Young people design safer digital finance for their generation

Is financial literacy now a core product feature for fintech – and why are so many established players investing in it? There’s a steady increase in moves across the UK, EU, and MENA to fold financial education into digital services. It’s not limited to youth-focused neobanks or edtech hybrids. Larger institutions are also working with fintechs to move beyond one-off campaigns. - In the US, banks are integrating tools like Greenlight into family accounts. These aim to boost engagement across generations – supporting teens and helping adults manage financial care for aging parents. - A 2025 Greenlight survey showed 47% of US financial institutions still lack financial literacy programs, despite demand and regulatory momentum. Fintechs are increasingly filling this gap with ready-to-deploy tools that meet education mandates. - In EU and MENA markets, partnerships seek to embed financial learning into day-to-day usage. The Lloyds/MyPocketSkill collaboration in the UK, for example, brings teen-focused earning and budgeting tools directly into banking apps (https://lnkd.in/dq_fSEMF). One plausible interpretation is that financial literacy is serving both as a trust-building layer and as a way to increase product usage. When financial tools are more complex – or users lack early education – learning features may support usability. An alternate read: this could be a compliance hedge. As consumer protection rules advance, early investments in literacy may function as a low-cost step towards regulatory alignment. Still open: outcome signals remain mixed. It’s unclear whether these embedded solutions improve long-term results such as savings rates, repayment, or retention. 📊 What are you seeing in your market? #Fintech #FinancialLiteracy #ProductDesign #DigitalBanking

Financial education will be a key theme at next year’s Ideal Home Show Scotland thanks to an exciting new initiative led by Scottish fintech MoneyMatiX: Inclusive Financial Education. In May 2026, the consumer show will launch a dedicated “Money Village”, designed to give thousands of visitors the financial tools, knowledge and advice they’ve been asking for. Read what Tynah Matembe DEEU, Founder of MoneyMatix, says in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eqCgGP_M

💡 Everyone’s talking about the generational transfer of wealth — but, as I often mention in my presentations, the first wave is happening between spouses, not generations. Alkami Technology’s new "First Beneficiaries" report shows that women already prioritize user experience (93%) and online service (87%) when choosing their financial institution. For community banks and credit unions, that’s a clear call to action: strengthen digital trust, relevance, and relationship depth before the wealth arrives. Download their report here: https://lnkd.in/gP_C54WG #CommunityBanking #CreditUnions #WealthTransfer #LongevityEconomy

Financial inclusion in Latin America has reached new heights—but the next decade will be defined by what people do with that access. Galileo explores how fintechs can drive the next stage of inclusion through proactive, AI-powered financial education—turning account holders into confident, engaged financial participants. https://lnkd.in/eA5Huik9 #FinancialInclusion #FintechInnovation

Only 23% of U.S. teens say they know how to make a budget, and nearly three-quarters lack confidence in their overall financial knowledge. Galileo’s Parent/Teen Program helps financial institutions and fintechs bridge this gap by combining education with real-world experience. With flexible account-level controls and secure digital payment tools, parents can teach smart money habits while teens gain independence and confidence. It’s an opportunity for providers to stand out through meaningful innovation that empowers the next generation of financially savvy customers. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gE_3dPVq #FinancialLiteracy #FintechInnovation #DigitalBanking

📢 New Report: How Interoperability Models Impact Financial Inclusion and Competition Mobile money interoperability is now present in over 90 markets, but not all models deliver the same results. Our two-part report explores the impact of interoperability on adoption, usage and competition, moving beyond binary classifications to assess how policy design and timing shape outcomes. Mobile money has transformed financial inclusion across low- and middle-income countries, with over 2 billion registered accounts by the end of 2024. As markets mature, interoperability - the ability for users to transact across different providers - has become a key policy focus. 📖 This report is perfect for policymakers, regulators, mobile money providers and digital finance strategists looking to design effective, scalable interoperability frameworks. 📥 Download and read more here: https://lnkd.in/eN7ZNK6C #Interoperability #FinancialInclusion #DigitalFinance #MobileMoney #PolicyDesign

I’ve long believed that one of the biggest barriers to financial inclusion isn’t income or access to technology — it’s identity. In my latest piece for Tech Monitor, I explore how a trusted digital ID system could help the UK tackle financial exclusion. Nearly a million adults in the UK still don’t have a bank account. Often, it’s not because they can’t afford one — it’s because they can’t prove who they are. A well-designed digital identity could change that, opening access to banking, credit, and opportunity. But only if it’s built on trust, transparency, and strong data protection. Digital ID isn’t just a tech innovation — it’s a chance to make finance truly inclusive. #FinancialInclusion #DigitalIdentity #Fintech #Inclusion #Banking https://lnkd.in/e9CPj3-f

💡 “Empower communities. Empower businesses. Empower individuals.” That’s the vision driving Choice Bank - using 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗮𝘀-𝗮-𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝗕𝗮𝗮𝗦) to bring true 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 to people and places that traditional banks never reached. 🌍💳 Through APIs and digital ecosystems, they’re enabling customers in informal networks to open accounts and access modern financial tools, no branches needed. 🙌🏾 🎥 Watch the full conversation with CEO Bonface Isinta Ombui on YouTube only on #AliTalksTech! [https://lnkd.in/dgb7t6Ne] #Fintech #DigitalBanking #FinancialInclusion #BankingAsAService #AfricaTech

Industries like fintech are full of buzzwords, acronyms, and technical terms, making it feel daunting to those just starting out… The truth? A few months ago, some of us hadn’t heard of them either. Fintech 101 will unpack these terms, put them into context, and point you to the wider industry discussion and a range of accessible resources! Through this series, we hope to make the industry more approachable and accessible for students and young professionals ready to dive in, spark conversations, and build their own pathway! Stay tuned for our weekly posts – your fintech dictionary 🏦📚🌟 Co-Labs Global #youthcommunity #fintech #fintech101 #education #financialservices

Thank you to everyone who joined our UKFin+ Network Collaborative Online Workshop on RegTech and Resilience this afternoon. The session brought together academics and industry professionals for a lively and insightful discussion on some of the most pressing challenges in regulatory technology and financial resilience. The workshop explored emerging themes around AI governance, sustainability, and economic crime, looking at how technology, data, and collaboration can help build a more resilient and trustworthy financial system. The discussions highlighted the importance of ethical innovation, shared accountability, and cross-sector partnerships in addressing complex, interconnected risks. Special thanks to John Vines and Sarah Sinclair from Co-Labs Global for so brilliantly organising the workshop and facilitating the discussions with such insight and energy. We’re also very grateful to our excellent panellists - Devraj Basu, Scott Moncur, Annabel Gillard, Jane Jee, and Annabel Nelson for sharing their expertise and sparking thoughtful debate throughout the session. The aim of the workshop was to identify potential research topics and collaborative pathways to tackle some of the critical issues facing the RegTech and Resilience space. Events like this truly reflect the mission of UKFin+: connecting academia, industry, and policymakers to co-create solutions to the wicked problems shaping the future of financial services. #UKFinPlus #RegTech #Resilience #Innovation #Collaboration #FinancialServices #Research #AI #Compliance #Sustainability