Banking Uncovered Podcast

With more than 125 million consumers in the US alone and a $12.5 trillion economic footprint, the 50+ segment is one of the largest and most influential customer groups. Yet many financial institutions approach this audience with outdated assumptions - particularly around digital adoption. 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, Mark Donohue sits down with Carey Kyler, Senior Director of Consumer Insights at AARP, to explore how financial institutions can better engage the rapidly growing 50+ market. 

Carey explains why the industry’s long-standing focus on getting older consumers online is no longer relevant. Today, the vast majority are digitally active, with high levels of device ownership and increasing engagement across digital banking and services. 

Instead, the conversation has shifted from adoption to trust. As fraud becomes more sophisticated and confidence in institutions declines, security, transparency and human support have become increasingly important drivers of customer behaviour. 

From digital accessibility and fraud prevention to retirement planning and life-stage transitions, Carey shares practical insights into what financial institutions need to do to better serve one of their most valuable and fastest-growing customer segments. 

Topics discussed include: 

• Why digital adoption is no longer the core challenge for the 50+ market 
• The scale, diversity and economic power of older consumers 
• Why age alone is a poor way to segment the 50+ market 
• Why all financial institutions need a clear 50+ strategy 
• How trust is becoming a strong driver of engagement and loyalty 
• The growing role of fraud prevention, security and visible safeguards 
• Why good accessibility and usability benefit customers of all ages 
• The value of combining digital convenience with human support  
• How life stages, retirement planning and financial confidence shape customer needs  
• What banks can do to serve the next generation of older consumers better 

Bank of America data shows that 94% of customer interactions now take place through digital channels. As customers become accustomed to new technologies, expectations continue to evolve. Today's innovations quickly become the norm, raising the question: what's next for digital banking? 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, Mark Donohue, Managing Director of iSky at RFI Global, is joined by Jorge Camargo, Head of Digital Platforms at Bank of America, to discuss how customer expectations and technology are evolving and what the future of digital banking will look like. Jorge shares insights into the evolution of the bank's AI-powered virtual assistant, Erica, the growing role of AI in creating more proactive customer experiences, and why trust transparency and customer choice remain critical as financial institutions embrace new technologies. 

Looking ahead, they explore the trends shaping the next generation of digital banking, from personalised financial guidance and holistic money management to the increasing role of AI in helping customers make smarter financial decisions. 

Topics discussed include: 

• How customer expectations of digital banking are evolving 
• Why trust remains central to the digital banking experience 
• The eureka moment that led to Bank of America's virtual assistant, Erica 
• How AI is enabling more proactive and personalised banking experiences 
• Why a holistic view of customers' financial lives matters 
• The balance between convenience, security and fraud prevention 
• How financial education can strengthen customer relationships 
• What will differentiate banks in an increasingly digital future

This podcast was recorded on 22 June 2026.

Redwood Credit Union has built its approach around a clear philosophy: every product, service and interaction must ultimately serve the member. From early investment in digital channels to creating seamless, intuitive experiences, the organisation has focused on ensuring that digital delivers the same level of service and engagement as the branch experience. 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, Mark Donohue speaks with Tony Hildesheim, Chief Operation Officer and Executive Vice President at Redwood Credit Union, about how community-led financial institutions can compete with larger institutions and fintechs by providing services and digital experiences that create strong human connections. 

The conversation explores how this customer-centric approach is evolving, from the growing role of AI in banking to balancing security with personalisation and how member feedback continues to drive digital innovation. Tony also shares how Redwood is combining technology, service and insight to deliver more relevant, intuitive and member-led experiences. 

Topics discussed include: 

• How Redwood has extended the human branch experience into digital channels
• The importance of designing digital journeys that focus on outcomes, not transactions
• How digital benchmarking and extensive member feedback have informed decision-making
• The role of AI in reducing friction and simplifying banking
• The potential of voice-activated technology to personalise experiences
• Balancing customer control with personalised security
• How Redwood uses continuous feedback to shape digital innovation
• The digital-first strategy that has helped to grow business accounts by 16%
• Three factors that will define the future of financial services 

As digital adoption accelerates across commercial and business banking, the role of the relationship manager is not diminishing - it is becoming more critical. 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, Jon Ruston speaks with Claire May, Head of Commercial Clients at Santander UK, to explore how banks are redefining relationship management in a digital-first world. The discussion follows Santander’s recognition at RFI Global’s UK Banking & Finance Awards 2026, where it won awards for Best Relationship Managers (Business Banking) and Best Business Loan Services, based on feedback from over 4,500 UK business banking customers. 

Jon and Claire discuss the evolving role of Relationship Managers (RMs) and, based on Santander’s experience and RFI Global’s data, what small and medium-sized (SMEs and mid-market firms) and commercial businesses expect from their banking partners. They explore how expectations of both digital and human interactions are evolving, and how banks should respond by focusing on where they add the most value. Businesses increasingly expect seamless self-serve for everyday tasks, while placing greater value on human expertise in more complex moments. 

Topics discussed include: 

• How customer expectations are evolving across digital and human channels 
• How customer needs vary by business type, operational complexity and decision-maker 
• Why demand for self-serve is growing, but human expertise is becoming more valuable 
• The role of data and insight in understanding customers and improving delivery 
• How banks can identify and respond to ‘moments that matter’ 
• The impact of AI on relationship management and client engagement 
• Why complexity, not size, should define relationship support 
• How banks can better support fast-growing businesses 
• The future of business banking and what will define success.  

Singapore is a regional hub for banking and wealth, and one of Asia’s most developed and dynamic markets. Its affluent segment is highly attractive and increasingly complex. Affluent customers typically maintain relationships with multiple providers, creating a fragmented landscape where competition for share of wallet is increasingly intense. While domestic leaders like DBS, UOB and OCBC dominate share of wallet, international players like HSBC, Standard Chartered and Citi gain a disproportionate share of affluent consumers’ wallets.   

At the same time, digital is a fast-growing channel. Affluent consumers are asset-rich and time-poor. They expect instant control over their finances through mobile, with high-quality, personalised advice from relationship managers when decisions are complex or cross-jurisdictional.  

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green sits down with Stefano Colombu, Managing Director of Asia at RFI Global, to unpack Singapore’s mass affluent market and what is driving their share of wallet allocations. Drawing on data from RFI Global’s latest share of wallet tracker, they explore where wealth is concentrated, where it is leaking and how banks can compete more effectively across deposits, investments, cross-border flows and non-bank challengers. They explore the growing role of digital channels, AI-enabled services and the evolving balance between human and digital engagement. And much more 

Topics discussed:  

• How banks can convert deposits into investments as interest rates fall with personalised advice, transparent outcomes and frictionless execution.
• How to capture cross-border flows as Singaporeans increasingly bank offshore and inbound wealth deepens from Asian corridors and global giants.
• Why domestic banks lead in total wallet share, but international banks outperform among mass affluent segments.
• How relationship managers and a digital-first experience should interlock – quick, proactive digital moments for everyday tasks, with expert guidance for sophisticated needs.
• The rise of digital-only providers like MariBank and Trust Bank, and what their growing momentum means for incumbents. 

 Key insights: 

• Around 70% of affluent assets in Singapore sit in deposits today, representing a significant opportunity for banks to migrate wealth into investment products as rates ease.
• About 39% of investment value is held with non-banks, with some domestic players showing notable leakage, underlining the need for integrated investment platforms and innovative features to reclaim AUM.
• Cross-border wealth is a defining feature of the segment, with around 45% of mass affluent assets held offshore. Singapore benefits from strong inbound flows from Asian markets, while outbound corridors to Malaysia, the US and China remain highly significant.
• Digital bank usage as a main banking relationship is behind other markets in Singapore (15-16%) in terms of main bank usage, compared to the UK (25%) and the US (30%).  

High-Net-Worth (HNW) households account for one in 10 US households, yet they control a disproportionate share of the nation’s wealth. According to RFI Global’s MacroMonitor, the largest ongoing study of US household financial behaviour, HNW households hold 69% of all financial assets and 74% of investable assets, amounting to $50.2 trillion. 

So how can financial institutions capture this opportunity? 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green and Luke Allchin, RFI Global’s US Research Director, explore what the data reveals about America’s high-net-worth households: how their wealth has been built, where it is held, and how their needs and expectations are evolving. They discuss how HNW investors allocate their wealth and the practical implications for banks and wealth providers. Luke explains the growing preference for mutual funds as a risk-diversification tool, alongside the recent surge in certificates of deposit (CDs) as HNW households seek more certainty during periods of elevated rates. 

They focus on the Great Wealth Transfer, with an estimated $45 trillion set to move from US baby boomers over the next decade. Luke and Charles discuss why this transfer is already underway, the multiple inflection points at which assets are at risk of leaving incumbent providers, and why engaging spouses and heirs early is critical to retention. 

They look at how AI is increasingly used as a first stop for financial discovery, offering speed and guideance, but why human advisors remain essential for complex decisions and long-term strategy. The conversation explores how banks and wealth providers should design hybrid advice models that combine the convenience of AI with the assurance of professional guidance.  

 

Topics discussed include:  

• How HNW individuals invest, and how this has changed in response to market volatility
• The Great Wealth Transfer, and the $45 trillion opportunity this represents
• How and why HNW consumers use AI first as a soundboard, then seek human validation for big moves
• The role of risk-diversified mutual funds versus CDs as interest rates decline
• Designing hybrid advice models that marry convenience with compliance, and the need for more female advisors
• Tax-efficient withdrawals from retirement accounts and the right amount to sustain lifestyle without depleting capital
• Educating pathways that raise financial literacy for heirs before assets move 

 And much more… 

Key insights include:  

• HNW households hold 69% of all financial assets and 74% of investable assets in the US
• 88% of HNW households have a formal financial strategy, prioritising retirement, estate planning and tax efficiency
• As rates fall, CDs lose relative appeal; diversified portfolios regain momentum - especially for older HNW investors focused on preservation
• $45 trillion is set to move from Boomer households in the US in the next decade; 31% of HNW households will transfer wealth
• Trusts and estates are rising now, with around 1 in 10 older consumers plan to establish new structures within 12 months 

And much more… 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green sits down with Brett King, world-renowned futurist, bestselling author, and fintech founder, to unpack the data behind the global decline of bank branches and what the AI-driven, digital-first future means for traditional banks and neobanks.  

Drawing on data from Brett’s new book Branch Tomorrow and RFI Global’s research, the conversation explores how trust in banking is moving from physical presence to digital reliability, utility and security at scale. They discuss why banks without branches are winning on trust, transparency and speed and why incumbents must right-size and embed AI to remain relevant. Beyond technology, the episode addresses the social and regulatory realities, including the Community Reinvestment Act in the US, postal banking models in the UK and Australia, and the risks of financial exclusion when branches close too quickly. 

Brett predicts that as AI becomes more competent, many services that once required a branch visit will be handled digitally. He foresees banks developing AI that can provide personalised financial advice and support, reducing the need for in-person interactions. 

Topics discussed include: 

• The global decline of branch networks and why trust is migrating to digital reliability, speed and utility
• How Chase exemplifies branch optimisation while spending $18B per month on digital
• Why neobanks scale faster: cloud-native stacks, cultural agility and freedom from legacy budget trade-offs
• China’s dual reality: low branch density yet near‑ubiquitous digital wallets and monthly usage and implications for ‘cashless’ economies
• The future role of branches: pop‑ups, billboard presence and boutique advisory centres supporting a digital-first core 

 Key insights include: 

• The US is on track to have around 50% fewer branches by 2030 than at the 2008 peak
• The UK is projected to have fewer than 2,000 branches by 2030 and only a few hundred by the end of the 2030s
• China’s digital penetration: around 98% of citizens have access to a digital wallet and around 93% use it monthly; an average Chinese branch serves around 14,000 customers (vs higher density in the US/UK)
• Generative/agentic in action: AI for fraud detection, anti-money laundering and internal productivity and why customer‑facing AI must be rolled out carefully to preserve trust 

And much more. 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green speaks to Natalia Goh, CEO of MariBank and member of Singapore’s Government Technology and Innovation Committee, to explore how the next wave of digital banking is taking shape in one of the world’s most advanced financial ecosystems. 

Despite Singapore’s digital maturity, traditional banks still leave gaps around transparency, fees and customer experience. Natalia shares how MariBank, a digital-only bank, is redefining these pain points through a commitment to simplicity, trust and accessibility. From daily interest crediting and flat, competitive savings rates to no minimum balances and low-barrier digital investment products, MariBank is reimagining banking. 

Technology and security sit at the heart of this transformation. The conversation delves into AI-driven transaction monitoring, SingPass facial verification and the importance of strong regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with integrity. Natalia also discusses how Singapore’s progressive Monetary Authority (MAS) is shaping responsible innovation across the banking sector. 

 

Topics discussed include: 

• The evolving digital banking landscape and how Singapore’s regulatory environment enables responsible innovation
• Common consumer frustrations with traditional banks, from fees and complexity to lack of transparency
• MariBank’s simplified approach to savings and investments, including daily interest crediting and no minimum balance requirements
• The success of self-service investment products and their role in financial inclusion
• How advanced technology, AI, and data security build consumer trust
• The importance of customer education and lowering barriers to entry for investing 

Key insights include: 

• 63% of Singaporean customers cited annual and late fees as pain points with credit cards - highlighting the demand for transparent, fee-free banking
• One in three businesses uses personal accounts for business banking to avoid high fees, underscoring how simplicity and affordability can drive broader adoption
• MariBank’s digital investment products start from just $1, compared with $1,000 at traditional banks - demonstrating how low entry barriers can democratise investing
• MariBank’s money market fund surpassed SGD 1 billion in assets within its first year, becoming one of Singapore’s top five funds and proving strong consumer appetite for accessible investment solutions
• Daily interest crediting and a flat, competitive rate for all customers strengthen perceptions of fairness and transparency - key drivers of trust in digital banking.
• SingPass facial verification and AI-based transaction monitoring reinforce security, ensuring innovation doesn’t come at the expense of consumer protection.
• Maribank use Generative AI for fraud detection, anti-money laundering and staff productivity, with careful rollout for customer-facing applications to sustain trust
• Singapore’s regulatory environment, led by MAS, remains a global benchmark, showing how progressive oversight enables innovation without compromising integrity 

2025 marks a pivotal shift in consumer behaviour in financial services -the year mobile banking overtook online banking as the primary way customers interact with their finances. For many, the app is the bank. As customer expectations rise, financial institutions are competing to deliver seamless, secure and personalised digital experiences that both satisfy customers and drive return on investment. 

 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green speaks with Mark Donohue, founder of iSky Research, now Managing Director of iSky at RFI Global, following its acquisition. Together, they explore how banks around the world are evolving their app design and functionality, what defines best practice in user experience, and where the next wave of digital innovation will come from. 

 

Looking to 2026, Mark gives his predictions on what he thinks will shape the mobile banking landscape. 

Topics discussed include: 

• The global shift towards mobile banking as the primary channel for everyday transactions
• How traditional banks are closing the digital experience gap with neobanks through improved self-service and design
• The growing importance of simplicity and intuitive money management tools in mobile banking apps
• The role of customisation and personalisation in enhancing user experience
• How AI and data readiness are enabling more contextual, conversational banking experiences
• The increasing importance of trust and security for customers and how banks are responding to this need
• The balance between frictionless customer journeys and robust fraud protection
• Digital banking challenges and opportunities for small businesses, including virtual cards and spending controls
• The potential of AI to reduce the cost to serve while deepening customer engagement through data-driven insights
• Why banks must differentiate their digital offering to stand out in a crowded marketplace 

In this episode of Banking Uncovered, host Charles Green speaks to Hubert Petka, Group Director at RFI Global, about the growth and maturity of fintechs worldwide, and what’s next as the sector shifts from disruption to consolidation. 

Once viewed as niche players offering sleek digital payment solutions, fintechs and neobanks are now an established part of the financial services ecosystem. Their focus is evolving from rapid customer acquisition to long-term engagement and profitability - raising questions about where future growth will come from, and how traditional banks can keep pace. 

Drawing on RFI Global’s global data, they explore how the fintech landscape differs across markets, why some neobanks are thriving while others are consolidating, and which strategies are proving most effective in retaining customers in an increasingly competitive environment. They also discuss how partnerships, personalisation and innovation are helping fintechs to deepen customer relationships and capture new revenue streams, and how traditional banks have become more agile to compete. 

Topics discussed include: 

• How neobanks have progressed from simple payment apps to full-service providers
• The evolution of fintech growth across markets, including the UK, US, UAE and Hong Kong
• How traditional players have become more agile to respond to digital challengers, and what they need to do to thrive
• The importance of engagement tools such as Personal Financial Management (PFM) and budgeting apps
• The role of partnerships with technology firms in building credibility and trust
• How rewards and incentives have become key drivers of customer acquisition and loyalty
• The next frontiers for neobanks – from savings and investments to SME banking 

 Key insights include: 

• 57% of the UK population now use a digital-only providers, but the big six banks still hold 80% of primary banking relationships
• Neobanks in the UK have grown their share of primary relationships from 3.5% in 2022 to 6% in 2024 – a 75% increase
• In the US, neobanks such as SoFi and Chime have captured around a third of new primary banking relationships, outpacing major incumbents relationships and Sofi has developed a similar product offering to traditional banks
• Investments and wealth management represent the next major growth opportunity for fintechs globally
• In the UAE, the market has entered wave two of neobank expansion, with Wio already holding over 10% of SME banking relationships