Jathar, SVP Sales Engineering at Azentio, on redefining tech resilience through strategic partnerships, domain expertise, and modernisation that balances compliance, continuity, and customer trust.