All articles by Douglas Blakey

Douglas Blakey

Striking the balance between innovation and regulation of AI in UK financial services

UK bank leaders must engage with policymakers to ensure that AI regulations strike the right balance between promoting innovation, safeguarding economic stability and ensuring consumer protection is not jeopardised, argues Harry Swain

AI in financial services must be prioritised

Simon Patteson highlights the striking omission of critical industries including financial services from the UK government’s AI Action Plan

Welcome swing back to the black at Metro Bank

After a troubled six-years, there is a good news story to report from Metro Bank. But the bank today is very different to the one founded by the incomparable Vernon Hill

Saudi Arabia’s digital banking leap with STC Bank and D360 signals a major shift in the market

Blandina Szalay assesses the significance of the launch of two new digital banks in Saudi Arabia

The future of work and layoffs in financial services

The financial services industry is rapidly evolving, but not in a way that benefits workers, explains Yonja Ozbengu

Interview: Reward CEO Jamie Samaha on making everyday spend more rewarding

Reward CEO Jamie Samaha speaks with RBI editor Douglas Blakey about successful goals achieved in his first 18 months in the role and his plans for global expansion

Beyond barriers: India’s DPI-powered Bharat Trade Net marks a new era in embedded trade finance

Nirav Choksi analyses how banks and fintechs can harness Bharat Trade Net’s unified data ecosystem to embed financing solutions directly within trade workflows

US banks still unnecessarily burdened by porous security

Banks have invested heavily in fraud prevention over the past five years but especially in the US, there are still gaps in channels like mobile because of using outdated tech, explains Frank Moreno

5 Scottish fintechs awarded £250,000 to accelerate developments that drive good consumer outcomes

The five fintechs each receive £50,000 from Fintech Scotland to develop solutions further and drive real-world impact

To build or to buy? Tackling KYC complexities in client onboarding

As onboarding complexities grow—due to regulatory scrutiny, data silos, and intricate corporate structures—banks must answer a critical question: Do you build a custom KYC system or do you buy one? Howard Wimpory writes