Trade Finance Global (TFG) recently gathered insights from four financial professionals at Finastra, including Andrew Bateman, Siobhan Byron, Wissam Khoury, and Barry Rodrigues, to discuss key financial trends expected in 2025. These trends include digitalization through generative AI (GenAI), cloud adoption, API-driven ecosystems, regulatory compliance, ESG initiatives, and better integration of SMEs.
Andrew Bateman, EVP of Lending at Finastra, predicts that lenders will focus on driving productivity and efficiency in 2025 to reduce risks and increase profitability. He highlights the use of generative AI (GenAI) to optimize processes and enhance customer experiences. Bateman also emphasizes the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and responsible lending, as well as the integration of SMEs onto contemporary platforms.
Siobhan Byron, EVP of Universal Banking, emphasizes the need for institutions to reimagine banking through innovative technology and ecosystems to remain competitive in 2025. She discusses the growth of cloud adoption and the benefits of cloud and SaaS solutions in increasing agility and innovation. Byron also underscores the importance of ESG initiatives and customer-centric approaches to drive innovation and competitiveness.
Wissam Khoury, EVP of Treasury & Capital Markets, highlights the importance of automated workflows and real-time technology in navigating regulatory requirements, technological adoption pressures, and growing demand for ESG services. He discusses the role of GenAI in driving automated trading workflows and enhancing user experiences through streamlined processes.
Barry Rodrigues, EVP of Payments, discusses the growth of instant payment volumes in 2025 and the need for banks to prioritize resilience, scalability, and speed of recovery. He emphasizes the importance of digital transformation, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and payment modernization. Rodrigues also stresses the role of GenAI in anti-money laundering compliance and fraud detection for instant transactions.
Overall, these financial professionals agree that enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, risk management, and profitability will be top priorities for financial institutions in 2025. They emphasize the inevitability of digitalization and the need for preparation to take advantage of its benefits. Regulatory compliance, ESG initiatives, innovation, and SME integration are key focus areas for financial institutions looking to succeed in the evolving financial landscape.
By staying informed and proactive about these expected developments, financial institutions can position themselves to thrive and adapt to the changing industry landscape in 2025.
