The lending market is under more pressure than ever. Tighter regulation and shifting customer expectations are forcing lenders to rethink strategies in real time. At the same time, new technologies are rewriting the rules of risk, credit, and customer engagement. For lenders, the challenge is clear: how do you stay competitive, resilient, and ready for growth when the outlook keeps shifting? 

The panel will also look ahead: which technologies are proving essential in this environment, from AI-driven credit decisioning and automation to alternative data and embedded lending, and which emerging bets might define the next decade. Expect a candid conversation about managing risk, unlocking opportunity, and keeping lending relevant when the economy is anything but stable.

Speakers:
Christoph Riece, CEO, Iwoca  
Jack Smith, CEO, Lovey  
Ylva Oertengren, COO, Simply Asset Finance 
Andy Veares, Managing Director, Corporate & Commercial, Metro Bank 

AI is transforming credit decisioning, but what happened when the machine says no? For lender, the challenge is not just accuracy, but accountability. Regulators, customers, and boards all demand that decisions are explainable, auditable, and fair. This session will explore how lenders are building transparency into AI-driven decisioning. From regulatory expectations to customer communication, we’ll look at practical ways to make complex models understandable, fair and accountable, without slowing innovation.

Speakers:
John Jenkins, CEO, Haydock Finance
Martin Rehak, CEO, Resistant AI

Lending is under pressure to grow while defaults, regulation and fraud risk mount. Senior leaders must balance ambition with caution, ensuring portfolio remain profitable and resilient. This panel will explore how risk executives are reshaping frameworks, adopting AI and alternative data, and responding to regulatory demands. The discussion will ask: what does healthy risk appetite look like in 2026, and how technology strengthen trust and resilience in lending?

Speakers:
Toby Wootton, CEO, Crowd2Fund
Matt Measor, Head of Risk & Control – Borrowing and change, Monzo
Gabriella Kindert, CEO, Snappi Bank
Rahul, Duseja, Chief Credit Officer, Zempler Bank

Today’s consumer is swiping, tapping and clicking their way through life, and they expect credit to keep up. They want lending options that are instant, seamless, and fit into their everyday decisions. As embedded lending becomes the norm, the risk of traditional lenders is clear: fade into the background or lose the customer together. Join us as we discuss how lenders are redesigning the borrowers’ journey, building partnership with retailers and platforms, and using data to offer personalised, transparent and responsible lending options.

Speakers:
Vicki Butcher, Head of Design & Transformation, Aldermore Bank
Alastair Douglas, CEO, TotallyMoney
Francesco Di Costanzo, CEO, Jaja Finance

BNPL opened the door, but embedded lending is blowing it wide open. Credit is no longer a product customer go looking for, it’s appearing right where they stop, book, or pay. For lenders, this shift unlocks new growth channels and partnerships, but it also raises the stakes on risk, compliance and customer protection. Expect discussion on which sectors are leading the charge, how partnership between lenders and platforms are evolving, the role of AI, open banking in powering these models

Speakers:
Ruth Spratt, UK Country Manager, Board Director, Affirm
Carlos Sanchez-Webb, CPO, RatePay

The mortgage process is finally catching up with the rest of the financial services. Digital applications, open banking data, and embedded mortgage journeys are reducing friction and putting power in the hands of the borrowers. But affordability is still a major concern, especially as rates remain higher than the decade-long average. This session explores how lenders can combine automation with empathy, using tech to speed up approvals, improve transparency, and support first-time buyers who are facing one of the toughest housing markets in years.

Speakers:
Philip Bonhard, Head of Experience Design, Homes & Mortgages, Lloyds Banking Group 
Iain Gibbons, Marketing Director, Vida Bank

The way we work, spend and save has changed, but many credit models are still stuck in the past. Freelancers, gig workers, and younger consumer are often overlooked, leaving millions underserved. This session dives into how lenders are embracing alternative data sources, from open banking transactions and AI-driven models to create smarter and inclusive credit scoring models. We’ll look at the impact on risk management, approval rates, and financial inclusion and how to keep these models transparent, explainable, and regulator friendly.

Speakers:
Charlotte Grimshaw, Head of Intermediaries, Suffolk Building Society
Gurpreet Chahal, Regional Sales Manager, Yorkshire Building Society
Chris Bosworth, CEO, Finclusion

As consumer lending becomes more digital, lenders still need to manage late payments in a way that is fair, effective, and human. This discussion looks at how firms can spot risk earlier, intervene sooner, and support customers before arrears escalate. We’ll also discuss how to build the right culture across collections teams, collaborate with free debt advice providers, and measure success beyond recovery rates, including repeat delinquency, complaints, and fair customer outcomes.

Consumer duty isn’t just another rulebook; it’s reshaping the way lenders think about their customers. This conversation dives into how lenders are using the new rules to redesign products, simplify communications, and building lasting trust. It is a practical, honest look at how regulation can drive better outcomes for customers and real growth for lenders.

Speakers:
Neil Kadagathur, CEO and Co-Founder, Creditspring
Chris Adlard, Senior Manager, Consumer Duty and Vulnerability, PayPal

Millions of consumers still don’t have a full understanding credit, interest rates, or repayment terms and it’s costing them. This session explores how lenders can take an active role in closing the literacy gap, from bit-sized education at the point of borrowing to long-term financial wellbeing tools.

Speakers:
Gurminder Bhagrath, Chief Executive Officer, London Capital Credit Union
Funmi Olufunwa, Founder, Hoops Finance

When it comes to SME lending, data is no longer just a back-office tool, it is a key to unlocking growth. This session explores how lenders are using big data, open banking, and real-time analytics to understand small businesses like never before. From spotting early signs of cashflow stress to identifying business ready to scales, smarter use of data means faster decisions, fairer terms and financing that truly fits.

Speakers:
Conrad Ford, Chief Product and Strategy Officer, Allica Bank
Adam Tarpey, Head of SME Lending, Starling Bank
Kai Hunter, COO, Lovey
Dan Sinclair-Taylor, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Youlend

Imagine applying for a loan and getting an instant decision, not from a banker but from an algorithm. For some, this is the future of fair and efficient lending. For others, it risks losing human judgement and empathy. 

We explore the promise of speed and consistency, the risk of bias and the challenge of keeping decision-making accountable. Together, we’ll ask the big question-should algorithm to run the show, or do humans still have a vital role to play in the lending process? 

Moderator
Scott Wilson, Founder & CEO, Covecta

Speakers
Luca Kotton, Head of Corporate Lending and Credit Technology, Investec
Thorsten Seeger, Chief International Business Officer, SME Bank
Nicholas Moss, Chief Commercial and Product Officer, Birmingham Bank
Philippa Pykeet, Head of Digital SME, Shawbrook Bank
Mark Holloway, Chief Information and Technology Officer, Bibby Financial Services

Speaker:
Joel Perlman, CoFounder, OakNorth Bank 

Collaboration is no longer optional; it is the engine driving the next era of business lending. This session explores how bank and fintech are teaming up to deliver faster decisions, smarter risk management, and financing solutions that fit businesses of every size; from small independents to large corporates and global trade flows. We’ll look at how shared data, embedded platforms, and new risk models are transforming underwriting and opening access to capital.

Speakers:
Gareth Anderson, Head of Business Management, Allica Bank
Mark McAlpine, CEO, Not The Odd One Out
Julie Warren, Marketing and Partnership Director, Propel Finance

Crypto is no longer a niche sector. It is increasingly showing up in SME lending through stablecoin settlement, crypto-funded customers, and treasury activity. The problem is that many credit policies and models still treat any crypto exposure as a red flag, creating slow manual reviews or blanket declines. 

This session gives business lending teams a practical playbook to underwrite crypto-touched cashflows with confidence, including which borrower types are lendable, what evidence reduces uncertainty, and how to structure facilities and monitoring to protect the book without killing good deals.

Global trade is moving again, but challenges remain. Supply chain disruptions and shifting regulations to rising fraud risks, lenders are under pressure to support importers and exporters while managing their own exposures. This session explores how lenders can are using technology, smarter risk assessment, and real-time data to keep good, and capital moving. We’ll look how lenders can balance compliance demands with speed, improve visibility across the trade cycle, and build the trust businesses need to keep trading with confidence.

Moderator:
John Oliver, Head of Product and Propositions Global Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC

Access to finance remains one of the biggest hurdles for minority-owned SMEs, with many facing rejection despite strong business potential. This session explores how lenders can break down systemic barriers and create fairer pathways to funding. Expect insight on why diversity in business lending drives stronger economies and how inclusive lending can open profitable new markets for financial institutions.