{"id":64535,"date":"2026-03-30T16:45:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elixirr.com\/en-gb\/?p=64535"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:06:18","slug":"fintech-enablers-powering-bankings-next-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elixirr.com\/en-gb\/fintech-enablers-powering-bankings-next-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Fintech enablers powering banking\u2019s next chapter\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The narrative around fintechs has long centred on disruption \u2013 fast-moving challengers redefining the rules of banking. But\u00a0<\/span>that\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0only half the story. Across financial services, fintechs are becoming\u00a0<\/span>cat<\/span>alysts for banks\u2019 progression. These enablers\u00a0<\/span>aren\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0built to replace institutions but to strengthen them, providing the infrastructure, agility<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0scale that help incumbents thrive in a\u00a0<\/span>dig<\/span>ital-first world. Collaboration, not competition, is now the marker of success. And collaboration takes many forms, from strategic partnerships and joint ventures to minority stakes and full acquisitions. Within\u00a0<\/span>Elixirr\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Fintech Framework, enablers stand out as the partners helping banks modernise systems, enhance customer experiences and drive sustainable growth. The opportunity lies in how effectively institutions harness the capabilities of enablers to unlock value, strengthen their own internal\u00a0<\/span>capabilities<\/span>\u00a0and build the foundation for the next era of financial services.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fintechs as a lever for growth\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The real advantage of enabler fintechs lies in how they translate collaboration into measurable impact. Rather than reshaping the customer interface, they strengthen the engine behind it \u2013 modernising the technology and operations that power traditional banking. From agile core platforms and open APIs to AI-driven compliance systems, enablers give incumbents the tools to innovate at scale while preserving the regulatory rigour and trust that define them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Lloyds Banking Group invested\u00a0<\/span>\u00a311 million<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in UK fintech thought machine to modernise its legacy systems using the Vault Core cloud platform. The partnership boosts speed,\u00a0agility\u00a0and personalisation \u2013 showing how enabler fintechs strengthen, rather than replace, traditional banking.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investment in fintechs continues to rise,\u00a0while overall fintech funding declined\u00a0<\/span>20 percent in 2024<\/span><\/a>, many of the year\u2019s largest rounds were led not by venture capital firms but by traditional financial institutions.\u00a0Traditional banks such as Citi took lead positions in major fintech investments\u00a0e.g\u00a0SeQura a BNPL platform, underscoring how incumbents are targeting fintechs as strategic growth partners even in a cooling market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This marks a decisive shift. There is an increasing realisation among banks that investing in or partnering with fintechs is not optional innovation but essential strategy. Those that hesitate risk being left behind as peers turn collaboration,\u00a0acquisitions\u00a0and minority stakes into levers for faster transformation and competitive edge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To capture this opportunity, banks need a clear strategy for where and how to collaborate.\u00a0Success depends not on the number of fintech collaborations, but on how well each aligns\u00a0to strategic goals\u00a0and how effectively they partner. Enablers deliver value when integrated deliberately \u2013 reinforcing what banks already do best and accelerating what they must do next.\u00a0Elixirr\u2019s\u00a0Fintech Framework provides the lens to\u00a0identify\u00a0where that alignment exists, helping institutions deploy investments as levers for growth rather than incremental upgrades.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What effective collaboration looks like<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The impact of collaboration between banks and enabler fintechs is no longer theoretical;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0reshaping how the industry\u00a0operates. Across markets from Europe and North America to Africa and Asia, these relationships, whether through partnerships, investments, or acquisition, are modernising the foundations of banking, from payments and lending to onboarding, compliance\u00a0and\u00a0liquidity management.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In payments and infrastructure, collaboration between traditional banks and enablers are cutting settlement times from days to seconds and reducing fraud through real-time authorisation and data analytics. The strategic partnership between NatWest Group in the UK and\u00a0Vodeno\u00a0in continental Europe highlights how this is evolving into full Banking-as-a-Service capability. By combining\u00a0Vodeno\u2019s\u00a0API-based cloud platform with NatWest\u2019s banking infrastructure and licences, the partnership enables businesses to embed financial products such as payments,\u00a0deposits\u00a0and\u00a0credit directly into their ecosystems, creating new distribution channels and non-interest income\u00a0streams for the bank.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In treasury, FX\u00a0and\u00a0risk management, BNP Paribas\u2019 acquisition of\u00a0Kantox\u00a0shows how collaboration with enablers can evolve into full integration when the technology becomes strategically critical. After partnering since 2019, the Europe-based bank moved to\u00a0acquire\u00a0the London and Barcelona-based fintech to embed its API-driven FX automation platform across its corporate and commercial banking services.\u00a0Kantox\u2019s\u00a0technology streamlines hedging and cross-border payments for thousands of businesses, strengthening BNP Paribas\u2019\u00a0digital capabilities across European markets and advancing its Growth Technology Sustainability 2025 strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In onboarding and compliance, TSB Bank\u2019s collaboration with Entrust in the UK shows how enablers are redefining the customer experience. Using\u00a0Entrust\u2019s\u00a0biometric identity verification solution, TSB enables new customers to open accounts and access\u00a0digital banking in under 10 minutes, securely matching\u00a0IDs\u00a0and facial biometrics to reduce fraud while delivering a seamless\u00a0digital onboarding journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In lending and credit, Enabler JUMO,\u00a0operating\u00a0across African and Asian markets, is helping banks extend financial access more efficiently through cloud-based, AI-driven platforms. JUMO\u2019s infrastructure allows institutions to design and deploy\u00a0digital lending products rapidly, helping them reach new customer segments and accelerate credit capabilities without overhauling existing systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These collaborations are a core part of how banks deliver value and stay competitive. For fintechs, the benefit lies in reach and credibility, gaining access to regulated markets through established institutions. For banks, the payoff is speed,\u00a0flexibility\u00a0and capability. Together, they are transforming what used to be weaknesses \u2013 legacy infrastructure,\u00a0complexity\u00a0and cost \u2013 into new sources of competitive strength within banking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Redefining the future through collaboration<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The evolution of fintech has revealed a more complex reality than disruption alone. Across markets, enablers are\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0that transformation and tradition can coexist to create lasting value. From infrastructure and liquidity to onboarding and lending, these collaborations are now core to how banks\u00a0operate,\u00a0compete\u00a0and grow. The examples of NatWest, BNP Paribas,\u00a0TSB\u00a0and\u00a0Llyods\u00a0show how their relationships with enablers translate strategy into tangible outcomes \u2013 faster delivery, smarter\u00a0compliance\u00a0and expanded access to financial services.\u00a0The challenge for banks is no longer whether to engage, but how to approach it strategically\u00a0in order to\u00a0reduce the risks and cost.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elixirr\u2019s\u00a0Fintech Framework\u00a0categorises fintechs to give banks the clarity and confidence to pursue the right relationship \u2013 whether\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a full acquisition, minority stake, or independent partnership \u2013\u00a0identifying\u00a0where collaboration creates value and which players, particularly enablers, can accelerate transformation.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0helped institutions apply this lens in practice, from selecting the right partners and investment targets to building the operating models that turn collaboration into measurable impact. The future of banking will be defined by those who master this balance, turning fintech collaboration into a sustained source of innovation,\u00a0resilience\u00a0and competitive advantage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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\n Fintechs: Friends or foes?\u00a0\n <\/h2>\n <\/a>
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