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In this episode, Al Southall — technology and operations leader with 25+ years of experience and a track record of launching seven digital banks — joins Alex Khomyakov to unpack the real playbook behind successful digital banking. From early internet banks to today’s cloud-native platforms, Al brings a rare long-term perspective on what has changed — and what hasn’t.

They discuss how technology lowered barriers to entry while regulation raised expectations, why there is no such thing as a true “bank in a box,” and how customer-centric product design must come before tech decisions. Al shares lessons from launching banks across multiple markets, explains how to balance innovation with regulatory trust, and explores vendor lock-in, cloud resilience, and personalization in modern banking.

You’ll learn how to design digital banks that balance speed, compliance, and real customer needs — without repeating the mistakes of legacy institutions.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Al Southall
01:10 – How digital banking has evolved over 25 years
03:40 – Regulation, underserved markets, and new entrants
06:10 – Legacy banks vs. starting from scratch
08:30 – Why “bank in a box” rarely works
11:10 – Customer-first product design and differentiation
14:40 – Balancing innovation with regulators
17:30 – Buy vs. build and managing vendor lock-in
20:40 – Cloud resilience and operational risk
23:20 – Personalized banking and “segments of one”
25:30 – Hard lessons for fintech founders
27:20 – Closing thoughts

🎙 Guest:
Al Southall — Digital Transformation and Bank Launch specialist
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-southall-cio/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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In this episode, Paul Gardiner, Founder of Marin FinTech and former CITO/CTO behind the world’s largest ATM and payment networks, joins Alex to unpack the hidden infrastructure of money.

With more than 25 years of experience running global ATM, payments, and fintech platforms, Paul brings a rare, inside view of how cash, cards, and digital systems actually move money at scale.

They explore why predictions about the “death of cash” keep missing the mark, how ATMs quietly remain one of the most resilient financial technologies ever built, and what really happens behind the scenes when you withdraw cash. Paul shares insights on legacy systems, security, AI-driven fraud prevention, large-scale fintech carve-outs, and the growing convergence of traditional finance, stablecoins, and decentralized infrastructure.

You’ll learn why ATMs remain critical to global financial resilience and how cash, AI, and digital payments will coexist in the next generation of financial infrastructure.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Meet Paul Gardiner
02:30 – How money actually moves behind the scenes
06:00 – Bank-owned vs. independent ATM networks
10:15 – Why cash isn’t disappearing
14:30 – The real reasons ATM numbers are declining
18:00 – Cash as a budgeting and crisis tool
20:40 – Physical, cyber, and fraud threats to ATMs
25:10 – How AI improves ATM and payments security
29:30 – Large-scale fintech carve-outs and system separation
34:00 – Marin FinTech and the future of payments consulting
37:40 – DeFi, stablecoins, and cross-border settlement
40:30 – Designing the future of financial infrastructure
42:40 – Final thoughts: why cash and ATMs still matter

🎙 Guest:
Paul Gardiner — Founder of Marin FinTech | Former CITO/CTO of Global ATM & Payments Networks | Payments & Fintech Infrastructure Leader
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgardiner/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

Lovely listener, share with us your thoughts!

In this episode, Akita Somani — Senior Vice President of Inclusive Growth Strategy at U.S. Bank and a 2024 Women in FinTech honoree — joins Alex Khomyakov to discuss how Gen Z is transforming workplace culture, communication, and leadership. Drawing on her experience leading global, multi-generational teams, Akita shares practical insights on inclusion and modern leadership.
They explore how digital-first communication, authenticity, and transparency are redefining collaboration, why purpose and well-being matter more than ever, and how leaders can build inclusive cultures without turning values into buzzwords. The conversation also touches on intergenerational mentoring and what leadership will look like as Gen Z becomes a majority of the workforce.
You’ll learn how Gen Z is reshaping leadership, inclusion, and the future of work.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Akita Somani
01:20 – How Gen Z changes collaboration
04:15 – Purpose, values, and well-being
06:00 – Generational diversity at work
09:00 – Inclusion beyond buzzwords
11:40 – Leadership lessons from Gen Z
21:00 – The future of leadership

🎙 Guest:
Akita Somani — SVP, Inclusive Growth Strategy at U.S. Bank | 2024 Women in FinTech Honoree
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/akitasomani/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast