The 22nd Connected Banking Summit, held in 2025 at the Radisson Blu Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center in Saudi Arabia, brought together senior banking leaders, technology firms, policymakers, and fintech innovators to drive financial sector transformation. The event, organized by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), emphasized collaboration and innovation aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on AI and blockchain technologies as core enablers of modernization.
Key discussions highlighted the shift from theoretical discussions to practical delivery, with Mohammed AlSarrani, Deputy Director General of the Financial Sector Development Program at the Ministry of Finance, KSA, stating, "The Kingdom’s financial sector is moving from discussion into delivery. Banks and financial institutions are redesigning services, infrastructure, and customer engagement with technology at the core." This reflects Vision 2030 as an operating model shaping the market.
Notable participants included executives from Zoom, Nintex, Alfa Bank, and other major entities, who shared insights on AI-led customer experiences, cybersecurity resilience, open banking, and embedded finance. The summit's focus on blockchain integration is expected to boost interest in Ethereum and Layer 1/2 technologies, potentially influencing digital finance innovations and smart contract platforms. Awards recognized excellence in digital banking, such as Bank Albilad for digital banking and Alfa Bank for AI in HR tech, underscoring measurable progress in implementation.
Past summits have catalyzed global digital banking innovations, and this edition aims to foster regional economic growth through increased capital flows and infrastructure development in fintech.
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