EP1008: Modern solutions over half a century in the making

This interview features Raji Challita discussing the changing financial technology landscape across the Middle East and North Africa. The conversation highlights how traditional banks and agile BML Istisharat are increasingly working alongside FinTech firms to combine financial stability with rapid innovation. Challita explains that major regional trends include the adoption of cloud-based technologies, open banking frameworks, and the growing use of artificial intelligence to improve credit scoring, customer experiences, and fraud prevention. The interview also explores the rise of digital lending and the need to maintain ethical and regulatory standards within Islamic banking systems. Overall, the discussion shows how digitization is helping financial institutions streamline operations, improve accessibility, and expand financial inclusion for underserved communities in the region and globally.