Viewpoints

Banks aren’t just upgrading systems—they’re redefining their role. From stablecoins and regional payment rails to compliance and resilience, modernization has become a board-level priority.

As traditional transaction monitoring becomes more robust, fraudsters increasingly exploit the weakest link - end customers - through scams such as impersonation, investment fraud, and romance scam.

AI is transforming commercial payments - from enhancing user experience and operational efficiency to enabling fraud detection and system modernization.

From regional networks and alternative rails to stablecoins and AI-powered payment hubs - innovation is rewriting the rules. But with new opportunities come new challenges in routing and liquidity.

Innovation isn’t optional anymore. Open ecosystems and new payment rails are leveling the playing field, driving a virtuous cycle of progress that benefits banks, customers, and the entire payments ecosystem.

Banks must modernize cross-border payments now or risk being left behind. From SME demands to fintech competition, discover what’s driving change and how innovation is reshaping payments.

In this episode, Chris and Achim discuss the move toward digital ecosystems, embedded finance, and partnerships that drive innovation and position banks as trusted, integrated service providers.

This episode explores how banks can move beyond risky “rip and replace” upgrades. Modern technology enables adding new products on advanced infrastructure while retaining legacy systems.

ACH remains essential as payment volumes grow, but banks must modernize aging infrastructure to stay competitive, ensuring their systems are efficient, scalable, and ready for future payment innovations.