As we reach the half‑year mark, Scotland’s fintech cluster is accelerating, with 266 fintech businesses, £29m invested so far, and 37 strategic partners. Large financial services companies are making real progress in adopting technology, and the fintechs within the cluster are well positioned to take advantage of the exponentially growing global fintech market – delivering success for them, as well as economic growth and high‑quality jobs for Scotland. FinTech Scotland has completed key projects, including the Finance and Health Lab and a strategic review that will shape our activities going forward as we build to better support ambition and the next stages of growth in the cluster. We have also welcomed Atos as a strategic technology partner. We have just announced Scottish Enterprise’s £3.18m investment to enable the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) programme to run for a further three years. Of this total, £1.98m will be used by FinTech Scotland and the University of Strathclyde to deliver FRIL, whilst £1.2m will be awarded directly to SMEs via competitive innovation calls to complete innovation projects on themes led by market need. This year we have also been reshaping the FinTech Scotland’s team to enable us to support the cluster better with the (previously announced) promotion of Kirsty McKenna to Director of Operations and Delivery and the appointment of Jessica Restrepo as Marketing Manager. In addition, we are now delighted to share that: - Duncan Martin has joined us as Ecosystem Engagement Lead, managing interactions with fintechs, strategic partners, cluster organisations and public sector bodies across Scotland, the UK and overseas, and enabling mutually beneficial collaboration across the cluster. - Sam Evans joined us as Innovation Project Manager, delivering strategic projects aligned to the FinTech Scotland Research & Innovation Roadmap for fintechs and strategic partners – focusing on FRIL. - We have also welcomed Sophie Badoux as Marketing Manager on a maternity‑cover basis, leading our communications and engagement activities in support of Scotland’s fintech ecosystem. The first half of 2026 has been FinTech Scotland’s busiest ever. We would like to thank all our stakeholders for their engagement and energy this year so far and look forward to a busy and successful second half of the year. Please get in touch at contact@fintechscotland.com if there’s anything we can do to help, and get to know our team here: fintechscotland.com/about/ou… #FinTechScotland #ScotlandFintech #Fintech #Innovation #Ecosystem #Growth

The Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), the UK centre of excellence helping firms meet regulation through technology, has secured £3.18m from Scottish Enterprise to deliver three years of its award-winning programme. Led by FinTech Scotland with the University of Strathclyde, FRIL will accelerate responsible innovation across AI, open data and digital assets, including explainable AI and stronger financial crime controls. Impact so far: 120 fintech SMEs supported, £28m committed private investment, and a projected 6:1 ROI on public funding. Read the full press release: fintechscotland.com/scotland… Watch this space for news on what’s next!

Consumer Duty has shifted financial services from tick‑box compliance to outcome‑based evidence; and journey design is now a regulatory obligation. New blog from BehaviourAI Lab, recently welcomed into our community of 260 fintech innovators: “Navigating Consumer Duty: The Hidden Cost of Friction”. In it, co‑founder Shiyu Chen explains what “sludge” is, where it hides across the four Consumer Duty outcomes - Consumer Understanding, Consumer Support, Price and Value, and Products and Services - and how to measure and fix it with the Hook‑Fix‑Proof framework. Read more: fintechscotland.com/navigati… #ConsumerDuty #FinTech #BehaviouralScience #CustomerJourneys #FCA

Great article and perspective on AI adoption across regulated industries by Shane Corstorphine. Proud to see the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) spotlighted for helping to accelerate innovation in the financial services industry, and for the shout‑out to Aveni, Legado, Encompass Corporation, Inicio AI – all part of Scotland’s fintech community. Read the full article: linkedin.com/pulse/first-reg…

Successful fintechs expanding into North America treat localisation as a growth lever, not a constraint. They invest early in understanding regional differences, build adaptable products and engage deeply with local ecosystems. Scottish fintechs have strong foundations – innovation, regulatory know‑how and a global outlook. Pair these strengths with a deliberate localisation strategy and North America becomes not just accessible but scalable. In our latest blog, Atlantic FinTech shares practical tips for success: focus on specific geographies, go beyond compliance in product design, localise language and messaging, and iterate towards product‑market fit. Read more: fintechscotland.com/localisi… #FinTech #Localisation #NorthAmerica

Our strategic partner @NatWestGroup has become the first UK bank to launch home‑buying guidance in @ChatGPTapp . Users can now explore buying or re‑mortgaging options within one of the world’s most‑used AI platforms. Solange Chamberlain, Retail CEO, NatWest Group, said: “As technology and AI open up new ways for people to access information and think about their finances, NatWest is focused on meeting customer needs by showing up in the right places at the right time. Buying a home is a major financial decision, and we want to support those early mortgage planning conversations wherever they may take place. By bringing trusted NatWest mortgage guidance directly into ChatGPT, we’re giving consumers more choice in how they explore their options in a more personalised and accessible way.” Read the full press release: fintechscotland.com/natwest-… #AI #ChatGPT #Mortgages #UKBanking

APAC is the world’s fastest-growing wealth management market. Capital is pouring into Singapore and Hong Kong, family offices are multiplying, and banks and platforms are doubling down on tech. The opportunity is huge, yet many entrants still fail. Not for lack of demand, but for lack of a plan. From Edinburgh or London, it’s easy to treat “APAC” as one region. On the ground, it’s a set of distinct markets that reward focus and punish generic expansion. In our latest blog, Patrick Donaldson (Founder, Mkt Dev APAC) and Steven Carroll (Founder, CCAS) – fresh from a meeting with our Chief Executive, Aleks Tomczyk – share the five most common mistakes they see, and the playbook that actually works, for Scottish WealthTech firms entering APAC. Read more: fintechscotland.com/winning-… #WealthTech #APAC #Singapore #HongKong #GoToMarket #FinTechScotland

In a new guest blog, Ayodeji Jegede, Co-founder of MoneyHive, explains why, from his perspective, remittance isn’t broken; outcomes are. The opportunity? Build systems that prove bills are paid and services delivered, turning trust and verification into core product features. Read the blog: fintechscotland.com/remittan… #FinTechScotland #FinTech #Remittance #Trust #Scotland

Three years ago, there was no blueprint for the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) - an industry‑led programme, run with the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow, that brings partners together to explore, test and build confidence in new technologies that meet regulatory standards in the UK and globally. Today, with a projected six‑to‑one return on investment, we’ve shown that it can. Read our latest FRIL report: lnkd.in/eG42wSRd See the highlights below. #FRIL #FinancialRegulation #RegTech #FinTech #Innovation #Collaboration

From idea to impact: in 12 months Finspector moved from incorporation to commercial traction, with support from Scotland’s ecosystem and the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL). Read more in our latest blog by Phil Clements, CEO of Finspector, with quotes on FRIL’s impact: fintechscotland.com/from-inn… #FinTech #RegTech #ScottishFinTech

What would a tech-driven, fairer financial system look like for everyone? In our latest podcast, Kate Hooper (Strategy Story) speaks with Gillian Docherty, Chief Commercial Officer at the University of Strathclyde and a collaborator on the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab’s AGBR Innovation Call, and Clare Reid, Strategic Innovation Director at FinTech Scotland. They explore how to build a financial services sector that is future ready, responsible and truly collaborative, so it serves everyday people, including those who are most vulnerable. In this episode, they cover: - Turning innovation into outcomes for people, not just industries - The role of AI and quantum technologies - What meaningful collaboration across industry, policy and academia looks like Listen to the full episode: fintechscotland.com/towards-… #FinTech #FinancialInclusion #AI #Quantum #ResponsibleInnovation #FutureOfFinance #Collaboration #FinTechScotland #Podcast

The FinTech Scotland team is off for the Easter Bank Holiday on 3 and 6 April. Our office will be closed; we’ll be back online on Tuesday 7 April. While we’re away, explore our programmes and the latest insights from Scotland’s fintech community: fintechscotland.com/ Have a restful Bank Holiday! #FinTech #ScottishFinTech #Ecosystem #Innovation

Last month, FinTech Scotland hosted the Finance & Health Lab National Conference at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, marking the completion of Phase 1 of the programme. Leaders from financial services, fintech, academia, government, healthcare and the third sector shared learning, showcased innovations from the Lab’s first Innovation Stimulation Open Call and explored the future of financial wellbeing in an ageing society. Read our article for the key takeaways, partnerships and next steps and watch the highlights video below: fintechscotland.com/finance-… #FinTech #Health #FinancialWellbeing #AgeingSociety #Innovation #Scotland

Are you a business looking to inspire the next generation and contribute to social mobility while strengthening your future talent pipeline? GROW (Glasgow Regional Opportunities for Work), run by DYW Glasgow, is one of Scotland’s largest employability initiatives, funded by JPMorgan Chase. The programme helps young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds make informed choices about their future through multiple, meaningful interactions with employers. These practical insights build confidence and open doors to a wide range of sectors. Why partner with GROW? - Showcase your impact - Strengthen your talent pipeline - Boost your brand and CSR credentials - Develop your people Find out more here: dywglasgow.com/grow/ #GROW #Employability #SocialMobility #EarlyCareers #Glasgow #Scotland

PAY360 2026 is just over a week away. The UK’s largest payments event will bring together 6,000 attendees, 200 speakers, and 150 exhibitors across two days in London. Explore the biggest shifts reshaping payments: Future of Money, Open Payments, AI, Instant Transfers, Fraud, and Resilience. Hear from leaders at Mastercard, Visa, Lloyds Banking Group, Santander UK, NVIDIA, NatWest Group, Endava and more. Registration is still open: pay360event.com/ #PAY360 #Payments #PayTech #FinTech #FinancialServices #FutureOfPayments

New blog from Cherpa.ai Founder & CEO Dia Banerji: “Every Life Moment Is a Money Moment” Why financial services must be designed around life events, with clear next steps and trust at the core – and how Cherpa helps people join the dots when it matters most. Read the blog: fintechscotland.com/every-li… #FinTech #PersonalFinance #FinancialInclusion #FinancialWellbeing #Trust

On this gorgeous, sunny morning in Edinburgh, delegates are already arriving as we host the Finance & Health Lab National Conference at Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh. We’re bringing together leaders from financial services, health, academia, government and the wider innovation ecosystem to explore how Scotland can lead the next wave of progress at the intersection of health and financial wellbeing. On the agenda: - The future of financial health in an ageing society - Latest research on health–wealth dynamics in later life - An industry panel on designing future‑ready financial services - Startup demo carousels and founder Q&As - Insights on data and collaboration from across the ecosystem - A closing conversation on what we’ve built and what comes next Follow along for highlights and post‑conference content. Thank you to our partners: Sword Group, Sopra Steria, Aegon (Mylo), and the University of Edinburgh. #FinancialWellbeing #FinTech #HealthTech #AgeingSociety #Innovation #Scotland #Edinburgh #EFI #InclusiveDesign #DataTrust

We’re delighted to announce that Atos, a global leader in AI-powered digital transformation, has joined Scotland’s fintech cluster as a technology strategic partner. With global scale and a strong UK presence, Atos will help create the conditions for faster innovation, secure scaling, and greater economic impact across Scotland’s fintech community. This takes our network to 37 strategic partners, building a world-class environment for fintech innovation and regional growth. Scotland’s fintech cluster has more than doubled in five years, from just over 120 firms in 2020 to more than 260 today, reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic and collaborative fintech clusters. Read the full press release: fintechscotland.com/atos-uki… Swipe through for quotes from Aleks Tomczyk, Chief Executive at FinTech Scotland, and Simon Chandler, Head of Financial Services & Insurance (UK & Ireland) at Atos. #FinTech #Scotland #DigitalTransformation #AI #Innovation #Ecosystem #Collaboration

Last week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (run by FinTech Scotland in partnership with the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde) held a collaborative roundtable in Glasgow with David Geale, Executive Director for Payments and Digital Finance at the FCA, hosted by Barclays UK. The discussion explored the future of UK payments and data-enabled finance, focusing on the shift from open banking to open finance, priorities for innovation and resilience, the practical realities of scaling, and how regulation can enable growth while protecting consumers. Thank you to the FCA, Barclays and all participants for a valuable discussion. #FCA #FinTech #Payments #OpenBanking #OpenFinance #RegTech #Data

What’s next in banking? The Banking Transformation Summit returns to London on 19–20 May at Tobacco Dock. Join 1,000 decision-makers and 150 speakers to go from strategy to execution across AI, payments, infrastructure, trust, Consumer Duty and leadership. Read our latest blog: fintechscotland.com/banking-… #BankingTransformation #Fintech #Banking #FinancialServices #AI #Payments #ConsumerDuty #Leadership