INSIGHTS ¦ Banks Increasingly partnering with Fintechs

Link: https://www.bain.com/insights/united-we-thrive-the-untapped-power-of-bank-fintech-partnerships/

Summary

The Bain & Company brief titled “United We Thrive: The Untapped Power of Bank-Fintech Partnerships” delves into the growing imperative for banks to accelerate digital innovation through partnerships with fintech companies. Highlighting the mutual benefits and challenges, the document emphasizes that successful collaboration requires more than just technological integration; it necessitates strategic alignment, clear objectives, and shared commitment between banks and fintechs.

Key Points

  • Banks are increasingly partnering with fintechs to enhance digital product design, market speed, and security.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified consumer demand for digital banking services.
  • Venture capital constraints have pushed fintechs towards business-to-business (B2B) products, aligning with banks’ needs.
  • Common partnership pitfalls include unclear business needs, performance metrics, and decision-making processes.
  • Successful partnerships focus on mutual benefits, leveraging fintech innovation for bank’s digital transformation.
  • Banks spend significant amounts on digital transformation, with technology and automation being top strategic priorities.
  • Key areas for bank-fintech partnerships include payment facilitation, fraud management, and mobile wallet services.
  • The document identifies four common types of partnerships: distribution, product improvement, platform development, and operational efficiency.
  • Challenges in partnership management include aligning KPIs, governance, and expanding the partnership’s scope as strategic objectives evolve.
  • Effective management of partnerships emphasizes regular engagement, clear KPIs, and shared vision for success.
  • Fintechs are encouraged to focus on delivering well-defined, scalable solutions that integrate deeply with banks’ systems.
  • The importance of people and process alignment over technology in achieving successful bank-fintech partnerships.

Key Statistics

  • An average of 9.4 fintech partners per bank, as reported by Gartner.
  • Two-thirds of bank-fintech partnerships fall below expectations.
  • Banks report an average annual expenditure of $378 million on digital transformation.
  • 88% of senior bank executives in the UK prioritize technology automation and digital investments.
  • Top partnership domains: 39% in payment facilitation, 35% in fraud and risk management, 34% in mobile wallet services.
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Key Takeaways

  • Bank-fintech partnerships are critical for accelerating digital transformation.
  • Successful partnerships require clear definitions of business needs and performance metrics.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly increased consumer demand for digital banking services.
  • Strategic alignment and shared commitment are key to overcoming common partnership pitfalls.
  • There is a significant investment in digital transformation, with a focus on technology automation.
  • Fintechs offering B2B products are increasingly aligning with banks’ needs for digital innovation.
  • Effective partnership management involves clear KPIs, governance, and a focus on shared objectives.
  • Banks and fintechs must prioritize people and process alignment over technology to succeed.
  • Regular engagement and mutual understanding are essential for sustaining successful partnerships.
  • Fintechs should aim to deliver scalable, well-defined solutions that deepen integration with banks.
  • Partnerships that focus on mutual benefits and shared visions are more likely to succeed.
  • Addressing strategic, commercial, and technical aspects is crucial for thriving bank-fintech partnerships.

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