Happy Holidays Fintech Files listeners! As we look ahead to the new year, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from Season 4 with Eyal Sivan, Mr. Open Banking.

Eyal joins Fintech Files to discuss how open banking rose from the 2008 financial crisis to become a worldwide movement centered on competition, innovation, and transparency. With over 25 years in IT and banking technology, Eyal breaks down the core principles behind open banking, clarifies myths around security, and explores how different regions—from Europe to Brazil—are innovating with standards and regulation.

Discussion Highlights

• From IT Wiz to Mr. Open Banking: Eyal shares his journey from early web-development days to becoming Head of Strategic Platforms at CIBC. A pivotal encounter in Oslo introduces him to the concept of open banking, sparking a deep fascination that leads to his own podcast and advocacy.
• Defining Open Banking: Why “open” doesn’t mean your data is up for grabs—Eyal clarifies that it’s about standardized APIs, not insecure data sharing. The three key goals of open banking: competition, innovation, and transparency.
• Global Momentum & Security Myths: How PSD2 in Europe and subsequent adoption in the UK, Australia, Brazil, and beyond drove standardization. Eyal dispels security concerns, showing how “screen scraping” is actually less secure than standardized APIs.
• Financial Inclusion Potential: Brazil as a case study: rapid adoption of open banking and digital wallets, enabling millions to join the formal financial ecosystem. Eyal underscores that open banking can reduce barriers for underserved populations—but only when paired with the right regulatory guidance.
• Risks & Roadblocks: Eyal addresses how, without careful regulation, large incumbents could still dominate. Achieving a global open banking system is unlikely; instead, interoperability among diverse regional standards is the main ambition.
• Looking Ahead: Open Finance & Beyond: Eyal’s vision of open banking has it expanding more into sectors like healthcare and social media. Ultimately, Eyal believes broader “data ownership” across industries is inevitable once consumers realize their rights.

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...

How does a region skip the traditional path of banking entirely and jump straight into a digital future? Central Asia has become one of the fastest-moving digital banking regions in the world. In this episode, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, reflects on what’s driving this rapid shift and how it’s reshaping competition, customer expectations, and the overall financial landscape. We discuss TBC’s approach to entering Uzbekistan, the evolving needs of a young and digital-first population, and the operational and strategic choices required to build trust in a transforming market.

Discussion Highlights:

• The Post-Soviet Legacy: How the collapse of financial institutions resulted in a cash-based culture and long-lasting skepticism toward banks.
• A Leapfrog Moment: Why Central Asia moved straight into mobile-first, digital-native banking, and how this compares to mature markets.
• Generational Shifts in Adoption: The divide between younger users driving digital growth and older generations relying on familiar cash habits.
• TBC’s Strategy in Uzbekistan: What it takes to enter and scale in a high-growth market, from talent and product design to regulatory navigation.
• AI & Digital Innovation: How AI, UX, and mobile onboarding are reshaping customer expectations and accelerating adoption.
• The Future of Fintech in Central Asia: How customer education, responsible data use, and embedded services will define the next phase of digital banking in the region.

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 does it take to create payment infrastructure from the ground up in one of the world’s fastest-growing fintech regions? Recorded at Money 20/20 in Riyadh, PayTabs CEO and Founder, Abdulaziz Al Jouf, reflects on how the company helped establish one of the Middle East’s earliest fintechs. We explore the challenges of launching in a cash-reliant market, the role of cultural understanding in earning trust, and how partnerships with banks and regulators created the foundation for secure growth. From embedded finance to cross-border expansion, this conversation looks at how PayTabs is shaping the next chapter of digital payments in the Middle East.

Discussion Highlights:

• Building in a Cash-First Region: How PayTabs addressed the behavioral, infrastructural, and trust challenges of early digital payments in the Middle East.
• Cultural Insight as Strategy: How understanding merchants, consumers, and local dynamics became a competitive advantage.
• Partnerships and Regulation: The role of banks, regulators, and ecosystem players in enabling secure, sustainable fintech growth.
• Cross-Market Expansion: Lessons from scaling across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India, and Morocco — and what it takes to serve diverse markets.
• The Future of Middle East Payments: Emerging trends including embedded finance, cross-border commerce, and new digital payment experiences.
• Advice for Entrepreneurs: Abdulaziz shares grounded guidance on market entry, resilience, and developing trust.

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.