Changing consumer behavior pushes banks to rethink FX infrastructure

By Vikas Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer at Integral

Digital transformation is happening across every sector, and banks in particular are beginning to recognize a digital framework that allows their services to be accessed from anywhere will be key going forward.

For banks of all sizes, implementing a digital-first infrastructure is top of mind as the latest COVID lockdowns underscore a lasting remote environment. As businesses and individuals continue to adapt to working from home, digital advancements have penetrated areas that previously have remained reluctant to technological change.

As we approach the end of 2020 banks are looking at how the digital push will begin to shape their evolution. Already, in other areas banks have seen individuals seeking out new digital capabilities, such as mobile deposits instead of visiting a branch in-person or sending money abroad to family members via online banking portals. The push for banks to implement modern payment technology infrastructure is upon us. Whether banks opt to build out their own updated technology frameworks, or work with a technology provider to do that work at scale for a lower cost, their customers will increasingly assume that their banking partners are undergoing this alteration to meet their changing needs.

Goldman Sachs has just debuted a new application programming interface (API) that allows users to integrate Goldman’s services with their own products, to help facilitate cross-border payments. The software allows clients’ programmers to build on top of the bank’s platform, providing that customizable layer that customers are increasingly asking for.

While Goldman, as a banking giant in its own right, is making moves to facilitate better cross-border payment infrastructure for clients, many players will likely turn to trusted providers in order to leverage scalable technology to continue on with digital transformation. A 2020 Innovation in Retail Banking report found that 73% of banks believe identifying the right partner is a roadblock to achieving their business goals. Likewise, 75% of those surveyed noted that digital banking transformation was their top priority moving into 2021. For small and mid-sized banks, updating payment infrastructure could be a costly endeavour to undertake during the current volatile market climate. Instead, leveraging a provider helps to minimize cost while still capitalizing on the ability to offer clients modern technology solutions that fit their digital needs.

For many banks, legacy payment infrastructure has not been updated as consistently as other areas of the business that often take circumstantial precedence, such as regulatory reporting tech or client onboarding solutions. However, as more clients demand a digital-first banking partner, the more important it becomes for banks to prioritize their payments infrastructure and partner with the correct providers to make these infrastructure needs a reality.

While many unknowns loom on the horizon, it’s clear that digital transformation, and specifically payments technology with flexible FX infrastructure, is a top priority for banks. In today’s world where technology is accessible everywhere we go, it’s no wonder that the changing nature of the consumer is shaping how banks and the sell side not only cater to their customers, but also how they organize their back-office infrastructure.