Ep 132: Payments: Where the Real Value Lies - Richard de Roos

Standard Bank processed R88 trillion in payments in the first half of 2026 alone - but as payment systems become increasingly open and interconnected, where will the real competitive advantage lie? Michael Avery spoke to Richard de Roos, recently appointed Group Head of Payments at Standard Bank, about the changing payments landscape across Africa and why payment infrastructure could increasingly become a shared utility. They explored how this shift could move competition beyond the payment rails themselves towards the data, AI-driven services and broader banking solutions built around them, as well as the role of regulation in shaping more open and interoperable payment ecosystems across the continent.