Mr. Open Banking

In the final episode recorded live from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Eyal sits down with leaders from the the three major U.S. core banking providers: Hashim Toussaint, General Manager of Digital & Open Banking at FIS; Chad Killingsworth, Head of Engineering at Jack Henry; and Sunil Sachdev, SVP, Head of Embedded Finance at Fiserv. Among them, these three providers serve not dozens or even hundreds of banks, but thousands, as they enable the long tail of a richly diverse and populous American banking ecosystem. Given their reach, for open banking to succeed in the U.S. the cores will have to embrace it, and throughout this discussion our guests break down exactly how their firms intend to do so. The conversation covers the latest regulatory developments, including the new compliance timeline, the exclusion of smaller banks from regulatory requirements, and how the U.S. cores are ultimately being driven by the real demands of digitally-savvy consumers more than by regulatory mandates. Specifically they discuss:The role of core banking providersThe CFPB rule and compliance timelines Security frameworks and API strategies Smaller banks' exclusion from regulationThe choice to build vs. buy vs. partner

Recorded live at Money 20/20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Eyal is joined by three leading voices from the open banking community whom he knows rather well: Michelle Beyo, CEO & Founder of Finavator; David Birch, Author, Advisor and Principal at 15Mb; and Don Cardinal, Senior Vice President at the Financial Data Exchange. Together, they examine how open banking is taking shape across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, offering insights informed by their respective regions. Between them, they provide a global perspective on the evolution of open banking, not only based on activity in different regions, but across the three main pillars of open banking infrastructure: data sharing, real-time payments, and digital identity. David delves into the UK's early open banking implementation, Don explores the U.S.' market-driven approach to open finance, and Michelle shares her advocacy for a human-rights-based view of data ownership. From universal data rights to the rise of digital wallets, this conversation provides a comprehensive look at where the open banking standard is today and where it is headed. Specifically they discuss:Global approaches to open banking The significance of data rightsReal-time payments and digital walletsHow digital identity plays a crucial roleThe future of open banking in the US

Recorded live at Money 20/20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Eyal is joined by the open banking leads from three major US aggregators: John Pitts, Head of Policy at Plaid; Jane Barratt, Chief Advocacy Officer at MX; and Anil Mahalaha, Chief Evangelist at Akoya. Aggregators, sometimes called data access networks, provide third parties with connectivity to a wide range of banks. In the US in particular, they are uniquely crucial, having built out an early form of open banking over the past few decades. As the region moves towards standardization and regulation, they will continue to play a pivotal role. Together, Eyal and his guests discuss the continued implications of the CFPB's final ruling on Personal Financial Data Rights, the evolving role of aggregators, and the impact of API-driven connectivity. The conversation explores whether regulation is truly necessary, how it will shape the competitive landscape, and what's next for the future of financial data access in America. Specifically they discuss:CFPB's Personal Financial Data Rights RuleThe role of aggregators in the U.S.The transition from screen scraping to APIsPerspectives on secondary data useThe commercialization of data access

Does the United States have open banking? Well, that depends on how it's defined. If that definition is less about regulation and more about the adoption of a common technical standard for the secure exchange of financial data, then the U.S. is considerably further along. Much of this progress is due to the Financial Data Exchange (FDX), a private non-profit founded in 2018 to unite players across financial services in creating a common standard for consent-driven data sharing. For the final, extra-length episode of Season 5, Kevin Feltes, the new CEO of FDX, joins us to discuss the state of American open banking amidst the regulatory changes unfolding under Section 1033. Eyal and Kevin sit down to talk about all things FDX, sharing the organization's origins, what's in the FDX tool belt to help it punch above its weight, and what it means for FDX to operate at the intersection of regulatory and market forces. Diving into possible futures, they unpack how flexibility is the key to ensuring American open banking continues to grow and thrive. Specifically they discuss:The origins of the Financial Data ExchangeHow the FDX API is member-drivenThe impact of Section 1033 regulationBalancing market and regulatory forcesThe role FDX plays in U.S. open banking

Open banking aims to revolutionize data sharing by giving individuals full control over their data - deciding who can access it, for what purpose, and for how long. Instead of personal data being locked in silos and exchanged without consent by an opaque and precious few, this shift empowers people to gain value from their data for themselves, using it, trading it and protecting it as they see fit, while engaging in the data sharing economy. In this episode, Eyal dives into these possibilities with fintech visionary Ghela Boskovich, Head of FData Europe and founder of FemTech Global. By putting control back into the hands of individuals, Ghela envisions a future where consumers can derive personal economic benefits by deciding how, and with whom, their data is shared. They explore the foundational keystones of this economy, the varying approaches nations are taking to implement it, and the transformative potential of a more equitable digital landscape. Specifically they discuss:Data as a renewable resourceConcentration of data in few handsKeystones of the data sharing economyGlobal regulations and perspectives A more just approach to training AI

Underlying open banking is an important assumption: That if you give the consumer all the information about what data is held on them and all the control over how that data is shared, that they will be better off. That they will use that information and control to make better decisions, decisions that benefit them. But is that actually so? Behavioral economics says that perhaps the answer is no. Rising to prominence in the late nineties and two-thousands, behavioural economics challenges the idea that people always behave rationally. For those building open banking environments aimed at truly helping consumers make better decisions about their money and their data, its lessons are invaluable. In this episode, Eyal sits down with renowned behavioural economist Dan Ariely, a professor, scientist and best-selling author, to discuss the roots of behavioral economics, the role of paternalism, and how friction and motivation can be applied to building better financial services.Specifically they discuss: Understanding behavioural economicsVisible money vs. invisible moneyUsing friction and motivationPaternalism and responsibilityBuilding environments that benefit us

We are living through a period of unprecedented technological change, an era that has been dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Building upon the previous three, this current transformative era is marked by the convergence of advanced technologies, such as robotics, AI, IoT and blockchain, that together are reshaping both industries and society at large. Navigating all these changes can be a challenge; more and more, it feels like looking into the future offers nothing but a blur. But among the interconnections between these technological trends lies opportunity. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Dr. Efi Pylarinou, renowned Fintech influencer and Co-author of Fast Future Blur, to discuss how this period of rapid digital transformation is shaping our future, including how business archetypes are evolving, the types of leaders we need and the crucial role of open standards.Specifically they discuss: The Fourth Industrial RevolutionThe four business archetypesMoving from digital native to AI nativeHow the nature of banking is changingThe importance of openness

Imagine a world where financial services are no longer separate, daunting entities but seamlessly integrated into the digital experiences you know and love. A world where buying a car, booking a trip, or even grabbing a coffee means having instant access to personalized financing options, secure payments, and innovative insurance solutions. This is Embedded Finance: an omnipresent, invisible hand guiding your financial decisions with unprecedented ease and intelligence, so that financial services are always there when you need them, and fade into the background when you don't. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Simon Torrance, CEO and Founder of Embedded Finance & Insurance Strategies, to discuss how open banking, paired with real-time payments and agentic A.I., will help fill the gap between financial needs and financial services.Specifically they discuss: Why Embedded Finance is about collaborationAdvantages to banks and non-banks alikeMoving from Embedded Finance 1.0 to 2.0The Embedded Finance operating systemReal-time payments and agentic A.I.

The open banking community has long believed the path to open data starts with open banking. The general idea is that the common standards used to share banking data will inevitably expand in scope, leading to open data standards which will eventually cover all sectors of the economy. Australia, unique among open banking regions, has been on that road for several years now, although some now say their ambitious regulatory effort, the Consumer Data Right (CDR), has fallen short of its initial bold vision. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Jamie Leach, a self-proclaimed data champion, who recently joined Raidiam as their Open Data Strategist. She is also the regional director of FDATA Australasia, and the founder of Open Data Australia. Jamie and Eyal discuss the origins of open banking and the CDR in Australia, some of the significant challenges the effort now faces, and predictions for where it is headed in the future.Specifically they discuss: The origins of Australia's foray into open dataWhat made CDR so ambitious and forward-thinkingThe challenges that have caused the CDR to stallHow ConnectID offered a market-driven alternativeWhere Australian open banking is headed from here

To date, the United States has taken a staunchly market-driven approach to open banking, and has been doing so for decades. But all that is about to change: the U.S. has now begun their own journey towards regulated open banking, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) introducing a new regulation to solidify and protect Personal Financial Data Rights. In this episode, Eyal sits down with John Pitts, the Global Head of Policy at Plaid, the most well-known financial data aggregator in the world, who enables more than 100 million consumers to link their financial accounts with over 8,000 apps across 17 countries. Prior to joining Plaid, John served as Deputy Assistant Director for Intergovernmental Affairs at the CFPB, working to promote cooperation and coordination in enforcing the Consumer Financial Protection Act, also known as Dodd-Frank. John and Eyal discuss the CFPB's proposed regulation, its effect on consumers, the impact to banks and the larger question of how data rights will come to America.Specifically they discuss: The old era vs. the new eras of U.S. open bankingThe CFPB's Personal Financial Data Rights regulationHow regulators and markets balance one anotherImpact to consumers, banks and other stakeholdersCreating a new deal with our technology providers

The growth of open banking is historically driven by environmental factors. In environments marked by wealth inequality, or a lack of trust in traditional finance, open banking flourishes as a promising alternative. Conversely, in stable environments, it often stagnates, viewed as a needless risk. Canada, known for its risk aversion, exemplifies this trend. To open season 5 of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal sits down with Abraham Tachjian, Director of Digital Banking at PwC Canada and the former Open Banking Lead for all of Canada, to discuss whether conservative Canada will be ready for the coming wave. In March of 2022, Abraham was appointed by the Canadian Department of Finance to lead the development of a national open banking framework, and for the last two years he has been doing just that. Eyal and Abraham explore the key role Abraham has had in delivering a guidebook for open banking in Canada, lessons learned along the way, and what the next steps are for all stakeholders involved.Specifically they discuss: • The formative years of open banking in Canada• The importance of strong governance • How the work was structured and approached• Canadian open banking versus the other regions• The future of open banking in Canada

To make open banking work the way it is meant to, you need three major building blocks; data exchange, payments and digital ID. While many countries are working on these pieces, there is really only one place that has already built them all, into a fully-integrated, cohesive whole, at population scale: India. In the season four finale of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal sits down with Dr. Pramod Varma to discuss the uniquely successful digital transformation of India. Pramod is the Chief Architect behind a set of national systems known collectively as the India Stack, widely considered one of the most successful implementations of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in the world. The India stack includes Aadhaar, India's digital identity program for over 1.3 billion people, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which today processes over 12 billion transactions a month. Eyal and Pramod take a journey through the history of digital transformation in India, and how they aim to become a fountainhead for the successful implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure all over the world.Specifically they discuss: • The meteoric rise of Aadhaar• How UPI drove financial inclusion• The bottom-up approach to open banking• Opening healthcare, e-commerce and more• Creating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Europe, widely considered the birthplace of open banking, has been on a journey to digitize their financial system for over 20 years. In this episode, we speak to a guest who has been on that road since the beginning, at the nexus of finance, technology and regulation. Dr. Ruth Wandöfer has been instrumental in shaping the future of finance in Europe, having positioned herself as one of the leading experts in the region. She is a widely sought after speaker, writer and professor, with her opinions published in Sifted, The Financial Times and Forbes. She has published three books on digital finance, most recently, Redecentralisation – Building Our Digital Financial Ecosystem in 2023. Together, Eyal and Ruth delve into the origin of open banking in Europe, from the original Payment Services Directive to PSD2 , through to the future under PSD3. They then go well beyond, as they explore the future of our digital society at large. Specifically they discuss: • The history of open banking• Going from PSD to PSD2 to PSD3• How Web3 and CBDC will play a role• The Digital States that run our lives• Creating a Digital Social Contract

What defines the value of a thing? Is it a question of utility, aesthetics, rarity, emotional connection, or a combination of all these aspects? When it comes to digital assets, this question becomes even more complex, as evidenced by the rise and subsequent fall of NFTs. Beyond just digital, The continued evolution of Web3 and DeFi has now set the physical world and the digital world on a collision course, changing perceptions of ownership, trade and value. To dig deeper into the philosophical question of digital value and its impact on the physical world, Eyal turns to Bianca Lopes, economist, serial entrepreneur, and international speaker on the subjects of data, identity, fintech and crypto. Over the course of her career, Bianca has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments to reshape their approach to technology, rethink the role of identity, and drive their innovation agendas, as she helps them understand the impact that data, identity and the future of finance will have on our lives.Specifically they discuss:• The rise and fall of NFTs• Determining the value of digital assets• How to go from speculation to utility• Creating digital twins for physical things• Building a sustainable, circular economy

Data fuels our digital lives, helping us make decisions, build relationships, and stay organized. To achieve these goals, we willingly share our personal data with various service providers, who give us search engines, social networks and e-commerce. But somewhere in the bargain, those providers encroached far beyond what the typical user understood. Our personal information, what makes us us, wasn't just given, it was taken, in a way that makes it very hard to get back. To unpack this asymmetry and discuss a way forward, Eyal sits down with Liz Brandt, Co-Founder and CEO of Ctrl-Shift, a strategy and business innovation consultancy specializing in helping businesses realize the strategic value of trusted personal data. Anticipating that the use of personal data would become critical, Liz started the consulting firm Ctrl-Shift over 13 years ago, dedicating her career to identifying the opportunities and solving the challenges presented by the emergent personal information economy.Specifically they discuss: Why privacy remains importantUnderstanding the information sharing relationshipThe evolution of Ctrl-Shift Striking a balance between privacy and growthThe role of standardization and legislation

For most people, wallets are a staple accessory of their everyday lives. Yet today, the analog wallet is disappearing, to be replaced, like so many other things, by its digital twin. Digital wallets are now a reality and, like their physical predecessors, they will become an intrinsic part of our lives, so making sure they are built the right way is critical. To discuss the future of digital wallets, Eyal turns to Daniel Goldscheider, Founder of the OpenWallet Foundation, an organization dedicated to enabling a trusted digital future through interoperability for a wide range of use cases that leverage the software construct known as a digital wallet. Before founding the OpenWallet Foundation, Daniel was CEO of yes.com, a digital banking platform, and co-founded Mediaguide with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers alongside Aureus Private Equity. He has served on the boards of the Global Footprint Network and Identity Trust Management, demonstrating his deep history building systems that aim to enshrine data rights.Specifically they discuss: The benefits of digital walletsWhat is driving the proliferation of digital walletsDigital wallets versus authenticator appsThe technology behind digital walletsThe relationship between digital wallets and open banking

Open banking is often cast as an antidote to the dominance of big banks. Given that its origins stem from the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, this perspective is not terribly surprising. But is this characterisation a fair one? Does open banking have to be a threat to big banks, or can it be turned into an opportunity? To answer these questions and more, we turn to Paul LaRusso. Paul is a business leader with over 20 years of experience in mobile financial services and technology. Paul is the CEO of Akoya, a bank-sanctioned data access network that is leading the way in the US open finance sector. Prior to joining Akoya, Paul served as the Head of Open Banking and Connected Banking at JP Morgan Chase, where he held technology leadership positions for almost 15 years. Today as head of Akoya, Paul aims to transform the way people share their data, making it more secure, private, reliable, and transparent. In this episode, Eyal and Paul unpack the history of open banking and the evolution in the market-driven approach that Paul has had the benefit of seeing up close.Specifically they discuss: The history of open bankingThe benefits of CFPB regulationsWhat the US can learn from the UKWhat the big banks need to knowWhy open banking is a two-way street

It's no secret that global banking is experiencing some macroeconomic headwinds. Bank failures and consolidations continue to spread, albeit slowly. The question then becomes: How do these negative trends influence the direction of open data?Marie has been studying open consented data sharing since 2016. Through her current role as Open Futurist at Raidiam, she helps bring together the best people with the best ideas, facilitating the right conversations, and promoting the benefits of open data for consumers, businesses, countries and society at large. Eyal and Marie discuss the history of Open Future World, the current trajectory of open banking, and the shifting views of market players and regulators alike as they try to answer the burning question: Is open banking dead? Specifically they discuss: The rise and fall of Open Future WorldThe effect of economic headwindsWhy some banks still hesitate to investEcosystems within ecosystemsThe Raidiam trust framework

In the extended season finale of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal directly tackles the question of how open banking will change the way we interact with our money, in an attempt to build a vision of the open future. To do so, he breaks the problem down into the three core concepts at the heart of that claim: money, identity and open banking. When it comes to exploring the interplay between digital money and digital identity, one would be hard-pressed to find someone more knowledgeable than his guest, David G.W. Birch. An internationally-recognised author, advisor and commentator on digital financial services, David is often a keynote speaker at industry conferences and international events, a featured guest on business and finance television programs, and a regular contributor to prominent financial publications, including Forbes and The Financial Times. He is also the author of four books, including The Currency Cold War in 2020 and 2014's Identity is the New Money, his seminal and prescient work on the future of finance. During their discussion, Eyal and David explore a wide range of topics, including the importance of reputation and how the money of the future resembles the money of the past.Specifically they discuss: The shifting form and function of moneyThe relationship between money, identity and reputationWhy cash becoming irrelevant is a good thingHow money is really a platform for trustHow digital identity differs from identity in the real worldWhy open banking standards should support identityBanks as the antidote to the one-sided Internet of today

As the open banking movement continues to unfold, many people are asking an obvious but entirely valid question: can we trust open banking? In this episode, Eyal explores the concept of trust in open banking, and how we can learn to trust the data sharing ecosystem upon which open banking is being built. To inform the discussion, he sits down with Ralph Bragg, the Co-Founder and CTO of Raidiam, a company that's on a mission to create the world's smartest, most trustworthy data sharing ecosystems. As an internationally-renowned expert in open banking technical standards and trust frameworks, Ralph helped the UK, Brazil and other regions build open banking they could trust. Together, Eyal and Ralph tackle what a data sharing ecosystem actually is, what it does and who the actors are that drive it forward, as well as essential security concepts like authentication, authorization and identity. Most importantly, Eyal and Ralph discuss why increasing consumer trust in open banking is critical, not just for the short term, but to rightly steer the evolution of the Internet itself for decades to come.Specifically they discuss: The purpose of a data sharing ecosystemStrengthening trust in open ecosystemsKey definitions around identity, security and consentBuilding an effective trust frameworkHow trust is enabled in the UK and BrazilComparing aggregated and federated modelsWhy trust is critical to the future of the Internet

When it comes to open banking globally, there are several factors that have acted as drivers for the movement, like competition, inclusion, stability and innovation. Although innovation takes a back seat in some regions, there is one place where it is firmly front-and-center: the Middle East. The Middle East and North Africa, a region known by the acronym MENA, has embarked on its own open banking journey, where Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel and Egypt have all introduced some form of open banking initiatives. While they may vary in scope and approach, they all have one thing in common: a laser focus on modernizing their banking sectors with innovation acting as the primary driver. In this episode, Eyal will sit down with guest Hakan Eroglu, the Global Open Banking Lead at Mastercard. With more than 13 years of international experience in open banking strategy, Hakan is global in both title and practice. Eyal and Hakan's focus on a subset of the MENA region, the countries who are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or the GCC.Specifically they discuss: The meaning of the term “over-banked”Key drivers of open banking in the MENA regionHow market vs. regulation is really a spectrumAn open banking tour of the the GCC members The differences between one country and anotherDigital ID, real-time payments and other extensions Open banking as a vehicle for innovation

Open banking definitions often differ from region to region. In the U.S., where open banking is decidedly market-driven, it is associated more with consent-driven data sharing, rather than standardization or regulation. Outside of regulatory constraints, U.S. open banking efforts are laser-focused on generating business value through true innovation. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Jane Barratt, the Chief Advocacy Officer at MX, one of the American leaders in account aggregation and a true fintech powerhouse. With over two decades of experience in the world of financial services, Jane has seen the open banking movement evolve from multiple perspectives. In her role at MX, Jane works with fintechs, financial institutions, policymakers and regulators to drive open banking initiatives that aim to fundamentally transform the world of finance. During the episode, Eyal and Jane discuss definitions of open banking from the perspective of a leading U.S. fintech, the evolution of standards and the future of American-made open banking.Specifically they discuss: Definitions of open banking from a U.S. fintechHow U.S. banks should approach data sharingWhy market-driven open banking leads to innovationThe advantages of not having regulatory constraintsGrowing adoption of the FDX standardThe road to U.S. open banking regulationsHow data should used to make customers' lives better

Open banking aims to introduce common, open, shared standards for the secure exchange of financial data. As a result, whether you bank with one bank or five, fintech or credit union, JPMC or PayPal, you can finally see all your accounts together, in one place - a concept known as account aggregation. In this episode, Eyal discusses this concept with Rolands Mesters, the CEO and Co-Founder of Nordigen, a European account aggregator who provides connectivity to thousands of banks, absolutely free. A regular guest at fintech events, Rolands has been featured by the industry's leading media outlets, including TechCrunch, Sifted and Medium, was included in Forbes 30 under 30, and is considered one of the foremost experts on open banking worldwide. During their discussion, Eyal and Rolands explore the story of account aggregation, including how it began, where it's going in the future and why it might just be the key to building open banking for all.Specifically they discuss: The definition of account aggregationOrigins of account aggregation as a conceptThe impacts of open banking on aggregationHow bank connectivity became commoditized The new role of the account aggregatorThe democratization of open banking Including developers in the narrative

Introducing a disruptive movement like open banking into an already developed environment can be difficult. By contrast, introducing innovation where there is nothing to replace, often referred to as a “green field,” makes it possible to adopt the latest technology immediately, leapfrogging whatever came before. Africa, the ultimate green field, has been undergoing a quiet but steady technological renaissance over the past two decades, as it aims to leapfrog its peers. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Ismail Chaib from Yassir Tech Hub, a startup based out of his birthplace, Algeria. In 2011, Ismail was COO of the Open Bank Project, where he built open banking before the term was even invented. During their conversation, Eyal and Ismail discuss the back story behind the Open Bank Project, the explosion of fintech in Africa, and how open banking can accelerate that boom.Specifically they discuss:-The story of the Open Bank Project-The state of fintech in Africa-M-Pesa and the rise of mobile money-African emergence of open banking-Market vs. Regulatory-driven approaches-Challenges to fintech adoption in Africa-Financial inclusion for over a billion Africans

Despite the doubts of skeptics, the open banking movement is here and it's evolving quickly. Right now, over 50 regions around the world are in various stages of implementing open banking, while some are already moving into the next stage of the progression: open finance. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Amit Mallick, the Global Open Banking Practice Lead at Accenture, to discuss the threat posed by open banking, and how major players like big banks can respond as they adjust their strategies to compete and succeed in the new financial ecosystem. During their conversation, Eyal and Amit discuss exactly what's at stake as we transition to an open data economy ($416 billion in bank revenue, to be exact), how banks can best respond to the coming disruption, and how to discover entirely new kinds of opportunities. Specifically they discuss: Why the stakes are so highHow big banks can avoid losing market share Competition from banks and non-banksThe four core capabilities banks will need Why embedded finance is the key to valueThe evolution of super apps The transition to an open data economy

While most of the financial sector is in the process of implementing open banking, it's time to look beyond the horizon to see where this evolution is heading. As open banking standards expand to address more and more sectors of the economy, we are moving from open banking to open finance to open data. Open data will enable individuals to grant and share access to every digital transaction, health record, or energy bill to merchants so they can receive customized services that meet their unique needs. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Samantha Seaton, a champion of financial wellness and CEO of award-winning fintech MoneyHub, to explore how open data is transforming the world. Sam discusses how banks will need to think differently to succeed in the open future, compelling them to revisit three fundamental tenets of banking: value, risk and trust. Specifically they discuss: The current open banking landscape How to generate new kinds of value Empowering consumers to own their data The risk-reward dynamic of banks and fintechs Moving from open banking to open finance to open data The importance of building customer trust Curating your data an open world

When it comes to both FinTech and open banking, the UK is leading the charge globally. In this episode, Eyal sits down with one of the key figures behind the country's leadership in financial innovation: Charlotte Crosswell, the newly appointed Chair and Trustee of the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), which is the organization responsible for bringing open banking to the UK and acting as a shining example for the rest of the world. During their discussion, Charlotte shares her perspective on the UK's strong FinTech reputation and how it's evolved throughout her 25-year career serving in key leadership roles at the intersection of financial services, regulation and technology. She also offers her position on the UK's national digital strategy, the factors that led to the UK's success and the importance of a strong and inclusive culture. Finally, Charlotte offers her advice to peers in other regions hoping to help usher in this new age of open banking.Specifically they discuss: The UK's FinTech landscapeCharlotte's time as CEO of Innovate FinanceThe UK's national digital strategyThe driving factors behind the UK's open banking success The importance of culture in open bankingThe next incarnation of the OBIEThe future of open banking on a global scaleCharlotte's advice for other practitioners aiming to adopt open bankingThe implications of smart data on businesses and individuals

The world of modern cryptocurrencies has evolved beyond just money, with currencies like Ethereum providing programmable open platforms to build the financial instruments of the future. These new tools aim to re-create and radically improve the centuries-old systems we have today, a movement that has come to be known as decentralized finance, or DeFi. As the head economist of Decentralized Protocols at ConsenSys, Lex Sokolin is an expert on DeFi, as well as crypto and FinTech in general. In his current role, he focuses on protocol crypto-economics, digital assets, public and private blockchains and decentralized finance. In this episode, Eyal and Lex sit down to discuss how DeFi is creating the fabric of an entirely new economy, including where open banking fits into the picture. They cover the difference between different cryptocurrencies, the introduction of smart contracts, and how DeFi is ushering in the new world of finance.Specifically they discuss: Overview of cryptoBitcoin vs. vs. other cryptocurrenciesWhat are smart contracts?The emergence of DeFiOpen banking as a bridgeThe old economy vs. the new

China has been at the frontier of digital banking innovation since 2014 when their tech giants WeChat and AliPay began driving banks to play catch up with raised user expectations. Creating an entirely different financial ecosystem than what one might experience in North America or even Europe, China's banking is completely digitally integrated, with cash a long-lost piece of the past. In this episode, Eyal sits down with banking innovation expert and author of “Cashless - China's Digital Currency Revolution”, Richard Turrin, to discuss how China got here and where they are headed. They discuss the inner workings of China's digital ecosystem, the role of WeChat and Alipay and the launch of Digital Yuan, and what regions with open banking aspirations can learn from China's experience.Specifically, they discuss: How market demand fuelled China's cashless lifestyle;China's different approach to open banking compared to the Western world;Whether or not digital yuan is leveling the playing field for banks; How CBDCs will coexist with payment apps; What others can learn from China's digital banking journey

China has been at the frontier of digital banking innovation since 2014, when their tech giants WeChat and AliPay began driving banks to play catch up with raised user expectations. Creating an entirely different financial ecosystem than what one might experience in North America or even Europe, China's banking is completely digitally integrated, with cash a long lost piece of the past. In this episode, Eyal sits down with banking innovation expert and author of “Cashless - China's Digital Currency Revolution”, Richard Turrin, to discuss how China got here and where they are headed. They discuss the inner workings of China's digital ecosystem, the role of WeChat and Alipay and the launch of Digital Yuan, and what regions with open banking aspirations can learn from China's experience.Specifically they discuss: How market demand fuelled China's cashless lifestyle;China's different approach to open banking compared to the Western world;Whether or not digital yuan is levelling the playing field for banks; How CBDCs will coexist with payment apps; What others can learn from China's digital banking journey

There is little doubt that the birthplace of open banking is Europe. As a concept, open banking can be traced to much earlier times, but it was Europe who, in 2015, enacted the first open banking legislation in the form of the PSD2. Fast forward to today, and Europe is reaping the rewards of being the first mover. Thousands of banks and hundreds of fintechs are now leveraging open banking to communicate with each other using common, secure standards, driving an explosion of innovative financial products and services all across the EU. Although Europe seems united behind common legislation, there have still been delays and confusion, and what works for some countries, doesn't necessarily work for others. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Panagiotis Kriaris, Head of Business Development at German payment services provider Unzer. Panagiotis has been at the forefront of global open banking since it began, and has spent his career at the intersection of business and technology, bringing senior expertise to financial services across the board, including banking payments, fintech and e-commerce.Specifically, Eyal and Panagiotis discuss:The history and evolution of open banking in Europe;The inevitable disintermediation of financial services;The coming age of embedded finance;Banks that have been successful in open banking;Advice for those hoping to implement open banking.

The concept of digital disruption is no longer revolutionary for most businesses. In fact, digital transformation has become a prerequisite for ensuring you’re not left behind. Although banking is often perceived as a dated industry, banks are no strangers to digital disruption, dating back to the inception of ATMs. Yet disruption today is catapulting beyond familiar ground. The emergence and exponential development of the Internet has eliminated costs associated with running a bank and reaching your customers, costs that were previously considered fundamental. This opens up the door for competition and innovation, creating an environment where savvy customers demand intuitive, customized digital experiences from everyone they deal with - including their banks. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Andrew Moor, President and CEO of EQ Bank, Canada’s Challenger Bank. EQ is committed to exploring how banks can leverage technology to improve the societies in which they operate, so it comes as no surprise that they are strong advocates of open banking.Specifically, Eyal and Andrew discuss: The Canadian banking landscape;The role of the big five banks;Infrastructure modernization for open banking;How to succeed at launching a digital bank;Business models for banks in the open space.

Open banking isn’t just about finance, it’s also about improving society. One of open banking’s key facets is its ability to create non-zero sum outcomes, meaning that one person’s gain doesn’t equal another person’s loss. Globally, we need to consider how best to harness this quality as we move towards a brighter, greener and more equitable future. In this episode, Eyal sits down with Faith Reynolds, champion of the open banking for good movement. Faith has been in open banking since the beginning, and has worked on a multitude of unique challenges, ranging from enforcement and redress all the way through to accessibility, vulnerability and other issues concerning financial inclusion. Today, Faith is on the board at Fair4All Finance and is a driving force behind Current Account Switch Service at Pay.UK. Together, they discuss how open banking can be used to create a better world, where banks are not just engines of capitalism but also engines of social good. Specifically, Eyal and Faith discuss: Do banks currently provide a social good?;Exploring the Open Banking Manifesto; How open banking can improve vulnerability, accessibility, and inclusion;The real needs of the underbanked; The right of individuals to claim value from their data.

Right now, approximately two billion people across the globe are unbanked - meaning they have no connection to any banking system of any kind. Banks simply cannot make their business model work to serve low-income households properly, let alone the poor, which means that even the simplest of transactions such as payments become a challenge, often widening the gap between the haves and have nots. However, thanks to technology, things are improving. As the open banking movement continues to expand, the unbanked might just be the perfect source of untapped economic potential. On this episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal speaks with Carlos Kazuo Missao, the Director of GFT Group in Sao Paulo and a leader in the digital transformation of financial services. The two discuss how Brazil is using open banking to bridge their societal divide between a mature, developed economy and extreme poverty. Specifically, Carlos and Eyal discuss: Who are the unbanked and how do they fit into Brazil’s plans; How Brazil’s banks are catering the unbanked population; The big three regulations Brazillian banks need to follow;How open banking is leveling the playing field.

Identity - the simple yet complex concept that makes you, you. But in the digital era, identity encompasses not only the individual attributes you capture about yourself, but those that are only revealed only through your online interactions and behaviours. On the one hand, digital identity is a powerful tool for determining our preferences, helping us make decisions and linking us to our devices, as well as to each other. Yet at the same time, it is a form of surveillance, watching and tracking our every move. So how do we ensure that digital identity is used to evolve our abilities, rather than limit them? How do you manage identity in a distributed, digital world? In our first episode of Season Two, Eyal sits down with Nat Sakimura, a renowned technologist known for his work as Chairman at the OpenID Foundation, where he works as a leading identity and privacy standardization architect to answer these very questions.  Specifically, Nat and Eyal discuss:   Why digital identity and personal data are important;  What the OpenID Foundation is and how it works;  How open banking standards need to adopt digital identity;  Who the identity providers are today;  What is the nature of identity itself.  

At the heart of open banking lies an important and difficult question: do you own your data?As internet giants like Facebook and Google continue to grow, data rights seem like a natural next step in our society. After all, data has surpassed oil in value and yet, most consumers know very little about what their data is actually being used for and how it is being shared. In our final episode of Mr. Open Banking’s first season, Eyal sits down with industry expert James Bligh, Co-Founder of RedCrew and lead developer for Australia’s Consumer Data Right (CDR). The two discuss what makes the CDR unique among open banking standards, the debate about whether data is even yours to begin with, and the ongoing journey towards the establishment of universal data rights.Specifically, James and Eyal discuss:What Australia’s “Consumer Data Right” (CDR) is and what it means for consumers;The ongoing demand for data to be put back in the hands of consumers;The CDR’s implications on Australian banks;The difference between data rights, data standards, data ownership, and data control;How the current data monopolies led by tech giants are impacted by open banking.

In modern banking, new digital challengers are taking on traditional players by providing a better experience for end-customers. Banks need to either keep up or get left behind. On the seventh episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal is joined by David Brear to discuss what David calls “The Banking Battlefield.” The two dive into FinTechs' role in challenging major banks to solve consumer problems and the reasons why banks are inhibiting themselves from making changes. David Brear is the Founder and CEO of 11FS, a world-renowned FinTech consultancy that focuses on building and launching the next generation of digital propositions for some of the biggest banks in the world. Specifically, David and Eyal Discuss: What exactly “The Banking Battlefield” is and what it looks like today; The difference between digitize and digital;What GAFAs entrance into the FinTech space means for big banks;The relationship between fintech and open banking.

While sharing financial data is part of the equation, open banking only really gets interesting when you add the ability to move money around. In the sixth episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal is taking us through the world of payments with Nilixa Devlukia, the CEO and Founder of Payments Solved. A lawyer by background, Nilixa is shaking up the payment ecosystem to make it more secure, transparent, and inclusive. Her work has spanned the European Commission, European Central Bank, and even the EU. Throughout the episode, the two discuss what needs to happen to create an open payments ecosystem across the globe. Specifically, Nilixa and Eyal discuss:What electronic payments are and how they work; How open banking changes the payments landscape ; What still needs to be done to enable open banking payments; The role of cryptocurrencies and central banks;The future of the global payments landscape. To learn more about Nilixa, check out the following: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilixa-devlukia-49162a35/

Who controls financial data in Canada? How will the ultimate arrival of open banking change that? In our fifth episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal comes home to Canada to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the Canadian ecosystem with Senator Colin Deacon. Prior to joining the Canadian Senate in Nova Scotia, Senator Deacon ran several global technology businesses and today is a vocal advocate for open banking in Canada. During their conversation, they touch on data privacy, financial transparency, and the balance between regulatory and market demand. Specifically, Colin and Eyal discuss:What the financial landscape in Canada currently looks like;The importance of consumer data rights;Why financial transparency is needed to share information between institutions;What pushback has occurred when advocating for a more open, democratic financial system.To learn more about Colin, check out the following: Website: https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/deacon-colin/Twitter: https://twitter.com/colindeacon?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/senatorcolindeacon/

What could radical transparency do for our financial ecosystem? How do we create a world that is built on fundamental uncertainty, that adapts to our needs rather than determining them for us?  On our fourth episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal is joined by Paolo Sironi, Global Research Leader Banking and Financial Markets, IBM Institute for Business Value  and author of “Financial Market Transparency” and “FinTech Innovation”. By the end of this episode, you will understand the driving philosophical forces behind the open banking movement and gain a big picture understanding of what our financial landscape could look like with and without open banking. Specifically, Paolo and Eyal discuss:How to build a system that is better tailored to our behaviour as human beings;How the economy can better withstand the shocks of uncertain times;Why “radical transparency” is vital for our evolving financial ecosystem; The role of fundamental uncertainty in continually volatile environments; The underlying philosophy of open banking as a whole. To learn more about Paolo, check out the following: Website: http://www.thepsironi.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepsironiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepsironi/

What should come first; customer-centric technologies or regulations? In episode two of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal is chatting with Don Cardinal, the Managing Director of the Financial Data Exchange (FDX). Based out of the United States, Don discusses his perspective on the evolution of open banking, led from a customer-centric perspective and the importance of building collective standards when implementing new financial technologies. By the end of this episode, you will understand the term ‘screen scraping,’ why APIs are a better way to move forward, and the need for customer-centric design amongst financial products. Specifically, Don and Eyal discuss: Why the term “open banking” isn’t commonly used in the United States;The importance of API’s to unify financial institutions;How FDX approaches the idea of a global standard; The five key principles to follow when developing an effective open banking standard;Whether or not open banking is simply a set of regulations.To learn more about Don and his work at FDX, check out the following: Website: www.financialdataexchange.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/fdxorgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-data-exchange/

On this episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal is joined by Gavin Littlejohn, Chairman of FData Global, a not-for-profit that leads negotiations between banks and regulators to develop their open banking initiatives all over the globe. Their conversation spans the importance of data rights, creating standards, and the global landscape of today’s open banking movement. By the end of this episode, you will have a better idea of how to take hold of your own financial data and why regulatory standards are vital to today’s open banking movement. Specifically, Gavin and Eyal discuss: The impact of the Revised Payment Services Directive, commonly known as PSD2; The four building blocks of open banking; The difference between the UK and United States open banking efforts;What it means to own your data;The role that FDATA is playing in evolving the open banking movement.To learn more about Gavin and his work at FDATA Global, check out the following: Website: https://fdata.global/Twitter: https://twitter.com/FDATAglobalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fdata-global-34017716b/

So, what is open banking and how does it work?In our first episode of Mr. Open Banking, Eyal sits down with Chris Michael, the Founder of Ozone API and the development leader of the open banking implementation entity (OBIE), to discuss the technology behind open banking.  If you’re not a techie, don’t worry, we do our best to explain everything in a simple, easy to understand way. By the end of this episode, you will have a clear foundation of what open banking is all about, how it can be used, and why it is supporting a better financial ecosystem for everyone. Specifically, the episode touches on: What is open banking?What are APIs and why are they important? Is open banking safe? Should we share our financial data? What could happen if banks don’t adopt open banking?If you want to learn more about Chris and his work at Ozone API, you can find him atwww.ozoneapi.com. 

The podcast dedicated to open banking, our podcast strives to be one of the key voices in the global open banking community. The goal of the show is to educate people on how the world of finance is being shaken up by open banking, ultimately giving them more ways to save their money, move money around and improve their financial well-being.