All articles by Douglas Blakey

Douglas Blakey

Cloud maturity is the deciding factor for which banks actually scale AI

As AI adoption accelerates, cloud readiness is becoming a strategic prerequisite for moving from pilots to production, writes Deborah Koens

Shared context is King: Enhancing risk decisions with cross‑functional insights 

Nauman Abuzar, VP of Risk & Compliance at SEON explores how shared context can strengthen fraud and AML decision-making

The Great Refactor – rebuilding banking systems for the age of AI agents

Kruttik Aggarwal explains how legacy infrastructure is already slowing firms down in live environments and sets out what changes when AI agents — not humans — become the primary users of financial systems

CASS 15 – The new safeguarding rules explained

In August 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced CASS 15, reshaping the safeguarding regime for payments and E-money firms. Oliver Hawes sets out the key priorities for in scope firms

The cashless myth is distracting fintech from a bigger infrastructure challenge

Neil Martin explains why the “cashless UK” narrative is focusing fintech and banks on the wrong problem

401(k) expansion into private markets – why brand will determine the winners

The push into 401(k)s is shifting alternative asset managers into an increasingly competitive, advisor-led market where brand becomes a decisive differentiator, writes Kriston Rucker

Digital wallets are emerging as the leading infrastructure for trust in banking

Mick Fennell explores how digital wallets are becoming a new layer of digital trust and explains what banks must do to modernise their infrastructure to support this shift

From adapting to adoption: How SaaS is transforming core banking

Rohit Chauhan explores why the traditional “adapt” model for customised core banking is no longer fit for purpose, and why banks must shift to an “adopt” strategy built upon integrated, cloud-based software

Open Banking in the US: Why now is not the time to sit back

Kranti Talluri explains why a lack of clarity and legislation supresses innovation and endangers the fintech industry’s overall growth and progress in the US, all to the ultimate detriment of consumers and banks

Monzo refocuses international strategy with US exit and Ireland launch

Monzo’s strategy highlights a growing trend among digital banks to prioritise depth over breadth in their international growth ambitions, explains Harry Swain