Show 305 - Money20/20 Asia Part 1 of 2 - From Infrastructure to Impact: How Asia’s Banks Are Evolving at Speed

Recorded live at Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok, this first of two special episodes, produced in partnership with audax, where we dive into the real-world impact of digital banking transformation across Southeast Asia. Host Debbie West was joined by: 1/ Mike Breen, Chief Commercial officer, audax 2/ Danielle Szetho, Head of Digital Assets Portfolio & Governance, Standard Chartered Bank 3/ Sajal Bhatnagar, Chief Digital Officer, Allo Bank 4/ Moritz Gastl, General Manager, Tala Financing Mike Breen, Chief Commercial Officer at audax, explores why the industry has finally moved beyond the endless transformation narrative and into a phase where banks are being judged on outcomes, not intentions. He unpacks the shifting dynamics of customer loyalty, why five‑year transformation plans are already obsolete, and how banks can stay relevant to a generation that no longer comes to the bank, the bank must go to them. We also hear from Danielle Szetho, Head of Digital Assets, Portfolio & Governance at Standard Chartered, who explains why Asia has reached an inflection point in digital assets adoption. She breaks down the rapid rise of local‑currency stablecoins, the real use cases emerging across supply chains and cross‑border commerce, and how AI‑driven agentic technologies are reshaping treasury operations inside major institutions. Sajal Bhatnagar, Chief Digital Officer at Allo Bank, shares why Indonesia’s young, connected but underbanked population creates one of the world’s most compelling environments for digital banking. He discusses what truly determines whether a digital bank can scale sustainably, why embedded finance is central to Allo Bank’s strategy, and how partnerships unlock cost‑efficient access to millions of customers. Finally, Moritz Gastl, General Manager at Tala Financing shares how Tala is expanding access to credit for underserved customers, the realities of risk, pricing and repayment in emerging markets, and what sustainable digital lending looks like when you design around everyday financial lives rather than idealised models. A fast‑paced, insight‑rich episode capturing the energy, innovation and competitive urgency defining financial services across Asia today.