Ep. 82 - The Future of SME Banking: Growth, Trust and the Fight for Business Customers with Allica Bank: LIVE from Money 20/20 Europe 2026

Recorded live from the Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, Grant Evans is joined by Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, for a conversation exploring how one of the UK's fastest-growing banks is reshaping business banking for established SMEs.Richard shares the journey behind Allica Bank’s rapid growth, why the UK's established SME market has been underserved for so long, and how technology and relationship banking can work together rather than compete. The discussion explores the unique challenges facing growth businesses, the role of specialist lending, and why many business owners still feel overlooked by traditional banking providers.They also unpack the future of business banking, the growing importance of embedded financial services, and how banks can balance innovation, customer experience, and profitability in an increasingly competitive market. Plus, Richard steps up for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame to nominate one thing in banking and fintech he’d happily banish forever.***The Payments Shed Podcast is headline sponsored by Damisa.Damisa is a regulated cross-border payments and treasury infrastructure provider. Using a blend of traditional banking rails and stablecoin technology, Damisa helps businesses move money faster, cheaper, and more transparently across global markets. Its platform supports collections, settlements, disbursements, and liquidity management, while maintaining a strong compliance-first approach. Damisa is building the next generation of global payment infrastructure.Learn more at: ⁠https://www.damisa.xyz/⁠***The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.Learn more at: ⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠***Disclaimer: Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.