Bridging Banking and Fintech: Subramanian Narayanaswamy on Fighting Fraud and Expanding Credit

Over the past several years, as increasingly innovative technological tools have become commonplace fixtures within the market, the worlds of banking and finance have been reformed in their image. The industry is vastly different now than it was even five years ago, which is why workers and consumers alike need thought leaders who can help shepherd this new age.

Fortunately, Subramanian Narayanaswamy is one such leader, utilizing his extensive experience and unique expertise across the industry to help usher in a new era of banking and fintech. With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of mainstream banking and financial technology, he is widely recognized as a leading voice in financial risk management, developing strategies that use artificial intelligence (AI), alternative data, and open banking tools to make lending safer and more inclusive.

Dual Domain Mastery

Narayanaswamy has operated at senior levels in both traditional banking institutions and nimble fintech firms, providing him with a rare dual perspective on financial risk and innovation. He has previously had to navigate regulatory hurdles while deploying cutting-edge tools, such as open banking and AI-driven underwriting, in addition to learning more traditional banking methodologies. Colleagues often call him a "fintech-banker" for his knack for blending bank-level rigor with startup agility. "Whether I'm preventing identity theft or helping someone finance a critical purchase, I try to blend technology, regulation, and customer needs," Narayanaswamy says.

That philosophy is backed by a track record spanning marquee institutions. In his work at major banking institutions, Narayanaswamy helped design and launch comprehensive credit risk strategies for a new retail credit card, reaching over 2.5 million customers and significantly expanding the bank's U.S. footprint. At another leading U.S. bank, he led the development of a new point-of-sale loan product, designing fraud prevention systems that protect millions of consumers. In the fintech space, Narayanaswamy built technology that enabled over 20,000 retailers to offer financing to customers without traditional credit histories, promoting financial inclusion.

Scaling Innovation Ethically

Narayanaswamy has built fraud and credit systems that serve millions, demonstrating that inclusivity and security can coexist at scale. He believes that innovation must be tethered to accountability, especially in a sector such as banking, where these new technological tools are destined to play pivotal roles in the lives of many people.

“Innovation and responsibility must go hand in hand, especially in finance, where people’s trust and money are at stake,” he often emphasizes. To this end, his work focuses on "Risk Management" and "New Fintech Technologies" such as open banking, cash flow underwriting, dynamic fraud management, and credit risk infrastructure to help make borrowing safer, fairer, and more accessible, which affects nearly every household.

Over the years, Narayanaswamy has developed systems that protect people from fraud and created smarter methods for lenders to determine who is eligible for credit and how much. He has designed credit strategies that approve more responsible borrowers, especially those without traditional credit histories, while also protecting banks from risky lending.

Thought Leadership and Industry Impact

Narayanaswamy’s expertise is widely recognized beyond his day-to-day work. He has served as a judge for prestigious industry awards, including the International Banking Tech Awards and the Stevie Awards, which honor top innovations in financial services. As a judge, he has lent his insight to evaluating cutting-edge products and fintech initiatives on a global stage. He also regularly shares his knowledge as a conference speaker. Notably, he was a featured presenter at the FinTech Risk & Compliance Conference, where he briefed senior industry executives on modern approaches to risk management and fraud prevention. These high-profile engagements underscore his standing as a top authority who helps define best practices in the field.

Beyond industry events, Narayanaswamy contributes to the broader financial and academic community through research and mentorship. He has peer-reviewed articles for scholarly journals and presented research at academic conferences, bridging the gap between real-world banking challenges and academic insight. Earlier this year, he co-authored an influential research paper outlining a novel framework for managing fintech risk that was published in the Journal of Risk Management in Financial Institutions, a peer-reviewed industry journal. In addition, he volunteers on professional committees, including the programming committee of INFORMS’ Early Career Professionals Network where he mentors emerging analytics professionals. This blend of industry leadership and academic engagement reflects his belief that advancing financial innovation requires both practical expertise and knowledge-sharing across the community.

Looking Ahead

Even with an impressive cross-sector career behind him, Narayanaswamy shows no signs of slowing down. "In the next few years, I see myself at the forefront of applying AI and advanced analytics to financial services," he says, envisioning continued innovation in fraud prevention, stronger risk infrastructure, and more inclusive lending. In line with that goal, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Data Science to deepen his expertise and build the next generation of intelligent risk management tools for the industry.

Over the longer term, Narayanaswamy aspires to continue to be "recognized as a leading expert who develops breakthrough risk management solutions, helps shape industry best practices, and informs policy on responsible innovation", further bridging the divide between traditional banks, fintech startups, and regulators. Above all, Narayanaswamy is passionate about strengthening the U.S. financial infrastructure through robust yet ethical risk management strategies that drive both compliance and growth.

A Vision for the Future

Subramanian Narayanaswamy has transformed the infrastructure of modern lending, merging the precision of risk management with the urgency of financial inclusion. From big banks to fintech startups, his pioneering work has redefined who gets access to credit and how that access is protected.

Whether Narayanaswamy is actively working to help prevent identity theft or assisting someone in financing a critical purchase, he brings a unique perspective that combines technology, regulation, and customer needs. His story is about using innovation not just for efficiency but to improve lives by ensuring more people can access financial tools they can trust.